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DUMITRU
DOROBĂŢ
“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iaşi
Abstract
This paper explores the ups and downs of English Studies in
Moldavia, mainly in Iaşi, the former capital of this
Romanian principality. English Studies in Moldavia was
inaugurated before the foundation of the Department of
English (1925) at “Al.I. Cuza” University of Iaşi, the
oldest Romanian University. Long before that date, the main
Romanian literary journals issued in Iaşi – Convorbiri
Literare and Viaţa Romānească among them – had
published studies, articles and reviews that aimed to
acquaint Romanian readers with a less familiar literature
and culture. The contribution of Iancu Botez, the first
professor of English at “Al.I. Cuza” University, to the
development of English Studies is substantial and is
discussed at some length here. The contributions of other
scholars, both Romanian and British, are also noted and
assessed in the following, among them Teresa Stratilesco, A.
Lawrence, A.C. Cawley, Emil Diaconu, Viorica Dobrovici (who
founded the new department of English in 1963), Hertha
Perez. A survey of recent developments and trends closes
this case study of English Studies at Iaşi.
Keywords:
English Studies, Iancu Botez, Anglo-Romanian comparative
studies, reception studies, teaching English
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