This year’s four-week University School of Croatian Language and Culture gathered thirty-four participants from fourteen European and overseas countries. Along with the programme in Zagreb the students also had an opportunity to take an organised study trip to the Hrvatsko Zagorje region and the Plitvice Lakes.
This year’s four-week University School of Croatian Language and Culture, organised by the Croatian Heritage Foundation and the University of Zagreb, wrapped up Friday, July 18th with the formal presentation of diplomas during a ceremony at the University Rectorate.
The school is targeted to youth of Croatian extraction and to all other students who wish to learn about Croatia, acquire and expand their knowledge of it, and to learn and perfect their Croatian.
This year the University School of Croatian Language and Culture gathered thirty-four participants from fourteen European and overseas countries (Australia, Austria, Bolivia, South Korea, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Canada, Hungary, New Zealand, Germany, Russia, the USA and Switzerland) and has demonstrated by the large number of participants that this professionally profiled programme has been recognised in academic and other spheres both in Croatia and abroad.
As in previous years participants were distributed in groups based on their pre-existing knowledge of the language. The groups had symbolic names, this year related to Croatian inventions: Penkala (the pen), zeppelin, electricity (Tesla), Cravat and parachute. The academic programme covered classes, of which 95 classes of mandatory instruction and 15 hours of elective classes. Language instruction consisted of separate grammar and reading classes.
Along with the academic language programme, students also participated in a culture programme. At the start they learned about the Croatian identity and its promotion, followed by lectures on Croatian history, one of which, covering the Homeland War of Independence, was organised at the Croatian History Museum. The evenings offered various culture events. The participants were particularly delighted with a “Secrets of Grič” night tour of Zagreb, concerts featuring the Klapa Nostalgia and Cinkuši bands, a visit to the National Geographic “Croatia from the Air” exhibition and a festive dinner for all. Along with the programme in Zagreb the students also had an opportunity to take an organised study trip to the Hrvatsko Zagorje region and the Plitvice Lakes.
Text by: Lada Kanajet Šimić
