The Puljići Language Playroom

22.02.2012.

One of the most important steps toward the preservation and revitalization of the Vlashki language is the teaching of the language to the youngest members of the community, those of the pre-school age. This is crucial in view of the fact that the natural transmission of the language, traditionally spoken in the Šušnjevica area, in families, from parents to children, has been largely interrupted in the last few decades.

To this end we organize, every Tuesday afternoon, a "language playroom" for children, called "Puljići" ("Chicks"), in the temporary space of the Šušnjevica Heritage Center.  This program, which started in September 2011, also includes children in the early elementary school grades. It teaches the language through the immersion method, and a rich array of fun games and arts and crafts, music, dance and drama activities, intended to trasmit language skills together with other forms of knowledge and skills.

Through free interaction, song and story-telling in Vlashki, the Puljići Language Playroom, now attended by fourteen children from the area, is lead by Viviana Brkarić and Marina Mikuluš, while expert advice is given by Dr. Zvjezdana Vrzić.

Do you know a child who would enjoy being part of this program? If so, please contact us.

Take a look at some of the work produced by the children and photographs from the language playroom enclosed here.