Instructor
Gina Holvoet, acting assistant professor, ginah9@uw.edu
Office: Raitt Hall 305-W
Office Hours: by appt.
Course Information
In the spring of 2024, the World Happiness Report announced that Lithuania is the best place in the world to be young, surprising even Lithuanians themselves (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/jun/04/lithuania-happiest-place-in-the-world-young-people). Recently Lithuania has been named Lonely Planet’s #1 destination in Europe and the 2nd best place to visit in the world for 2025! (#LonelyPlanet2025 #VisitLithuania #CoCreateExperience #LithuaniaCoCreate).
What makes this country special? How did Lithuania become the first country to declare independence from the USSR, thus triggering the fall of the Iron Wall? Who are some famous Lithuanians who have lived and worked in America? What are Lithuanians proud of? This course is a thematic study of Lithuanian culture from antiquity to the present in historical, literary, and cultural aspects.
In addition to the main lecturer's lectures, guests from Lithuania will be invited. The lectures will include watching films, and YouTube clips, reading texts, and sharing and discussing experiences.
Evaluation and Grading
All assignments are graded on a 100-point scale. The course has neither a midterm nor a final exam, as active learning is expected regularly. The final grade will be assessed from the following components:
- Contribution to class discussions (30% of the final grade)
- Weekly quizzes (30% of the final grade)
- Final presentation (40% of the final grade: 20% oral and 20% written, video format also possible)