Every year on February 21, we celebrate International Mother Language Day, which highlights the important role languages play in our lives. Languages are not only a means of communication but also carriers of culture, history, and the identity of nations. In many Slovak primary and secondary schools, various events are organized on this day in the form of quizzes, presentations, or discussions with foreigners.Slovak is the official language of the Slovak Republic, but it is far from the only language spoken in the country. In the southern regions, Hungarian is commonly heard, in the northeast – Rusyn, and in Romani communities – the Romani language. Although Czech is very similar to Slovak, it still remains widely present, especially in television, as many old films and fairy tales were dubbed only into Czech.
At Matej Bel University, students can study four foreign languages as part of their major – English, German, French, and Russian. English, however, can only be studied in combination with another major. Other languages can be studied as a separate major or in a combined form. In the past, the university also offered courses in other languages such as Spanish or Polish, which are now taught as elective subjects. However, if European languages don't interest you and you'd like to try something more complex, the university offers a Chinese language course, which is available not only for students but also to the general public. In addition to the languages already mentioned, some Slovak universities offer the study of Hungarian, Japanese, and Scandinavian languages.
Sara Polívková