Czech 102
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: MWF 1-2
Czech
conversation and film opportunities!
Please join us Mondays at 6:30. Click
here to get the schedule! Textbooks
- We will continue to use this textbook (if you do not have it, please order
it from Slavica by calling toll-free 1-877-SLAVICA):
- Heim, Michael. 1982.
Contemporary Czech. Columbus, OH: Slavica Publishers.
Other
materials
Over the course of the semester, we will continue to construct
an eportfolio for the Czech Republic. Click
here to get the questions. We will go over one set of questions each week
on Friday. - Pictures:
- couple
in living room
- vase on table
- cat
on table
- Mr. Poole
- bus
by house
- table scene
What
we will accomplish this semester
Welcome to Czech 102!
Thank
you for joining us again this semester. Here's my usual spiel: 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.
New this semester:
- We will begin every lesson with brief conversation practice.
- We will finish the Heim book: Lessons 8-14 (L8-14), plus Review Lessons 1-14(RL1-14).
- We will work
our way through the film Kolja (winner of the 1996 Oscar for Best Foreign Film). We will
do this by reading excerpts of the novelization of the film (precisely the excerpts that correspond
to the most crucial dialogs in the film) and watching the corresponding scenes of the film.
- Each of you
will select a song (either from my stash of Czech CDs or one of your own). You will report on your song
four times during the semester, and will gradually create files of the text of the song, your translation
of the song, and some grammatical notes on things that you found in the song.
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), Dictations, Quizzes, Hour Tests, Song Presentations, and the Final Examination.
Attendance.
I will record attendance every day.
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. We will correct it together 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. These tests will
cover grammar. Makeups
are strongly discouraged, as a last resort when a valid excuse is presented in
advance.
Quizzes. These will be very brief multiple choice quizzes on the content of the Kolja excerpts.
Song Presentations. You will make 4 presentations (in Czech, though you may need English for some parts).
In the first one you will
tell us what song you have selected and why, play an excerpt of it, and describe the genre and artist. In the second
presentation you will show us (projected on power point or an html file) the Czech lyrics, along with
your first draft of the translation. Your translation might be incomplete, and you can point out some difficulties
you have encountered. The third presentation will be similar to the first, with a second draft of the translation.
The fourth presentation will be of your song on the FLRC site (you will need to work with a technician to get it up
there), along with a description of some interesting grammatical points in your song.
Final exam. This will consist of a dictation and quiz.
Extra credit. Extra credit can be earned for attendance at conversation hour meetings, films, and other
pre-approved relevant events.
Here is how grades will be assigned in this class:
| Item | Number
of Items | Points per Item | Total Points |
| Attendance | 35 | 0.5 | 17.5 |
| Homework | 35 | 0.5 | 17.5 |
| Dictations | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| Hour
Tests | 2 | 8 | 16 |
| Song Presentations | 4 | 4 for each of 1st 3, 7 for final | 19 |
| Quizzes
| 5 | 3 | 15 |
| | | 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
Assignment
Schedule
Jan 7: new conjugations
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write L8 exx 2&3
- Make flashcards for L8
Jan 9: všechen lp1
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write L8 exx 5&7
- Make flashcards for RL1
Jan 12: L8 sentences lp2
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Kolja 1
- Write L8 ex 6
- Write všechen ex
- Make flashcards for RL2
Jan 14: Kolja 1 lp3
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write L8 exx 7&8
- Write nová slova ex part 1 and
part 2
Jan 16 lp4
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write RL1 ex 1 and RL2 ex 2
- Read first half of Kolja 2
Jan 21: Kolja 2 (first half) lp5
- What to prepare for next time:
- Dictation on L8, RL1, RL 2
- Study for Quiz on Kolja 1
Jan 23: Quiz on Kolja 1; motion verbs and prepositions lp6
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write L9 exx 2&3
- Make flashcards for L9
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write L9 exx 7&8
- Make flashcards for RL3
- Read second half of Kolja 2
Jan 28: Kolja 2 (second half) lp8
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write RL3 ex 1 items 1-25
- Make flashcards for RL4
- Write exercise on verbs of motion
Jan 30 lp9
- What to prepare for next time:
- RL3 ex 1 items 26-50
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write RL4 exx 1, 2, 3
- Read first half of Kolja 3
Feb 4: Kolja 3 (first half) lp11
- What to prepare for next time:
- Dictation on L9, RL3, RL4
- Study for Quiz on Kolja 2
Feb 6: Quiz on Kolja 2 lp12
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write L10 exx 3, 6, 8
- Prepare Song Presentation #1 (last names A-La)
- Make flashcards for L10
Feb 9: Song Presentation #1 (last names A-La) lp13
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read second half of Kolja 3
- Prepare Song Presentation #1 (last names Le-Z)
- Write L10 ex 9
- Write extra L10 ex a
Feb 11: Song Presentation #1 (last names Le-Z) lp14
Polina's presentation
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write extra L10 ex b
- Write RL5 exx 1&2
- Make flashcards for RL5
- What to prepare for next time:
- Make flashcards for RL6
- Write RL5 ex 3
- Write RL6 ex 1
Feb 16
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Kolja 4
- Write RL6 exx 2&3
Feb 18: Kolja 4
- What to prepare for next time:
- Study for Hour Test on L8, L9, L10
Feb 20: Hour Test on L8, L9, L10
- What to prepare for next time:
- Prepare Song Presentation #2 (last names A-La)
Feb 23: Song Presentation #2 (last names A-La) lp16
- What to prepare for next time:
- Prepare Song Presentation #2 (last names Le-Z)
- Make flashcards for L11
- Write L11 exx 4, 6, 7
Feb 25: Song Presentation #2 (last names Le-Z) lp17
Lapar presentation
Peroutka presentation
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read first half of Kolja 5
- Make flashcards for RL7
- Write RL7 ex 2 items 1-30
- Write L11 vocab ex
Feb 27: Kolja 5 (first half) lp18
- What to prepare for next time:
- Make flashcards for RL8
- Write RL7 ex 2 items 31-50
- Write RL8 ex 1 items 1-20
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write RL8 ex 1 items 21-65
March 3
LeBlanc presentation
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read second half of Kolja 5
- Take Dictation on L11, RL7, RL8
- Study for Quiz on Kolja 3&4
March 5: Quiz on Kolja 3&4; Kolja 5 (second half) McCabe presentation
- What to prepare for next time:
- Make flashcards for L12
- Write L12 exx 3, 6, 7
- What to prepare for next time:
- Make flashcards for RL9
- Write L12 ex 8
- Write extra L12 ex
March 17 lp21
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Kolja 6
- Make flashcards for RL10
- Write extra L12 ex (srovnání only)
- Write RL9 exx 1&4
March 19: Kolja 6 lp22
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write RL10 exx 1&2
March 22 lp23
- What to prepare for next time:
- Take Dictation on L12, RL9, RL10
- Study for Quiz on Kolja 5&6
March 24: Quiz on Kolja 5&6
- What to prepare for next time:
- Make flashcards for L13
- Read first half of Kolja 7
- Write L13 exx 1, 2a, 5
March 26: Kolja 7 (first half)
- What to prepare for next time:
- Make flashcards for RL11
- Write extra L13 ex (nová slova only)
March 29
- What to prepare for next time:
- Make flashcards for RL12
- Write RL11 exx 1&3
- Write extra L13 ex
March 31
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write RL12 exx 1&3
- Read second half of Kolja 7
April 2: Kolja 7 (second half)
- What to prepare for next time:
- Study for Hour Test on L11, L12, L13
April 5: Hour Test on L11, L12, L13
- What to prepare for next time:
- Make flashcards for L14
- Prepare Song Presentation #3 (last names Le-Z)
April 7: Song Presentation #3 (last names Le-Z)
- What to prepare for next time:
- Prepare Song Presentation #3 (last names A-La)
- Make flashcards for RL13
- Read Kolja 8
April 12: Song Presentation #3 (last names A-La); Kolja 8; McCabe presentation
- What to prepare for next time:
- Make flashcards for RL14
- Find examples of spoken Czech forms in Kolja 1-8
April 14: examples of spoken Czech forms in Kolja 1-8
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Kolja 9
- Write RL13 exx 1&2
April 16: Kolja 9
- What to prepare for next time:
- Write RL14 ex 2
- Prepare Final Song Presentation (last names A-K)
April 19: Final Song Presentation (last names A-K)
- What to prepare for next time:
- Prepare Final Song Presentation (last names L-M)
April 21: Final Song Presentation (last names L-M)
- What to prepare for next time:
- Prepare Final Song Presentation (last names N-Z)
April 23: Final Song Presentation (last names N-Z)
- What to prepare for next time:
- Take Dictation on L14, RL13, RL14
- Study for Quiz on Kolja 7, 8, 9
April 26
The FINAL EXAM will be held at 8:00 AM on this date in Dey 402
Bring your Dictation on L14, RL13, RL14 and be prepared to take Quiz on Kolja 7, 8, 9