The Center for Croatian Studies Abroad was founded in 2007. The central task of the Center is the research, preservation and promotion of Croatian language and culture beyond the borders of Croatia, in cooperation with numerous international higher education institutions and cultural associations that promote Croatian linguistic identity and Croatian culture. The task of the Center is to teach Croatian as a second language as well as to introduce the students to the history and complexity of Croatian cultural identity.

Since 2007, several thousand students from all continents and from almost all countries of the world have participated in various programs of the Center. The quality of the Center's work is best evidenced by the number of foreign students, which is increasing year by year. These international participants in our programs are the best ambassadors of our work.

Head of the Center:

Dr. Josipa Korljan Bešlić

jkorljan@ffst.hr

Administrative secretary of the Center:

Jelena Rogošić, B.A.

jnovak@ffst.hr

Address: Poljička cesta 35, Split

Office phone number: + 385 21 491517

The Center for Croatian Studies Abroad (CEHAS) at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split offers semester-based programs of Croatian Language for Foreigners and Croatian Culture and Civilization, to all interested participants, including students in mobility programs (Erasmus, CEEPUS, etc.), and foreigners residing in the Republic of Croatia who wish to learn or advance their knowledge of Croatian language and culture.

Courses are realized in two separate semesters: the winter semester (early October - late January), and the summer semester (early March - mid-June).

The enrollment process begins one month before the beginning of the semester, i.e. September 1 for the winter semester, and February 1 for the summer semester.

COURSE CONTENT:

Croatian Language for Foreigners: beginner course (CLF 1 - levels A1 or A2)

The beginner level is for those with no prior knowledge of Croatian (level A1) and those with basic knowledge but insufficient for effective daily conversation (A2). The course consists of language exercises designed according to the requirements of levels A1 and A2 (CEFRL*).

Cultural content must be catered to this particular level, and adjusted to the participant’s ability of participation. The purpose of the separate course in Croatian culture is to provide additional motivation for language acquisition. This level includes more intensive speaking exercises as well as selected chapters from Croatian history and geography, thematically adapted to the level of language proficiency.

Croatian Language for Foreigners: intermediate course (HJS 2 - levels B1 or B2)

In addition to the acquisition of language competencies at the B1 or B2 level (CEF framework reference), the intermediate level also includes introductory-level content related to geographical features of Croatia and Croatian cultural heritage. The thematic block titled Croatian Cultural Heritage within the CLF 2 course covers separate topics in Croatian literature, history, culture and civilization, theater, film, folklore, ethnology, music, art history, etc. Class content at this level also includes extracurricular activities.

Croatian Language for Foreigners: advanced course (HJS 3 - levels C1 or C2)

At the advanced level (level C1 or C2 according to CEF), students are introduced to selected grammatical and orthographic topics in the thematic block titled Selection from the Croatian Standard Language. During the semester, the thematic block titled Functional Stylistics of the Croatian Standard Language is introduced, the purpose of which is to improve communicative competence. Students within the CLF3 course also have thematic blocks in the field of Croatian as a second language, grammatical terminology and lexicology, and is our participants are also students of Croatian at their higher education institutions, they are encouraged to analyze the topics individually, for the purpose of completion of their graduate theses as required by the relevant Croatian study programs.

*CEFRL: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment

Croatian Culture and Civilization I (HKC 1) - winter semester

The course is offered in the winter semester. It covers the most relevant topics from Croatian culture, civilization, history, art and literature from the beginning to the mid-19th century and the Croatian national revival. Special focus is placed on important cultural and historical events and ideas that have shaped the Croatian culture in the past. Participants will be introduced to selected literary and newspaper texts, scholarly analyses, as well as works in fields of art, music and film.

The course is interdisciplinary and its goal is to introduce the foreign participants to the most important aspects of Croatian culture over the course of history, so they are able to understand Croatian culture and civilization in a broader, European and global context.

Croatian Culture and Civilization II (HKC 2) - summer semester

The course is offered in the summer semester. It covers Croatian culture and civilization in the period from the mid-19th century and the Croatian national revival to the present day, through detailed insight into Croatian cultural heritage from the perspective of Croatian language, literature, philosophers, historians, cultural theorists, writers and artists. Participants broaden their knowledge of Croatian culture by studying various literary and newspaper texts, scholarly articles, essays, short stories, and works of art, music and film.

An important component of the course are cultural studies in a broader sense, including cultural geography, literature, tradition and poetics of everyday life. The course broadens the understanding of the position of Croatian culture and civilization in the wider European and global context.

The Summer School of Croatian Language and Culture at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split offers an intensive three-week Croatian language course for foreign students. The Summer School in Split, designed with field classes so our participants can be immersed in Croatian cultural heritage directly, has a tradition of fourteen years (the first Summer School took place in July 2007). A large number of foreign students participated in our Summer School programs over the years.

The Summer School offers a program suitable for everyone who wants to get to know and experience the country whose language they are learning, those who want to acquire or expand their existing knowledge about it, as well as learn or further improve knowledge of Croatian. In addition to in-class work, the Summer School program also includes field trips during which the participants are directly immersed in Croatia's cultural heritage.

Enrollment for the Summer School begins on April 1 each year.

Center for Croatian Studies Abroad organises exams for the assessment of proficiency in Croatian language and Latin alphabet. These tests are designed for foreigners who need this certificate in order to obtain a residence permit or citizenship, or for purposes of recognition of foreign education qualifications, employment etc.

How to apply:

- Candidates need to send the following documents:

 - a filled out application form;

 - proof of payment transaction (Instructions for payment);

 - copy of the passport 

Candidates can register for the exam up to one day prior to the examination date, by e-mailing the three required documents to the Center secretary, Ms. Jelena Novakovic, to the following address: jnovak@ffst.hr

Exams take place at the premises of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split, Poljička cesta 35, once each month, according to the defined schedule.

Exam consists of the following:

o    listening comprehension

o    reading comprehension

o    knowledge of grammatical structures

o    writing

o    speaking

The candidate must have a minimum of 60% of correct answers in the written exam in order to pass the test. After the completion of the written exam, the candidate will undergo a short conversation with the language instructor, to assess his/her language communication skills.

Upon successful completion of the exam, the candidate will be issued a certificate stating the specific purpose. The certificate will be ready no later than one week after the exam, and the candidate can pick it up personally or have it forwarded to him/her by land mail.