From 19.01.2022. to 25.01.2022. the head of the Centre for Latvian Studies, professor of the Department of Latvian Literature and Culture, Dr. philol. Maija Burima taught Latvian language and culture course “Latvian cultural canon and every day materialities: local and global perspective” at the Mindelo University (Cabo Verde) in the framework of Erasmus Key Action 1 “Higher Education Student and Staff Mobility”.  

The aim of the course is to provide Mindelo University students with knowledge about Latvia as a country in the Baltic region, emphasizing the uniqueness of the Latvian cultural canon; to describe the everyday materialities of Latvia, to acquaint learners with the geopolitical and cultural-historical paradigm of Latvia, to provide support for the acquisition of the functional vocabulary and phrases in the Latvian language at the basic level.

Added value of the mobility: to test the interdisciplinary study module “Latvian cultural canon and everyday materialities: local and global perspective” and to evaluate its potential for inclusion in international study programmes in humanities, social sciences and arts. Students will have acquired knowledge about Latvia, which might attract them to further studies in Latvia. When searching for and studying Latvian Internet resources or during a visit to Latvia, students will be helped to adapt to the functional phrases and vocabulary in the Latvian language acquired within the module at the elementary level.

Content of the teaching programme:

The interdisciplinary study module “Latvian cultural canon and everyday materialities: local and global perspective” includes the following topics:

• Latvian cultural canon, its creation, functions and categories;
• The most vivid forms of mass culture representation and the most unique everyday materialities;
• The most recognizable Latvian cultural and economic brands outside Latvia;
• The description of the Baltic geopolitics, landscape colouring, urban environment, echoes of historical events in the current situation;
• Peculiarity of Latvia’s regions;
• World-famous Latvian personalities; stereotypes about Latvia and Latvians;
• The global dimension of Latvia’s strategic partnerships;
• Acquisition of the functional language vocabulary and phrases in the Latvian language at the basic level: the first steps towards communication and searching for Internet resources.