REPORT OF FOCUS GROUP RESEARCH FOR THE PROJECT ‘WISE’ LATVIA
There were two focus group research held in Latvia:
1)Foreigners from Baltic states (Estonia, Lithuania) and from Poland, England and USA living in Latvia, in small town - Aizkraukle.
2)Latvians – locals.
Foreigners from Baltic States ( Lithuanians, Estonians) and peole from Poland, England and USA are living in Aizkraukle, Latvia
10 People have participated in the focus group. (3 from Poland, 1 from UK, 2 from USA, 4 from baltic states)
- How well (how soon) did you understand local culture?
70% of the respondents answered after half of year
20% of the respondents answered They are still in the process of understanding.
10% of the respondents answered – I don’t understand it
All of the respondents says, that Latvians are very cultural country, but traditions are very simple and easy to understand.
- How well (how soon) did you understand social life?
70% of the respondents answered after some month
20% of the respondents answered We need long time for it, probable 5 or 6 years
10% of the respondents answered – I don’t understand it
People from Baltic states understand social life better like others. Latvia is post soviet country and peoples “from old Europe” and USA are very different.
- How well (how soon) did you adapted into society?
70% of the respondents answered after some month and it was easy, Latvians are very welcome,
30% of the respondents answered – not so easy, language is big barrier, lot of Latvians don’t speak English. In country are many Latvians still speak better in Russian.
- Do you present your own culture in Latvia?
70% of the respondents answered yes, we have possibility take part in national organizations
30% of the respondents answered - yes we preset our culture in family and for very close friends
- Do you think that local people are interested into knowing other cultures and your culture?
70% of the respondents answered , yes Latvians are very open and interested into knowing other cultures. There are happened lot of international festivals in Latvia. There are lot of national minorities organization.
30% of the respondents answered – we don’t know, we don’t care about that
- WHICH SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF your CULTURE do you think local PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THE MOST?
Majority of respondents are interested in knowing national folk songs and dances, national costume.
- WHAT ARE THE MOST SUITABLE CHANNELS TO BE INTRODUCING OTHER CULTURES FOR LOCALS?
Majority of group participants thought that locals are interested in knowing other cultures. There are TV programs about other countries in Latvia national TV. Lot ofcultural events and festivals.
- Do you think that foreigners in Latvia are educated about local culture?
70% of the respondents answered - yes, a biggest part of foreigners educated about local culture
30% of the respondents answered – we don’t know, we don’t care about that
Latvians – locals. 10 people have participated in the focus group.
- What do you know about foreigners living in Latvia?
50% of the respondents answered – we don’t like foreigners
30% of the respondents answered – Participants said, that answer to this question would depend on whether foreigner is European or not.
20% of respondents answered – foreigners are good if they are integrated in
Society.
- Are you familiar with culture of those foreigners?
50% of the respondents answered – we don’t like foreigners, but like those foreigners culture and art, for example – Russian culture
30% of the respondents answered – that they think they know culture of those foreigners pretty well.
20% of respondents answered – no we don’t know very well foreigners culture
- Would you like to know more?
40% of the respondents answered – yes we would like to know more about foreigners culture
30% of the respondents answered – we would like , if we will need it
20% of the respondents answered – we don’t know
10% of respondents answered – we don’t want it
- Do you think that foreigners are ’educated’ about local – Latvian -culture?
60% of the respondents answered – no , not so well
40% of the respondents answered – yes they are
- Do you think that Latvian would like to know more about foreign cultures?
60% of the respondents answered – yes
40% of the respondents answered – we don’t know
- Which way of ’learning’ about other culture is most attractive /convenient for you?
70% of the respondents answered – culture events, movies, newspapers, theatre performances, books, TV
30% of the respondents answered – social episodes, start to learn language.
- Do you think that foreigners in Latvia should know more about local culture and social traditions? (Even before they come to Latvia)
100% of the respondents answered that only foreigners from Baltic states and post soviet countries knows something about Latvia, but all Europe have not information and knowledge about Latvia. Lot of Europeans are thinking that Latvians speak in Russian language. Latvia was part of Soviet Union for 50 years, and it is a reason of it.
Persona Optima Iceland EFH. This company as an organization is a new in international project arena. This project is perfect opportunity to share our findings with partners and related units of the project; we are establishing relationships with partners from other countries, expanding our knowledge and sharing our own findings with others. Read more...
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