About the language / Introduction

Globalisation is a phenomenon that has gradually spread across the world as a result of the developing economic and political power of countries of Europe and North America, beginning in the Industrial Revolution. Post-World War II, it has been manifested by a growing flow of migrants from developing countries (the so-called Third World) to developed countries in Europe and North America.

The number of asylum seekers in Slovakia is still low and does not yet show an upward trend. Several hundred asylum seekers are registered every year, but citizenship is only awarded to a few dozen. Two departments have been established at the Comenius University in Bratislava, specializing in teaching Slovak as a foreign language. These departments serve ethnic Slovaks from abroad, foreign students, entrepreneurs, managers, Slovakists, and other interested parties:

Studia Academica Slovaca Centre - a centre for Slovak as Foreign Language, at the Faculty of Philosophy of Comenius University. Every year since 1965, the Centre has organised the Slovak Language and Culture Summer School, where it offers courses to ethnic Slovaks from abroad, students, translators, writers etc. The courses cover a wide range of topics, including language, literature, culture, ethnography, history, translation and other special seminars. Prospective Slovak lecturers can apply to Slovak embassies to obtain grants for study of the Slovak language and culture in Slovakia itself. The Methodical Centre issues proceedings and anthologies, organises specialised events and prepares the candidates for their work as lecturers. In the Department of Slovak Language at the Faculty of Philosophy of CU, the Slovak as a Foreign Language Section was established to offer specialised language courses and seminars for foreign students and applicants during the whole academic year. The Section prepares research projects on Slovak as foreign language, issues study materials, etc.

Source: ONDREJOVIČ, Slavomír: Slovenský jazyk, jazyky na Slovensku. 1. vyd. Bratislava: Ševt, a.s., 2008. 32 s. ISBN 978-80-8106-005-2.