Anna Krawczyk, a graduate of the Department of Baltic Studies at the University of Warsaw, spent part of her studies in Lithuania learning the Lithuanian language. According to her, ‘People in Lithuania tend to take care of each other, and Vilnius is a wonderful city to live in’. For Anna, translating poetry has become a bridge connecting the two nations. 

Lithuanian language studies in Warsaw and Lithuania 

Encouraged by her boyfriend to learn Lithuanian, Anna started studying the new language in 2017 at the University of Warsaw. Although the relationship ended, her interest in the Lithuanian language has not waned. 

“Love for a man turned into love for a language,” she smiled. 

She is proud of her decision and emphasises the inherent beauty of the Lithuanian language. Later, Anna advanced her skills through summer schools in Klaipėda under various study programmes. She remarks that the focus of such summer courses was not solely on language learning, as you simply cannot gain enough knowledge in just a month; instead, the focus was on building a sense of community. In Klaipėda, she met people from all over the world who shared an interest in the Lithuanian language and culture. 

For one semester, Anna had the opportunity to study at the Faculty of Philology of Vilnius University (VU), where she enhanced her skills and knowledge. 

“I particularly appreciate the fact that Lithuanian grammar, culture, and communication were taught separately – in my opinion, it is an excellent approach. The major challenge was mastering participles, half-participles, and adverbial participles. Some of these forms coincide with those in Polish grammar, but others seem very archaic and complex. Participles felt like a different universe to me! I also developed an interest in Lithuanian slang. I distinctly remember the word moralkė (moral hangover), which also exists in Polish. It perfectly describes those inner moral dilemmas after a night of binge drinking when you feel embarrassed about your actions the morning after. That is when we say that we “have moralkė”,” fondly noted Anna. 

During her studies, Anna found it challenging to make Lithuanian friends because of the international environment she was part of and her limited language proficiency. However, everything changed after the event “The Seimelis of Literature of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth” organised by the Lithuanian Writers Union. The Seimelis brings together Lithuanian authors and Polish translators to work together for a week. The participating poets involved Anna in their translation activities and gradually became her close friends. 

Anna has heard the stereotype that Lithuanians are unfriendly and reserved but completely disagrees with it: “I was welcomed very warmly in Vilnius, perhaps because I spoke Lithuanian. I always felt part of the community and never like a foreigner. In this country, people seem to genuinely care about each other. For instance, bus and trolleybus drivers often wait a bit for late passengers, and if someone loses their wallet, at least ten people immediately step in to help. All this truly warms my heart – local people are attentive and care for each other.” 

“It’s true that the first impression might be the opposite, but even if Lithuanians seem unfriendly, they are still incredibly kind! For example, once in Klaipėda, I said viso gero (goodbye) to a cashier, and she replied, somewhat bitterly, with viso geriausio (all the best). I wondered if she was angry because I didn’t wish her the same,” Anna laughed. 

Poetry as a bridge between two nations 

Anna spent two years as a project coordinator at the Polish Institute in Vilnius, where her responsibilities included teaching Polish language courses, organising educational activities for children attending Polish schools in Lithuania, hosting events like the Poetry Spring Festival, managing social media, and translating texts from Lithuanian to Polish. Anna started translating during her study years, and this activity became integral to her professional path. 

At the Department of Baltic Studies of the University of Warsaw, a particular focus is devoted to translation skills – all the lecturers are professional translators. Over the course of four semesters, students work on different types of texts. 

“Students translate film scripts in the first semester, poetry in the second, short stories in the third, and official documents during the final semester,” listed Anna. 

After completing her studies, she started translating content for social networks and event descriptions; she was even asked by a publishing house to translate the introduction to a bilingual anthology about Zbigniew Herbert. However, as Anna admits, the key challenge in translation lies in bridging cultural differences. 

“For example, I struggled with the Lithuanian word profsąjunga (trade uniion). While I perfectly grasped its meaning in Lithuanian, the Polish equivalent, związek zawodowy, felt too lengthy and formal. I even asked my parents for help but realised there wasn’t a shorter alternative. It even made me question my poor Polish language skills!” joked Anna. 

Currently, Anna is working on the translation of a theatre website and a book, though she is keeping the latter project under wraps for now. 

“Poetry is like a bridge that connects us. We are neighbours, yet so few works have been translated,” remarked Anna. 

Anna Krawczyk’s story beautifully illustrates how learning a new language can lead to cultural discovery, personal growth, and meaningful connections. If her journey inspires you, consider exploring Lithuanian Studies at Vilnius University (VU)—a programme that combines language learning with a deep dive into Lithuania’s culture, history, and literature. 

The Lithuanian Studies Bachelor’s programme is designed for anyone interested in Lithuania, from members of the Lithuanian diaspora to international students seeking to explore the region’s unique identity. You’ll engage in courses like Traditional Lithuanian Culture, Multilingual Vilnius Literature, and Sociolinguistic Language Policy, alongside opportunities to tailor 25% of your studies to your interests in politics, history, additional languages, and more. 

VU also offers short Lithuanian courses, ideal for those wishing to explore the language without committing to a full degree. These summer and winter programmes create a welcoming environment for learners to integrate quickly, build connections, and embrace Lithuania’s vibrant culture. Lithuanian language courses are free of charge for Ukrainians, making them accessible to even more learners. 

Why not make it your New Year’s resolution to embark on a linguistic and cultural adventure? You might find that falling in love with Lithuania transforms your life as Anna did. Whether you aim to enrich your personal knowledge or prepare for a career in education, journalism, cultural projects, or tourism, VU provides a pathway to success. 

Anna Krawczyk was interviewed by Dr. Veslava Sidaravičienė

Source – Vilnius University