Language and Culture in Croatia

The University of Kansas Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures and the Office of Study Abroad offer students the opportunity to spend the summer in Zadar, Croatia, studying Croatian language and culture. The University of Kansas has more than 30 years of involvement in Croatian language programs.

In addition to intensive intermediate or advanced-level Croatian study, the program offers afternoon and evening programs that include lectures (in Croatian), films, and visits to museums. Cultural and sightseeing trips to local places of interest are planned for this year’s program.

Zadar

The ancient city of Zadar is situated close to four national parks and 50 attractive tourist resorts. The region of Zadar covers picturesque coastline and an archipelago of more than 300 islands and islets rich in peaceful, sandy beaches and numerous small coves and bays. In its history, Zadar has passed through different stages of development. In the 9th century B.C., Zadar was known as the settlement of Liburns (Illyrians). Then it became a Roman colony. Later, Zadar was for a time under the Byzantine rule. After the 9th century, well known as the period of Croatian rulers, the Croats settled there.

A great number of archeological sites, historical and cultural monuments tell us about the rich history of the city (city walls, the Roman Forum, numerous early Christian churches, various buildings dating from Romantic, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods, a famous collection of sacral silver and gold objects, etc.). The first university center on the eastern Adriatic coast was founded in Zadar in 1396.

Zadar has many cultural sight-seeing opportunities and events in town. There are three national parks near Zadar as well as natural parks and cultural sights. Students have the option of taking boat trips to islands off the coast. In addition to swimming and visiting the beaches, students can take part in various sports activities such as surfing, water-skiing, sailing, and scuba diving.

Program Director

Stephen M. Dickey is Associate Professor of Slavic Languages at the University of Kansas. In addition to a book and several articles on Slavic verbal categories, he has extensive experience in the countries of the former Yugoslavia and has published many translations from Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian into English, including Meşa Selimović’s Death and the Dervish and Borislav Pekić’s How to Quiet a Vampire.

Academic Program

The partner organization in Croatia is Lingua Croatica. Instructors are professional language-pedagogy specialists under joint contract by Lingua Croatica and University of Zadar. The KU Director will be on-site for support and academic assistance, when needed.

Students will take intermediate and advanced Croatian and will earn eight hours of Croatian language credit. The program offers 150 contact hours of instruction over a five or six-week period. The six-week program meets FLAS (Foreign Language and Area Studies) fellowship guidelines for contact hours and duration.

Cultural Program

Students will have the opportunity to attend music, dance, and theater performances as well as participate in organized field trips to sites of historical and cultural interest, including Nin and the islands of Pašman and Ugljan. Students will also have free time to explore Zadar and get to know the local people.

Accommodations

Accommodations include single rooms for all students. Meals are arranged independently by the student, except for during excursions. Meals can be found at a reasonable price ($10-15/day) and students have access to a shared kitchen.

The accommodations and the school are in the same building or very close.

Itinerary

Depart US: Saturday, May 24, 2008
Arrive Zadar: Sunday, May 25, 2008
Depart Zadar: Sunday, July 6, 2008

Eligibility

Open to students from any accredited U.S. college or university. A minimum of one year of Croatian language study is required. Minimum 2.5 GPA required (exceptions considered after submission of a petition).

Credit

Eight hours of credit are granted by the University of Kansas Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures upon successful completion of the program. Students receive 150 hours of instruction. The six-week program adheres to FLAS guidelines.

Cost

Program Fee
Five-week program - Approximately $4,150 ($4,350 non-KU).
The program fee includes tuition, fees, lodging and some meals, cultural activities and day excursions, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation services, KU orientation, and administrative costs.

Additional costs: Airfare, passport, and personal expenses.

Note

All dates, costs, and program information are subject to change as necessary due to fluctuations in the exchange rate or other reasons.

Financial Aid

Since the six-week program meets all Department of Education requirements for intensive summer language programs, eligible graduate students may use FLAS Summer Fellowships. KU students see www.crees.ku.edu/funding/summer_FLAS.shtml for more info. Non-KU students should check with their home institutions.

KU students who qualify for summer financial aid in the form of Stafford and/or other loans, Pell or SEOG Grants, and scholarships may apply the aid to the cost of a Study Abroad Program.

Limited supplemental scholarships are available to KU undergraduates. Applications are available at the Office of Study Abroad. The scholarship application deadline is March 1.

Non-KU students should check into the financial resources available to them at their home institutions.

Application Procedures

Final Application Deadline: March 1, 2008. Early application is encouraged.

Applications are available in the KU Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the application.

(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to download an application. If your computer does not have Acrobat Reader you can download it for FREE.)

For more information contact:

Dr. Stephen M. Dickey
The University of Kansas
Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures phone: 785-864-2357
e-mail: smd@ku.edu

The University of Kansas
Office of Study Abroad
Lippincott Hall
1410 Jayhawk Blvd. Room 108
Lawrence, KS 66045-7515

phone: 785-864-3742
fax: 785-864-5040
e-mail: osa@ku.edu
www.studyabroad.ku.edu