 YFU |
Exchange programs
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Are you coming?
Do you already see yourself as a Youth For Understanding exchange student? Are you thinking of all the new things you are going to encounter – a new language, a new family and friends, a new life, new food, a new school... What was it aboul the school? Going on an exchange visit does not necessarily mean an interruption in your studies. If you are considering a career in art, ballet, or music (or you just care very much about this part of your life), you probably feel that leaving a year out is something you cannot really afford. And why should you? We can offer you a year of professional growth in Latvia. The unique mixture of Latvian national culture traditions and modern trends secures that special quality that characterizes Latvian art, ballet and music schools. If you have other interests, there is also a regular high-school program available. The benefits are no smaller. You will attend a regular school (gymnasium), and you will still have the opportunity to see what effect culture has on everyday life in Latvia. You can either choose an arts school or a regular school, in any case you will spend a year in Latvia as a YFU exchange student – sharing your everyday life with a Latvian host family, meeting people, making friends, learning about another culture and yourself... A Taste of History and CultureLatvia is a small spot on the world's map, and its culture is a small piece of the world's culture "cake". The people here are proud of the way it is. Culture has always been one of the most important and basic values in the history of this small country. For Latvians, culture is the most efficient way of expressing themselves and ensuring their existence. Throughout centuries, Latvia has been on the crossroads of Europe. Several hefty neighbors, like the Swedes, Germans, Russians and Poles, in different times have tried to make Latvia a part of their tenures, to satisfy their love of power. That, of course, has affected the culture of this tiny country. After all the struggles and changes that Latvia has gone through, we have understood the value of things which nobody can take away from us. Probably that's why we keep our traditions, history and culture sacred. For example, folk songs are one of Latvia's treasures. We say that the number of our folk songs is big enough for every Latvian to have at least one. And most surprising is the fact that Latvians really know their folk songs. It does not mean that Latvia lives in the past, cherishing only its history and memories. All the new tendencies in culture have affected Latvia, as well. Have you heard that Riga, the capital of Latvia, is sometimes called the small Paris? Riga is a full-fledged European city with a fascinating cultural life. Art programmes
Music Living in Music... Today, the musical life in Latvia is active, with many opportunities to listen to others and present yourself. Professional music lives along with amateur music and both are equally important. Latvians are called the singing nation. It is almosl impossible to find a Latvian who would not have sung in a choir at some point in his or her lifetime. Almost every regular school has its own choir. It is no suprise that Latvian choirs are returning from various international choir music festivals as winners. Once in 4 or 5 years all of Latvia's choirs, as well as folk dance groups, and ethnographic groups gather together for the Song Festival, a unique event that occupies an important place in this nation's cultural life and everybody's personal experience. Can you imagine being among several thousand other singers experiencing the unforgettable and magic feeling of being a part of your nation? Riga, the capital city, is the centre of Latvia's musical life. Although internationally acclaimed stars perform here only several times a year, there are plenty of events of local importance like the Song Festival mentioned, festivals of ancient music, opera, choir music, jazz, chamber music and rock concerts. There are many places in the town offering live music. You can find many music clubs with different styles of music. If you are a young musician, professional or amateur, you have lots of possibilities to perform, even on national TV, where different competitions are organized. Recently, the Latvian National Opera was reopened after a long period of reconstruction, regaining its old fame and glory. The majestic white building witnesses opera and ballet perfomances with a classical and contemporary repertoire. World famous stars, like the musician Mstislav Rostropovich, the operatic soprano Montserrat Caballe and the Boris Eifman ballet company from St. Petersburg have drawn thunderous applause here. Dance „Students fall into various categories: the beautiful flower growing alone between the rocks, the sponge, wanting to know what you know and how and why and those you have to teach from beginning to end until they understand and can at last become themselfes... I was a hybrid of flower and sponge: an eager pupil.” ... and Dance Art In Latvia, you will encounter classical visual arts teaching methods, which are nearly extinct in other parts of the world. You will learn to draw the old plaster Greeks and how to prime your canvas for a still-life of mushrooms. Here you will also be able to meet me. And the colour orange. Meeting Art While our closest neighbors are popular for their art of design, Latvians are proud of their painting tradition, as this form of art is the most developed in all the Baltic states. The young generation of artists is playing a great role in the Latvian art. Monumentality and dynamics are characterizing this period, as well as big formats and simplicity. It does not mean, of course, that other styles would not be present. Different generations of artists find a fantastic dialogue, and individuality is greatly appreciated. You will find diversity, development and movement in Latvian art. Students of art schools are a special part of Latvian society as they are inventive, independently-minded and creative. They are known for their projects and activities. At the same time, art schools require a serious attitude towards work. In these schools, since the age of 12, young people are deliberately raised and educated to be painters. Classical traditions are taken as a basis; at the same time, individual expression is very much supported. Crafts is a specific "branch" of Latvian art, so there are special art schools devoted entirely to crafts. If you are interested in something typically Latvian, like weaving, textile art, work with wood, amber, leather and other natural materials, schools like these are the place for you. Riga Exhibition halls 6 Schools Latvian schools are very academic. Schools are compulsory until the age of 15 or 16. The last three years of high school (gymnasium), which prepare students for the studies in universities, are optional. Traditionally, there is a distinction between science and liberal arts classes in schools, but as an exchange student you can select subjects more freely. Art, ballet and music schools have their distinctive place in the Latvian system of education. They are known for their high professionalism and classisal schooling. In these schools intense, special instruction is combined with required liberal arts subjects. Students are given much individual attention, and schools in return make strict demands on students, whether or not a professional career is planned, requiring the highest effort that the student is capable of giving. Communication between teachers and students is quite formal. Students are used to treating their teachers with respect and do not usually regard them as a friend. This is very much true in the arts schools, where the relationship betweenn a teacher and a student is, indeed, like the one between a master and his apprentice. In music schools students receive instruction in voice, solfeggio, music theory and history, choral singing, piano and a second instrument, chosen by the student. Students are offered to play in the school's orchestra and sing in the choir. In art schools students are taught the basics of classic art. They work in pencil, water and oil colours, and ink. Schools of applied arts offer students classes in ceramics, textile, wood, leather, glass and metal work. In Riga Choreography School training is based on classical dancing, following Vaganova's ballet methods. Most art schools require a tuition fee. Academic programmeThe Educational System of Latvia at the Secondary School Level Secondary education in Latvia is divided into Secondary schools (University preparatory schools) and Vocational schools. Secondary schools are known as VIDUSSKOLAS (middle schools). Most of these schools last for three years and students are required to take at least 12 subjects. Out of these 5 are compulsory:
The others are chosen by students from each of the offered courses within:
At the end of the final year, students have to take five exams. Three of the exams are compulsary: Latvian, Algebra and Foreign Language. Students choose the other two. The others are chosen by students from each of the offered courses within Social Sciences, Foreign Languages, Natural and Physical Sciences or Humanities. Some Secondary Schools may specialize in a group of subjects such as Maths, Physics and Computer Sciences, Chemistry and Biology, Foreign Languages and Humanities, etc. and are known as Gymnasiums. No formal differences exist between the Secondary Schools and Gymnasiums. There is quite a large number of music and art schools in Latvia. At these schools intense instruction in special subjects is given along with the general courses. The grading system Grade reporting may take place two, three, or four times a year. Each school may decide how often it will report students’ grades. The grading scale is as follows:
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