Abstract:

The migration of Slovak citizens is a current topic. Slovaks are travelling to the western countries to find a job that is why they are called “current job migrants”. After a certain period of time there is an attempt to return back to Slovakia; that is why they are trying to maintain the Slovak language in the family life. They are also trying to develop children’s Slovak language and to teach them facts about Slovakia. Therefore it is important that offices, centres, organizations, universities and associations of Slovak Republic support and participate in this field. This assistance should be implemented through financial and professional support of educational and leisure activities, projects, weekend educational (training) centres, teachers, parents and children attending these centres. The Faculty of Education at Matej Bel University as a partner of the Voluntary Association of Slovak Educational Centres operating abroad participates in supporting and cooperating with the educational centres in the countries of the Western Europe. In this article the authors characterize the reasons and the current situation of weekend educational centres in the Western Europe.

Keywords:

Transnationalism, current job migrants, Slovaks living abroad, Western European countries, identity, Slovak language, facts about Slovakia.