THESIS ABSTRACT Word final positions are sometimes described as optionally salient, depending on the presence or the absence of bound morphology. In fact, word final positions often incur disruptive phonological processes (such as deletion or assimilation) but these processes are partially blocked in the presence of bound morphology. Some evidence suggests that these effects may also be active in the sublexicon (i.e. with no access to semantics). Investigations of this phenomenon so far focused on monolingual speakers, and little is known about the presence of these effects on speakers with English as their L2. This diploma thesis aims at partially filling this gap by focusing on the perceptual salience of word endings as perceived by second- language learners of English having Czech as their L1. The methodology is based on Cilibrasi (2015). The subjects tested were adult second- language learners of English of different language levels (B1, B2 and C1). In the experimental part, they were asked to listen to pairs of non-words and decide if the non-words are identical or slightly different by pressing one of two keys. There were three conditions: Condition 1 with non-words containing potential morphological information, condition 2 with non-words with no morphological information and condition 3 as a control...

Title: The Use of Connectors in the Texts of Non-Native Speakers of Czech Author: Pavel Pečený Department: Institute of Czech Language and Theory of Communication Faculty of Arts, Charles University Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Vladimír Petkevič, CSc. Abstract Over the last few years two learner corpora of authentic texts of non-native speakers of Czech have originated (MERLIN Corpus and CzeSL Corpus), giving linguists an important source of data for researching Czech as a foreign language. Ergo, for the first time it is possible to carry out the language analysis of non-native speakers of Czech using tools of corpus linguistics to formulate evidence-based research findings. The presented thesis uses that as well, focussing on the study and description of the use of connectors in the written text production of non-native speakers of Czech, being primarily based on evidence from the learner MERLIN Corpus, which as opposed to other corpora is characterized by linking written text production reliably to the proficiency levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), including the levels of A2-B2. At the same time, it also contains a text error annotation, thus enabling to ascertain what effect the language proficiency has on the extent of the repertoire and frequency of using connectors,...

The communication between patient and healthcare professional is one of the keys to patients' adherence to treatment and to successful therapy; hence communication is a relevant and widely discussed issue of our healthcare. The relationship between a patient and a health worker is rather asymmetric, which affects the course of their communication. This asymmetry is based on the patient made weak (helpless) by illness whereas the expert/physician is in the position to prescribe treatment with the health staff administering such treatment. The aim of the study is to explore the extent of asymmetry in Czech hospitals, the situations where it is most pronounced and the changing structure of asymmetry as seen from the patients' point of view. We conducted a qualitative analysis of 16 interviews with respondents who have experienced hospitalization. The analysis focuses on the psychological level of communication and on the dynamic process in which the asymmetry is being negotiated. We have proved that there is an a priori asymmetry in the relationship, which, under certain circumstances, is effective for the treatment. The asymmetry is being continually negotiated throughout the communication as it fluctuates within four areas: (1) providing information, (2) rules and practices of the hospital, (3)...

Presented Diploma Thesis deals with the topic of Barriers in the Education Process of Vietnamese Pupils in a Selected Primary School. At the theoretical level the work deals with the teaching process and its factors. It also deals with the barriers in the teaching process. The aim of the work is to find out whether the teachers of the selected school perceive any barriers when teaching Vietnamese students and to propose recommendations that would help to minimize or even eliminate the identified barriers in practice. The aim of the work was achieved in the practical part of the work on the basis of a qualitative research survey during which teachers of the selected primary school having experience with the education of Vietnamese students were addressed. It was found that among the most frequently mentioned barriers in the teaching of Vietnamese students belongs the language barrier. Among the cultural barriers teachers mention pupils' non-verbal expressions. They may be incorrectly given the wrong meanings. At the same time teachers don't describe cultural barriers as striking as the language barrier. Ignorance of the Czech language and some specifics in the culture and behavior were identified as barriers in the integration of Vietnamese pupils into the class team. The teachers of the selected...

This diploma thesis deals with pronunciation of English speakers in Czech, especially with assimilation of voicing. The theoretical part describes Czech and English consonants, speech processes in both languages, factors influencing foreign accent and textbook analysis focusing on the practice of assimilation of voicing. The following part presents a research with 12 English native speakers. From these analyses, conclusions were drawn about the correctness of pronunciation and also about the correctness of assimilation of voices in general and for individual speakers. On the basis of the obtained data, a didactic plan for this phenomenon was created. Key words: English, Czech as a foreign language, assimilation of voicing, pronunciation, consonants, voicing, phonetics

Pronunciation instruction in the TEFL classroom has long been a neglected area regardless of its importance for the students. The data in the literature shows that teachers are generally not ready to provide pronunciation instruction for a variety of reasons: lack of qualification and training, theoretical and practical knowledge, time and motivation. The present thesis explores the current situation of pronunciation instruction at a private language school in the Czech Republic using of classroom observations and teacher and student surveys. The results confirm the initial hypothesis that pronunciation instruction including pronunciation error correction is nearly non-existent or occurs sporadically in the classroom. Only one out of four teachers (T1) included explicit pronunciation information into his teaching. The only pronunciation error correction technique observed with the four teachers was a recast which proved to be ineffective in most cases. Even though the teachers and students are generally aware of the importance of pronunciation in foreign language acquisition, their individual beliefs and attitudes towards pronunciation learning and teaching greatly differ. Key words: pronunciation, TEFL, explicit instruction, segmental features, suprasegmental features, teacher and student cognition

The thesis focuses on the role of an adult-parents in the viewing and reading of a series of picture-free text books (so-called wimmelbuch) by S. Bernerová  Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Night. The aim of the thesis is to describe what interactions occur between a parent and a child between two and three years of age when reading "picture books", so-called wimmelbuch. The theoretical part of the thesis deals with the topics of reading literacy development (especially for two-year and three-year-olds), pictorial books, books of the type wimmelbuch, adult as a children's book mediator, illustrations and reading rituals. The empirical part includes quantitative and qualitative research. The quantitative part of the research is based on data from an online questionnaire for parents of preschool children. In the framework of long-term qualitative research, the interaction between parent and child between two and three years of age in four selected families is monitored and described, while working with books of the type wimmelbuch by Susanne Berner. The result of the questionnaire is that more than half of the parents interviewed have some of books of the type wimmelbuch by S. Berner, and most of them think that these books are developing children's reading literacy. Most often, viewing/reading takes...

The theoretical part of the presented diploma thesis aims to suggest a way to encourage non- consumer way of life in today's pupils at lower level in primary school (first school). Promotion of non-consumerism is based on the aims and principles stated in current Czech official curricular documents. The issues connected to consumerism, its formation and consequences are explained. Furthermore, general ways to avoid consumer way of life are suggested. A deeper insight is provided using pedagogical constructivism, with focus on the evocation phase, part of the "E-U-R model". This phase helps to motivate pupils and to discover what conceptions children have of consumerism. For this reason, the theoretical part also provides a closer look at children's conceptions. Considering the fact that consumer way of life is influenced by personal moral values, a section of the theoretical part deals with moral development of a child, focusing on a crucial age of 9-10, when the conception of moral realism changes. The practical part of the diploma thesis suggests a lesson whose main part is a questionnaire, which serves as a tool to determine children's conceptions of consumerism. The lesson is reflected upon and, based on the reflection, ideas for further education are suggested. The results stated in the...

The thesis is devoted to the topics of multicultural and intercultural education. The aim of the thesis is to illustrate the cross-sectional theme of multicultural education and its shift to intercultural education. The aim of the empirical part is to contribute to intercultural understanding through a thematic series of art assignments with intercultural content. In the reflective balances of past art blocks, the research probe uses the open coding method to find answers to research questions. The author's own collection, presenting the pupil's final work, forms part of every artistic assignment carried out.

Title: Error in the point of view of the French as a second foreign language in the lower secondary school context Author: Mgr. Tomáš Klinka Department: Department of Pedagogy Supervisor: Doc. PhDr. Marie Fenclová, CSc. Abstract: This thesis focuses on the subject of error in the context of Czech lower secondary school and second foreign language (L3) instruction. This work has three purposes: first, to complete the basic literature in this domain using the publications issued from the French speaking world of educational research that are not quoted in the Czech academic field. Second, to analyze how the elements that intervene in the pedagogical process treat the question of error, and third, using the conclusions obtained, to make explicit the problems which pose the present treatment of the question of error and to indicate the direction of a future research in this domain. So as to attain the first goal, we propose and comment the work of some French specialists in the field of educational science and their conclusions, mainly the typology of errors created by Astolfi. As for the second goal, our thesis provides an analysis of the official regulations concerning teaching and learning in the Czech Republic, exposes the mental representations of error with which both students and teachers...