Learning of languages of the region: Czech - level A2 3224-DNJRCZA2-60h
Czech workshops on the elementary level are aimed at activating the
skills of linguistic expression and communication in foreign language as
well as to enrich Czech vocabulary. The course is proposed in the form of
conversation/discussion on different topics offered for students, pertaining
the everyday life (including colloquial speech and other styles not
considered by textbooks), cultural events and communication in future
jobs according to the profile of a graduate.
The thematic scope of the course comprises new lexis connected with
elementary communicative situations as well as cultural events/selected
cultural elements of the countries from the relevant language area
(cultural events, peculiarities).
1. History of the Czech Language – basic registers of written and
spoken Czech (spisovná čeština, hovorová čeština, obecná
čeština).
2. False Friends – myths, facts, and linguistic pitfalls. Examples and
discussion.
3. Poles about Czechs, Czechs about Poles – mutual perceptions.
Developing sensitivity to myths and stereotypes in class.
4. Czech Mentality – stereotypes and reality regarding social life,
religiosity, and cultural distinctiveness.
5. Eating Well in the Czech Republic – cuisine and gastronomy.
Most common restaurant expressions (revision from A1 level).
6. Drinking Culture in Bohemia and Moravia – how to drink
without getting drunk. Cultural differences.
7. Family and Family Relations – terminology of kinship, domestic
pets.
8. Famous Czechs – outstanding figures in culture and sports.
Reading short biographies in Czech.
9. Czech Inventions – origins of genetics, transfusion medicine, and
contact lenses. Introduction to scientific terminology.
10. Geography of Bohemia and Moravia – mountain ranges and
river valleys: their influence on culture, language, and dialects.
Examples of dialectal diversity in Moravia.
11. History of the Czech National Anthem and Other National
Symbols – heraldic, natural, and other emblems. Interpretation of
the anthem’s lyrics.
12. Tangible UNESCO Heritage in the Czech Republic.
13. Intangible UNESCO Heritage in the Czech Republic.
14. Most Beautiful Cities and Natural Wonders – holiday and
travel destinations in Bohemia and Moravia.
15. At the Doctor’s and the Dentist’s – healthcare services in the
Czech Republic. Similarities and differences; useful hospital
phrases (revision from A1 level); specialist medical terminology.
16. “Take Off Your Shoes” – Czech customs and things you
definitely should not do when visiting someone’s home.
17. Filling in Forms and Applications – working and studying in the
Czech Republic. Forms of address in the workplace (vykání /
tykání).
18. “The Protruding Belly” – do Czechs care too much about
appearances? Dress code and fashion. How to buy clothes in a
shop – typical phrases (revision from A1 level).
19. What May Surprise You – public behaviour and individual
differences. Regional language expressions in Bohemia, Moravia,
and Czech Silesia.
20. “Every Czech is a Musician” (Co Čech, to muzikant) – Czechs
and music. National music creators of the late 19th century, 20th-
century composers. Attempt at singing librettos in Czech.
21. The Czech Anti-Communist Bard – sung poetry of Karel Kryl.
Interpretation of lyrical texts, contemporary continuations and
references.
22. Kitsch or Art? – the Karel Gott phenomenon. Pros and cons
(including Milan Kundera’s essay). Examples of song lyrics.
23. Czech Covers of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath – comparison,
analysis, and interpretation of lyrics.
24. Multiculturalism on the Borderlands – Jaromír Nohavica and
Ewa Farna. Regionalisms in poetic texts.
25. How the Communist Regime Used National Heroes –
cinematography (and language) in the times of propaganda.
Examples of films, including Czech fairy tales.
26. The “New Wave” in Czech Cinema – film excerpts and
discussion with special attention to linguistic devices
(monologues, dialogues).
27. Gems of Czechoslovak Cinematography – the 1960s in the
context of European cinema. Film excerpts – listening
comprehension.
28. Beyond the 1960s – comedies in the bleak period of
Czechoslovak “normalization” (1970s–1980s).
29. The “Czech” Works of Milan Kundera – The Joke, The
Unbearable Lightness of Being (selected excerpts).
30. The “French” Works of Milan Kundera – Immortality.
There are also other topics related to students' interests / proposed by
students.
Course is conducted through discussing different topics based on priorly
given texts or handouts delivered by the lecturer, working in groups and
pairs, individual work (substantially supported by the lecturer).
Training of different language skills will be conducted as follows:
Speaking: individual monologic utterances related to the topics which
were discussed during the semester, dialogs, role-playing-games.
Listening: different types of texts (dialog, monolog w various
communicational situations) and tasks adjusted to the level.
The use of a language: vocabulary and grammar exercises indicating the
degree of proficiency in the course content.
Writing: an opinion in the written form related to the topics which were
discussed during the semester.
Student workload includes:
Classroom participation – 30 hours (1 ECTS)
Preparing for classes – 30 hours (1 ECTS)
The course is conducted within the “Integrated Teaching & Learning Development Programme – ZIP 2.0”, which is co-financed by the European Social Fund – the European Funds for Social Development Programme 2021–2027 (FERS) (contract no.: FERS.01.05-IP.08-0365/23-00).
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
A student is practicing without having to fear his/her speech
communication on the level A2.
On completing the course, the student:
KNOWLEDGE:
makes use of knowledge, acquired during the course, of culture of
a given linguistic region;
a graduate knows and understands at an A2 level the sophisticated
nature of a language;
one has vocabulary necessary to manage in language environment
(See: Full description);
one has knowledge about the description of a language system;
one knows selected issues (See: Full description).
SKILLS:
one can communicate in routine tasks connected with topics
included in Full description;
one can recognize familiar words and messages in selected
materials of different types as well as in verbal communication;
one understands information contained in selected materials of
everyday life;
one presents information in oral and in written form using certain
language constructions.
COMPETENCES:
one is able to collaborate in pair as well as in a group of people;
one knows learning strategies and understands the need for
lifelong learning;
one knows social norms and their relevant verbal and nonverbal
reactions which are obligatory in the definite cultural and
linguistic area;
one detects cultural differences and demonstrates the tolerance for
users of other languages.
Assessment criteria
I. The organization of classes:
According to The detailed rules of studies at the Faculty of Applied
criteria: Linguistics (The Resolution No. 114 by the Faculty of Applied
Linguistics Board of 19 December, 2017):
1) Attendance at all classes, covered by the plan, shall be compulsory (§
9 (2)).
2) It is not possible to have a resit period if the reason of failing the
credit was noncompliance with the requirement to participate in them. In
such a case a student can be conditionally registered in an successive
stage of study and can repeat the failed course.
According to the University Foreign Language Teaching System (the
Resolution No. 119 from 17 June, 2009).
3) In case of 30 hours in semester, 2 absences without justifying are
acceptable. Missed classes must be made up in accordance with the
requirements of the lecturer. The requirements are provided by the
lecturer during the first class.
II. Assessment criteria:
The final mark comprises the following elements:
Substantive participation in the class (30 hours)
Presentation of the topic fixed by the lecturer (30 hours)
It must be taken into account that in order to complete the course
successfully a student needs to demonstrate achievements in every the
above mentioned categories (a student who receives the 0% in one of
the categories, won't complete the course, which means that he/she did
not demonstrate any activity in none of them).
The unsatisfactory grade can be awarded as a result of unsatisfactory
learning achievements based on partial grades
Grading system:
99 – 100% - 5 (excellent)
93 - 98% - 5 (very good)
87 - 92% - 4,5 (fairly good)
77 - 86% - 4 (good)
71 - 76% - 3,5 (satisfactory plus)
60 - 70% - 3 (satisfactory)
Additionally, the workshop lecturer introduces the detailed principles and
criteria of credit during the first class.
Bibliography
The coursebook: Ana Adamovičová-Darina Ivanovová, - Milan
Hrdlička: Basic Czech II, Praha 2014
A. Karolczuk, I. Kononeko – Polsko-wielojęzyczny słownik
falszywych przyjaciół tłumacza, Warszawa 2022
M. Kundera – Nesmrtelnost, Brno 1993
E. Lotko -Čeština a polština v překladatelské a tlumočnické praxi,
Ostrava 1986
M. Surosz – Ach, te Czeszki, Wołowiec 2022
and others.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: