News

This year six testing centers across the US were inviting students to test their Lithuanian language skills: New York, NY; Boston, MA; Washington, DC; Philadelphia, PA and two centers in Chicago, IL where 53 students and 6 adults from 10 different Lithuanian schools participated.

In New York, 7 teenagers and 2 adults took the test at the Lithuanian Alliance of America in Manhattan. Consul General of Lithuania in New York Julius Pranevicius and KFF NYC office director Neila Baumiliene congratulated the participants. Test was administered by A. Kazickas and V. Kudirka Lithuanian schools' teachers-certified examiners Ramune Kurbanoviene, Renata Petrauskiene, Birute Stukonyte, Jurgita Galavackas and Ausra Covalesky. KFF helps to bring this test to New York.

Julius Pranevicius shared his excitement that for the third year in a row such test is available. According to him, "It builds three bridges to each person taking the test. One to the Lithuanian community in the US, second one across the schools in the American community and the third one to Lithuania." Ramune Kurbanoviene told students how proud she was for their work and encouraged them to continue studying Lithuanian. KFF director called students young Lithuanian Ambassadors who spread the word about Lithuania and Lithuanian language and asked them to bring official test certificates to their local American schools, so that it could be added to their academic achievements. After completing the test Eva Morali who took the test as well, shared her story and few words of inspiration. Her father was Lithuanian, mother - Irish. Father never spoke to her in Lithuanian and unfortunately passed away when she was only 9 years old. Eva started learning Lithuanian at tender age of 65 and even though it is really difficult, she's been committed to it for over a year and will continue learning Lithuanian. She shared with the teenagers that it is much easier to learn language when you are young and asked them to never give up on Lithuanian.