This year, a study circle programme was revived in Trbovlje after many years of absence. At the call for tenders by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports we gained the funds for implementation of the study circle called Language and culture go hand in hand, which is intended for immigrants, especially women.
Study circles are small groups for planned learning. Their foundations are the mentors, personal meetings and group dynamics. Our study circle is focused on communication in everyday situation, e.g. how to visit a doctor, how to handle parent-teacher meetings, how to get help from institutions, etc. In addition to learning Slovenian and getting acquainted with the Slovenian culture, the meetings offered the immigrants an opportunity to socialise, meet new people and make friends, which is the first step to integration into a new environment. The circle is also an opportunity for the immigrants to present their culture, customs and traditional food.
The study circle Language and culture go hand in hand promotes inter-cultural dialogue, tolerance and coexistence of different cultures. At the Learning Parade that was held in May, the immigrants presented the traditional Balkan food.
Polona Trebušak (polona.trebusak@zlu.si), AEC Zasavje