Achievement & Equality Team
Information on Latvia and the Latvian Language
Where Latvian daughters bloom Where Latvian sons sing Let us dance in happiness there In our Latvia!
National Anthem of Latvia
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LATVIA AT A GLANCE
Location – North-east European, on the east coast of the Baltic Sea Neighbours – Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus Size – 24,938 square miles Population – 2,231,503 Density – 89.5 people per square mile Average Life Expectancy – Males 65 years, Females 76 years Capital City – Riga (population 722,485) Currency - Lats Time Zone – Eastern European time (+2 hours) Website - http://www.mk.gov.lv/en
Potted History
Baltic tribes inhabited the area in AD900. They were conquered by German crusaders and in the 13th century the capital, Riga, became an importing trade post. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Latvia came under Polish, Swedish, and German rule, with Russian control established by 1795. The Soviets ruled from the Second World War until independence in 1991. EU and NATO membership came in 2004.
Political Pressure Points
Latvia’s economic crisis brought out 10,000 protesters in Riga in January 2009, the biggest demonstration since Independence, and in February the four-party coalition government was forced to resign. The new prime minister warned in March that if international lenders did not relax budget deficit requirements for a bail-out loan, Latvia could go bankrupt by June.
Population Mix
Latvian 59.3%, Russian 27.8%, Belarusian 3.6%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Polish 2.4%, Lithuanian 1.3%, and other 3.1%
Religious makeup
Catholic 22%, Protestant 20%, Orthodox Christian 15%
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Main languages
Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3%
National icons
Mikhail Baryshnikov (dancer and actor), Marian Pahars (footballer), Pēteris Vasks (leading composer), Inese Ga (soprano), Mikhail Tal (chess genius) Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov (ballet dancer)
The Nottinghamshire Context
Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia became part of the EU in 2004. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007. This has enabled residents from these countries to have freedom of movement and the ability to work anywhere in the EU. This has meant increased migration to the UK for economic reasons. Migrants from these countries may work in low paid unskilled jobs, although be highly skilled in particular industries back in their home country. Some jobs may also involve shift work which can impact on family life and ability for parents to attend meetings.
Education in Latvia
Pre-school education for children under the age of seven is part of general education and is offered in both public and private pre-school educational institutions. Pre-school education for children from age five is compulsory. Parents who send their child to a public sector institution have to make a financial contribution to cover the cost of meals and managing expenses, but access to educational activities is free of charge. In private sector institutions the fee covers the full cost of the programme.
In Latvia the primary and lower secondary stages of compulsory basic education last for nine years from age 7 to 16. At the age of 16 pupils can choose to follow general secondary education or vocational secondary education. General secondary education offers opportunities
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for further study and is available in four different areas: general; humanities and social sciences; mathematics, science and technology; professional.
Vocational education programmes are aimed at providing students with the knowledge and skills appropriate to a vocational professional qualification or providing opportunities for further study.
There are two types of higher education institutions in Latvia: academic and professional (vocational). While non-university type institutions run professional programmes, universities often offer both academic and professional programmes.
Information about the Latvian Language
Latvian (latviešu valoda), sometimes referred to as Lettish, is the official state language of the Republic of Latvia. There are about 1.4 million native Latvian speakers in Latvia and about 150,000 abroad. Small communities of speakers live in Germany, UK, United States, Russia, Australia, Canada Sweden, Lithuania, Ukraine, Brazil, Belgium, Estonia, Belarus, New Zealand, and Venezuela.
The Latvian language belongs to the Baltic group of the Indo-European family of languages. It’s closest and only living relative is Lithuanian. Estonian, Lithuanian, Belorussian, Russian, Polish, Swedish and German are neighbouring languages. Latvian has inherited a lot from the Indo-European proto-dialects, and, like Lithuanian, it has preserved a lot of archaic features in its sound system and grammar.
The Latvian language has also been influenced by neighbouring Finno-Ugric languages Liv and Estonian, by Lithuanian and by Russian. Since the Middle Ages until the early 20th century, German was the dominant language in education, science and administration, about 3000 German borrowings became part of Latvian vocabulary. During the last few decades extensive borrowing from English has taken place. Nevertheless, the impact of other languages is not as great as it might appear. This is largely due to the activities of Latvian linguists in language standardisation.
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Latvian employs the Roman script with a number of diacritical marks to indicate special sounds. A macron (horizontal line) indicates a long vowel (e.g., māte-mother, tēvs- father), while č, š, and ž are pronounced ‘ch’, ‘sh’, and ‘zh’ respectively ( četri- four, seši- six). A cedilla under certain consonants adds a ‘y’ sound (nedēļa- week). The stress in Latvian is always on the first syllable.
Here is an example of Latvian literature.
LATVIAN
Sample text: Studentiem ir jābūt kā planētām pie debesīm, kas atspoguļo visu gaismu, ko tās saņem, un jāprot vairot autoru domas gaismu, nevis tikai jākļūst par faktu un atziņu krātuvēm. Domāšana ir progresīva. Autora domai ir jāevolucionē lasītāja apziņā, izlabojot aplamos pieņēmumus un pilnveidojot izpratni. Vislabākais kritiķis ir tas, kurš var parādīt vecās idejas turpmāko attīstību. Tas, kurš tikai noliedz veco pasauli, ir progresa (un tāpēc arī Dabas) ienaidnieks
Translation: Students like satellites should reflect whatever light they receive from authors and not imprison the facts and thoughts.... Thought is progressive. The author's thought must have progress in the reader in the shape of correction or development. He is the best critic who can show the further development of an old thought; but a mere denouncer is the enemy of progress and consequently of Nature.
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Words and Phrases
English Latvian easy pronunciation Hi Sveiki Good morning Labrīt Good day Labdien Good Evening Labvakar Hello! How are you? Labdien! Kā jums klājas? Fine, thanks. And you? Paldies, labi. Un jums? Glad to see you again. Priecājos jūs atkal redzēt. What is the time? Cik ir pulkstenis? What time? Cikos? When? Kad? Second Sekunde Minute minūte Hour Stunda Half an hour Pusstunda Bye Atā All the best Visu labu See you later Uz redzēšanos Thank you Paldies Thank you very much Liels paldies What is your name? Ká jús sauc? kah yoohss sowts My name is... Mani sauc... mani sowts How are you? Ká jums iet? kah yoomss eeet Paldies, labi. un jums? paldeeas labi, oon Fine, thanks, and you? yooms
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How old are you? Cikvecstuesi? I am … years old Es esnu….gadusvecs I understand Es saprotu. es saprotu I don't understand Es nesaprotu. es nesaprotu Vai jús runájat angliski? vai yuhss runahyat Do you speak English? angliski Pleased to meet you Ļoti patīkami Books Grāmatas pen spalva pencil zīmulis school skola Teacher Skolotājs Student students Mother māte Father tēvs Brother brālis Sister māsa Grandfather maternal vecaistēvs mātes Grandmother maternal vecmāmiņa māšu Grandfather paternal vectēvs no tēva puses Grandmother paternal vecāmāte no tēva puses Red sarkana White baltā Purple purpura Yellow dzeltenā Blue zilā Orange oranžā Brown brūnā
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Black melnā Green zaļā Monday Pirmdiena Tuesday Oīrdiena Wednesday Trešdiena Thursday Ceturtdiena Friday Piektdiena Saturday Setdiena Sunday Svētdiena Zero Nulle One Viens Two Divi Three Trīs Four Četri Five Pieci Six Seši Seven Septiņi Eight Astoņi Nine Deviņi Ten Desmit
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Useful guidance is available from:
New Arrivals Excellence Programme Guidance (2007) Ref 00650 – 2007BKT- EN www.nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk This resource is for primary and secondary schools and contains guidance on admission and developing classroom practice.
A language in common: assessing English as an additional language QCA (2000) (QCA/00/584). www.qcda.gov.uk/resources/6200aspx This document sets out steps used in assessment of EAL, linked to English National Curriculum levels. It provides guidance and exemplifications.
Aiming High: guidance on supporting the education of asylum seeking and refugee children (DfES 0287 – 2004) www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/ethnicminorites/links_and_publications/AH_Gdnc _AS_RFG_Apr04?asylumguidance.pdf This guidance helps explain the value of an inclusive ethos and curriculum to all pupils.
Aiming High: meeting the needs of newly arrived learners of EAL (DfES 1381 -2005) www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/primary/publications/inclusion/newarrivals Information on working with newly arrived isolated EAL pupils in settings that have little or no access to EAL support.
Excellence and enjoyment: learning and teaching for bilingual children in the primary years (DfES 0013 – 2006PCK- EN)
Key Stage 3 National Strategy: Access and engagement in English:teaching pupils for whom English is an additional language (DfES 0609 – 2002)
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Publications/Catalogues are available from:
MUNDI Tel: 0115 8546418 Mundi Global Education Centre Foxhall Lodge Foxhall Road Nottingham NG7 6LH www.mundi.org.uk (under construction/Aug 2010) Mundi loan resources to schools in Nottinghamshire free for up to half a term e-mail: [email protected]
MILET Publishing Ltd Tel: 0207 603 5477 6 North End Parade London W14 0SJ England Web: http://www.milet.com
Milet publishers a wide range of bilingual picture dictionaries, including board books for use in early years settings.
TRENTHAM BOOKS LTD Tel: 01782 745567 Westview House, 734 London Road, Stoke on Trent, UK ST4 5NP Web: http://www.trentham-books.co.uk
Trentham publishes 'a wide range of titles plus seven professional journals, mainly in the field of education and social policy.
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MANTRA LINGUA Tel: 0208 44 55 123 Global House 303 Ballards Lane London N12 8NP UK Web: http://www.mantralingua.com .
Mantra Lingua creative learning resources Audio CDs, Big Books, e-books, fun tales, folk tales, friezes, games, language learning, packs posters, story props, toys videos and so on.
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Classroom Resources are available from:
The following website translates words, phrases and short paragraphs from English to Latvian available at; www.foreignword.com .
DLTK's Crafts for Kids features a variety images that can be used for creating pupils own subject-specific dictionaries. http://www.dltk-kids.com .
Activities for ESL Students can be adapted for EAL pupils in primary and secondary schools. Has bilingual quizzes in large number of languages, available at; http://a4esl.org.
Omniglot writing systems and languages of the world available at http://www.omniglot.com
EMA Online resource base for teachers has been developed by Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester LAs with funding from the DfES, available at http://www.emaonline.org.uk .
Racist bullying, Advice designed for schools to dip in and out as appropriate for them and offers discussion topics and activities to stimulate debate and spark activity involving everyone in the school community, available at; http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/behaviour/tacklingbullying/racistbul lying.
Teachernet states that a successful home–school relationship can be a key element in making a school stronger and more effective. In particular, it can make a real difference to groups of underachieving pupils and their families, available at; http://www.teachernet.gov.uk.
Interactive video clips showing children teaching their home languages. Not available in all languages but constantly being updated. www.newburypark.redbridge.sch.uk/langofmonth
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