Czech 101

CZECH IT OUT! We will begin to read, speak, and write in Czech. An animated film will provide us with an authentic experience of Czech language and culture, and extensive powerpoint will illustrate all the important facts about the language.

Logistics

Time & Place: MWF 9-9:50 in Dey 402

Instructor: Laura A. Janda (janda@unc.edu; 962-7549; Slavic Dept CB # 3165; office in 312A Dey Hall; mailbox in 425 Dey Hall)

Office Hours: Monday 10-10:50 & Wednesday 2-2:50

Czech conversation and film opportunities!

Please join us THURSDAYS at 7:00. Click here to get the schedule! You will recieve 1 point extra credit for every movie/conversation hour you attend.

Textbooks

The following textbook has been ordered for this course and you should find it in the bookstore:: Heim, Michael. 1982. Contemporary Czech. Columbus, OH: Slavica Publishers. (Please feel free to ignore all references to Russian in this book - knowledge of Russian is NOT required, nor even all that big of a benefit.)

Other materials

Over the course of the semester, you will begin to construct an eportfolio for the Czech Republic. Click here to get the questions.

What we will accomplish this semester

Welcome to Czech 101!
We will be getting our feet wet in Czech grammar and vocabulary this semester. We will also enjoy some Czech media, music, and films. Don't be afraid to wade in and soak up all you can. Please be sure to prepare for every class and bring in LOTS of questions. If at any time you begin to feel that you are falling behind, please inform the instructor immediately and come to office hours or make an appointment. The keys to success in this course are regular attendance and daily study. If you come to every class and do every assignment, I GUARANTEE you will do well in this course (and enjoy it too!). I have been doing this for a long time. Believe me. I know what works.

How to succeed in this course

Every student who has taken the three pieces of advice listed below seriously has gotten an "A" in my course. The key to doing well is sustained effort, not talent or cramming. I also believe that every student who takes this advice will really enjoy the course.

Come to every class and come prepared. Attendance and preparation cannot be overemphasized. By preparation I mean not only doing the readings and assignments, but identifying trouble spots. We will start almost every class with Q&A -- be sure to get your questions answered. Please bring both the text and your completed assignments to every class.
Set aside some time to work on assignments and study every day. Learning Czech does not require heroics -- an hour or two a day should be sufficient. Make sure that you put study time into your schedule, and that you keep it up over weekends if possible. Please do not try to do all of any assignment the night before. Instead, you should break down each assignment and spread it over the two or more days intervening between classes.
Create vocabulary and grammar flashcards. Flashcards are a great way to learn. Carry a stack with you and pull them out when you are standing in line, waiting for a bus, etc. For vocabulary, you can put the Czech word on one side and the English on the other. For grammar, you can put a verb declension or case endings on one side of the card and label it ("conjugation of to be" or "accusative case endings", etc.) on the other. You don't have to buy cards -- you can just recycle scrap paper cut into small pieces.

How grades will be assigned

You will receive grades for Attendance, Homework (when written out in full and brought to class), Media Presentations, Dictations, Hour Tests, and the Final Examination. You can receive extra credit for movie/conversation hour attendance.

Homework. Homework is work. You get what you put into it. Some of it will come from the book, and some of it will be assigned in class. Generally there will ALWAYS be homework. Here are some tips:

Never try to do an entire assignment in one sitting - break it up and do a little bit EVERY DAY.
Always write out assignments in full sentences. Don't just write the part that goes in the blank!
Bring complete written homework to class everyday. You will correct it in groups and I will spot-check you for individual and group work. Homework will be graded!
If you run into questions as you are doing homework, bring those questions to class. Chances are you aren't alone.
Make vocabulary flashcards and write out lists of words. Your fingers might remember things that your brain can't hold onto.

Dictations. Each dictation will consist of three sentences in Czech. You will write them down in Czech and also translate them into English. Then you will hand them in. The sentences will contain new grammar and vocabulary (from all sources!), so in a sense the dictations serve as mini-quizzes. How and where to access the Dictations: The dictations have been pre-recorded and loaded into a CAN-8 software program in the Foreign Language Resource Center in the basement of Dey Hall. To access the dictations, go to room 109 and hit the CAN-8 icon on the monitor. You have all been registered to use this system. Your login is your last name, and your password is the string of characters that precedes the "@" in your UNC email address. If you need assistance, please ask the FLRC staff. You can bring your books and flashcards and any other materials you want to the dictations. The software will allow you to slow the dictation down, to move around by clicking your cursor, and to replay everything as many times as you want. Write down the Czech sentences as you hear them and write down your translations and bring this to class for grading.

Hour tests and final. These tests will cover grammar in each pair of lessons, and, yes, the final is cumulative (though there will be special emphasis on lesson 7, of course). As with everything else, makeups are strongly discouraged, as a last resort when a valid excuse is presented in advance.

Website presentations.You will give presentations on Czech websites in class. You will need to submit your selected website early in the semester and work up a vocabulary handout with at least ten items for your presentation.

Here is how grades will be assigned in this class:
Item Number of Items Points per Item Total Points
Homework 35 1 35
Dictations 6 3 18
Hour Tests 3 8 24

Website Presentations 1 10 10
Final Exam 1 13 13
Total: 100

Important note: It is your responsibility to know about the Honor System at UNC. Go to this page and be sure you know how to avoid plagiarism and other forms of academic cheating.

Useful References

The Czech Webliography

Chart of Czech case endings: Front, Back

Lidové Noviny

Extra vocabulary

Assignment Schedule

Aug 31: Introduction to the Czech alphabet

What to prepare for next time:: Read L1; Write L1 ex 3b; Practice pronunciation by listening to recordings in phrasebook; Print out the alphabet exercise, write down meanings of cognates, and choose a Czech name for yourself (we will use it the rest of the semester).

Sep 2 ( lp1)

What to prepare for next time:: Read L2; make flashcards for L2 vocabulary; Make flashcards for Chapter 1 vocabulary; Read through and listen to ABC

Sept 5 (lp2)

What to prepare for next time:: Write L2 ex 3; Prepare Phonology ex 1

Sept 7 (lp3)

What to prepare for next time:: Prepare Phonology ex 2, pt 1 and pt 2; Find a neat Czech website and come prepared to tell us about it; eportfolio Question 1; NOTE: The eportfolio is up and running again!!

Sept 9 (lp4)

What to prepare for next time:: Prepare Phonology ex 3; Write L2 ex 4a&b; Read through and listen to Mám príma den

Sept 12 (lp5)

What to prepare for next time:: Prepare Phonology ex 4; Write L2 map exercise; Study for and take Dictation #1; Sept 13 at 7pm in Dey 113, be sure to see: A prayer for Katařina Horvitzová, in Czech & subtitled (The story of a beautiful Polish singer. The film is set against the backdrop of a cruel game which involves trading Jewish lives for those of Nazi officers imprisoned in American jails.)

Sept 14 (lp6)

Hand in Dictation #1

What to prepare for next time:: Read L3; make flashcards for L3 vocabulary; Make flashcards for Chapter 2 vocabulary; Prepare Phonology ex 5, 1-syllable and 2-syllable words; eportfolio Question 2

Sept 16 (lp7)

What to prepare for next time:: Prepare Phonology ex 5, 3-syllable words; Write L3 ex 2&3; Read through and listen to Starý muž

Sept 19 (lp8)

What to prepare for next time:: Prepare Phonology ex 5 4-syllable words; Write L3 exx. 4&5; Study for and take Dictation #2; Tomorrow night (Tues 9/20 7pm Dey 113) -- Come share the laughs as we watch Limonadový Joe!

Sept 21 (lp9)

Hand in Dictation #2

What to prepare for next time:: Prepare Phonology ex 6; eportfolio Question 3

Sept 23 (lp10)

What to prepare for next time:: Study and review L 2-3; Take the Practice Test and bring it in next time

Sept 26: Practice Hour Test on L 2-3 (lp11)

What to prepare for next time:: Study for Hour Test on L 2-3

Sept 28: HOUR TEST ON L 2-3

What to prepare for next time:: Read L4; make flashcards for L4 vocabulary; Make flashcards for Chapter 3 vocabulary; Prepare Phonology ex 7

Sept 30 (lp12)

What to prepare for next time:: Prepare Phonology ex 8; Write L4 ex 2&3; Read through and listen to Den je krásný

Oct 3 (lp13)

What to prepare for next time:: Write Lesson 4 exercise; Write L4 ex 4&5

Oct 5 (lp14)

What to prepare for next time:: Write L4 ex 6; eportfolio Question 4

Oct 7 (lp15)

What to prepare for next time:: Write L4 ex 7&8; Read through and listen to Díky

Oct 10 (lp16)

Prepare Practice Test on L4

Oct 12

Go over Practice Test on L4

Study for Hour Test on L4

Oct 14: Hour Test on L4

What to prepare for next time:: Read L5; make flashcards for L5 vocabulary; Make flashcards for Chapter 4 vocabulary; Study for and take Dictation #3

Oct 17 (lp17)

Hand in Dictation #3

What to prepare for next time:: Write L5 ex 2a&b; Prepare to present your favorite Czech website

Oct 19 (lp18)

What to prepare for next time:: Write L5 ex 3, 4, 5

Oct 24 (lp18a)

What to prepare for next time:: Write Lesson 5 exercise; Read through and listen to Mně se zdá

Oct 26 (lp19)

What to prepare for next time:: eportfolio Question 5; Write L5 exx 7&8; Write Lesson 5 exercise, p. 11 and Lesson 5 exercise, p. 12; Oct 27 at 7pm in Dey 113 Come see "Murder Czech Style", in Czech & subtitled (a comedy starring a classic actor)

Oct 28 (lp20)

What to prepare for next time:: Write L5 ex 6; Study L5 and prepare Practice Hour Test

Oct 31 (lp21)

What to prepare for next time:: Study L5 and prepare for Hour Test

Nov 2: Hour Test on L5

What to prepare for next time:: Read L6; make flashcards for L6 vocabulary; Make flashcards for Chapter 5 vocabulary; eportfolio Question 6

Nov 4 (lp22)

What to prepare for next time:: Write L6 ex 2 (Note: the instructions here are a bit cryptic. What he wants you to do is to convert můj<->náš; tvůj<->váš; jeho/její<->jejich. In other words, if the sentence has můj you convert to náš and vice-versa, etc.); Write Lesson 6 exercise, p. 12; Read through and listen to Líbíte se mi; Submit a sheet of paper with the URL and a one-line description of the site for your Website Presentation; Have some fun with Fred's Czech Mate

Nov 7 (lp23)

What to prepare for next time:: Write L6 ex 4; Write Lesson 6 exercise, p. 13; Study for and take Dictation #4

Nov 9 (lp24)

Hand in Dictation #4

What to prepare for next time:: Write L6 ex 5; Write Lesson 6 exercise, p. 14; eportfolio Question 7

Nov 11 (lp25)

What to prepare for next time:: Write Lesson 6 exercise, p. 15; Read through and listen to Jediná

Nov 14 (lp26)

What to prepare for next time:: Practice test L6

Nov 16: Practice test L6

Nov 18: Hour Test on L6

What to prepare for next time:: eportfolio Question 9; Read L7; make flashcards for L7 vocabulary; Make flashcards for Chapter 6 vocabulary; Write Lesson 6 exercise, p. 16; Study for and take Dictation #5

Nov 21 (lp27)

Hand in Dictation #5

What to prepare for next time:: Write L7 exx 2&3; Write Lesson 7 exercise, p. 17

Nov 23 (lp28)

What to prepare for next time:: Write L7 exx 4, 5, 6; Write Lesson 7 exercise, p. 18; Read through and listen to Bud' na mě hodná

Nov 28 (lp29)

What to prepare for next time:: Write L7 exx 7&8; Write Lesson 7 exercise, p. 19; Study for and take Dictation #6

Nov 30 (lp30)

Hand in Dictation #6

What to prepare for next time:: Write Lesson 7 review exercise

Dec 9: Review for Final

The FINAL EXAM is on Monday, December 12 at 8:00 am in Dey 404

Item	Number of Items	Points per Item	Total Points
Homework	35	1	35
Dictations	6	3	18
Hour Tests	3	8	24
Website Presentations	1	10	10
Final Exam	1	13	13
		Total:	100