Kartvelian Studies Summer School
Each year a five weeks Summer School in Kartvelian Studies for non-Georgians is held in the months of July and August.
In a broad sense Kartvelian (Georgian) Studies (Kartvelology) embraces Georgian culture, history and all fields of the humanities: linguistics, literary criticism, art, archaeology, folklore, ethnography and source study.
Georgia, Sakartvelo, successor to ancient Colchis and Iberia, lies at the boundary of Europe and Asia, east of the Black Sea, in the southwestern part of the Caucasus. Today too it continues to serve as a geographical, economic and cultural bridge between East and West.
The Summer School in Kartvelian Studies - the only one of its kind in the world is organized by the Centre for Kartvelian Studies and sponsored by the Government of Georgia, Tbilisi State University and by the Fund for Kartvelian Studies.
The School offers intensive instruction in Modern Georgian - both along the line of spoken as well as grammatical norms of the language - with account of the level of mastery of the language by the participants. They can also attend lectures on Georgian history, literature, language and art and become acquainted with Georgia’s cultural and historical past and her present achievements.
Excursions out of town - to various regions of Georgia - are organized at weekends.
The five-week course at the Summer School costs 1500 Euros per student. This includes accommodation (in a student’s dormitory or at a private apartment), board, lectures and seminars, and cultural program (excursions to the countryside, visiting museums, seeing Georgian films, etc.).
More information at:
The Kartvelologist - Journal of Georgian Studies en actuele info over Summer School: http://kartvelologi.tsu.ge/public/en
International Summer School in Georgian Studies
Elguja Khintibidze:
Comment of two participants of Kartvelian Summer School
“I learnt about the Summer School at my university and I decided to attend. My decision stunned everyone – my parents, friends, my professors. The view about Georgia is hazy in my country. We know almost nothing and the only thing we have heard is that one must not go there because it is a zone of dire economic hardship. Imagine my surprise, elation and joy to find that none of the above points came true. Furthermore, great warmth and love, selfless kindness and boundless hospitality – occasionally quite unexpected and strange, exceptional people, beautiful city and country…” (Sachiko Iokoi, Osaka University of Foreign Languages, August, 2000).
“For me the Summer School is a great possibility to get to know Georgia and its crazy language. After five weeks you have some basic knowledge of Georgian, you have seen some fascinating sites in Georgia on the excursions which are included in the program, you have participated in some inspiring lectures from local scholars, and – last but not least you have had a lot of fun. Highly recommended!” (Florian Mühlfried, Hamburg, Germany, December 2002)
