At the beginning of the year, the Albanian language was added to the list of foreign languages taught at Harvard University. This development followed requests from Albanian-American students and the support of Albanian-American staff within the university administration.
This semester marks the second time that the Albanian language course is being offered at Harvard. As an elective in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, the course is available at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, depending on the students’ prior knowledge.
Faton Limani, the course instructor, explains that students choosing to learn Albanian delve into more than just the language basics. “In addition to learning the structure, grammar, and morphology of the language, students also practice speaking, writing, and reading. Beyond these fundamental aspects, I also incorporate elements of culture and history into the curriculum. Each semester, students create presentations on selected topics such as the history of the Albanian alphabet, the history of Albanians, folklore, music, traditions, and more,” Limani shared with Voice of America.
The initiative to include the Albanian language in Harvard’s prestigious academic program was spearheaded last summer by Albanian-American student Edona Çosoviç. Born in the United States to parents from Montenegro, Edona is a Political Science student. In an interview with Voice of America, she expressed her desire to learn more about her heritage as the motivation behind her request to include Albanian in the curriculum. “Learning the language is very important to me. I want my future children to speak Albanian. But it’s also about understanding our culture and history. Though I’m of Montenegrin Albanian descent, I’m not fully aware of all historical events in Albania and Kosovo. With each class, I gain more knowledge,” she said.
Kevin Dervishi, an Albanian-American student of Tirana origin, also chose the Albanian language classes. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in cancer biology at Harvard. “I haven’t told my family yet because I want to surprise them with improved Albanian and by being closer to the Albanian community. One day, when my Albanian is much better, I’ll share what I’ve learned. I’m looking forward to surprising them,” he remarked. Kevin observed significant improvement in his Albanian speaking abilities since taking the classes. “I’m really happy because I forgot most of my Albanian as a child, but now I can practice and speak it again,” he said.
For Çosoviç, maintaining the language is key to keeping family ties strong. “My parents are very proud of me. They’ve always wanted me to be close to our culture and family. When you’re connected to your culture, it’s easier to be close to your family. The Albanian culture emphasizes family bonds and community ties. My relatives in Montenegro are also proud. They always ask about me. I’m very happy,” she shared.
Edona also leads the Albanian-American student association at Harvard. Currently, there are 12 Albanian-American students at Harvard. This network serves as an information hub for young Albanian students aspiring to study at the university. “When I first joined the program, I met other Albanian students who had been here for years. I learned a lot from them. Over the years, I’ve met and helped new Albanian students. We are a community that supports each other,” said Kevin Dervishi.
This is the first year that Albanian is offered as a course at Harvard, with 5 students enrolled, 3 of whom are Albanian-American. “These students will likely return to their countries or communities after graduation, where they can have a multidimensional impact. They stay informed about Albania and the Albanians in general. This can be very positive as they could become potential investors or ambassadors in their countries,” Limani noted.
Harvard is the only among America’s prestigious universities to offer the Albanian language. Other institutions, including Arizona State University, DePaul University, and Mercy College in New York, also offer Albanian language courses.
Limani encourages all Albanians in universities across the United States and beyond to explore how they can initiate an Albanian language course or student club focused on the Albanian language and culture in general. He added that his goal is to establish a center for Albanian studies at Harvard University as student interest in the Albanian language grows./VOA
