The Lehendakari welcomes 11 people from the diaspora who are studying Basque

Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu received 11 Basque descendants from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay at the President´s Office (Lehendakaritza). All of them have spent the past month at the Maizpide barnetegi in Lazkao immersed in the Basque language and culture as part of the Etxepare Basque Institute’s Euskara Munduan programme. Also taking part in the reception were the Minister of Culture and Language Policy and Spokesperson for the Basque Government, Bingen Zupiria, the Secretary for Foreign Action, Marian Elorza, and the director of the Etxepare Basque Institute, Irene Larraza.

The group began to learn Basque in 2013 as complete beginners. Now for the first time, they have taken an intensive course that fully immersed them in Basque language and culture. The goal of the students was to reach the next level of Basque literacy during their time at Maizpide: those with B2 level did level C1, and those with B1 aimed for B2 certification. They will then go back to home to teach Euskara at their respective Basque centers (Euskal Etxeak).

The Etxepare Basque Institute’s Euskara Munduan programme is aimed at  promoting the Basque language at Basque centers around the world. The programme now reaches more than 2,000 people who attend courses at Basque centers supported by Etxepare. Likewise, around 1,900 more people will take Basque classes through lecture programs sponsored by the Institute at 35 universities around the world.