The aim of this course is to deliver basic knowledge about the Czech language. Familiar everyday expressions will be taught and frequently used phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a specific type will be explained. Emphasis will be laid on topics such as: personal introduction, basic personal and family information, food and restaurants, shopping etc. The students will learn the way to ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she can do.

A choice from the following books:

1.Czech Express 1 � Lída Holá, Akropolis 2007 (+CD)

2.Czech Express 2, Lída Holá, Pavla Bořilová, Akropolis 2011

3.New Czech Step by Step � Lída Holá, Akropolis 2004, 2005 (+CD)

4.New Czech Step by Step (Activity Book) � Lída Holá, Akropolis 2004, 2005

5.Various materials created by the tutor, including audio and video-materials.

1. Introduction: the alphabet, pronunciation notes, basic linguistic vocabulary; conjugation of the verb "být" in the present tense and its negation; genders and basic word-stock (boy, girl, man, woman, student, school etc.).

2. Basic phrases and conversational phrases: Jak se to řekne česky., Mluvte pomalu, prosím., Nerozumím., Mám otázku., Kdo/Co je to.; Jak se máte/š - the vy/Vy//ty distinction; the polysemic use of the word "prosím" (rooted in various situations); jmenuju se, studuju, pracuju - the Czech verbal classes and basic verbs (the "-je" conjugation).

3. Basic dialogues: Introducing oneself and someone else; nationalities (nouns, adjectives), verbs: mít, jet, jít and their conjugation; the types of conjugation in all the remaining classes demonstrated on particular verbs (-á: dělat; -í: prosit, -e: jít, -ne: začne); phrases: Odkud jsi/jste?, Těší mě., Mějte se hezky.

4. Cardinal and ordinal numerals; conversation on the phone; giving phone numbers. How much is it? - Shopping (food and clothes).

5. Directions; the kde/kam distinction; static description (description of a room); navigating through the city with a map.

6. Possessive and demonstrative pronouns. Adjectives: hard/soft + basic declination and comparison rules; accusative with nouns and adjectives; My family.

7. The instrumental (the 7th case) with means of transport (metrem, tramvají). The distinction between "mít rád/rád dělat". Negative and indefinite pronouns.

8. When is it?: days of the week, months, seasons, dates.; important verbs and their distinction: začít/začínat; končit/ukončit; otvírat/otevřít; zavírat/zavřít; jít/chodit; přijít/přicházet; jet/jezdit; sejít se.

9. The verb "mít" and its phrasal use: mít kašel, mít rýmu, mít štěstí, mít náladu, mít zkoušku etc.; mít pocit, že…, mít dojem, že…, mít tušení, že…, mít strach, že…

10. In a restaurant; The menu; basic conversational phrases (dát is; zvlášť/dohromady - Czech customs of rounding the price for a tip); the Czech menu; 1x, 2x, 3x…(expressing "times").

11. Roleplay: waiter/guest; phrases: chtěl bych - the basics about present conditional mood.

12. Past tense and it practice. A guided tour. Video: The Czech history and present. Czech banknotes - information about famous and well-known Czechs.

13. Future tense. Perfective and imperfective aspect - basics. Basic future conjugation. How do I imagine my future?; revision of present conditional mood.

14. Credit test and final spoken exam - a dialogue (in Czech purely) with the tutor.