MLT01028 & MLT01029 and MDL118 constitute a course in Czech for (absolute) beginners; no knowledge of Czech or any other Slavonic language is necessary.

The Czech Republic bridges Europe's cultural and historical divide, combining a Western heritage with links to the former Eastern bloc. So, the Czech language stands as a symbol of vibrancy, tolerance and cultural exchange. The capital, Prague, is one of the world's most spectacular cities and is large enough to host a buzzing cultural scene, yet small enough to foster a real sense of intimacy.

Knowledge of the Czech language is increasingly important on an international level: the Czech Republic has a dynamic economy and international companies are increasingly forging links with the country. If you can speak Czech - particularly when combined with native fluency in English - your skills will be highly sought after in business and government.

The Czech language is also host to a rich cultural tradition; Czechs have a fine sense of the absurd and the fantastic that runs throughout their literature and music. This - along with the history and politics of the area - makes Czech Studies an intriguing and important area of academic study.

We get our students involved in projects using their new language skills. 

In recent years, intermediate and advanced students, who started Czech at Sheffield, have accomplished the following: 

The pay-offs for learning Czech are that you’ve got a rare skill and insight into a nation at the heart of the new Europe. And your future prospects with Czech? Here are some of the careers our graduates choose:

• Translating and translation management from Czech and other languages

• Working for international nonprofit organisations active in the Czech Republic and elsewhere

• Teaching (English in the Czech Republic; languages in the UK)

• Digital marketing (in the Czech Republic and later in the UK)

• Commercial research

• Social work 

• Charity management

Here at Sheffield we have a strong record of excellent teaching and student satisfaction. We are a close-knit department and form a real relationship with our students, which means that you will learn quickly but that your classes are also genuinely enjoyable.

You will start the study of Czech from scratch - either at Level 1 or 2 - and by the end of your course you can achieve the fluency needed to use the language in your professional life. You will also have a solid expertise in the history and culture of the Czech lands. For more details about the programme see the Course Structure page, and listen to what Ellie and Lorna have to say about their time studying Czech at Sheffield. 

Within the BA Modern Languages and Cultures

• You can study Czech as a component alongside one or two other languages. With this option you can spend a semester or a summer studying in the Czech Republic.

As unrestricted credits

• Many degree courses give you unrestricted credits which allow you to explore other subjects or disciplines. In this case you can study Czech modules as part of a wide range of degrees.

Czech links at home and abroad

We have an active Erasmus exchange with Charles University in Prague and Masaryk University in Brno. You can study at these two institutions on your year abroad, while we also host Czech students in our department here in Sheffield. This gives you the opportunity to meet and socialise with Czechs before and after your year abroad.

The local Czech and Slovak community, which is closely connected with our department, has a programme of speakers and cultural activities both at the University and in the community.

Every year, several students are given the opportunity to attend Summer schools in the Czech Republic sponsored by the Czech government.

Enquiries

To find out more about Czech Studies please get in touch.

Email: slc-enquiries@sheffield.ac.uk

At Sheffield, we focus on giving you the skills to use Czech in real-life situations, while putting the language in its cultural context. You will be taught by both native- and non-native speakers, using a variety of innovative materials to help you unlock the Czech language and culture.

Level 1

• In your first year, you'll get an intensive introduction to Czech grammar, and learn essential speaking skills with a native Czech speaker. You'll also use our interactive online exercises to consolidate your learning. (module code: MLT01028 & MLT01029)

• By the end of the year, you'll have a solid grounding in the language skills (at a level equivalent to A2 on the Common European Framework of Reference - CEFR) needed to communicate with Czech people and get around in the Czech Republic.

• Our first-year Czech cultural course, which is part of the module on both Russian and Czech culture and history, is based on exploration, so you'll be first introduced to earlier history of the Czech lands to understand the broader context, and then you'll study translations of texts from various periods in the last two centuries. By the end of the course, you'll have covered Czech history from the middle ages to the present, and will be familiar with the events that have shaped the Czech nation and its people. 

Level 2

• Modules at Level 2 focus on expanding your vocabulary, deepening your knowledge of the grammar, and developing your speaking ability and knowledge of the Czech Republic.

• The Level 2 language course builds on the foundations from Level 1. It broadens and deepens your knowledge of grammar and introduces a number of topics from everyday life situations as well as various specific aspects of Czech culture and society. The main textbook is supplemented by an IT language learning package produced here at Sheffield which integrates listening skills with automated feedback. By the end of the year, you'll have the knowledge and skills to make the most of your time in the Czech Republic equivalent to the B1 level on the CEFR.

• Our module on Prague will give you an opportunity to learn about iconic places in the city, which will serve as starting points for investigating the history, culture and society of the Czech lands and their relations with other European powers, especially Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia, from the nineteenth century to the present day. Alternately, a module on Slavonic linguistics explores the history and structure of Czech and Russian. 

Year abroad

• You will have the option of spending part of your year abroad in the Czech Republic. We have links with Charles University in Prague - the oldest university in central Europe - and with Masaryk University in the second largest Czech city, Brno.

• Your year abroad is a chance to become part of life in another country, broadening your horizons and learning new skills. You will speak Czech and be surrounded by Czech culture, so naturally your language skills will develop quickly. Thanks to the year abroad, we also find that our students come back with a more confident approach to life beyond the classroom.

Level 3

• At Level 3 you will consolidate the progress made during your stay in the Czech Republic. You will further develop your conversational skills and learn to use Czech in a variety of environments. In the language module, we focus on building your vocabulary and fluency, whilst also looking at linguistic topics like the differences between formal and informal Czech, dialects and slang.

• Within the four years of your degree you will be able to achieve B2 and up to C1 on the CEFR, which allows you not only to live in the Czech Republic and communicate in everyday situations but also to use Czech in a professional environment. 

Units on Czech history, politics, film and literature complement units on language and translation. Your tutors are active researchers in linguistics, so you will join us in exploring questions like:

• How do the grammar and vocabulary of written Czech differ from that of spoken Czech?  How do we learn to negotiate these differences ourselves as foreigners?

• What are the various ways we express formality and informality through the grammar and lexicon in Czech?

• What aspects of Czech culture have made their mark on Czech vocabulary and idioms?

You will have the option to write a Czech Studies dissertation, allowing you to explore your own areas of interest in real depth.