Czech (CZCH)
CZCH 0010 Czech Through Film
This course has two separate but related components: a series of Czech films, shown with subtitles and open to the entire University of Pennsylvania community, and a Czech language class which relies on the films for content. Each film screening will be preceded by introductory remarks and followed by a discussion, with optional reading material made available in advance. In this way, the film series can but need not also be offered as a for-credit course, cross-listed through REES and Cinema and Media Studies. The films will be sequenced chronologically through Czech history, as opposed to film history, so that the series will double as a survey of Czech history. For example, we will begin with films set in the medieval period, such as Marketa Lazarova (dir. Frantisek Vlacil, 1967) and Cisaruv pekar-Pekaruv cisar (Emperor's Baker-Baker's Emperor, dir. Martin Fric, 1955). Eventually we will progress to recent films that deal with the current moment. Classic and contemporary films will be intermingled to simultaneously present a variety of important historical eras and cinematic techniques. Concurrently, students enrolled in the language course will learn basic Czech using custom-made materials drawn from the films. As their vocabulary and grasp of grammatical concepts increases, we will be able to work with longer and more complex sections of the film-texts. The films will provide the material for listening and reading exercises, and the students' oral and written work will be anchored by their responses to the films. We will advance from picking out simple statements to analyzing dialogue and identifying irony in film and composition, developing skills of intercultural communication and competence. By the end of the course, students will be able to read about Czech cinema using authentic materials, and discuss the films' aesthetic, historical and political importance.
1 Course Unit
CZCH 0100 Czech I
This course is the first in the series of first-year courses, intended for students with no previous background in Czech. The course develops competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Czech. It will also introduce you to Czech culture through exciting authentic materials, including songs, videos, short stories, and cultural artifacts. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Czech. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in simple conversations in Czech on topics concerning your daily life. You will also be able to write short personalized messages in Czech.
Two Term Class, Student may enter either term; credit given for either
1 Course Unit
CZCH 0120 Czech through Short Stories
A conversational Czech language course integrated with an introduction to Czech short fiction. The selection of texts can be tailored to suit students' interests. All texts will be available in English translation; students with advance knowledge may choose to read in the original. Through examples of short fiction, students will be introduced to important Czech authors such as Alois Jirasek, Jan Neruda, Bozena Nemcova, Karel Capek, Jaroslav Hasek, Eva Kanturkova, Daniela Fischerova, and Daniela Hodrova.
Spring
1 Course Unit
CZCH 0200 Czech II
This course is the second in the series of first-year courses, continuation of Czech I. The course continues to develop competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Czech. We will continue the exploration of Czech culture through exciting authentic materials, including songs, videos, short stories, and cultural artifacts. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Czech. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in simple conversations on many topics in informal and some formal contexts concerning your daily life. You will also be able to write longer personalized messages in Czech.
Two Term Class, Student may enter either term; credit given for either
1 Course Unit
CZCH 0300 Czech III
This course is the first in a series of second-year courses, continuation of Czech II. The course will strengthen students' competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Czech and will expand students' active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics. We will continue the exploration of Czech culture through exciting authentic materials, including songs, videos, short stories, and cultural artifacts. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Czech. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in increasingly complex conversations in Czech on many topics in informal and formal contexts concerning your daily life, significant personal and cultural events and situations, important cultural figures. You will be able to write longer messages in a variety of informal and formal contexts.
Two Term Class, Student may enter either term; credit given for either
1 Course Unit
CZCH 0400 Czech IV
This course is the second in a series of second-year courses, continuation of Czech III. The course will continue strengthening and expanding students' competence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding contemporary Czech and increasing active and passive vocabulary on a variety of topics. We will continue the exploration of Czech culture through exciting authentic materials, including songs, videos, short stories, and cultural artifacts. Class work emphasizes development of communicative competence in real-life situations, spontaneous interactions, pair and group work and is conducted almost entirely in Czech. By the end of the course, you will be able to engage in increasingly complex conversations in Czech on many topics in informal and formal contexts concerning your daily life, significant personal and cultural events, attitudes and perspectives. You will be able to write longer messages in a variety of informal and formal contexts. Satisfies Penn Language Requirement.
Two Term Class, Student may enter either term; credit given for either
1 Course Unit