Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Dobrý den!
I mentioned in class last week that the Czech Center New York is having its annual Street Festival this Saturday. Here are the details:
"CZECH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS" - "CZECH STREET FESTIVAL"
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2003 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Manhattan, 83rd Street, between Madison & Park Avenues
***
Concert of the Czech band -123min
Speakers and prominent guests
Performance of Slovak folk-dance ensemble Limbora, with the music groups Pajtasi and Limboracek, and children from Czech School in Astoria, DA Sokol, and Sokol NY groups.
Vendors of Czech specialties, including koláče, fun for kids!
Czech books, souvenirs, and much more!
***
WIN A TRIP to PRAGUE for two in a FREE RAFFLE sponsored by Czech Airlines and Tatra Travel Bureau.
***
Program at the CZECH STREET FESTIVAL:
1:00 pm Adam Tvrdy Quartet; modern jazz
2:00 pm Welcome by Director of the Czech Center and Czech Consul General, and other guests
2:10 pm Performance by children from Czech School in Astoria
2:30 pm Adam Tvrdy Quartet
3:15 pm Sokol NY performance by Alexandra Apjanova
3:25 pm Limbora Slovak Folk Ensemble & dulcimer band Pajtasi
4:15 pm Limboracek children dance ensemble
4:30 pm -123min.; band from the Czech Republic
4:50 pm DA Sokol Astoria gymnastics routines
5:05 pm Raffle Draw by Special Guests
5:30 pm -123min.
7:00 pm Conclusion of the Czech Street Festival
Schedules and program subject to change.
The Street Festival will be held rain or shine.
***
-123min.
The trio -123min. was founded in 1997 and became one of the most popular bands in Czech clubs and festivals. They released their debut album Shooba Dooba in 1999 and toured the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland in support. The band's popularity grew when it was named "Discovery of the Year 1999" by the Czech Academy of Popular Music and they released two more albums, Try in 2001 and Home in 2002. -123min. blends the rhythms of jazz, soul, and funk, and performs in English. The band is Zdenek Bína (guitars, vocals), Martin Vajgl (drums), and Fredrik Janácek (bass). To download songs and get more information, visit www.minus123min.cz.
Adam Tvrdý Quartet
Adam Tvrdý is one of the most established Czech guitarists with many domestic and international experiences. Besides his international collaborations, Adam has played with the best musicians on the Czech jazz scene, such as drummers Otto Hejnic, Jiri Slavicek, Pavel Zboril, bass players Petr Korinek, Frantisek Uhlir, Jaromír Honzak, pianists Michal Nejtek, Dr. Vojtech Eckert, Karel Ruzicka, saxophonists Karel Ruzicka Jr., Frantisek Kop, Radek Zapadlo, trumpetists Pavel Husicka, Karel Tomsicek, trombonist Premek Tomsicek, singers Jana Koubkova, Eva Emingerova-Dostalova, Zuzana Dumkova, and guitarists Jaroslav Sindler and David Doruzka.
At the Czech Street Festival, Adam will perform with composer and keyboard player John Serry, who won the Grand Prize in the Jazziz Magazine "Keyboards on Fire" competition (1995). Serry recorded Enchantress (1996, Telarc) for which he received enthusiastic reviews in every major jazz and keyboard publication. He received a Grammy Nomination (Best Arrangement) for his composition "Sabotage" on his debut recording, Exhibition (Chrysalis Records). His second record, Jazziz (Chrysalis), received four stars in Downbeat magazine and was the inspiration for the naming of Jazziz Magazine by its publisher.
Serry has worked in film, television, commercials, Broadway theater, the concert hall, education, and with numerous artists, including Aretha Franklin, Liza Minnelli, Doc Severinsen, and Marian McPartland. He has conducted for Radio City Music Hall and was Music Director for the recent revival of the Broadway jazz musical Swing at Gateway Playhouse. Serry toured Prague and the Czech Republic in August, performing his original compositions (as guest artist with the Frantisek Uhlir Team) at jazz festivals and clubs.
Adam Tvrdý Quartet
Adam Tvrdý - guitar, John Serry - keyboard
(http://home.earthlink.net/~jserry/)
Essiet Essiet - acoustic bass, Motez Coleman - drums
****
For more information visit www.czechcenter.com/CzechIndependenceDay.htm
Refer to these web sites www.czechcenter.com/Independence2002.htm and www.czechcenter.com/StreetFestival02.htm
for additional images and information on last year's Czech Independence Day Celebrations and Czech Street Festival.
********
Czech Independence Day celebrations are organized by the Czech Center New York under the patronage of the Czech Consulate General.
I mentioned in class last week that the Czech Center New York is having its annual Street Festival this Saturday. Here are the details:
"CZECH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS" - "CZECH STREET FESTIVAL"
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2003 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Manhattan, 83rd Street, between Madison & Park Avenues
***
Concert of the Czech band -123min
Speakers and prominent guests
Performance of Slovak folk-dance ensemble Limbora, with the music groups Pajtasi and Limboracek, and children from Czech School in Astoria, DA Sokol, and Sokol NY groups.
Vendors of Czech specialties, including koláče, fun for kids!
Czech books, souvenirs, and much more!
***
WIN A TRIP to PRAGUE for two in a FREE RAFFLE sponsored by Czech Airlines and Tatra Travel Bureau.
***
Program at the CZECH STREET FESTIVAL:
1:00 pm Adam Tvrdy Quartet; modern jazz
2:00 pm Welcome by Director of the Czech Center and Czech Consul General, and other guests
2:10 pm Performance by children from Czech School in Astoria
2:30 pm Adam Tvrdy Quartet
3:15 pm Sokol NY performance by Alexandra Apjanova
3:25 pm Limbora Slovak Folk Ensemble & dulcimer band Pajtasi
4:15 pm Limboracek children dance ensemble
4:30 pm -123min.; band from the Czech Republic
4:50 pm DA Sokol Astoria gymnastics routines
5:05 pm Raffle Draw by Special Guests
5:30 pm -123min.
7:00 pm Conclusion of the Czech Street Festival
Schedules and program subject to change.
The Street Festival will be held rain or shine.
***
-123min.
The trio -123min. was founded in 1997 and became one of the most popular bands in Czech clubs and festivals. They released their debut album Shooba Dooba in 1999 and toured the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland in support. The band's popularity grew when it was named "Discovery of the Year 1999" by the Czech Academy of Popular Music and they released two more albums, Try in 2001 and Home in 2002. -123min. blends the rhythms of jazz, soul, and funk, and performs in English. The band is Zdenek Bína (guitars, vocals), Martin Vajgl (drums), and Fredrik Janácek (bass). To download songs and get more information, visit www.minus123min.cz.
Adam Tvrdý Quartet
Adam Tvrdý is one of the most established Czech guitarists with many domestic and international experiences. Besides his international collaborations, Adam has played with the best musicians on the Czech jazz scene, such as drummers Otto Hejnic, Jiri Slavicek, Pavel Zboril, bass players Petr Korinek, Frantisek Uhlir, Jaromír Honzak, pianists Michal Nejtek, Dr. Vojtech Eckert, Karel Ruzicka, saxophonists Karel Ruzicka Jr., Frantisek Kop, Radek Zapadlo, trumpetists Pavel Husicka, Karel Tomsicek, trombonist Premek Tomsicek, singers Jana Koubkova, Eva Emingerova-Dostalova, Zuzana Dumkova, and guitarists Jaroslav Sindler and David Doruzka.
At the Czech Street Festival, Adam will perform with composer and keyboard player John Serry, who won the Grand Prize in the Jazziz Magazine "Keyboards on Fire" competition (1995). Serry recorded Enchantress (1996, Telarc) for which he received enthusiastic reviews in every major jazz and keyboard publication. He received a Grammy Nomination (Best Arrangement) for his composition "Sabotage" on his debut recording, Exhibition (Chrysalis Records). His second record, Jazziz (Chrysalis), received four stars in Downbeat magazine and was the inspiration for the naming of Jazziz Magazine by its publisher.
Serry has worked in film, television, commercials, Broadway theater, the concert hall, education, and with numerous artists, including Aretha Franklin, Liza Minnelli, Doc Severinsen, and Marian McPartland. He has conducted for Radio City Music Hall and was Music Director for the recent revival of the Broadway jazz musical Swing at Gateway Playhouse. Serry toured Prague and the Czech Republic in August, performing his original compositions (as guest artist with the Frantisek Uhlir Team) at jazz festivals and clubs.
Adam Tvrdý Quartet
Adam Tvrdý - guitar, John Serry - keyboard
(http://home.earthlink.net/~jserry/)
Essiet Essiet - acoustic bass, Motez Coleman - drums
****
For more information visit www.czechcenter.com/CzechIndependenceDay.htm
Refer to these web sites www.czechcenter.com/Independence2002.htm and www.czechcenter.com/StreetFestival02.htm
for additional images and information on last year's Czech Independence Day Celebrations and Czech Street Festival.
********
Czech Independence Day celebrations are organized by the Czech Center New York under the patronage of the Czech Consulate General.
Thursday, September 25, 2003
One thing I forgot on Tuesday night was to get from all of you your e-mail addresses. So if you are reading this, please send your address to nyuczech2003@yahoo.com.
I just got off the phone with a woman at the Center for Foreign Languages and Translation, which oversees our course. She told me that the workbook was being reprinted by the author, but that it should be available "soon." Meanwhile, I will go ahead and photocopy the first two chapters, and if the workbook still isn't in by next week or week after next, I will Xerox the whole thing for all of you.
I just got off the phone with a woman at the Center for Foreign Languages and Translation, which oversees our course. She told me that the workbook was being reprinted by the author, but that it should be available "soon." Meanwhile, I will go ahead and photocopy the first two chapters, and if the workbook still isn't in by next week or week after next, I will Xerox the whole thing for all of you.
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
For those of you interested in computer language programs, one of my students in Spring 2003 used and recommended "TRANSPARENT LANGUAGE 101: Languages of the World." She purchased it from J&R (www.jandr.com), and had this to say about it: "It isn't the best program (by far), but I liked it for extra practice - especially since it allows you to record yourself speaking words, phrases and sentences and then compare it to the 'native computer' voice saying the same things."
Though J&R only advertises it for Windows, she said they have a Mac version as well. I myself have never used the program. Note, too, that Czech is just one of 101 languages contained in the program. And of course J&R is not the only store that sells the product, so you may want to shop around.
In addition to the Web sites I mention in the syllabus below, here is one from Brown University, offering links to an online English-Czech dictionary, a site on the Czech language (including sections on "Alphabet and Pronunciation," "Words and Their Form," "Sentences and Their Structure," "Spoken Czech," "Fiction, Poems, Songs," "Translations," and "Jokes and Games"), and a list of Czech and Slovak Literature Resources, from Oxford University. Be warned that many of the links are slow to open, even if you have a fast connection.
Though J&R only advertises it for Windows, she said they have a Mac version as well. I myself have never used the program. Note, too, that Czech is just one of 101 languages contained in the program. And of course J&R is not the only store that sells the product, so you may want to shop around.
In addition to the Web sites I mention in the syllabus below, here is one from Brown University, offering links to an online English-Czech dictionary, a site on the Czech language (including sections on "Alphabet and Pronunciation," "Words and Their Form," "Sentences and Their Structure," "Spoken Czech," "Fiction, Poems, Songs," "Translations," and "Jokes and Games"), and a list of Czech and Slovak Literature Resources, from Oxford University. Be warned that many of the links are slow to open, even if you have a fast connection.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Welcome to the home of Czech I, at NYU's School of Continuing and Professional Studies. My name is Alex Zucker, and I am your instructor.
Here is the syllabus for this semester:
X25.9001.001: Czech I, Fall 2003
Tuesdays, 6:20–8:15 p.m., Norman Thomas Center, Room 720
Instructor: Alex Zucker
e-mail: nyuczech2003@yahoo.com
Text: Communicative Czech, by Ivana Rešková and Magdalena Pintarová ($17), with workbook ($12) and cassette tape ($10, optional). Purchase materials at NYU Book Center, 18 Washington Place (between Washington Square East and Greene Street), tel. (212) 998-4667. Open Mo-Th, 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Fr-Sa, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; closed Sundays.
Course Objectives and Requirements
The goal of this course is to develop basic skills in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing Czech. In addition to the required text, students will work from occasional handouts and online materials.
Given the range of reasons why students are taking the course, and their differing learning styles, I strongly encourage all of you to send me a weekly e-mail, of no particular length, containing your reactions to the course as it progresses. This feedback will help me run the course to suit your needs and interests.
We will meet 12 times, with occasional (and optional) out-of-class events.
A few Web sites to start you out (you can also find all of these at right, under "Links"):
http://www.czechcenter.cz/ — includes basic facts, history, photo gallery (w/12 moving panoramic photos of Prague!), tourist guide, and much, much more.
http://www.languages-on-the-web.com/links/link-czech.htm — links to sites with general info, current events, online dictionaries, newspapers, radio, TV, bookstores, Czech fonts, language schools, etc.
http://www.locallingo.com/countries/czech_republic/language/index.html — audio language lessons, phrases, vocabulary, idioms.
http://www.praguepost.com/ — weekly English-language newspaper in Prague.
http://www.czechcenter.com — Web site of the Czech Center New York, includes listings of Czech-related events in the New York area (art shows, readings, films, concerts, etc.), as well as info on travel and business in the Czech Republic, and many, many links. The CCNY also has a free-of-charge lending library with books in both Czech and English. Located at 1109 Madison Avenue (at 83rd St.), tel. (212) 288-0830. Open Tu-Fr, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Th till 7 p.m.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Class 1: Sept. 23
Dobrý den. Who am I? Who are you?
Famous Czechs; Cognates with English
Úvod (Introduction): The Sounds of Czech: Vowels, Diphthongs, Consonants (voiced and unvoiced); Pronunciation and Spelling; Stress
Homework: Learn alphabet and how to pronounce it; buy textbook and workbook, and preview Lesson 1
Class 2: Sept. 30
Lesson 1: První den (The First Day)
Personal pronouns and the verb být (“to be”)
Greetings and basic phrases; a quick aside on written (spisovná) vs. spoken (hovorová, or obecná) Czech
Kdo je to? Co je to? (“Who is it? What is it?”)
The three genders: masculine (animate & inanimate), feminine, neuter
Adjectives, pronouns/articles, and the number one
Class 3: Oct. 7
Dictation
Lesson 1 (cont.): Adverbs of place
Possessive pronouns
Dialogues (in pairs)
Lesson 2: Seznámení (Getting to Know One Another)
Dialogues 1-4 (for pronunciation only)
Class 4: Oct. 14
Lesson 2 (cont.): Review exercises
Verbs: present tense (dělat, mluvit, studovat, číst, psát, jít, jet, spát, jíst, pít, žít, brát, nést, mýt, vědět, stát) and negation of present tense (prefix ne- + verb)
Declension: singular nouns, Accusative (4th case; direct object)
Class 5: Oct. 21
Lesson 2 (cont.): The verbs “to know”: vědět, znát, umět
Class 6: Oct. 28
Lesson 3: Nakupování (Shopping)
Declension: plural nouns (masculine inanimate, feminine, neuter) Nominative and Accusative (1st and 4th cases)
Cardinal numerals
Class 7: Nov. 4
Lesson 3 (cont.): The possessive pronoun svůj
Declension: personal pronouns, Accusative (4th case)
Veterans Day Nov. 11, No Class
Class 8: Nov. 18
Lesson 4: Město: na poště, v bance (The City: At the Post Office, In the Bank)
Declension: plural masculine animate nouns, Accusative (4th case)
Questions: Kde? Kam? (Where? Where to?)
Indefinite and negative pronouns and adverbs
Class 9: Nov. 25
Lesson 4 (cont.): The adverbs ještě and už
Lesson 5: Hotel, restaurace (Hotel, Restaurant)
Modal verbs: chtít, moct, muset, smět
Declension: Vocative (5th case)
Class 10: Dec. 2
Lesson 5 (cont.): Likes and dislikes
Adverbs of quantity
Lesson 6: Co jsi dělal včera? (What did you do yesterday?)
Verbs, past tense (dělat); reflexive verbs (se and si); irregular verbs
Declension: singular, Genitive (2nd case)
Class 11: Dec. 9
Lesson 6 (cont.): Ordinal numerals
Dates, months
Class 12: Dec. 16
Review or “catch up”
Here is the syllabus for this semester:
X25.9001.001: Czech I, Fall 2003
Tuesdays, 6:20–8:15 p.m., Norman Thomas Center, Room 720
Instructor: Alex Zucker
e-mail: nyuczech2003@yahoo.com
Text: Communicative Czech, by Ivana Rešková and Magdalena Pintarová ($17), with workbook ($12) and cassette tape ($10, optional). Purchase materials at NYU Book Center, 18 Washington Place (between Washington Square East and Greene Street), tel. (212) 998-4667. Open Mo-Th, 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Fr-Sa, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; closed Sundays.
Course Objectives and Requirements
The goal of this course is to develop basic skills in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing Czech. In addition to the required text, students will work from occasional handouts and online materials.
Given the range of reasons why students are taking the course, and their differing learning styles, I strongly encourage all of you to send me a weekly e-mail, of no particular length, containing your reactions to the course as it progresses. This feedback will help me run the course to suit your needs and interests.
We will meet 12 times, with occasional (and optional) out-of-class events.
A few Web sites to start you out (you can also find all of these at right, under "Links"):
http://www.czechcenter.cz/ — includes basic facts, history, photo gallery (w/12 moving panoramic photos of Prague!), tourist guide, and much, much more.
http://www.languages-on-the-web.com/links/link-czech.htm — links to sites with general info, current events, online dictionaries, newspapers, radio, TV, bookstores, Czech fonts, language schools, etc.
http://www.locallingo.com/countries/czech_republic/language/index.html — audio language lessons, phrases, vocabulary, idioms.
http://www.praguepost.com/ — weekly English-language newspaper in Prague.
http://www.czechcenter.com — Web site of the Czech Center New York, includes listings of Czech-related events in the New York area (art shows, readings, films, concerts, etc.), as well as info on travel and business in the Czech Republic, and many, many links. The CCNY also has a free-of-charge lending library with books in both Czech and English. Located at 1109 Madison Avenue (at 83rd St.), tel. (212) 288-0830. Open Tu-Fr, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Th till 7 p.m.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Class 1: Sept. 23
Dobrý den. Who am I? Who are you?
Famous Czechs; Cognates with English
Úvod (Introduction): The Sounds of Czech: Vowels, Diphthongs, Consonants (voiced and unvoiced); Pronunciation and Spelling; Stress
Homework: Learn alphabet and how to pronounce it; buy textbook and workbook, and preview Lesson 1
Class 2: Sept. 30
Lesson 1: První den (The First Day)
Personal pronouns and the verb být (“to be”)
Greetings and basic phrases; a quick aside on written (spisovná) vs. spoken (hovorová, or obecná) Czech
Kdo je to? Co je to? (“Who is it? What is it?”)
The three genders: masculine (animate & inanimate), feminine, neuter
Adjectives, pronouns/articles, and the number one
Class 3: Oct. 7
Dictation
Lesson 1 (cont.): Adverbs of place
Possessive pronouns
Dialogues (in pairs)
Lesson 2: Seznámení (Getting to Know One Another)
Dialogues 1-4 (for pronunciation only)
Class 4: Oct. 14
Lesson 2 (cont.): Review exercises
Verbs: present tense (dělat, mluvit, studovat, číst, psát, jít, jet, spát, jíst, pít, žít, brát, nést, mýt, vědět, stát) and negation of present tense (prefix ne- + verb)
Declension: singular nouns, Accusative (4th case; direct object)
Class 5: Oct. 21
Lesson 2 (cont.): The verbs “to know”: vědět, znát, umět
Class 6: Oct. 28
Lesson 3: Nakupování (Shopping)
Declension: plural nouns (masculine inanimate, feminine, neuter) Nominative and Accusative (1st and 4th cases)
Cardinal numerals
Class 7: Nov. 4
Lesson 3 (cont.): The possessive pronoun svůj
Declension: personal pronouns, Accusative (4th case)
Veterans Day Nov. 11, No Class
Class 8: Nov. 18
Lesson 4: Město: na poště, v bance (The City: At the Post Office, In the Bank)
Declension: plural masculine animate nouns, Accusative (4th case)
Questions: Kde? Kam? (Where? Where to?)
Indefinite and negative pronouns and adverbs
Class 9: Nov. 25
Lesson 4 (cont.): The adverbs ještě and už
Lesson 5: Hotel, restaurace (Hotel, Restaurant)
Modal verbs: chtít, moct, muset, smět
Declension: Vocative (5th case)
Class 10: Dec. 2
Lesson 5 (cont.): Likes and dislikes
Adverbs of quantity
Lesson 6: Co jsi dělal včera? (What did you do yesterday?)
Verbs, past tense (dělat); reflexive verbs (se and si); irregular verbs
Declension: singular, Genitive (2nd case)
Class 11: Dec. 9
Lesson 6 (cont.): Ordinal numerals
Dates, months
Class 12: Dec. 16
Review or “catch up”
