(in Polish) Praktyczna nauka języków regionu/Słowo w kulturze - czeski B2 3224-SWKCZB2

Czech language classes on the level B2 (upper-intermediate) 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. Linguistic Registers in the Czech Republic – spisovná čeština,
hovorová čeština, obecná čeština, and regional dialects in
Moravia.
2. Studying in the Czech Republic – arrival, administrative
procedures, and filling out official forms. Czech offices and banks:
polite expressions, questions, terminology related to residency,
insurance, opening a bank account, etc.
3. The Czech Educational System – student life in the Czech
Republic: making friends, finding accommodation, buying
furniture, kitchen and hygiene products, and other essentials;
online shopping and decoding Czech abbreviations.
4. Living Alone or with Others – pros and cons, conflict resolution,
and practicing hypothetical constructions.
5. Interpersonal Relationships Then and Now – face-to-face vs.
online interactions, planning mountain trips, sightseeing, cycling,
kayaking. Planning in detail – what to keep in mind?
6. Travel Reports and Experiences – review of the past and
pluperfect tenses; iterative verbs.
7. How to Ask for Help, Express Opinions, and Give Arguments
– practical dialogue exercises.
8. Tomáš Sedláček’s Economics of Good and Evil – analysis of
excerpts and articles (from Hospodářské noviny), philosophical-
economic reflections and their language.
9. Czech and Global Economy – review of economic and banking
terminology; introduction of new terms.
10. The Parliamentary System in the Czech Republic – political
parties, parliamentary and presidential elections, socio-political
terminology.
11. The Language of Czech Politicians – Václav Havel, Karel
Schwarzenberg, Miloš Zeman, Andrej Babiš, Petr Pavel –
linguistic analysis of speeches and statements; persuasive
techniques.
12. Language as a Functional-Structural System – the Prague
Linguistic Circle: Roman Jakobson, Vilém Mathesius, Jan
Mukařovský.
13. Roman Jakobson’s Six Functions of Language – examples and
analysis; successors such as Umberto Eco (On the Shoulders of
Giants – excerpts).
14. Jan Mukařovský and the Poetic Function of Language –
analysis of the poem May by K.H. Mácha; successors (Julia
Kristeva, Roland Barthes).
15. Linguistic and Metalinguistic Devices in Czech Literature –
overview of major Czech literary works from the 19th to 21st
century and their embedded discourses.
16. Different Perspectives and Perceptions – analysis and
discussion of the film Babička and the series Božena.
17. The Hidden Feminist Agenda – discussion of Božena Němcová
based on the Božena TV series.
18. Do Czech Feminine Derivatives (feminativa) Support or
Hinder Feminist Discourse? – discussion and review of Czech
word-formation strategies.
19. Encounter with Karel Čapek – analysis of philosophical sci-fi
novels: R.U.R., Krakatit (selected excerpts).
20. What Literary Genre Is It? – Čapek’s The Fortune Teller (Tales
from One Pocket): listening to a radio play, text comparison,
analysis and interpretation.
21. Laurent Binet’s The Seventh Function of Language – reading
comprehension.
22. A Postmodern Linguistic Crime Novel? – guided reading and
interpretation of The Seventh Function of Language by Binet.
23. What Is the “Seventh Function of Language”? – deconstructing
the plot, writing a review of the novel.
24. Czech Newspapers and Magazines – presenting a summary of a
selected article.
25. Article Summary Presentations – group discussion and
continuation.
26. Czech Proverbs, Idioms, Common Expressions, and Swear
Words
27. Anglicisms in the Czech Press – phonetic adaptations and
semantic shifts (based on selected examples).
28. Beware of False Friends – avoiding intercultural mistakes;
review of previous content.
29. Preparing for a Job Interview – strategies for effective
communication.
30. Labour Market and Cultural Studies – opportunities, job offers,
concerns, and hopes.

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, monologue in 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)