The 54th Annual Summer School Of Slavonic Studies Comes To Close












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            On September 26, 2010, in a ceremony held in the Great Hall of the famous Karolinum under 

            professor Petr Volf, prorector of Charles University, the 54th annual Summer School of Sla
            came to its close. Organized by the Institute of Czech studies of the Charles University F
            this year’s installment opened on July 31 and hosted 178 participants, 145 of them on site

            distance, from 38 different countries.
            “We are flattered by the interest in the course. We are happy to see that even though Czec
            language of a small nation in Central Europe, it is attractive enough for people from all 

            dedicate it a month’s worth of studying. I believe that they found Summer School to be tim
            that they will return next year to expand on what they have learnt,” said Jiří Hasil, the 

            Summer School and secretary of the Institute of Czech Studies.
            Courses were divided into four levels based on participants’ skills. Beginners and lower i
            students, who were first being introduced to Czech, were taught in English, German, French

            Upper intermediate students could improve their Czech skills in language in use and conver



            Advanced students took advantage of both language classes, a special history and culture s
            lecture series. Two of them – a linguistic and a cultural history one – were taught in Cze
            one focused on Czech history, arts and culture and was taught in English and German. Lectu

            conceived to reflect the contemporary developments in Czech humanities and social sciences
            Among the speakers who gave lectures to the international audience of Slavonic and Czech s
            writer Ivan Klíma and a number of excellent scholars working both at the Faculty of Arts a

            the University, and in other academic and cultural institutions.
            Classes were accompanied by a range of cultural and social activities, including concerts,
            walks around Prague. As for trips, students visited Mariánské Lázně, Pilsen, Litoměřice or

            commemorated anniversaries of the authors K. H. Mácha (Litoměřice, Bezděz) and Karel Čapek
            president T. G. Masaryk (Lány) and the composer G. Mahler (Jihlava). Afternoon walks inclu
            of Vyšehrad, a walk in the footsteps of Franz Kafka and visits to museums and galleries, s

            Theatre of the Estates, the Vítkov monument or the Kampa Museum. In the evenings, film wer
            performed and students were taught Czech folk songs.
            Summer School’s participants have gained knowledge of Czech language, literature, culture 

            wish was for Czech language to become a universal means of communication, to become a lang
            friendship, tolerance and understanding. We believe that our wish once again came true.
            For more information:

            Václav Hájek
            Department of External Relations
            Charles University

            tel: +420 224 491 248
            e-mail:pr(zavinac)cuni.cz [ MAIL "pr(zavinac)cuni.cz"]


            Translation: Jaroslav Švelch