If you answered 'Yes' to at least one question, you should participate in the Lithuanian Language and Culture Summer Course (EILC) and spend a wonderful summer month at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) in Kaunas, Lithuania. Carolina Mikalauskas Sanchez, a student from Brazil, participated in the EILC last summer. She shared her fond memories and encouraged everyone not to miss the opportunity to come to VMU and make this summer unforgettable.
Lithuanian Language and Culture Summer Course
Each summer the VMU offers an intensive (4 weeks) Lithuanian Language and Culture Summer Course. During the summer course students are offered an intensive programme consisting of lectures, workshops and discussions, sightseeing tours and excursions which help the participants learn the Lithuanian language and deepen the knowledge about Lithuanian lifestyle. Qualified teachers and professors supervise the programme.
The course will take place from 20 July to 15 August 2015.
Application deadline: 30 June 2015.
What Students Think about EILC
Brazilian student Carolina Mikalauskas Sanchez participated in the EILC last summer. Being an avid fan of travelling and learning new languages, she decided to discover Lithuania. "I'm a very open-minded and flexible person, so I like to get to know new places, people and cultures" – Carolina says.
Explaining how the idea emerged to come to Lithuania and take part in the EILC at VMU, Carolina claims that she has Lithuanian family and they are very active in Brazil's Lithuanian community. It was always Carolina's dream to learn the Lithuanian language. She found out about EILC at a Lithuanian university lecture in the Lithuanian neighborhood of São Paulo, Vila Zelina, and did not hesitate to come here.
After finishing the EILC programme, Carolina feels very enthusiastic about her experience in Lithuania. "It was amazing, I can really feel how much I've learnt – from day one to my last day in Lithuania, I totally felt the difference, I was able to communicate quite well in the end. Considering that Lithuanian is a hard language to learn, I was very satisfied I could actually ask for information, start conversations, understand most of what I read or heard", – says Carolina.
When inquired about the activities pursued during the EILC, Carolina responds enthusiastically. "I participated in the classes and the extra-class lectures in the afternoon. I also attended cultural events promoted by the course and parties for the students, like bowling, the Folklore Day, party with everyone's national foods etc. Everything was really interesting".
Don't Miss Your Chance to Spend Summer in Lithuania
"Lithuania is an amazing place to live, considering the quality of life and the costs. It's a calm and safe place. I like that it is easy to move from place to place, I didn't take any transportation while I was there. The dormitory was very close to the university and to the main places of Kaunas. I love everything about Lithuania: old towns, nature, culture and food. Everything" – Carolina reveals the good sides of Lithuania.
Speaking about communication with people here in Lithuania, the foreigner claims that it was interesting. At first, as a Brazilian, she expected that the people would be not as warm as her compatriots, but every single person Carolina communicated with was very kind and pleased to help her. She did not see many differences between Lithuanians and Brazilians; actually, she found many similarities between both. "Lithuanians are great!" – the EILC graduate smiled.
Giving her advice to students who consider visiting Lithuania and participating in the EILC at VMU, Carolina strongly recommends both. "Lithuania is a beautiful country, with lots of things to see and VMU is a great university, with a great infrastructure for foreign students. You will meet amazing people. This was definitely one of the best and most remarkable experiences I've had in my life".
