International students will learn about the Slovak language and culture
Bratislava, 28 June 2019: Comenius University in Bratislava will once again welcome international students and other foreigners to learn about Slovak language and culture. This year has the theme of "the 100th anniversary of Comenius University", and the course will take place from 1 to 19 July 2019. The Summer University of Slovak Language and Culture is being organized by the Centre for Continuing Education at Comenius University for the 29th time.
The Summer University's programme will begin with an opening ceremony, which will take place in the Congress Hall at the Convention Centre of the Centre for Continuing Education in Modra-Harmónia on 1 July at 4 pm. The course runs at nearly all language levels (A1 to C1), and for the strengthening of language competencies there are more challenging and interesting elective communicative language seminars (including aspects of stylistics and etymology, a discussion club, and a drama school). In addition to education, the summer school will offer a varied accompanying programme including a linguistics lecture, the chance to meet a famous historian and archaeologist, learning traditional folk dances and songs, and a culinary workshop. The programme also includes optional excursions to cultural and historical monuments in the surroundings of Modra and further afield, an excursion to the most beautiful cities of Slovakia and monuments inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and a multimedia presentation of the visited places and unforgettable moments in the Summer University's 2019 Chronicle. The closing ceremony of the Summer University will take place at Modra-Harmónia on 18 July at 4:30 pm
Students have different professional and personal reasons for learning Slovak. “I have been living in Slovakia for years, but it is difficult for me to learn a language systematically alongside employment and family obligations. I hope that learning for three weeks without distraction will help me improve my Slovak,” says Tamás Miklós Berki from Hungary. Nicole Dailcroix from France often travels to Slovakia and has friends here. She understands Slovak, but would like to practice conversation. "My mother, who is originally from Slovakia, recently died, and I would like to honour her memory by visiting her and my ancestors' home and learning more about the people, culture, history, and geography of Slovakia," says Thomas Rebold from the United States.
The primary goal of the summer school is for participants to learn and improve in Slovak and expand their linguistic, literary, and cultural and historical knowledge about Slovakia and Bratislava as its capital. They will also develop their language competencies in specialized subjects and acquire skills for passing the entrance examinations of general study (SCIO) tests. The Summer University of Slovak Language and Culture will be held with the support of the Rector of Comenius University, Marek Števček.