A full-fledged Ukrainian language course is now available in Mexico City for the first time in the country’s history.
The National School of Languages, Linguistics and Translation (ENALLT) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has held the first Ukrainian language class in Mexico in a university format. This was reported by the Ukrainian community in Mexico, Casa de Ucrania.
The event marked an important step in expanding Ukraine’s academic and cultural presence in Latin America. The community emphasised that the introduction of the Ukrainian language within UNAM — the largest university in the region, with significant influence on Mexico’s humanitarian and language policy — testifies to growing interest in Ukraine, its culture, and solidarity with the country during a difficult historical period.
“This step opens the way for Ukraine to engage in broader academic and cultural dialogue with the region,” Casa de Ucrania noted.
The introductory class was conducted by Tetyana Tsvik, a Ukrainian co-founder of Casa de Ucrania en México, who has been living in Mexico for eight years and is actively involved in promoting the Ukrainian language, culture, and traditions. On her initiative, UNAM students were able to explore the Ukrainian language not only from an academic but also from a cultural perspective.
During the session, participants learned about the peculiarities of the Ukrainian language, compared it with other Slavic languages, and attempted to read Ukrainian in their very first class. Students also listened to the Ukrainian song “Nych yak misyachna” performed by Oleksandr Ponomariov, analysing its sound and melody.
The practical part of the class included transliterating proper names into Ukrainian, which for many participants was their first encounter with the Cyrillic alphabet. The meeting concluded with a master class on making traditional Ukrainian motanka dolls.
Casa de Ucrania en México thanked the university administration for its openness and support, noting that student interest was so strong that UNAM may launch a full-fledged, systematic Ukrainian language course next semester. If implemented, it would be the first such course in Mexico and one of the first in Latin America.
“This event has all the prerequisites to become an important milestone in the history of Ukraine’s presence in the region,” the community concluded.