Basque lectures have already started in the University of Edinburgh

With the beginning of the new academic year, the University of Edinburgh has already started giving Basque lessons, thanks to the lectureship programme promoted by Etxepare Basque Institute. Etxepare Basque Institute, together with the University of Edinburgh, manages this lectureship in the Scottish University.

Etxepare Basque Institute promotes Basque Studies through the lectureship programme in international universities and in superior centres, with the aim of reinforcing the international recognition of Basque and Basque culture and creating meeting spaces with other languages and communities. The subjects related with Basque and Basque culture are in the academic offer of different universities of the world, thanks to the collaboration agreements that they have signed.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the lectureship was suspended, but this year the Scottish university has resumed Basque language and culture classes within the "Spanish and Portuguese Language" department.

The lectures will be given by Dylan Inglis. Dylan Inglis is well known in the Basque Country. He learned Basque on his own and has now become a teacher. Dylan has a close relationship with the Basque Country and the Basque language. In his learning process he paid special attention to the "euskalkaki" (dialects), he is fluent in Biscayan, Souletin and Baztan Basque. He is also interested in "bertsolaritza" (the art of improvising verse).

Lessons in Basque and Basque culture began in September at the University of Edinburgh, and this academic year will focus on the teaching of Basque. Depending on the conditions of the students next year, their aim is also to deepen their knowledge of Basque culture.Lessons in Basque and Basque culture began in September at the University of Edinburgh, and this academic year will focus on the teaching of Basque. Depending on the conditions of the students next year, their aim is also to deepen their knowledge of Basque culture.

From now until May they will have two face-to-face classes per week. In addition, Inglis has decided to use the Boga platform to teach Basque. Boga is a multimedia system for learning Basque on the Internet. They can learn Basque from home or from another place, always with the support of a teacher or tutor. Apart from that, Inglis teaches new vocabulary and they practice the oral part.

This is how Inglis defines the profile of his students: "Anyone can sign up for this course, but it is mainly focused on first and second year students. Most of them come from the area of philology or linguistics, so the profile is more linguistic. There are also those studying Spanish, Russian, Chinese... Most of them are working in something related to languages, but it can be said that the profile is quite varied. Some students will get additional credits for taking this course, while for others the course is part of the degree. Those who are really interested in the subject have enrolled in this course. "

Relation with Basque

Dylan Inglis began to learn Basque in 2016, when he was 18 years old. He started in a very informal way in England by Mintzanet (a platform to learn Basque). Afterwards, he began to work as a teacher.

His profile is not very habitual. In fact, he or his ancestors did not have any relation with Basque Country and he started learning it by his own interest. After learning Basque in England, he came to the Basque Country. Firstly, to live and then, to work and do research. He lived in both sides of the border, in Iparralde and in Hegoalde. Nowadays, he uses Basque everyday, not only to talk to his friends from the Basque Country, but also to provide classes. His relation with Basque dialects has been very close because he stayed in Zuberoa (Soule) and he learnt that dialect. Apart from knowing the standard Basque (batua), he can fluently speak the dialect from Biscay, Zuberoa (Soule) and Baztan.

He is interested in bertsolaritza, which for him has been an expression of creativity.