Beginning Czech Language

COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES:
This course is designed for students who have completed an Intensive Czech Language Course with ISA program.
The course is held on A1 level according to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (that is, European stratification of language proficiency).

This course is designed for students who:
- Passed the Czech Intensive Course ISA (45 hours) or equivalent.
- Want to extend their skills in communicating during their study program in Prague.
- Desire a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of Czech grammar, syntax, and vocabulary.
- Practise using language in everyday situations through role-playing, excursions, etc.
This language course provides the linguistic tools necessary both for students to make them
understood as well as to enable them to gain a better understanding of the way of life in the Czech
Republic. Successful communication is the main goal.

Throughout the course, lessons will be sequenced from presentation activities to guided practice
activities to communicative activities. Because language practise should be meaningful, it will be
communicative and based on situations with the emphasis on ?real? language. Listening activities also be incorporated into the lessons to improve students´ aural abilities. The material covered during the course will be ?spiralled? and reviewed so as to build upon and reinforce the students´ knowledge base.

This course is designed to:
Develop students´ practical knowledge of Czech language.
- Allow students to function in ?everyday situations?(i.e. restaurants, shops, train stations, etc.) so as to allow greater integration with Czech culture and society.
- Promote greater confidence in speaking Czech language.
- Provide basic foundation necessary for gaining conversational ability, limiting the amount of formal
grammar study to the minimum and focusing instead on situations, pronunciation, and understanding
basic phrases.

CONTENTS:

ORIENTATION IN PRAGUE
Excuse me, please, where is? ? It is?
You have to go?
What is close/ far. Places in Prague.
Transport. Directions.
Prepositions ?z/ blízko/vpravo od/ vlevo od/ vedle? + Genitive case.
Go by ? + Instrumental case.

EMERGENCIES
What happened?/What do you need?/Can I help you?
Problems
- at the police
- with ticket inspector
- on the street
Requests. Wishes. Apologizing. Refusing.
Past tense (3rd sg./ pl.)
Modal verbs.

Quiz 1

CULTURE & TRADITIONS
When shall we meet?
What do Czechs do in summer/ winter? ?
Invitation.
Seasons, Months, Date.
Activities.
Modal verbs.
The date - Genitive case.

FAMILY
What does he/she do? How old is he/ she?
Whose is it? It?s mine.
Family members.
Professions.
Possessive pronouns.
Gender ? Masculine animate.

DESCRIBING PEOPLE
What is he/ she like?
What does he/ she like?
I have ?
Adjectives.
Like and Dislikes.
Verbs with object.
Qualities and Appearance.
Accusative case (Ma, Mi, F, N nouns and adjectives).

Midterm Test

FAMOUS CZECHS
Who was he/ she?
What did he/ she do?
Biography.
Past tense (3rd sg., pl.)

WHAT DID YOU DO YESTERDAY?
Verbs ? activities. Past tense
(1st + 2nd sg. pl.)

HOLIDAYS
Where did you go for holiday?
What was it like?
Places around Europe.
Holidays.
Weather.
Locative case sg. (countries)

Quiz 2

WHERE WERE YOU YESTERDAY?
Places and activities.
Prepositions v/na.
Locative case sg.

PLANNING FUTURE
What are you going to do?
Where are you going?
Places and activities.
Future tense (verb to be, perfective/imperfective verbs, verbs of motion).
Where x Where to.
Prepositions do/ na/ k + cases.

COMMUNICATION VISIT
Writing an e-mail.
On a visit.
Written invitation.
Future tense.
Prepositions pro/ na/ za + Accusative case.

Review

HOUSE AND FLAT
House and flat.
Renting a flat.
Furnishing a flat.
Nominative and Accusative
sg. + plural.

FINAL TEST
FINAL PRESENTATION

COURSE EVALUATION
Portfolio of homework 20 %
Midterm Test 20 %
Final Test 20 %
Final presentation 20 %
Active participation in language class and activities, small quizzes 20 %

Missed midterm and final test due to unexcused absence is graded F. No make up test allowed.

Grading scale
100 ? 96 % A
95 ? 90 % A -
89 ? 87 % B +
86 ? 83 % B
82 ? 80 % B -
79 ? 76 % C +
75 ? 70 % C
69 ? 60 % C -
59 ? 0 % F

Textbooks
D. Nývltová, P. Honzáková: Czech I, ?e?tina Intenzivní Kurz, UK 2010 (used in the classroom for a review)
D. Nývltová, P. Honzáková: Czech II, ?e?tina semestrální Kurz, UK 2010
Lída Holá, Pavla Bo?ilová: ?e?tina Express 1. (used in the classroom)
Lída Holá, Pavla Bo?ilová: ?e?tina Express 2. (used in the classroom)
Ond?ej ?tindl, Easy Czech Elementary, Akronym 2008
Z. Malá: Hry a activity pro výuku ?e?tiny pro cizince: úrove? A 1.1, Lingua Ludus, 2009

Attendance policy
Attendance of classes is mandatory. During Fall and Spring Semester only one unexcused week of
classes is tolerated and it will not affect a final class grade.

CLASS PROTOCOL
Students are required to be involved in class activities. They are expected to show their preparation by active participating in the class activities, by asking relevant questions, being critical and analytical with the contents presented in class as well as by sharing their ideas and opinions.

It is expected that students arrive to class on time and that they return promptly to class after any given a class break. (Regularly missed minutes could be counted together and can make another unexcused absence, as mentioned above.)