Croatians living abroad have until November 30 to weigh in on how Croatian is taught outside the country. A survey launched by Croatia’s government council for Croats abroad asks how people learn and use the language, how families pass it on and what would make it easier to study.
The Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP) is sharing the survey with its U.S. network. Its president and several board members are among the U.S. representatives on the council for the 2026–2030 term. The survey is open to Croatian communities worldwide, including those in the United States and Canada.
Who Can Take the Survey?
People can take part regardless of how much Croatian they speak. The invitation extends to current learners, people who studied the language in the past and those who picked it up at home or through their community. It also welcomes people who have never studied Croatian but would like to start.
The questionnaire is available in English, Croatian and Spanish, so respondents can choose the language they are most comfortable using. Organizers are aiming for at least 2,000 responses and are encouraging people to share the questionnaire with relatives, friends and others in Croatian communities abroad.
That broad invitation matters because learning Croatian can look different even within the same family. Someone who grew up hearing it at home may want to become more comfortable reading and writing. A parent may be looking for lessons for a child, while an adult beginner may prefer a course that fits around work. The survey gives each of them a chance to describe what they need.
How Croatia Plans to Use the Responses
The council plans to use the findings to develop proposals for Croatian institutions. Options outlined in the announcement include more in-person and online courses, new teaching materials, exchange programs and scholarships. The proposals could address the needs of children, young people and adults.
Croatia already offers a separate scholarship program for eligible learners from abroad who want to study the language in Croatia. The program supports courses taught through universities in Zagreb, Split, Rijeka and Osijek. The survey looks more broadly at how people in the diaspora want to learn, including those who would prefer to study locally or online.
For families in the United States and Canada, the survey is a chance to tell the council which options they would actually use. An exchange program might appeal to a student who wants to spend time in Croatia, while an online class might suit someone who lives far from a Croatian community center. The council will use responses like these to inform its proposals.
