The thesis deals with education. The theoretical part is concerned with education of employees, systematic corporate education, methods of education and evaluation of education. The practical part focuses on research of education in the company ATAS Elektromotory Náchod.

The objective of the thesis was twofold. Firstly, to map the situation in one-year post- secondary courses of English organised by private language schools in the Czech Republic and to recommend teaching methods and materials suitable for the given age group and the aims of the courses. Secondly, to outline the legislation regulating this form of study and in view of the recent legislative changes to compile a set of arguments for preserving the student status for the course participants. The first part of the thesis summarizes the lingvodidactic principles of teaching English as a foreign language with respect to the specific characteristics of learners between 19 and 22 years of age. It also presents a brief overview of the historical development of teaching methods as a background to the methodology applicable to post-secondary courses and provides a basis for textbook evaluation and selection. In the empirical part of the thesis the organization of post-secondary courses at three private language schools was contrasted and two sets of questionnaires completed by their students were analysed. Based on the conclusions drawn in the theoretical background as well as on the output of the questionnaires the contemporary approach of principled eclecticism was recommended as the most suitable...

A partir dos pressupostos de que crenças exercem um papel importante na aquisição e aprendizagem de línguas e de que o ensino de línguas tem chegado a uma fase que pode ser caracterizada como pós-métodos, o presente trabalho investiga em que medida um curso interativo e intensivo de alemão atua sobre as crenças dos aprendizes. O curso é baseado nos conceitos da teoria de aquisição de línguas estrangeiras de Stephen Krashen que apresenta uma distinção entre aquisição e aprendizagem e também demonstra que fatores afetivos atuam como um filtro para o aprendizado. Ao mesmo tempo, esta teoria é ampliada com aspectos de outras teorias de aquisição e aprendizagem de línguas. Desta forma o curso oferecido é focalizado na oralidade, aquisição e interação. Dentro do âmbito deste curso são pesquisadas no presente trabalho especialmente as crenças dos participantes do curso a respeito de autonomia, nas aulas de língua alemã e de língua em geral. A investigação aconteceu mediante o critério temporal, verificando-se quais as crenças os participantes possuíam antes e depois do curso. Ao mesmo tempo, o trabalho propõe a identificação de relações entre motivação, expectativas específicas sobre o curso, decisões programáticas dentro do curso e sua percepção pelos participantes. Também foram observados fatores afetivos que influenciam mudanças nas crenças gerais sobre aulas de línguas. No trabalho, investigam-se os pontos indicados mediante questionários, diários de aprendizagem, entrevistas, testes de desempenho e gravações das aulas. Os resultados do trabalho indicaram mudanças nas crenças dos participantes do curso para algumas determinadas áreas. Destacam-se aqui as crenças sobre a língua alemã e, em parte, sobre aulas de línguas. As crenças sobre autonomia não foram alteradas significativamente. Porém as interdependências das várias crenças se demonstraram complexas e múltiplas. / Parting from the supposition that beliefs have a considerable impact on language learning and language acquisition and that language teaching has reached a point that can be characterized as a post-methods era, the present work investigates what impacts an intensive and interactive German language course has on the participants beliefs. The language course in question is based on the theory established by Stephen Krashen and concerns in particular the learningacquisition distinction and the affective filter. Furthermore, this basis is amplified through aspects of other language learning theories. Thus, the offered language course focuses on oral skills, provides language acquisition rather than learning and interaction in the classroom. In the framework of such a course the beliefs of the participants are investigated, especially concerning affective variables and beliefs about the German language, language classes in general and autonomy. The investigation was carried out using questionnaires, interviews, learning diaries, achievement tests and audiotapes of class interaction. The participants beliefs held before and after the course were compared. At the same time, possible relations between motivation, expectations about the course and how the participants perceived the course were investigated. Affective variables throughout the course and how these affect learning and the beliefs of the participants were also investigated. The results of the work indicate that the participants beliefs in certain areas change throughout the course. Especially the beliefs about learning German and the German language seem to have changed. Partial changes were noticed in the beliefs about language learning in general. The course seems not to have an impact on the students beliefs on autonomy. The links between alteration of beliefs, motivations and expectations were found to be complex and diverse.

This thesis deals with the characteristics of teaching method of the Callan School and the possibility of its adaptation in the Czech Republic. The research work is carried out using standardized research methods: PEST analysis of the environment in the Czech Republic in relation to organizing language courses; research of mentality of inhabitants of the Czech Republic and their relationship to education and teaching of foreign languages; SWOT analysis and description of the Callan and the other methods. The main contribution of the thesis is to evaluate the possibility of adaptation of new methods in the Czech Republic with regard to local customs and possibilities of population. The thesis also contains description and philosophy of the Callan method for familiarizing readers with its essential features.

This master's thesis deals with online marketing of the Language centre Laurus. The main objectives of this work are the assessment of the current state of online marketing of the Language centre Laurus, evaluation of the effectiveness of used communication channels, and recommendations leading to higher commercial success of the web pages. The theoretical part consists of three blocks. The first chapter is devoted to web sites, information architecture, usability and accessibility. The next chapter introduces the possibility of building traffic on web pages, and the third part consists of analysis of the competition. The following chapter includes methodology in which the used tools and procedures of the analysis are introduced. The practical part of the thesis includes introduction and analysis of the online marketing activities of the Language centre Laurus in that is the central part composed of the PPC advertising, SEO analysis and user testing of the web pages. The conclusion of the practical part includes the evaluation of the online marketing activities of the Language centre Laurus and recommendations for further procedures in the field of online marketing activities of the centre.

In order to determine the reliability of international students' English as a Second Language (ESL) class performance as a predictor of academic performance, a population of 169 international students at Portland State University (PSU) in Portland, Oregon were selected and statistical tests were performed on their GPAs and TOEFL scores. Individual students' GPAs were computed for all ESL classes taken and for each component--grammar, reading, writing, and speaking/listening--as well as for the end of the first quarter, first year, and second year of academic study. Pearson Coefficient Correlations were then computed for the ESL and academic GPAs. The students were also divided into subgroups based upon gender, nature of academic major (more-verbal or less-verbal), age, nationality (Asian or Middle-Eastern), number of ESL classes taken, amount of previous English-speaking college experience, prior education level, TOEFL score, and PSU entry date. Then mean GPAs were calculated for each of these which were compared by T-tests. The results were mixed. While it was clear that ESL grades and academic grades correlated strongly for some variable groups, it was difficult to determine which variables had the strongest effect because of subgroup composition. For example, female students, students from Asia, and students whose majors fit the more-verbal category showed strong and statistically significant correlations for ESL-second year academic grades; but 90% of the women were from countries of Asia, and the proportion of both Asian and female students in the more-verbal majors was much higher than that of males or students from countries of the Middle East. There were two patterns that stood out in the research results. One was that ESL students who had taken twelve or more ESL classes maintained consistent academic GPAs across time, while those who had taken fewer than twelve ESL classes and all students in the non-ESL group had GPAs that started higher than those of the first group but declined over the two year period--some of them enough to be statistically significant. The second pattern was that groups with strong ESL academic GPA correlations tended to do better in college that did those with weaker ESL-academic GPA relationships. TOEFL scores were correlated to both ESL and academic grades. In the first case, there were both moderately positive and statistically significant relationships. In the second case, the correlations were very low; and for non-ESL students, there was essentially no correlation. But comparing mean academic GPAs showed a significant difference between students who scored below 500 and those who scored 500 and above on the TOEFL.

The increasing number of non-English speaking background (NESB) students (from both Australia and overseas) has led to concerns about the appropriateness of English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at upper secondary level as a preparation for tertiary study. These concerns have been voiced at both upper secondary and tertiary levels. It appears that NESB students' English language levels at Year 12 are a critical factor in determining whether or not they will succeed at tertiary study. On the other hand, they at times achieve high levels of competence in mainstream subject areas which are not reflected in their ESL results. Several other factors may also affect NESB students' tertiary success rates e.g. language and cultural background, and length of time in Australia. In addition, the responses of tertiary institutions to such students and their needs may be of importance. This study surveys the backgrounds and success rates of NESB students from an ACT secondary college who moved into tertiary study programs. It investigates their results in their Year 12 Certificates and traces them through three years of tertiary study. In doing so, the study identifies certain factors which appear to impact upon the students' success rates. Results obtained may prove beneficial to ESL service providers at upper secondary level. Furthermore, tertiary institutions may find such an analysis helpful in assisting them to develop appropriate approaches to meet the needs of this particular group of students.

Thesis (M.A.T.) -- School for International Training, 2007. / Advisor -- Bonnie Mennell Includes bibliographical references (leaf 95).

A partir dos pressupostos de que crenças exercem um papel importante na aquisição e aprendizagem de línguas e de que o ensino de línguas tem chegado a uma fase que pode ser caracterizada como pós-métodos, o presente trabalho investiga em que medida um curso interativo e intensivo de alemão atua sobre as crenças dos aprendizes. O curso é baseado nos conceitos da teoria de aquisição de línguas estrangeiras de Stephen Krashen que apresenta uma distinção entre aquisição e aprendizagem e também demonstra que fatores afetivos atuam como um filtro para o aprendizado. Ao mesmo tempo, esta teoria é ampliada com aspectos de outras teorias de aquisição e aprendizagem de línguas. Desta forma o curso oferecido é focalizado na oralidade, aquisição e interação. Dentro do âmbito deste curso são pesquisadas no presente trabalho especialmente as crenças dos participantes do curso a respeito de autonomia, nas aulas de língua alemã e de língua em geral. A investigação aconteceu mediante o critério temporal, verificando-se quais as crenças os participantes possuíam antes e depois do curso. Ao mesmo tempo, o trabalho propõe a identificação de relações entre motivação, expectativas específicas sobre o curso, decisões programáticas dentro do curso e sua percepção pelos participantes. Também foram observados fatores afetivos que influenciam mudanças nas crenças gerais sobre aulas de línguas. No trabalho, investigam-se os pontos indicados mediante questionários, diários de aprendizagem, entrevistas, testes de desempenho e gravações das aulas. Os resultados do trabalho indicaram mudanças nas crenças dos participantes do curso para algumas determinadas áreas. Destacam-se aqui as crenças sobre a língua alemã e, em parte, sobre aulas de línguas. As crenças sobre autonomia não foram alteradas significativamente. Porém as interdependências das várias crenças se demonstraram complexas e múltiplas. / Parting from the supposition that beliefs have a considerable impact on language learning and language acquisition and that language teaching has reached a point that can be characterized as a post-methods era, the present work investigates what impacts an intensive and interactive German language course has on the participants beliefs. The language course in question is based on the theory established by Stephen Krashen and concerns in particular the learningacquisition distinction and the affective filter. Furthermore, this basis is amplified through aspects of other language learning theories. Thus, the offered language course focuses on oral skills, provides language acquisition rather than learning and interaction in the classroom. In the framework of such a course the beliefs of the participants are investigated, especially concerning affective variables and beliefs about the German language, language classes in general and autonomy. The investigation was carried out using questionnaires, interviews, learning diaries, achievement tests and audiotapes of class interaction. The participants beliefs held before and after the course were compared. At the same time, possible relations between motivation, expectations about the course and how the participants perceived the course were investigated. Affective variables throughout the course and how these affect learning and the beliefs of the participants were also investigated. The results of the work indicate that the participants beliefs in certain areas change throughout the course. Especially the beliefs about learning German and the German language seem to have changed. Partial changes were noticed in the beliefs about language learning in general. The course seems not to have an impact on the students beliefs on autonomy. The links between alteration of beliefs, motivations and expectations were found to be complex and diverse.

8 Abstract This master thesis deals with actual form of Czech courses for German speaking people and it is especially focused on the company courses. Theoretical part describes communication in companies between Czech and German employees and principles of adult education with taking specific features of company surroundings into consideration. In practical part, the courses organisation in selected company and in several language schools is investigated. Further, specific form of courses is described by the lectors and students evaluation. The aim of the thesis is to characterize organisation and implementation of Czech language courses for German speaking people and to define the typical features of these courses. Key words Czech courses for foreigners, Czech for German speaking people, company courses, adult education, teaching organisation and implementation