DRTINOVÁ, Simona. Learning the Czech language in retirement age. Prague, 2013. Dissertation. Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Arts, Institute of Czech Language and Theory of Communication. This thesis deals with foreign language learning in retirement age from interdisciplinary perspective. Its characteristics may be limited economic activity, more free time and the potential occurrence of certain barriers caused by age. The case of foreigners in retirement age living in the Czech Republic and learning Czech will serve as an example of foreign language learning. The theoretical part of the thesis firstly defines old age together with the changes typical for the process of aging and old age: the changes are described on a physical, cognitive and social level. The thesis then goes on to address the process of learning with emphasis on foreign language learning. Selected components are mentioned within the pedagogical- psychological part of the learning process, specifically the motivation to learn, different organizational forms of education and teacher's role during the education. The end of the theoretical part addresses the offer of Czech language courses. All the parts of the thesis first address the topic on a general level and then focus on seniors. The empirical part of this thesis attempts to...

The Communicative Approach to Second Language Teaching in Current Textbooks of Czech for Foreigners Jarmila Valková Abstract The general part of the thesis reviews the background, current understanding and key principles of the Communicative Approach to second language teaching with regard to their foundation in the Direct Oral Method. The objective, usual teaching techniques and textbook components of Communicative Language Teaching are compared to the ones used in the Grammar-Translation Method to show the essential difference between the direct and indirect language approaches to language acquisition and their implications for the character of textbook components. The research part of the thesis examines selected textbooks of Czech as a second language which are supposed to epitomise the following tendencies in the area of contemporary writing of textbooks of Czech for foreigners: a) consistent use of the strategies and textbook components based on the Grammar- Translation Method, b) eclectic application of Grammar-Translation strategies and components together with certain features of the Communicative Approach, c) coherent implementation of the Communicative Approach with related techniques and textbook components. Existence of the above mentioned tendencies in current textbooks of Czech as a second...

The diploma thesis focuses on learning Maths through French language using the CLIL method at a secondary vocational school. The acronym CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning), EMILE (Enseignement de Matières par Intégration d'une Langue Etrangère) or e.g. AICL (Apprentissage Intégré d'un Contenu et d'une Langue) refers to integrated learning of a content-based subject through an additional language. There are always two aims of such tuition. The first aim is the content goal (e.g. to gain particular specialized knowledge or skill in mathematics); the second aim is the language goal (e.g. to learn essential vocabulary and sentence structures in order to lead a discussion concerning the solution of a quadratic equation in the French language). Based on a literary research, analysis of educational CLIL materials, and especially in connection with theoretical grounds of the method (constructivism, problem-solving, critical thinking, active and communicative approach) there was established a study plan focusing on the topic of quadratic equations. The experimental tuition was put into practice with the 1st year students of a secondary school, where the French language is taught as the second foreign language. The main objective, apart from the tuition itself and its analysis, was to assess the...