Institute of Asian Studies
Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague
in collaboration with
Department of Modern South Asian Languages and Literatures,
South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University
and Chair of South Asian Studies,
Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw
Supported by:
Essential Information:
Course Description
Our Summer School offers two parallel courses, the Beginners‘ Course and the Advanced Course.
Each course includes:
Both courses will be accompanied by a rich social programme involving: movies and TV shows, music, interactions with native speakers, and cooking lessons of Bengali cuisine
Beginners‘ Course
This course develops fundamental Bengali language skills in speaking, reading, listening, and writing. Participants will acquire elementary grammar knowledge, essential vocabulary, and basic conversation abilities. Daily activities focus on pronunciation practice and practical language exercises.
Important note: Since the Bengali script will not be formally taught during the course, participants are asked to familiarise themselves with reading the script before arrival using either:
Advanced Course
This course builds on existing Bengali skills by expanding vocabulary and deepen grammatical understanding. Sessions include focused grammar exercises, newspaper reading, comprehensive listening activities (films, TV programmes, radio broadcasts), poetry analysis, and extensive conversation practice
Location and accommodation
The courses will be held at the Institute of Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Celetná 20, Prague 1 (Central location in Prague’s Old Town).
If requested, the organisers are able to provide a limited number of simple student dormitory accommodation at the Charles University Hostel Hvězda:
Alternatively, participants are welcome to arrange their own accommodation according to personal preferences and budget.
Unfortunately, the organisers are unable to provide or assist with travel services such as VISA services, airport pickup etc.
How to apply
Please contact Dr. Martin Hříbek (martin.hribek@ff.cuni.cz) with your preferred course level (Beginners/Advanced), motivation for learning Bengali, and expectations from the Summer School.
Payment details
Deadline: June 30, 2025. The course fee and accommodation fee must be paid by card via the Faculty of Arts online portal. Fill in the yellow fields only.
For invoices, please include billing details in the „payment note“ section if different from your name and email address.
Student life in Prague
For information about living in Prague during your studies, visit the Faculty of Arts international student guide and the Study in Prague portal:
For any additional information, feel free to contact Dr. Martin Hříbek (martin.hribek@ff.cuni.cz)
Downloadable posters