First university-level Ukrainian language class held in Mexico City

The National School of Languages, Linguistics, and Translation (ENALLT) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) hosted the country’s first-ever university-level Ukrainian language class on Nov. 24, the Ukrainian community in Mexico, Casa de Ucrania, reported. 

The course marks a significant step in strengthening Ukraine’s academic and cultural presence in Latin America.

“This initiative opens the door for broader academic and cultural dialogue between Ukraine and the region,” Casa de Ucrania said.

UNAM, the largest university in Latin America, plays a unique role in shaping Mexico’s humanitarian and language policies. Introducing Ukrainian into its curriculum reflects growing interest in Ukraine and its culture, and also symbolizes support for the country during this challenging historical period, the community said.

The introductory session was led by Tetiana Tsvyk, a Ukrainian co-founder of Casa de Ucrania en México who has lived in Mexico for eight years and actively promotes Ukrainian language, culture, and traditions. Through her initiative, UNAM students were able to engage with the Ukrainian language not only academically but also culturally.

During the session, students learned about the structure and features of the Ukrainian language, compared it with other Slavic languages, and even tried reading Ukrainian for the first time. They also listened to the famous Ukrainian song “Nich Yaka Misyachna” performed by Oleksandr Ponomaryov, analyzing its melody and sound.

A hands-on activity involved transliterating students’ own names into Ukrainian — a first encounter with the Cyrillic alphabet for many. The class concluded with a workshop to construct traditional Ukrainian motanky, string dolls that hold cultural and symbolic significance.

Casa de Ucrania en México expressed gratitude to UNAM for its openness and support, noting that student interest was so high that the university may launch a full Ukrainian language course next semester. This initiative could become the first systematic university-level Ukrainian course in Mexico and one of the first in the region.

“This is an event that has every reason to become a landmark in the history of Ukrainian presence in Latin America,” the community said.