1. INGA BELOUSA DZINTRA ILIŠKO ILONA MIČULE Institute of Sustainable Education Faculty of Education and Management Daugavpils University, Latvia June 9-23, 20111ERASMUS IP, Daugavpils

2. June 9-23, 2011ERASMUS IP, Daugavpils2

3. June 9-23, 2011ERASMUS IP, Daugavpils3

4. June 9-23, 2011ERASMUS IP, Daugavpils4

5. June 9-23, 2011ERASMUS IP, Daugavpils5

6. LATVIA: GENERAL FACTS Capital: RIGA Total area: 64,589 sq km 1 km = 0.62 mile; 1 m = 39.37 inches Population: 2,2 milions; citizens 82,56% Riga – 717,000 Daugavpils – 106,000 Ethnic composition: Latvian 59,4%, Russian 27,6%, Belorussian, Ukrainian, Polish, Lithuanian, Jewish, Roma, etc. 33% Language - Latvian: - Baltic language, Indo-European language family - non-Slavic & non-Germanic language Currency: 1 Lat (LVL)= 100 Santims = EUR 0.702 GBP 0.791 Religion: Evangelic Lutheran Roman Catholic Russian Orthodox June 9-23, 2011ERASMUS IP, Daugavpils6

7. LATVIA: UNEASY SOCIAL FACTS Inhabitants 2011: 2,2 million Economically active people 2011: 1,424 million (less than 1,7% as compared with 2010) Registered unemployment rate May 2011: 13,2% (average in EU April 2011: 9,4%) People under the subsistence level of income March 2011: 79 500 = 25% Subsistence minimum 2011: LVL 176,11 = EUR 250,58 Workload for teachers: 21 hours = LVL 270 = EUR 385 June 9-23, 20117ERASMUS IP, Daugavpils

8. The most popular man's names: Jānis, Andris, Juris, Edgars, Māris, Aivars, Mārtiņš, Pēteris, Ivars, Kaspars, Valdis, Uldis, Aigars, Kārlis The most popular women's names: Anna, Kristīne, Marija, Inese, Inga, Ilze, Līga, Dace, Anita, Ieva, Iveta, Diāna, Sandra, Aija, Rita Hi - Sveiks! Sveika! Good morning - Labrīt! Good-bye - Uz redzēšanos! Yes – Jā No – Nē Thank you – Paldies Please – Lūdzu Sorry – Atvainojiet Latvian alphabet consists of 33 letters: a, ā, b, c, č, d, e, ē, f, g, ģ, h, i, ī, j, k, ķ, 1, ļ, m, n, ņ, o, p, r, s, š, t, u, ū, v, z, ž. I crossed silver grove I did not break any branch If I had done this I would walk in silver. Caur sidraba birzi gāju Ne zariņa nenolauzu Būt zariņu nolauzusi Tad staigātu sidrabota. June 9-23, 2011ERASMUS IP, Daugavpils8

9. 1275 - Dinaburg 1656 - Borisoglebsk 1667 - Dinaburg 1893 - Dvinsk 1920 - Daugavpils June 9-23, 2011ERASMUS IP, Daugavpils9 DAUGAVPILS City on the traidroads

10. June 9-23, 201110ERASMUS IP, Daugavpils

11. June 9-23, 2011ERASMUS IP, Daugavpils11 Daugavpils University

12. June 9-23, 2011ERASMUS IP, Daugavpils12