This week, we are only meeting online. Some of you already started our next topic in our Facebook group:

The last time we met, we spoke about Brno being a multicultural city.
Here are some special words used in Brno dialect: šalina, krýgl, štatl. They all come from German as there used to be a large German speaking community in Brno.

READING: Find more about Brno dialect here:

Your first task for this week, is to identify words of foreign origin in English.

RESEARCH: Find at least 3 examples, do research on the origin of these words and share your information here:

As we will see, English has absorbed words from many languages. But how has English affected your language and other languages in general?

DISCUSSION: Let us share and exchange opinions here:

Language and culture are so strongly connected that translating often includes intercultural transfers too. Let us start at ONE WORD level, some of the words are not easy (or maybe even impossible) to be translated.
Have a look at these examples:

If you wish to practice not only writing, but also speaking, please prepare a short recording: present and explain a similar word used in your language. It might not be so easy and you will most probably share something about your culture too. Post your clips in our FB group (this is not compulsory). Looking forward to learning from you!

Do you remember seeing this map?

mapa.png

The following podcast will provide you more information about the building listed as "Israelischer Tempel" here:

Listening: Find answers to the following questions and note them down here:

Jewish community in Brno was
a) not very active
b) active only in religious issues
c) active in various areas (sport clubs, religious traditions, political activities, etc.)

The new synagogue built in 1935 was
a) not completed
b) designed by Otto Eisler
c) very traditional

During the WW2 the synagogue was
a) used as a warehouse
b) destroyed
c) the only operating synagogue in the territory of Moravia and Silesia

You can check your answers and find more information here:

This website offers a lot of reading / listening opportunities and it can take you on a real (individually still possible) or at least a virtual tour around Brno.

This week, we are going to speak about the relation between languages and BODY LANGUAGE.

To get started, read this introduction of an article on the importance of body language for intercultural communication and try to guess what are the 4 key components?

Experts estimate that in the West, up to 70% of communication is physical interaction such as body language. In other parts of the world, that figure is even higher.

Body language and physical gestures are one of the most important - and misunderstood - facets of communication, one of the 7 cultural factors that impact the workplace. From posture to tone of voice, it's important to learn which gestures and other forms of physical communication are appropriate – and which aren’t.

Here are 4 key components of intercultural body language:

1.

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Picture retrieved from: https://images.app.goo.gl/nYPdcFXgHSpmGocU8

Share you guesses on what each component is and how it is treated in your culture and in any English speaking culture you know:

2.

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3.

eye_contact.jpg

Photo retrived from: https://images.app.goo.gl/eG4HBJQrKNiP7MTBA

4.

gestures.png

Photo retrieved from: https://images.app.goo.gl/vk1mk1b3oRmiNU8E6

Possible HW tasks:

A: Find at least 5 idioms (fixed phrases) that reflect body language used in English speaking countries (e.g. fingers crossed).

B: Find an example of intercultural communication problem based on body language misunderstanding and explain.

1. This is me when I was 10 years old.
2. "See who?", asked the old man in the gatehouse cupping his ear.
3. Oh yes, we´re here.
4. Someone must have been telling lies about Josef K.; he knew he had done nothing wrong but, one morning, he was arrested.

This week we are focusing on lifestyle. Think of a typical life style in your country. Has it changed recently? Is it influenced by some global trends? You can consider individual aspects (e.g. eating habits, housing).

HW task:

Prepare a minipresentation explaining how lifestyle reflects culture and its changes in time.