Agrīnā otrās baltu valodas mācīšana: semantiskās paralēles

ENThe teaching neighbouring, i. e. Lithuanian and Latvian, languages as foreign languages on the territories of Latvia and Lithuania is the topic of this paper. The need to know (learn) the Latvian language for Lithuanians and the Lithuanian language for Latvians is recognised, especially at the non-official level; however, a possibility to implement it is limited by various reasons. This issue is dealt with when there is a need to underline existing or potentially possible collaboration of both countries. Usually, the conclusion is unambiguous: the present situation is unsatisfactory, but in order to improve it neither means nor possibilities are allocated. Worked out and being implemented projects of various regional institutions can help improve the situation. One of the ideas has been substantiated as a project „Creating of Cooperation System between Preschool Educational Institution on Lithuania-Latvia Border”. It is important to discuss possibilities for teaching a foreign language – the second Baltic language – to pre-school age children at the crossborder region of Lithuania and Latvia. The crossborder collaboration project carried out by pre-school education institutions in Žeimelis (Lithuania) and Rundāle (Latvia) is dealt with; also, teaching aid materials prepared and published in the framework of this project are introduced. The research has been conducted by applying the descriptive and comparative methods. Broad dissemination and practical application of Baltic languages teaching can be facilitated by the coursebooks prepared and published in the framework of the project.Thanks to educators of a particular Lithuanian kindergarten, educators of kindergartens of the crossborder region will be able to use an original bilingual coursebook „Pažink save ir savo draugus. Iepazīsti sevi un savus draugus” [Get to Know Yourself and Your Friends] and its supplement in teaching Lithuanian and Latvian. This publication may be successfully used in schools of the crossborder region (and not only) where the Lithuanian and Latvian languages are being taught too. Cognation of the Lithuanian and Latvian languages obliges us to pay special attention to the selection of linguistic material. It is related both to pre-school age children (in the present project) and any age learners of a foreign language. Here, both semantic differences of particular words and selection of the most suitable word out of several synonyms etc. are of high importance. Various activities are dedicated to promotion of collaboration of pre-school education institutions in the crossborder regions of Latvia and Lithuania. The teaching of the second Baltic language is highly important when aiming at children’s development. Moreover, the socialising of kindergarten educators and pupils, their exchange visits and joint learning are helpful in development of communicative skills and foreign language acquisition.