Kārlis Vērdiņš, Acting Instructor of Latvian, kverdi@uw.edu

Office: Raitt Hall 305-W; Office Hours: by appointment

MTWThF: 10.30–11.20*

*Class meeting times will change to three meetings per week; days and times to be determined.

Course Description

This course continues to develop Latvian language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). Instruction is based on textbook resources and also different materials (such as songs, films, animations, and folklore materials). By the end of the course, students will be able to communicate in everyday situations and read and write simple texts in Latvian. Additionally, LATV201 introduces students to Latvian culture, providing a deeper understanding of Latvian customs, traditions, literature and film, personalities, history, and Latvia today.

Course Structure

The course focuses primarily on comprehension skills (reading and grammar) and on developing production skills (speaking and writing). Students practice all language skills assessed on tests and exams. Students are tested on comprehension (vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension). The course provides students with the opportunity to learn Latvian in an environment that fosters cultural enrichment and understanding.

Course Goal

This course aims to help students develop the cultural and linguistic competence in using the Latvian language. Students will develop their language skills through listening, reading, writing, and speaking. After completing LATV201, students can communicate with other Latvian language users and read simple texts in Latvian.

Assignments

Assignments are aligned with the weekly topics and include grammar drills, quizzes on Canvas, and language tests. Students will read and translate short texts in Latvian in the course.

Course description

1. Introduction and review. Students will revisit the grammar rules and vocabulary learned last year. Me, my family and friends.
2. Appearance and clothing. Expand students' vocabulary by teaching terms concerning people’s appearance, body parts, and clothes. Noun in the locative case. Nouns and adjectives.
3. My home. My apartment, house, room, my things. Buying, selling, renting an apartment. Reflexive verbs ‘atrasties’, ‘vēlēties.’
4. Nature. Animals, plants, trees. East, North, South, West. Weather. Selected adjectives and prepositions.
5. My schedule. Daily routine, time, traveling, transport. Reflexive verbs ‘celties,’ ‘mazgāties,‘ ‚atpūsties,’ ‘ciemoties,’ ‘pastaigāties’ in present, past, future.
6. Shopping and services. Buying things, sales, shops, delivery. Verb ‘iepirkties,’ Nouns with -šana, -nīca, -tava.
7. My hobbies. Words describing leisure activities and cultural events (movies, concerts, theater, exhibitions, Latvian song and dance festivals). Reflexive verbs ‘interesēties,’ ‘nodarboties,’ ‘skatīties,’ ‘klausīties,’ ‘sākties,‘ ‘beigties.‘
8. Traveling. Words and phrases related to movement, travel, and using means of transport. Arrival and departure times. Verbs ‘izklaidēties,’ ‘reģistrēties,’ ‘ņemt,’ ‘iekāpt,’ ‘izkāpt,’ ‘ielidot,’ ‘izlidot.’
9. Holidays, celebrations, festivities. Names of holidays and related terms. Celebrations in Latvia. Prepositions ‘pie,’ ‘pirms,’ ‘pēc.’ Verbs with prefixes ie-, sa-, uz-, ap-.
10. Education and work. Job titles, job duties. Job advertisements and interviews. Verbs related to education and work.

Grades. Grades will be based on writing assignments (30%), tests and quizzes (30%), and contribution to class activities (40%). No final examination. If you have a justified reason to miss class, let your teacher know as soon as possible. You will not be penalized for missing class.

Grade scale: 97-100%=4.0 ; 93-96%=3.9 ; 91-93%=3.8 ; 90%=3.7 ; 89%=3.6 ; 88%=3.5 ; 87%=3.4 ; 86%=3.3 ; 85%=3.2 ; 84%=3.1 ; 83%=3.0; 82%=2.9 ; 81%=2.9 ; 81%=2.8 ; 80%=2.7 ; 79%=2.6 ; 78%=2.5 ; 77%=2.4; 76%=2.3; 75%=2.2; 74%=2.1; 73%=2.0; 72%=1.9; 71%=1.8; 70%=1.7... (0-60%=0.0)

Required Materials (or Readings)

Full copy of textbook:

1. I.Auziņa, M.Berķe, A.Lazareva, A.Šalme, V. Vaivade. Laipa A2. Latviešu valoda. Mācību grāmata, LVA, 2024 (text book).
2. I.Auziņa, M.Berķe, A.Lazareva, A.Šalme, V. Vaivade. Laipa A2. Latviešu valoda. Darba burtnīca, LVA, 2024 (work book)

Recommended materials (or readings) will be introduced during studies.

Other:

• Latvian-English/English-Latvian dictionary online: www.hugo.lv 
• http://maciunmacies.valoda.lv/eng 
• http://www.valoda.lv/en/Agenturas_darbiba/The_Latvian_Language_Agency/653/mid_668 
• www.letonika.lv
• www.tezaurs.lv

Note:  

Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/Links to an external site.).

• Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/Links to an external site.).