An intensive course of Czech, interesting programme and attractive tours and excursions; that is the Summer School of Slavonic (Czech) Studies in a nutshell, held at Masaryk University for the 57th time. What makes it special? Its former students Yana Dmyterchuk and Silvia Podsednik have the answer.
Czech is not a “global language”. What made you decide to study it?
Yana: In my case, it was love. I fell in love and Czech is still in my life, even though my then-boyfriend is not. I am from Rivne in western Ukraine. When I first arrived in the Czech Republic, I liked the words I understood but I was not able to use them in a sentence. When I returned home I decided to learn Czech. I studied international relations and diplomacy in Lvov, and Czech was offered as an elective third foreign language.
Silvia: My roots are in the Czech minority in Croatia, and Czech is my native language. In my home town of Daruvar we have a Czech kindergarten and an elementary school. I attended a Czech secondary school. And when I went to study the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb, I did not choose Czech at first. But in my second year I applied to study Czech philology. Eventually I got a scholarship at Masaryk University, and I am currently a student at the Department of Czech for Foreigners.
When did you come to the summer school for the first time?
Yana: My first time at the Summer School of Slavonic (Czech) Studies was in 2018. There was some information on the website of the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Lvov about scholarship opportunities in Brno; I gave it a try and I succeeded.
Silvia: I signed up for 2020 but I did not make it because of the pandemic. A year later I got an e-mail that a spot had become vacant, so I went.
When did you two meet?
Yana: On the very first day of the summer school in 2021.
Silvia: Yana was my friend’s roommate.
According to the head of your department Eva Rusínová you have been like siblings ever since.
Yana + Silvia: Indeed!
You met at the 2021 summer school and you are members of the organising team since 2022. You work as guides which means you assist foreign students in their daily situations. What does a summer school participant’s day look like?
Yana: The courses are five hours a day, and the programme outside classrooms include lectures, meetings, book readings, film club screenings… They are immersed in the language all day long. The attendance in the afternoon activities is not mandatory, but most do attend.
Silvia: Courses start at nine at the Faculty of Arts. The advanced level courses end at noon; beginners have one extra hour. After the lunch break they have language exercises. Fridays are planned for trips. The courses are on Saturdays as well.
The programme includes “an organised singing class”. Do you sing during the day?
Yana: Czech songs are taught in the courses, sometimes we would break into a song in the courtyard. And we dance polka in front of the dormitory in the evening.
Silvia: Some students were curious to know whether the songs they are taught are dancing material. So we decided to teach them. The final formal night includes optional singing of the songs we just learned. There will be a cimbalom ensemble, which may convince some students to dance.
This year there are 101 students from 31 countries. How many of them take part in all-day trips? The offer included the caves in Javoříčko, the Lysice Chateau or Prague.
Yana: It is safe to say that nearly everyone is interested in these trips. The Lysice trip was combined with a tour of the brewery in Černá Hora, and 85 signed up – which means we had to hire two buses.
Silvia: Some students do not take part in these trips simply because they visited these places in the past. So they plan something else, and we are happy to assist them.
This year’s is the 57th edition of the summer school. What was most attractive during the first year, and how would you describe it now when you are no longer students?
Yana: I have the nicest memories of the summer school; it is an amazing experience – learning Czech and getting to know new people. Experience and new friendships are still in my heart. My language skills improved a lot after the courses, because they really are “intensive” and also because the “teambuilding” takes place in Czech. The Czech language is the principal communication tool, not English. Everybody is there to get better, so we use Czech even in our spare time outside the courses. That is just magical.
Silvia: At the very beginning, you have a group of students who can only say “Nerozumím česky”. And a week later you can see tremendous progress. Masaryk University is really famous for its very effective teaching methods. I experienced it first-hand and now I can see it on my students. Having arrived, they think that Czech is very hard. But just two weeks later they slowly start speaking Czech even though they only knew English.
Yana: And they use Czech in ordinary situations, like in restaurants or stores.
What do they think about our cuisine?
Yana: Their reactions are very individual.
Silvia: We had a student once who loved Kofola. We never saw him without a two-litre bottle.
Yana: Some of them are confused to see chicken with pear, because of the combination of salty and sweet. I was surprised too, but I liked the combination.
What about the “Olomouc cheese”?
Silvia: Some students are hesitant to try it; some must be reminded not bring it in the bus.
Yana: Last year we visited the production facility in Loštice. They make ice cream of the same flavour, and some students simply had to order it.
Silvia: And some of them even liked it.
The participants span generations; the youngest student is 17, the oldest one is 72. How do they get along?
Silvia: It is not about the gap. I think they can see beyond the ages, and they all consider themselves to be students. They are all in this together.
Yana: And they get along.
What are some of the places in Brno they want to visit?
Yana: This time of year the planetarium hosts the festival of planets. They enjoy that.
Silvia: We have a student who is here with her children so she is not staying at the dormitory. We recommended Anthropos.
Yana: We try to come up with individual recommendations based on their likes.
Silvia: We cannot take them on a group tour to the Tugendhat Villa, but one student managed to get a ticket for herself.
During the academic year you teach your own grammar and conversation at the Department of Czech for Foreigners. What do you enjoy more?
Yana: Grammar.
Silvia: I like grammar as well, but conversation is easier from a teacher’s perspective.
Yana: I enjoy seeing students using correct grammar in conversation. On top of that we offer Czech courses for refugees from Ukraine during the semester and during summer as well. Currently we have five groups.
What are some of your favourite spots in Brno, now that you have been living here for quite a long time?
Yana: I like the diversity. There are many foreigners, plus diversity in architecture and cuisine. I love the Italian bakery Carlini.
Silvia: I like watching the goats in Tyršův sad (park).
Yana: And the planetarium.