After several decades (the Slovenian Littoral, Resia, and Austrian Carinthia were the themes of the eighth and ninth seminars), the seminar is once again focusing on the ethnic Slovenian cross-border area or—as the Slovenian composer, ethnomusicologist, Slovenian studies specialist, and etymologist Pavle Merkù put it—the pre-border area. Specifically, it focuses on Trieste. Until the beginning of the twentieth century, this was the city with the largest ethnic Slovenian population, which the writer, lawyer, and politician Ivan Tavčar (and later Ivan Cankar) rightfully referred to as the “lungs of Slovenia” (as a counterpart to Ljubljana, which he called the “heart of Slovenia”). The seminar will examine Trieste and the Trieste region from several perspectives—history, politics, economics, and, of course, culture, literature, and linguistics—and through the historical periods that were key to Slovenians: from the period of the Carolingian and Ottonian empires and the brief period under the Republic of Venice via the Habsburg Monarchy and the nineteenth century to the First and the Second World Wars and beyond, up to the present. Trieste witnessed the national revival efforts of Slovenian patriots as early as 1848 and, in 1861, it obtained its first Slovenian (or Slavic) reading society, with Fran Levstik serving as its secretary. Slovenian newspapers and books were published in Trieste; for example, the newspapers Slavjanski rodoljub, Edinost, Slovenka (the first Slovenian women’s newspaper, initially published as a supplement to Edinost), Jadranka, Ženski svet (its editorial board had to move to Ljubljana), Most, and Zaliv. Trieste has also been the seat of Slovenian cultural institutions, such as the National Hall, which was burned by Italian Fascists during the summer of 1920, the Slovenian Theater (later the Slovenian Civic Theater), the Music Society, and so on. After the Second World War, the publisher Založništvo Tržaškega Tiska (literally, Trieste Publishing House) was established. By publishing books by Slovenian authors from the ethnic Slovenian cross-border area and Slovenia, it continued to affirm the presence of Slovenians in the southwestern part of Slovenian ethnic territory. The seminar will explore Trieste through the eyes of Slovenian writers, poets, artists, and intellectuals that were either born in the area or gained inspiration for their works in the city and the surrounding countryside. In addition to the ones already mentioned above, these include Dragotin Kette, whose cycle of poems Na molu San Carlo (On San Carlo Pier) was inspired by the eponymous pier, the Aurisina-born poet Igo Gruden, and the writer, translator, and teacher Marica Nadlišek Bartol, who also taught in the village of San Giovanni near Trieste, where, at the beginning of the twentieth century, she gave birth to the writer Vladimir Bartol—who portrayed this former ethnic Slovenian village, now a district of Trieste, in his autobiographic narrative Mladost pri Sv. Ivanu (My Childhood at San Giovanni), which he published in installments in the newspaper Primorski dnevnik. Also discussed is the Slovenian literary giant from Trieste and persistent witness to his time, Boris Pahor, whose life in the long and difficult twentieth century destroyed by totalitarian regimes is a unique symbol of a community’s fate. Other poets and writers examined include Alojz Rebula, Marko Kravos, Marij Čuk, Evelina Umek, and Miroslav Košuta.

Prof. Dr. Urška Perenič,
President of the 61^st SSJLK

The seminar is organised by the Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language at the Department of Slovene Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, Trubarjeva cesta 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. The morning programme takes place entirely at the Faculty of Arts, the University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 2, Ljubljana, while the afternoon and evening programme is organised at different locations in Ljubljana.

Seminar president: Dr. Urška Perenič
Head of the language teachers: Dr. Damjan Huber
Seminar organisers: Dr. Damjan Huber, Brigita Zahirović
Programme committee: Dr. Lidija Arizankovska, Dr. Zvonko Kovač, Dr. Mojca Nidorfer, Dr. Urška Perenič, Dr. Jerca Vogel
Technical editor of seminar publications: Mag. Mateja Lutar
Student assistance: Jaka Ajlec, Neža Cerinšek, Anika Logar, Zala Mele, Anja Pirc, Nika Predalič, Domen Rob, Lea Stezinar, Tea Stezinar

The lecturers and language teachers leading the seminar are proven experts from the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Arts and outside collaborators.

Lecturers: Dr. Gorazd Bajc, Ddr. Igor Grdina, Dr. Borut Klabjan, Ravel Kodrič, Dr. Miran Košuta, Mag. Rada Lečič, Nina Pahor, Dr. Urša Perenič, Dr. Marko Snoj, Dr. Matej Šekli, Dr. Ferdinand Šerbelj, Dr. Ana Toroš, Dr. Andreja Žele
Language teachers: Vesna Bukovec, Mag. Laura Fekonja Fonteyn, Tina Jugović, Mag. Mateja Kosi, Mag. Rada Lečič, Polona Liberšar, Mag. Meta Lokar, Dr. Mladen Pavičić, Eva Šprager, Dr. Andrej Šurla, Martin Vrtačnik

The seminar participants are foreign Slovene Studies and Slavic Studies specialists, writers, translators, experts in comparative linguistics and literature, and others who include Slovene in any other way in their life and work: teachers, researchers and students of Slovene and Slavic Studies at universities and research institutes abroad and in ethnic Slovene areas, etc. At the seminar they deepen and enrich their knowledge, learn about the latest findings and have genuine contact with the Slovene language, literature and culture.

Accommodation is available at the Ivan Cankar Hostel, Poljanska Cesta 26, Building A. The hostel is located in pleasant surroundings below Ljubljana Castle, a fifteen-minute walk from the city center. It is a thirty-minute walk from the hostel to the Faculty of Arts through the old part of the town. Accommodation is in triple, double, or single rooms, the bathrooms are shared (not ensuite), and a shared kitchen with an induction stovetop is available on the ground floor (we recommend bringing your own cookware). All participants receive a self-service breakfast, which is available in the adjacent building (Building B); for other meals they must make their own arrangements. The hostel also offers wireless internet access. Participants can park their cars for free in the parking lot in front of the hostel. More information is available on the website www.dic.si. and hosteldic.com/.

Participants have (wireless) Internet access on all the computers at the Faculty of Arts and at the Ivan Cankar hostel, where they are staying.

The Seminar of Slovene Language, Literature and Culture is the central scholarly event through which the Republic of Slovenia promotes the study of and research into Slovene language, literature and culture throughout the world, by granting financial support on the basis of international contracts and co-operation programmes for ethnic Slovene organisations and researchers who are professionally engaged in Slovene, and for students at foreign universities who study Slovene. In allocating these scholarships, priority is given to Slovene specialists, university teachers, research and teaching assistants, postgraduate students and students of higher classes.

Scholarships for the 61^st Seminar of Slovene Language, Literature and Culture will be granted within the framework of: lectureships in Slovene at foreign universities; Slovene institutions in Austria, Italy and Hungary; and programmes of international cultural cooperation at the relevant institutions outside Slovenia. There are the following possibilities:

• A) full scholarship for the main and accompanying programme and accommodation in a three-bed room with breakfast in the hostel (extra charge of 286 EUR for a two-bed room with breakfast or 507 EUR for single room with breakfast; payment to be made on arrival at the hostel);
• B) partial scholarship for the main and accompanying programme and partial funding of accommodation with breakfast in the hostel (extra charge of 108 EUR for a three-bed room with breakfast or 286 EUR for a two-bed room with breakfast or 507 EUR for a single room with breakfast; payment to be made on arrival at the hostel).

Those receiving scholarships are requested to complete by 1 April 2025 the registration form on our website (61^st SSJLK, Registration Form). You are also requested to send by 1 April 2025, along with the completed registration form, the completed language test, or to send it to [email protected] or to [email protected].

The registration form for participants of the 61^st Seminar of Slovene Language, Literature and Culture paying the seminar fee and accommodation costs themselves should be sent by 1 May 2025. You can apply via the Internet at the website (61^st SSJLK, Registration Form).

In May or June 2025 placement interviews with participants will take place via videoconferencing.

The registration fee includes language classes, conversation classes, phonetics classes, lectures, learning materials, the seminar proceedings, the accompanying programme, and event organisation. Participants paying for themselves can book accommodation at the Ivan Cankar hostel.

Prices for those paying for themselves:

• fee: 760 EUR
  
• accommodation in three-bed room with breakfast: 234 EUR
  
• accommodation in two-bed room with breakfast: 286 EUR
  
• accommodation in single room with breakfast: 507 EUR

After we have received your registration form, we will send you the invoice for payment of the fee by e-mail. Please send your payment receipt no later than 30 June 2025.

Upon receipt of your registration form we shall send you the language test, which will help us place you in the right group.

In May or June 2025 placement interviews with participants will take place via videoconferencing.

The date of arrival for participants at the Ivan Cankar hostel is Sunday 6 July 2025; the programme begins according to the timetable on Monday at 9 a.m., 7 July 2025 at the Faculty of Arts.

The departure date is Saturday, 19 July 2025.

Participants at the Seminar of Slovene Language, Literature and Culture achieving 80 per cent participation in the compulsory seminar programme (language exercises, conversation practice, phonetic exercises, conversation practice with students of Slovene from the Ljubljana Department of Slovene Studies and lectures) will receive a certificate of participation. The seminar will be credited under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Students who regularly attend language, conversation and phonetics classes, conversation practice with students of Slovene from the Ljubljana Department of Slovene Studies, as well as lectures, and who pass the exam at the end of the seminar, will receive 3 credit points (3 ECTS).

The library of the Departments of Slovene/Slavic Studies keeps an open door for seminar participants. Throughout the duration of the seminar they can borrow books and turn for advice to the librarians. The library also prepares an exhibition every year, presenting recent professional literature, the best works of Slovene literature, and translations into foreign languages. The participants will visit the exhibition during their practical classes.

During the seminar, the Faculty of Arts bookshop offers all participants a 25% discount on the purchase of all textbooks from the Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language as well as publications of the University of Ljubljana Press, Faculty of Arts.

All seminar participants are recommended to obtain a certificate of medical insurance in their home countries, otherwise they must pay the expenses of medical care and medication themselves.

As they will not be entering Slovenia as tourists but for purposes of study or professional training, they are advised to arrange before they come a temporary residence permit for Slovenia. This is particularly important for citizens of third countries (not the European Union, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein), who are required to obtain this document even for short visits, while citizens of member states of the European Economic Area must obtain it within 90 days of entering Slovenia, however, they must register with the police immediately after their arrival.

Center za slovenščino kot drugi in tuji jezik
Seminar slovenskega jezika, literature in kulture
Damjan Huber
Trubarjeva cesta 3
SI-1000 Ljubljana

T: 00386 1 241 86 76
E: [email protected], [email protected]

The main seminar programme includes practical language classes (18 school hours*), conversation classes (18 school hours*), phonetics classes (4 school hours*), conversation practice with students of Slovene from the Ljubljana Department of Slovene Studies (0–8 school hours* for intermediate groups, or 8 school hours* for each beginners group) and 11 lectures. Participation in this part of the programme is compulsory and is required in order to obtain the certificate of attendance. In the afternoon and evening there is a non-compulsory accompanying programme for participants.

*1 school hour = 45 minutes.

Practical language classes

Practical classes will probably be organised in 3 beginners, 5 intermediate and 3 advanced groups. According to their interests, participants of the advanced groups can choose among linguistic literary and general groups. Individual participants are assigned to an appropriate group on the basis of a language test completed before arrival at the seminar, and oral testing before the seminar starts. Practical classes are compulsory for all participants.

Conversation classes

These classes are aimed at improving communication skills, extending vocabulary, internalising communication patterns and eliminating errors. They will deal with themes taken from everyday life, with an emphasis on practical communication and on extending acquaintance with Slovenia and its culture. Conversation classes are compulsory for all participants.

Conversation practice with students from the Ljubljana Department of Slovene Studies

In the afternoon, up to eight hours of conversation with students in Ljubljana’s Department of Slovene Studies are also available to members of the beginner groups and optionally to members of intermediate groups. These conversation exercises are obligatory for the beginner groups, whereas those in the intermediate groups can choose between lectures (at least four) and afternoon conversation (if not attending lectures, they must attend the afternoon conversation sessions).

Phonetics classes

Phonetics classes are compulsory and organized on two different levels: (a) classes for beginners that start with an introduction to the Slovene spoken language and specifics of its phonetics, with examples from texts. This is followed by practical exercises to improve pronunciation and listening skills necessary for more efficient learning and use of the language. The exercises are adjusted to the participants’ level of knowledge and to their mother tongue; (b) exercises for intermediate and advanced level, intended to improve speaking skills and understanding of spoken texts.

Lectures

Lectures (11 in total) on Slovene language, literature and culture are obligatory for members of advanced groups, while members of intermediate groups can choose between lectures (at least 4) and afternoon conversation with Ljubljana students of Slovene Studies in Ljubljana (if not attending lectures, they must attend the afternoon conversation sessions). Lectures are public, so others can also attend them. The 61^st Seminar of Slovene Language, Literature and Culture will focus on Trieste in Slovene Language, Literature and Culture. As always, the lectures will appear in the seminar proceedings and on the website. Similarly, the lectures will also appear on the portal Videolectures.

The seminar also offers an afternoon-evening programme, which includes themed guided tours of Ljubljana, the showing of a Slovene film, a theatre performance, visits to museums, galleries and libraries, musical and literary evenings, etc. This additional programme includes a whole-day study excursion, which will take place this year on Saturday, 12 July 2025.