YOUNG CROATS FROM AROUND THE WORLD GATHER FOR LANGUAGE SCHOOL

( Editorial: --> 8790 ) ZAGREB, July 26 (Hina) - More than 150 Croat children aged 9 to 14 from across the world are taking part in the Little Summer School of Croatian Language organised by the Croatian Homeland Foundation (HMI). For two weeks until August 1 in the central Adriatic town of Novi Vinodolski, the mostly bi-lingual youngsters of Croat origin will, through games and activities with their Croatian peers, learn or further their knowledge of the Croatian language. The organisers also aim for the children to be better acquainted with the cultural and natural heritage of Croatia. HMI says there should not be a repeat of the misfortune of past generations of Croat emigres who did not know their mother tongue, and that through a knowledge of the language of their ancestors, school graduates will also be aware of their own homeland's history, geography, culture and art. The children have arrived from Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Canada, the United States, Italy, Australia, Austria, Mexico, Kuwait, Romania and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Little Summer School is lead by HMI education department head Silvija Letica and 15 other teachers, who will use modern audio- visual methods of teaching language. (Hina) mbr jn 262103 MET jul 98