People from all over the world, including Japan, Argentina, India, Ukraine, and other countries, come to Lithuania to learn the Lithuanian language. Why do they do so?
According to Vilma Leonavičienė, head of the Lithuanian and International Program Centre at the Vytautas Magnus University (VDU), some people learn Lithuanian for practical, others for academic reasons.
“There are students with Lithuanian roots, and there are students who are interested in the Lithuanian language as an object of study and research. Others just drop in because they are interested in Lithuania,” she explains.
“There is also a group of people we call ‘branches’, who want to learn the language of their loved ones, relatives, or children,” she adds.
The Lithuanian language courses at VDU are very intensive, with lessons taking place daily. Several dozen students try to learn to speak Lithuanian in just one month.
According to Leonavičienė, the Lithuanian language courses for foreigners have been running for two decades. Initially, the program was designed for Erasmus students, but the needs have changed over time. It has also attracted more support from the state.
“Lithuania has moved forward, especially in forming the policy of the Baltic and Lithuanian studies. The importance of the Lithuanian language was widely discussed in society, and both Lithuania and Lithuanian studies became global. There are 250 Lithuanian language schools and 45 Baltic studies centres worldwide,” she says.
“People with Lithuanian roots have started to search for their own identity. It turned out that young people didn’t know Lithuanian, that not all were taught by their parents. Therefore, the state policy has also changed – students and academics with Lithuanian roots have the opportunity to come to Lithuania for one-month intensive courses with a scholarship,” she continues.
She stresses that these courses are beneficial not only for the students but also for Lithuania, as students are the best promoters and ambassadors of Lithuania.
“Those who don’t stay here spread the word about Lithuania when they go back to their countries. They become like ambassadors for Lithuania. Sometimes, they do more in return to that scholarship than politicians or real ambassadors,” Leonavičienė says.
According to her, around a third of the students return for further learning of the Lithuanian language after completing a one-month intensive course.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
