The event commenced with the screening of a video showcasing the program's journey over the past quarter-century, followed by a performance of bertsos by two individuals who have been active participants. The celebration concluded with a special recognition for all participants, bidelaris and bidelagunak alike, who have contributed to the program throughout the years, presenting them with a commemorative gift.
This gathering was organized by Elgoibarko Izarra, the AEK euskaltegi, and the Municipal Euskaltegi Debabe, in collaboration with the Elgoibar City Council. Established in 2001, the program's core objective was to provide a space for individuals lacking ease or opportunities to speak Euskera to practice and regularly hear the language.
Over time, the program has solidified its position, becoming a crucial tool for promoting Euskera usage in Elgoibar. Annually, approximately 35 to 40 individuals join this initiative.
Tertuliak is a free initiative open to anyone who understands Euskera and has a basic level of oral expression. Its primary goal is to encourage language use, enabling participants to gain fluency through interaction with others. To achieve this, conversation groups of five or six people are formed, meeting for one hour weekly and facilitated by a 'bidelagun' proficient in the language.
A key factor in the program's success is its flexibility. Each group independently chooses the meeting day, time, and format for their discussions, which might occur around a table in a café or during walks. All sessions last at least an hour and take place once a week. The program operates on an academic year basis, from September to June, with each group dedicating an average of 35 hours annually to speaking and listening to Euskera.
Over the past 25 years, the Tertuliak project has offered hundreds of residents the chance to use Euskera in a relaxed and familiar setting, establishing itself as a benchmark program for promoting the social use of the language in Elgoibar. Those interested in joining the next course or seeking further information can contact the association Elgoibarko Izarra (tel. 943 74 16 26; email: elgoibarkoizarra@elgoibarkoizarra.eus).
