Daugavpils University Association for Lifelong Learning, Culture, and Science Communication “Intellect Park” launched the remote implementation of the conversation language club “I Want to Talk to You” in November 2024, as part of the project “Let’s Experience Latvia Together” under the Latvian state budget-funded programme “Cultural Orientation Courses and Integration Activities for Ukrainian Civilians”, project ID No. 2024.LV/2/UKR_KO/023. The participants are Ukrainian school-aged children.
The conversation language club sessions take place remotely on the e-conference platform ZOOM. During these sessions, participants communicate and discuss the following topics: “Who are we and how do we experience Latvia?”, “In the world of professions”, “Challenges of the web”, “We in Latvia – cultural experience”. The learning materials for the conversation language club are developed and adapted for each age group. They are created by educators with many years of teaching experience.
Ukrainian civilians are enhancing their Latvian language literacy skills and strengthening their practical experience in both everyday and official situations, such as in the school environment, by discussing and role-playing various events that children and young people encounter in educational institutions.
Each topic includes both theoretical and practical questions, which help the target audience of the project to integrate more successfully into the socio-cultural environment of Latvia. The conversation language club teacher creates an inclusive atmosphere where everyone has the opportunity to express their opinion and share their experiences gained while living in Latvia. Native speakers also participate in the discussions, helping to improve Latvian language skills.
During the classes, Ukrainian civilians provide feedback, expressing their opinions about what they have heard and discussed in the conversation language club, and how this information can be used in daily life. Each session is held in a positive atmosphere, ensuring that all participants feel welcome and are able to overcome the language barrier.
In the end, each Ukrainian civilian will receive a certificate of participation in the conversation language club.
The project is financially supported by the Society Integration Fund from the allocated Latvian state budget resources.
Daugavpils University Association for Lifelong Learning, Culture, and Science Communication “Intellect Park” is responsible for the content of the project activities.
