Forum Digest II/Student Forum

A Holiday, Celebrated by Discussion

Both students and the Parliament Chairman Milan Uhde believe that 17 November should be a national holiday, despite the Parliament's hesitancy in acknowledging this yet. In his lecture Students and Politics which was sparsely attended by the students, Uhde dealt with the topic from a historical perspective. He emphasized that the present students themselves would evaluate their historical importance as future lawyers, scientists, publicists and politologists, and pointed out that sincere student spontaneity was both their main advantage and weakness. Students, disenchanted with "too much velvet" and "stolen revolution" left politics after 1989. Yet, they should not feel bitter, because they are the apostles of disorder and the catalysts of political development in a society. They should take an active part in politics and express unbiased opinions, since unpolitic intellectuals are inconsistent.

The young conservatives, who organized the lecture in the Blue Hall of the Karolinum, invited not only an outstanding speaker and narrator, but also a partner for an open dialogue. Unfortunately, the majority of students used their holiday to enjoy a Friday of leisure rather than to attend a political debate.

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Photo Forum: Michaela Vlckova

The speech delivered by the Parliament Chairman Milan Uhde (in the photo next to him Prof. JUDr. Karel Maly, DrSc., CU Rector)

Hlavka Prizes Awarded

Josef Hlavka, architect and patron, bequeathed in his last will in 1908 all his property to the nation to support science and studies. Anticipating the uneasy fate of young intellectuals, he established a foundation to support "eager and capable students of Prague universities by providing them with partial or full provision so they could devote all their efforts to learning, on which both their own and the nation's future is based".

The Board of the Foundation of Josef, Marie and Zdenka Hlavkovi decided shortly after 1989 to renew this part of Hlavka's legacy. On the recommendation of Prague Universities Rectors, prizes and diplomas were awarded for the third time on 16 November 1995. Almost forty undergraduates and graduates from Prague, University of Technology from Brno and researchers from the Czech Academy of Sciences obtained the prize of 20,000 Czech crowns for special study results.

The prize is traditionally awarded in a ceremony taking place in Hlavka's castle at Luzany near Prestice. Many of the original interiors, dating back to the time of its reconstruction in 1886-87, remain intact. In one of them, the Czech Quartet Hall, the new prize holders were welcomed by the Foundation trustee Doc. PhDr. Jaroslav Nedved, CSc. Among the distinguished guests at the ceremony act were other members of the Board and representatives of the academic community - Prof. Dr. Rudolf Zahradnik, DrSc., the Academy of Sciences Chairman and Prof. RNDr. Zdenek Pertold, CSc., Pro-Rector for Student Affairs. All ceremonial addresses approved the idea of supporting "young talents, who could not develop their full potential because of economic pressures".

The nominated candidates then received the awards and diplomas, handed to them by Prof. Jaroslav Vostry, the former Rector of Academy of Performancy Arts and Ing. architect Jiri Voves, the representative of the Foundation Board. (In the middle of the students on the photo is one of the twelve awarded Mgr. Romana Peterova).

Text and photo Forum: Michaela Zindelova

The Czech Studies Program

The Czech Studies Program is a ten-month comprehensive program covering Czech language, literature, history and culture. It has been specifically designed for foreign students following their B.A. or M.A. Courses in Slavonic Studies or related disciplines. The program consists of two modules run in parallel, and students are streamed according to their level of competence in the language of instruction (English or Czech):

Each module takes a total of 24 weeks divided into 2 terms: winter (12 weeks, October through January) and spring (12 weeks, March through May).

I) Beginner's Module

Admission requirements - fluency in English corresponding to the 500 TOEFL score (English is the language of instruction) and good knowledge of at least one Slavonic language.

Course Listing

A): Practical course of Czech language (beginner and lower-intermediate level);; 12 classes per week in winter, 8 classes per week in spring.
B): Linguistic description of Czech - typological and contrasive aspects: grammar and vocabulary; (2 classes per week).
C): The Czech society today - an introduction to the study of history, culture and present-day social and political situation in the country; (2 classes per week in winter).
D): An outline of the Czech history; (2 classes per week in spring).
E): Czech literature - seminar (periods, writers and their books; (2 hours in spring term).
F): Field trip - 1 day (winter and spring).

On completion of the program the student should be able to understand and speak fluently in everyday situations. He will also have acquired a reading knowledge of 2,200-2,800 words of his vocabulary and solid knowledge of grammar, covering the fundamentals of Czech morphology, syntax and word-formation. The student will also be acquainted with Czech literature, culture and history.

II) Advanced Module

Admission requirements - advanced competence in Czech (the language of instruction), corresponding to approx.150 lessons of previous instruction, i. e. good knowledge of grammar and vocabulary of about 2,000 words: preferably also additional knowledge of another Slavonic language.

Course Listing

A): Vocabulary study: paradigmatic and syntagmatic aspects; (2 classes in winter and spring terms).
B): Communicative skills-oral and written; (2 classes in winter and spring terms).
C): Text Analysis-tutorial; (2 classes in winter and spring terms).
D): Selected topics in Czech grammar; (2 classes in winter and spring terms).
E): Contrasive studies based on translation - tutorial; (2 classes in winter term).
F): Czech literature - a historical outline and modern literature - lecture and seminar; (4 classes in winter and spring terms).
G): Czech language in the context of Slavonic languages; (2 classes in spring term).
H): Selected topics in Czech culture (arts, architecture, music, film, theater); (2 classes in winter and spring terms).
I): Field trip - 1 day (winter and spring terms).

Having completed the Advanced Module, students will be able to communicate in speaking and writing using 3,000 - 4,000 words. They will have a sound knowledge of grammar and will be acquainted with Czech literature, culture and history.

Students in both Modules will be required to pass a final language-oriented examination and submit an essay of approx. 300-500 words in English (Module I) or in Czech (Module II) for each course taken.

Students are also expected to read a literary text of up to 300 pages in English or in Czech, depending on the language of instruction.

On completion of the program and upon fulfilling all the course requirements students will be issued a Course Certificate in Czech Studies.

Tuition fee* US$ 1,800/annual
Accommodation charges* US$ 200/p. month (students' residential halls, double occupancy rooms)
Accommodation and board* US$ 290/p. month
* Fees and charges are revised annually.

For application write to:: Ustav bohemistickych studii; Filozoficka fakulta UK; nam. J. Palacha 2; 116 38 Praha 1, Czech Republic; Tel.: 42 2 24 81 11 26-280; Fax: 42 2 2319645; Deadline: August 30 each year

"Academic Firsts"

The Czech Association of Academic Sport (CAAS) announced at the end of November in the Karolinum the best academic sportsmen for 1995. The category of individuals was won by the triple jumper Sarka Kasparkova, a gold medalist of the Summer World Universiad in Fukuoka. Second place was taken by the swimmer Lenka Manhalova and third by the figure-skating couple Katerina Mrazova and Martin Simecek. In the competition of team sports the winning title was awarded to the hockey-players, who reached second place on the World Winter Universiad in Jaccy. Second place was taken by the academic team of basketballers and third by footballers. The CAAS thanked all of the academic sportsmen and women and their trainers and coaches for exemplary representation, and also praised those who enabled them to take part in both the summer and winter world universiad.

Academic sport is an integral part of physical education and sport and has had a long tradition in the Czech Republic, starting as early as 1910 at Charles University. Since then sport has spread to all university towns of the Czech Republic witn best results in the university sport clubs of Prague, Brno, Pilsen, Olomouc and Ostrava. At present The Czech Association of Academic Sport unites 40 clubs with over 25,000 members, who practice in about 37 different fields of sport.

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Photo Forum: Michaela Vlckova

Our photo captures the best academic sportswoman of 1995 Sarka Kasparkova after a ceremony at the Patriotic Hall of the Karolinum during a short interview for Czech Television.

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