Practical Belarussian I 3221-30PB11C

The course aims to provide students with basic knowledge of Belarusian language (characteristics) and to train them in basic skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking simple sentences in Belarusian language. During the course Belarusian alphabet is presented, highlighting its distinctive features (especially in relation to Russian alphabet), and other distinctive features of the Belarusian language - primarily phonetic character, such as basic rules of pronunciation of individual sounds, akanie, yakanie, dekanie and tsekanie, prosthetic vowels and consonants and assimilation of voiced and voiceless sounds. Students practice the acquired knowledge during independent reading and reading aloud during classes. Students also learn the characteristics of Belarusian orthography, particularly rules governing the spelling of non-syllabic u, apostrophe and soft sign. Correctness of spelling they practice at dictation and numerous independent works including preparation of brief written statements in Belarusian language.
During classes there are also presented other aspects of grammar such as inflection of I declination nouns, inflection of selected verbs (and their use in combination with other parts of speech), and inflection and graduation of adjectives, inflection of personal pronouns, cardinal and collective numerals and main principles of forming sentences in Belarusian language. Students perform exercises designed to consolidate knowledge of specific grammar and use acquired knowledge of grammar, for example during indyvidual or prepared in groups speeches.
Grammatical material is introduced through the analysis of the language of short texts presented in the class (including anecdotes, poems, fables, press releases, dialogues, etc.) on fundamental issues of everyday life. In this way, students learn the basic lexicon: phrases and polite expressions, phrases and expressions for self-presentation and knowledge of others (zvać - nazyvacca, names, and their specificity, determination of the age, nationality, marital status, education, profession), lexicon associated with the family, man's appearance and its qualities, the basic events in the everyday life of man (such as birth, death or marriage). Students also learn the names of days and months and seasons, names and the basic rules for constructing affirmative and negative sentences.
Gained knowledge of the vocabulary the students practice in various forms, from self-prepared oral and written statements (including summarizing short texts), through dialogue exercises conducted in the classroom, and listening exercises, including, for example, complement the lyrics.

THEMATIC BLOCKS:

BLOCK I
1. Belarusian alphabet. Similarities and differences between the Belarusian and Russian alphabet.
2. The phenomenon of akanie and yakanie in Belarusian language.
3. Prosthetic vowels and consonants in Belarusian language.
4. Introducing and identifying persons: name, age, nationality, education, marital status.
5. Inflection of nouns: name, age, nationality, education.
6. The use of verbs zvać - nazyvacca (in combination with animated and non-animated nouns).
7. The use of personal pronouns and their inflection.
8. Salutation (greeting, farewell, asking, thanks, apology).
9. Forms of addressing to different people.
10. Names - forms of names depending on age.

BLOCK II
1. Belarusian pronunciation of sounds. Comparison with Polish and Russian language.
2. The phenomenon of dsiekanie and tsekanie.
3. Family (birth, kinship).
4. Cardinal numerals in combination with nouns.
5. Spellingof cardinal numerals and their inflection.
6. Using the verbs have, be and their conjugation.
7. Affirmative and negative sentences.
8. Days of the week - declination.
9. The names of months - creation and declination.
10. Seasons - different ways to create adverbs motivated by seasons.

BLOCK III
1. Assimilation of voiced and voiceless consonants.
2. Human - parts of the body.
3. Inflection of I declination nouns.
4. Appearance.
5. Adjectives - inflection.
6. Character features.
7. Adjectives and graduating structures.
8. Physical disability.
9. Idioms that characterise man - look for counterparts in Polish and Belarusian.
10. Biography and CV.

BLOCK IV
1. Spelling of non-syllabic u - changes w, ł, u into short u.
2. Spelling of soft mark and the apostrophe.
3. The birth of man.
4. Loose and solid compounds of expression.
5. Wedding traditions - lexical richness.
6. Death of man.
7. Marital status - construction marry whom? (for men and women)
8. Jobsn - who work construction?
9. Native and borrowed vocabulary.
10. Collective numerals.