The Education Development Centre continues working with third-country nationals by organising Latvian language courses and conversation clubs.
Purpose of the project “SaRuNaLV or To come to an understanding, to speak for future in Latvia”, No. PMIF/13.2./2023/1/02, is to organise Latvian language courses and conversation clubs for citizens of third-countries by expanding the availability of possibilities of acquirement of Latvian language and adapting them to the needs of various groups.
Third-country nationals are called to register for training here. More information on courses - email: iac@latnet.lv or phone: 26335521
Next groups will be formed in August 2025. We will start the next groups in September.
Along with the language courses and clubs, the trainees will receive consultations, be able to participate in common on the spot closing events, thus expanding opportunities for the use of language in daily communication together with Latvian-speaking persons and immediate family members. Training will be organised remotely or in person. Within the framework of the project, graduates will be provided with the option to pass the state language examination at the National Centre for Education. Target group of this project includes also participation of young people aged from 13 to 25 years.
The project “SaRuNaLV or To come to an understanding, to speak for future in Latvia” is being implemented within the framework of the European Union’s Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund 2021-2027 Planning Period and jointly funded by the European Union (75%) and the state budget of Latvia (25%).
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01/08/2025
8 groups have finalized lessons in the first half of 2025; 4 at the level of A1, 3 at the level of A2, 1 at the level of B1. In these groups, the lessons, in the amount of 120 hours, have been finalized by 97 third-country nationals, even though more than 130 started them. After finalizing the course, 84 students also took state language proficiency exam, 67% of them passed it successfully, on the first attempt.
After finishing the courses, in the evaluation questionnaires, majority of the students’ replied that their knowledge after the lessons of Latvian language has improved. On average, 97, 7% of the respondents replied that all their skills have improved or significantly improved: speaking, listening, reading, as well as writing. The most significant factors that have helped to acquire Latvian language, teacher’s work, individual support of the teacher and the variety of learning materials – 79% of the respondents have evaluated them with 5 or 4 points. 75% have noted the positive atmosphere during the lessons as a significant factor.
During this half-year language Discussion clubs, offered in the framework of the project, were in demand, 80 third- country nationals, at A or B skill level, from January to April, attended them, with B level Discussion club being especially attended.
Overall 31 groups have been finalized within the project, in which 282 unique third-country nationals (351 of them have improved Latvian language skills by one level) have finished learning. However, the amount of received applications for the lessons is 4 times bigger.
During this 2nd half of the year, within the framework of the project, we will be able to provide lessons only in 4 groups, them being A1, A2, B1 and B2 level. Assembly of the groups will take place in August, whereas the lessons will start at the end of August and September.
20/06/2025
On June 14 the Closing event of the courses took place at the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia. Photo
Positive and joyful atmosphere prevailed at the event. Participants took part in the activities gladly and with interest, met the teachers’, shared their impressions with the representatives of the project team, admitted that they have seen and learned a lot of new things. Participants of the event- third-country nationals, together with their friends and family members, could relax, enjoy Latvian nature, traditions and learn the history, as well as talk with their group members and teachers’ that, some of them, saw only during on-line lessons.
The course of the event was intense: survey of the museum objects, seeking answers to the questions, making of toys form grass and hay, making of lower crowns form flowers and oak branches, singing, dancing and games, trying Latvian delicacies in true pre-midsummer spirits. Making of flower crowns and toys from the natural materials attracted the most interest from the participants. With a flower crown on the head; the stature is straighter and the smile wider. Overall, in the Closing event 117 participants took part, 35 of them children of very varying ages, form 6 months to 16 years old. During the event people from 14 countries: India, Russia, Belorussia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Afghanistan, Türkiye, Colombia, The Netherlands, Ukraine, Armenia, China, that are currently residing in Latvia, met and spent an interesting time together with the EDC team and friends, relatives.
The project team expresses their gratitude to the folklorist Margarita Poriete and her team, for leading the workshop for making of flower crowns and toys, interesting stories and support for the participants. Many thanks also to Ieva Murniece (Ieva Mūrniece) and folk group „Eima” for the energy, dances, songs, games and the stories about Latvian traditions and their message that is transferred via songs, as well as the ability to actively involve the participants.
Thanks to the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia for the warm welcome, especially Ieva Berzina (Ieva Bērziņa), it’s always a joy to visit!
The event was held in the atmosphere of greeting Jāņi (Latvian traditional midsummer celebration). Countryside farmstead, plants traditionally picked during Jāņi, Jāņi cheese, songs… We hope that the participants felt the joy of holiday festivities and being together on this day, learned traditions and felt their belonging to Latvia. Many, many „thanks” were expressed and received for the things we do together. Great inspiration for further work.
12/05/2025
I would like to very much continue… I learned a lot here… It was interesting… I liked it… Those were the main takeaways’ at the end of the last lesson of the B level Discussion club. The participants’ acknowledge that the lessons had a friendly atmosphere and interesting, topical topics were touched upon. The opportunity to meet interesting personalities, ask questions, participate in discussions, watch movies, play various games, was highly valued by the participants. Of course, also the joy of meeting. When naming the three most vivid impressions during the discusssion club, as the first place, the participants mention the discussion- conversation after the excursion „Golden Age in Building Riga”, second place – evening discussion after watching the movie „Flow”, third place - storyteller evening.
We thank everyone for the active participation in the discussion clubs, thanks to the teacher Zanna Helmane (Žanna Helmane), for the interested, supportive attitude and creative ideas! Thanks to the lecturers that shared their experience and knowledge. This was an active, interesting and creative time. Glad that it happened!
16/04/2025
Since January work in the A and B level Discussion clubs has been successfully done. This year the interest about the discussion club lessons has increased and the participants willingly take part in the planned activities. Now, in April, we can conclude that work in the Discussion clubs has been fruitful. In January, when beginning the lessons of A language skill level discussion club, the students learned to say words, phrases, in order to communicate and tell about themselves. Now they participate in role-playing games, tell about photos and write creative works, create dialogues. Major progress can be observed. During the conversation the participants of the club tell that they gladly come to the lessons, because the lessons are interesting and the emotional atmosphere is positive. More than 30 third-country nationals, from January to April, took part in the activities of the A level club, they are from Ukraine, India, Russia, Türkiye, Nigeria, Colombia, 15 of them have attended the clubs regularly. Thanks for the work in the A level club to the teacher Erika (Ērika), whose energy and creativity is endless and surprises each time!
Participants of the B level language skill club, during this period, have participatedin the storyteller evening, discussed the movie „Flow”, found the answers to the questions regarding the education system in Latvia and meaningful use of artificial intelligence, participated in the discussion after the excursion „Golden Age” in building Riga. During the future meetings a language game evening and discussion on the role of the social media in our lives, will take place.
This discussion club is attended especially actively - each time 17-26 participants have taken part and more than 20 participants have attended it very actively. In these clubs Ukrainian, American, Russian, Belorussian Turkish and Chinese nationals converse in Latvian.
26/03/2025
In 2025, 8 groups continue Latvian language lessons, 7 of them were started in January; A1, A2 and B1 level. In January and February more than 130 third- country nationals, from 30 different countries, started Latvian language lessons. In their midst, majority of students are from India, also Russia, Türkiye, China, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Belorussia, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Vietnam nationals. As well as 1 to 2 representatives from various different exotic countries, for example, Congo, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, New Zealand, Philippines, Afghanistan etc. Majority (more than 60%) of students are women, approximately 50% of our students are at the age of 30-39 and 25% are younger than 30. Lessons and consultations for these groups will end in March and June, when, after a successful acquisition of the programme, they will have the opportunity to take state language skill exam. Good luck!
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20/01/2025
In January and February, we are beginning to form Latvian language training groups at A1, A2 and B1 levels. Third-country nationals are called to register for training here. Next groups will be formed in August 2025.
In 2025, we are also launching A and B level Latvian language Talk Clubs Mondays (B level) on the IAC premises at 34a Dzirnavu Street, Riga from 20.01 and Wednesdays (A level) at 32 Aspazijas Blvd, from 15.01.
Please apply by sending your name and surname to the e-mail: iac@latnet.lv. More details will follow after your application.
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27/12/2024
This year within the project is closed by graduation of 7 groups and granting A1, A2, B1 and C1 level certificates to 77 students. Volume of training at these levels amounted to 120 hours during the period from September to December 2024 both onsite and remotely, as well as consultations were organised as necessary for the students to be able to additionally ascertain what they wanted to know, clarify uncertainties, improve any of their language skills. More than 110 students started training in these groups in September.
Summarisation of the assessment questionnaire at the conclusion of the training shows that more than a half of the respondents (55.7%) have received information on the possibility to attend the training from friends, acquaintances and family members, the rest of them have received information on the website www.integration.lv (~18%), on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Telegram etc.). Respondents have indicated the following countries of nationality: Albania, the United States of America, Belarus, Philippines, India, Japan, Canada, Kazakhstan, Korea, Russia, China, Libya, Moldova, Nepal, Nigeria, Singapore, Syria, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, Venezuela, Vietnam, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Opinion of participants regarding the usefulness of the training was measured by asking the question: “Was participation in the training useful in this area?”, where the respondents were offered to assess five areas: integrating into the labour market, learning the official language of Latvia, improving relationship with the local residents/communities and taking active participation in the society, the area of housing and health. All the respondents indicate that participation in the Latvian language training turned out to be useful in two or more of the offered areas.
Majority of the respondents consider that their knowledge after attending the Latvian language training has improved. 96.62% of the respondents on average have responded that their language knowledge have improved or improved significantly. This includes each of the language skills individually: 98,65% of the respondents have indicated on improvement or significant improvement of their speaking and reading skills; 97.30% – on improvement of their listening skills; the respondents give the lowest grade to their writing skills: improvement or significant improvement of writing skills is pointed out by 91.89% of the respondents.
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08/11/2024
We participate, speak Latvian, listen, ask, find out and show activity… These words could characterise the format and content of the Latvian language Talk Club implemented by the IAC this autumn.
Topics of the Talk Club were chosen by ascertaining the wishes and needs of the participants. Novelty of this autumn – organisation of educating excursions and meeting with interesting personalities. Within the context of the topic “Sports and Health”, participants of the club met Mihails Kudrjaševs, runner of long-distance marathons. That was a great opportunity to find out interesting facts, ask, comment and tell about their own sports activities.
Wish list of the participants of the Talk Club contains also the traditional autumn celebration days included in the annual calendar. Michaelmas was familiarised through the acquisition of information on the traditional dishes and the typical celebrating traditions. Through the familiarisation of the Michaelmas beliefs, we forecasted weather in late autumn and winter. Learning the programme of the Michaelmas events raised huge interest. It turned out that participants of the club had attended both the fairs and the Michaelmas concerts, and events for children. Whereas, on the eve of the St. Martin’s Day, folklorist Ieva Bērziņa will visit the Talk Club. The event will include both singing, plays and St. Martin’s Day’s bacon rolls. Of course, in an event like this, participants share folklore traditions of their countries telling about the autumn festivities and their celebration.
At the end of September, we went to observe and get familiarised with Alberta Street. There was a large number of surprises, because, in our daily routine, we do not look up and do not use our time to observe the vicinity. We started our activities of November by enjoying arts – we attended the National Museum of Art and, following the narrative of our guide, we found out a great deal of new information both about the building of the museum, and works of art, and the artists.
It is interesting to find out, share, and meet. But the main thing is to understand that Latvian language skills help us fit in the society and cultural processes.
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24/09/2024
A new semester of studies has begun, at the end of August and beginning of September 2024, we have launched training of 7 groups, providing more than 100 third-country nationals with the opportunity to learn Latvian language. Various levels of training are available in these groups: A1, A2 and B1 level in two groups and C1 level in one group. Three groups study onsite on the IAC premises, four groups – remotely on the Zoom platform. Students will complete training by the end of this year. Within the framework of the project, 169 students in 15 groups have completed the training at various levels in the total volume of 120 hours so far, and 134 of them have been provided with the opportunity to pass the official language knowledge test. Along with the training classes in the total volume of 120 hours, we also provide every group with consultations and participation options in the Latvian language training groups, as necessary.
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Next Latvian language groups will start at the end of August 2024 and September, they will be organized at the level A1, A2, B1 and C1 level. We invite you to apply by filling in the questionnaire here.
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We have finalized another learning stage: at the end of June all the groups that started learning Latvian language, in the amount of 120 hours at the beginning of 2024; therefore, at this moment, within the project we have organized already 15 groups, already 168 third country nationals have finalized learning in them. Upon end of the learning, approximately 80% of students used the opportunity to take the state language proficiency test at the National Centre for Education (VISC), more than 60% of them pass the test successfully. Admittedly, this year the state language proficiency test has changes both in its form, and content, that proved to be difficult for more students than before: each language skill (reading, writing, listening and speaking) is to be known well enough to pass the test, tasks need to be done on a computer, conversations take place online - all that takes getting used to. We observe that for the most part the students do not receive the necessary amount of points in one of the parts- writing; therefore, do not pass the test. Teachers encourage the students to learn diligently and also do the homework that shall be submitted on time; however, not always the students pay enough attention to that during the course.
For the purpose of improving and practicing speaking skills, EDC offers “Conversation clubs” at the A and B level. On May of this year the clubs ended, we organized them in the amount of 40 hours from October 2023 until May 2024 and anyone that learned Latvian language in person or remotely, had the chance to practice language in person with their friends, acquaintances and other group members. Overall 106 third country nationals took place in the “Conversation clubs”, some of them more actively- others, less actively. Teachers Erika (Ērika) and Inara (Ināra) managed to involve students in various interactive activities and conversations, where the topics (especially at a B level) were planned beforehand, according to the interests and recommendations of the participants, as well as coordinated with the topics that are included in the speaking part of the state language proficiency test.
We will resume “Conversation club” lessons in the fall.
Despite the fact that most of the activities have ended, on June 17 students started their lessons at a A1 level- summer and the wish to rest to these third country nationals was not an obstacle to learn the language. We wish them the luck to learn up until November!
Next Latvian language groups will start at the end of August 2024 and September, they will be organized at the level A1, A2, B1 and C1 level. We invite you to apply by filling in the questionnaire here.
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On June 15 of this year at the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia end-of-season event was organized for the participants, family members, friends and teachers of the projects. The event was well attended, 65 adults and 10 children participated. During the introductory part of the event, when searching answers to the questions of the quiz, they got to know the various district households, household items and other objects of the museum. Then meeting at the household of the Courland district, awarding of the winners of the quiz with sweets and a celebratory feast took place. It was a lovely gathering, because the participants of the project had the chance to meet the project team, teachers and group members, chat, have a nice walk in the prime of nature near the city, make friends, taste traditional Latvian dishes.| During the further part of the event we participated in the summer solstice, locally called Jāņi, activities of the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia. There was an opportunity to take part in wreath making workshop, as well as sing, dance and take part in games with the folk group „Kokles”. | The weather was spoiling us, we had the chance to learn, experience and take part in all activities. Thank you to all the participants! Thank you to all that showed interest in Latvian culture and solstice traditions!
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You are welcome to the onsite last lessons Conversation Clubs on the EDC premises at 34a Dzirnavu Street, Apt. 8, Riga:
- on 8, 15, 29 May for Level A
- on 9 May for Level B
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Within the framework of the project, classes for 10 groups of 120 hours were completed in April, we have offered them in various language levels according to the demand of participants: three A1 groups, two A2 and B1 groups each, one B2 and one C1 group. In total, the training course was completed by 108 third-country nationals. Test of original language skills was organised for 91 students. 77 third-country nationals have commenced training in 5 groups since February.
Within the framework of the training course or after completion thereof, language using skills can be strengthened by participating in the Conversation Language Clubs: Level A and B onsite Conversation Clubs on the IAC premises Wednesdays or Thursdays. You are welcomed to join the clubs in May: at Level A – on the 8, 15 and 29 May at 18:00, and at Level B – on the 9 at 17:30. For more details, please write at iac@latnet.lv or call +371 26335521!
We are planning to commence classes with fresh groups in August 2024. We are calling third-country nationals to register for training here
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You can apply for Latvian language learning groups here: https://ej.uz/LV_kursi
Next groups at levels A and B will be organised from February 2024. Subject to availability!
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You are welcome to the onsite Conversation Clubs on the EDC premises at 34a Dzirnavu Street, Apt. 8, Riga.
- Conversation Club for Level A participants takes place Wednesdays from 18:00– 20:00 as of 4 October. Apply at: https://ej.uz/SaRuNas_klubs_A
We meet every other Wednesday on
1, 15, 29 November
13 and 27 December
10 and 24 January
7 and 21 February
6 and 20 March
3 and 17 April
1, 15, 29 May
12 and 26 June
- Conversation Club for Level B participants takes place Thursdays from 18:00–20:30. First meeting to be held on 23 November, and further every other Thursday until 9 May next year. Apply at: https://ej.uz/SaRuNas_klubs_B
We are looking forward to see you, too! This is an opportunity to use in practice the skills learnt in the classes for communication with other persons beyond the training group.
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Project budget during the implementation period from 1 August 2023 to 31 January 2026 has been estimated in the amount of EUR 524 187,65 .
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Project team:
Iveta Vērse (Director of the EDC)
Linda Kluša (Project Manager)
Aija Kalve (Pedagogical Manager)
Līga Puniņa (Training Coordinator)
Aija Rusiņa (Accountant and HR Specialist)
Danute Grīnfelde (Information Technology Support Coordinator)