Location: Central Europe
Capital City: Prague
Population: 10,649,800 (approximately in 2019)
Area: 78,866 sq. km
The highest point: Sněžka 1 603 m
The lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
Government: Parliamentary republic
Language: Czech
Currency: Czech crown/koruna

As in the article about Slovakia, let’s begin with the foreigners’ knowledge about the Czech Republic or Czechia as it has been called since 2016.

You might wonder what countries people can confuse with Czechia. Do you have any idea? Think for a while about countries in the world which have similar names or which sound similar to Czechia. Surprisingly, Chechnya. Yes, it really happened that some people confused Czechia with Chechnya. On the other hand, the name of the capital city Prague is better known worldwide than the name of the country itself. Recently, Prague has become a very popular destination not only for tourism but also as a good place for living and studying. It offers wide varieties of sightseeing, beautiful classic baroque and gothic architecture, rich cultural life – museums, galleries and concerts, sport events and many opportunities for clubbing. Once tourists come to Prague, they are also attracted to historical towns and natural beauties which are on the list of UNESCO heritage¹ and they go for one-day trips there. Which Czech UNESCO sites are frequently visited by foreigners?

While speaking about tourism, a large number of Czechs like spending holidays in their own country and the destination depends on the season. In the summer, a typical Czech family visits classical Bohemian and Moravian castles and chateaus (Karlštejn, Český Krumlov, Loket, Hluboká nad Vltavou, Lednice, Valtice…), which attract visitors by guided and animated excursions, by spectacles and fencing contests on the courtyards and by local craftsmen’s² products sold on the market. Nearly everybody from the CR likes spending summer time outdoors: rafting on the local rivers (Vltava, Elbe, Sázava, Berounka…); hiking and cycling in the mountains (Giant mountains, Jizera, Šumava, Jeseníky or just collecting mushrooms in the forest. By the way, mushrooming is sometimes compared to a national sport thanks to its high popularity in the whole country.
In the autumn, the season of harvest³, adults enjoy going on wine festivals called vintage⁴, mostly in the region of South Moravia. The celebration of new wine and its testing is accompanied by live folklore music, dancing and food stalls.
As soon as snow covers the slopes of hills and yards, sporty Czechs go for downhill skiing and snowboarding on Giant mountains, Šumava, Ore (Krušné) mountains and Jeseníky and for cross-country skiing mostly on Jizera mountains. It is common that people from cities have a weekend house in the mountains so they can spend weekends, Christmas and winter holidays there.

Although it might be a bit unusual, schoolchildren typically spend their spring holiday skiing on the mountains. Otherwise there are not many events during spring apart from the Prague Spring International Music Festival and a traditional countrywide carnival lent (masopust/ fašiangy). Classical music lovers must think of buying tickets for Prague Spring Music Festival in advance because tickets are quickly sold out since the festival presents the world best musicians and symphony orchestras. It seems that Prague cultural events draw the attention of foreigners as well as of Czechs and this is only one of the reasons why you should visit. Have you ever been to Prague? If not, are you planning to go there? Why? Why not?

Vocabulary: 1 an important part of social and cultural identity of a country, e.g. historical monuments, traditions, language; 2 a person who produces, 3 cutting and collecting of crops from the fields, e.g. grain/ potato/grape harvest; 4 picking of grapes for winemaking; 5 a person who produces or makes something by hand with a help of some tools, e.g. smith, potter, carpenter, painter, baker; 6 to attract somebody, be interesting for somebody

The Czech Republic-Czechia.pdf

Location: Central Europe
Capital City: Bratislava
Population: 5,447,502 (approximately in 2019)
Area: 49,035 sq. km
The highest point: Gerlachovský štít 2655 m
The lowest point: Streda nad Bodrogom 94 m
Government: Parliamentary republic
Language: Slovak
Currency: Euro

When you travel abroad people usually want to know where you are from and what is typical for your country. By answering: “I’m from Slovakia”, you can expect that many people from abroad might confuse Slovakia with Slovenia. How would you explain that Slovakia and Slovenia are two different countries which just have similar names? Work in groups and write down at least five basic differences (from geography, history, climate, famous personalities) between these two countries.

THE HISTORY OF SLOVAKIA AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE
The best way to help foreigners recall Slovakia is to mention former state of Czechoslovakia because people still remember this name better, despite the separation of the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. Since January 1st, 1993 both countries exist as independent democratic republics with their own territory, government, national symbols and cultural heritage. The dissolution¹ of Czechoslovakia is officially known under the term Velvet Divorce since it happened in a peaceful manner a few years after the Velvet Revolution of 1989, which ended 41 years of communist regime² in Czechoslovakia.

POLITICAL SYSTEM
The Slovak Republic (SR) is a parliamentary democracy with a Parliament of 150 members who are elected for 4 years and the President who is elected for 5 years. This year, for the first time in history, a woman became the President of the SR. Her name is Zuzana Čaputová. She represents the SR in the world and is the formal head of the executive power although it is the Government of the SR which exercises the executive power. It is led by the Prime Minister, currently Peter Pellegrini, and by government ministers.
Executive power is responsible for the governance³ of the state and it puts laws and regulations into action. The Parliament (the National Council of the SR) represents constitutional and legislative power and its current Chairman is Andrej Danko. The National Council approves the Constitution of the SR, the state budget, legal acts, international agreements and elects some state officers. Moreover, it checks and watches over governmental activities. Concerning international organisations, the SR has been a member of NATO and European Union since 2004 and adopted the European currency, Euro, on January 1st, 2009.

GEOGRAPHY
The SR is a landlocked country surrounded by The Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine and Poland, and is situated in central Europe. The landlocked country means that it has no access to the ocean and this is one of the differences between Slovakia and Slovenia.
High mountain ranges (Carpathian curve – see the map below) cover the mid and the north of the country and lowlands are typical of the south and the east. The biggest and most important Slovak river, the Danube, connects the capital city Bratislava with Vienna and Budapest and it represents an important trade route for central and south-east Europe.

Vocabulary

1 a separation or an end of official organisation or legal agreement, here official end of republic; 2 a particular government or political system of a country; 3 the management of the country, a method/system used to manage the country; 4 to make a particular law or decision official/ real, put it into practice; 5 an official document with political principles by which a state is governed/managed

The Slovak Republic

GREAT BRITAIN

Official name: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Abbreviation: UK
Capital: London
Size: 244,101 km2
Population: 60 million
Borders: the Irish Republic (south of Northern Ireland), the Atlantic Ocean (north), North Sea (east), the English Channel (south), the Irish Sea (west, but east of Northern Ireland)
Currency: Pound Sterling
Official language: English
Nationality / People: A person of British nationality is a Briton.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS:
The terms “the United Kingdom”, “Great Britain” and “England” are often confused.
Great Britain comprises England, Wales, and Scotland. The United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland. Altogether it includes four nations: the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish. These people differ sometimes in their way of life, customs, values and traditions. Both in Wales and Scotland there are some demands for more recognition of their national distinctions.

IRELAND

Official name: the Republic of Ireland
Irish name: Eire
Capital: Dublin
Size: 70,282 km2
Population: 3.5 million
Borders: Northern Ireland (north), Irish Sea (east), Atlantic Ocean (south, west)
Currency: Euro
Official languages: English, Irish
Nationality / People: A person of Irish nationality is an Irishman or an Irishwoman.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS:
As Ireland is famous for its green countryside, it is also known as the “Emerald Isle” (green island; emerald – smaragd.) Although Ireland and Northern Ireland are parts of the same island, these two countries are different in their religious and political views. When comparing their geography, Ireland is much larger than Northern Ireland. Ireland, which is also known as ‘the Republic of Ireland,’ is considered a sovereign nation, and its capital is Dublin. Ireland covers about five-sixths of the island. Northern Ireland is considered to be a part of the UK, and its capital is Belfast. When comparing the religion of the two regions, Northern Ireland consists mainly of Protestants and Ireland consists of Catholics. However, in Northern Ireland there are also some people of the Catholic religion, and they consider Britain as an occupying force. These people who protest against Britain are known as Republicans or Nationalists; they strive for an independent Ireland, free of the British rule.

THE USA

Official name: the United States of America
Abbreviations: the U.S. / the U.S.A.
Capital: Washington, D.C.
Size: 9,529,063 km2 (plus approximately 10,360 km2 for outlying territories and other politically associated areas)
Population: approximately 281 million
Borders: Canada (north), the Atlantic Ocean (east), Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico (south), the Pacific Ocean (west)
Currency: US Dollar
Official language: English
Nationality / People: A person of the American nationality is an American.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS:
The United States is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada, and China). It consists of 50 states plus Washington D.C. (a federal district) and four outlying territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa). It has a relatively short history compared to other world nations. However, it has one of the world’s largest economies, and one of the world’s most diverse populations. As such, the United States is highly influential internationally. In the USA it is typical to teach children to be independent from an early age. In most families, once the child graduated from the high school, he or she leaves the home and leads an independent lifestyle. However it is also very common to have big family meetings. Most families, regardless of where they live, will all get together to celebrate family occasions such as weddings, reunions, birthdays and holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas.

CANADA

Official name: Canada
Capital: Ottawa
Size: 9,970,610 km2
Population: 29.1 million
Borders: the Arctic Ocean (north), the Atlantic Ocean (east), the USA (south), the USA (Alaska), the Pacific Ocean (west)
Currency: Canadian Dollar
Official languages: English, French
Nationality/ People: A person of the Canadian nationality is a Canadian.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS:
Canada is the second largest country in the world (after Russia). It is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories. The biggest province is Quebec. Canada is famous for its beautiful nature, extremely large number of lakes and large mountain areas. Almost 10 percent of Canada’s total area is inland water.

AUSTRALIA

Official name: the Commonwealth of Australia
Capital: Canberra
Size: 7.7 million km2
Population: 21 million
Borders: no direct borders; the Timor Sea and the Arafura Sea (northwest), the Torres Strait (northeast), the Great Barrier Reef (northeast), the Tasman Sea (southeast), the Indian Ocean (south)
Currency: Australian Dollar
Official language: English
Nationality/ People: A person of the Australian nationality is an Australian.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS:
Australia is the world’s smallest continent and the world’s sixth largest country. One third of Australia’s land is desert. Australia’s agricultural sector is very important to its economy. Sales of beef, wheat, alcohol and wool account for more than one half of Australia’s agricultural exports. Australia is called “Down Under” because the entire continent lies “down under” the equator. “Aussie” is Australian slang for an Australian.

Answer the questions:

1. Why is English such a widespread language?
2. Do you know any differences between British and American English?
3. Which English-speaking country would you like to visit? What makes it interesting for you?
4. Describe a typical American.
5. Explain the difference between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Countries whose language I learn

Everyone has had a hero at some point in their life — someone they admire, look up to or want to emulate. Heroes can be ordinary people who, finding themselves in extraordinary situations, become heroes, public figures who dedicate their lives to the service of others, cultural icons created by advertising moguls to sell products, or fictional book or film characters that are capable of superhuman acts to defend a good cause or an ideology.

WHO IS A ROLE MODEL?

The notion of a role model is closely associated with youth. It is the young who see unlimited possibility of the future before them, so the role models they choose reflect the type of values that they respect and the type of society they hope to create in the years to come. There was a time when youth had a role model worthy of their admiration – usually doctors, lawyers, teachers, politicians, policemen, or fire fighters because they represented ideals such as fidelity, bravery and integrity. Children looked up to them because they represented what could be achieved through hard work and dedication. But somewhere along the way these ideals have been abandoned.

Now we look for our inspiration and moral guidance from pop princesses, lip-syncing “celebrities” and movie stars that no longer are the embodiment of elegance and valour and – unfortunately – very often symbolize only fame and money. Musicians, actors and controversial athletes are known for their luxurious lifestyles and their existence outside the laws of men. They are admired because they embody what success is in the 21th century – popularity, recognition and material possessions. Are these the role models we want for the next generation? True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would like to have and those who have affected us in a way that makes us want to be better people and advocate for ourselves and the goals that we believe in. People usually have many role models in their lives. Each role model teaches a person something about themselves. To most young people a role model is someone who not only treats them as an equal but is honest, trustworthy, and, most of all, open minded, especially in today´s society. We live in a society that often does not allow one to be  different. But a good role model dares you to be different and that is what really counts. To young people the very first role models are their parents – because they are the first to influence them to make the right choices in life. They often tell them that they are not going to get anywhere in life until they prove it to themselves. When young people choose role models from the celebrity culture such as David and Victoria Beckham, Paris Hilton or other famous movie stars and athletes, they actually choose people they do not know in person. But as role models have changed over the generations, young people should try to find role models that are in some way or another involved in their lives. Apart from their parents, they might be close friends, other family members, literary heroes and heroines, teachers or politicians because they can encourage them to believe they can get closer to their goals and make their dreams come true. Very often, true role models are not just people they look up to or are successful, but those who have had to go through similar struggles and challenges as they have. Unsurprisingly, the dreams of the youth of these days are remarkably similar to those of the past generations. They still yearn for success and hanker after the realization of their dreams. The only difference is that society´s views of what counts for success have mutated. So what is possibly the answer to the question? Is it to stop looking for role models on TV or in fashion magazines or in sports pitches? Or is the answer to show youth the true role models all around us – the average man trying to provide for his family, the policeman who risks his life for justice, the doctor who strives to heal his patient or the politician who serves his voters? Well, these are our society´s real heroes but they cannot be found on the covers of fashion magazines or be seen on Big Brother…. But we will find them everywhere else – in a small town or big city – we just have to take a closer look….

Answer the questions:

1. Discuss some of the role models and ideals from years past. Who was considered ideal in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s?
2. How have ideals changed? What caused the change?
3. Brainstorm a list of men, women, athletes, politicians, scientists who might be considered ideals in this century and explain why.
4. Break down “ideal” images of women and men by brainstorming a list of physical features that the media focuses on – for women: hairstyles, figure, legs, breasts, make-up, etc., for men: arms,chest, legs, physique, etc . Try to find out how and in what way the media highlight non-physical qualities such as intelligence, sense of humour, kindness, etc.
5. Describe an ideal role model for you and explain why you consider them to be the best for you.

Role models and Ideals

We had our first contacts with books in our childhood when our parents read fairytales to us. Books for children normally do not contain a lot of text but have a lot of pictures to catch the interest of small children. They are full of fantasy stories, and they teach kids to distinguish between what is bad and good. Probably the most famous authors of books for children are the immortal Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen.

There are books of various genres: Non–fiction books (textbooks, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, travel/history/art books and cookery books); Fiction books – poetry (poems, sonnets), prose (tales, short stories, novels, romances, crime stories, science fiction, thrillers, westerns and historical novels).

Teenagers and young people usually read adventures, science fiction, romances or novels. Adults, on the other hand, like to read detective stories, historical novels, and books of travellers or biographies. There are some people who enjoy reading poetry, but for most people this genre is not easy to read. Books (paperbacks or hardcovers) can be bought in a wide range of bookshops. Nowadays a lot of them are situated in shopping centres; in this way books are reachable for many people, but there are also highly specialized bookshops which offer literature for more advanced readers.

It has also become popular to buy books via the Internet. Many books already exist in electronic form – so-called e-books – so you can read them directly on your computer or on an e-reader. In addition, we can visit public libraries where we can borrow books. However, people in our countries do not buy many books. There are two main reasons. The first one is that books are getting expensive, and many people cannot afford them. The second reason is a lack of free time. People are so busy that they don’t have enough time for reading, especially reading books. They look up all the information they need on the Internet and when they want to relax, instead of reading they watch films. Reading a book takes maybe days or weeks, and a film takes only two hours. People don’t need to concentrate so much on the plot and think about it because they see everything on the screen. Therefore, it is very important to develop a good relationship with reading and literature from one’s childhood. Reading books gives people a lot of pleasure and enriches our lives. There are books that give us a chance to learn about the world around us. Other books give a lot of information and advice. Others are amusing. When we read, we can find an answer to many questions. It trains our imagination. Reading increases our vocabulary, and we become better speakers and writers. When reading books about people, we sometimes find that their lives are a mirror of our own; they help us to better understand the situations in our own lives, so we know how to make decisions. Books are like a remedy when we are tired or sad; it is a good way to escape from reality. Every year, the Nobel Prize for Literature is awarded to a writer whose work of fiction is considered to be outstanding. Some of the more famous Nobel Prize winners are, for example, Ernest Hemingway, Albert Camus, and John Steinbeck. Up to now the youngest Nobel Laureate was Rudyard Kipling; best known for The Jungle Book, he was 42 years old when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907.

Explain these sayings:

Do you agree with them?

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.

~Charles W. Eliot

A good book has no ending.

~R.D. Cumming

Talk about your favourite book (author, brief plot, characters, main ideas/ message).

Books and Reading

Humans have been extremely inventive in making special clothing for environmental hazards. Some examples include spacesuits, diving suits, swimsuits, bee-keeper gear, motorcycle leathers, high-visibility clothing, and other kinds of protective clothing. However, the distinction between clothing and protective equipment is not always clear cut, since clothes designed to be fashionable often have protective value and clothes designed for functional use often consider fashion in their design.

The word “fashion” in itself covers a wide range of different styles and trends. Many people “dress to impress” and others simply dress to be noticed. Young people all over the world are becoming extremely fashion conscious; whether boys or girls, they are all fascinated by it. Some people want to look their best in order to impress others; some simply wear what suits them and mainly what they can afford.

Answer the questions:

1. What is your attitude towards fashion?
2. Why do you think some people spend so much money on brand-name clothes?
3. What is your favourite piece of clothing and why? When do you wear it? How long have you had it?

Fashion

Some people stay in their birth town forever; however, some people move during their life from place to place for various reasons, for example, studies, financial problems, new jobs, or marriage. Different kinds of people have different tastes as to where they would like to live. There are three basic choices for a place to live: in a village, a town or a bigger city. Some people move to live in a village because houses are cheaper there and people are said to be friendlier. They mostly live in their houses with big gardens. On the other hand, some people prefer busier life, with lots of people around, heavy traffic and rushing around. These people move to bigger towns or cities. Big cities offer more opportunities for finding a job, further education, cultural events, sports facilities and entertainment. People living in villages often have difficulties getting from place to place because of a lack of transportation. If travellers miss a scheduled bus or train, they may have to wait for a long time before they catch the next one. However, in big cities a variety of transportation choices, including buses, subways and taxis, are available. In bigger towns, a great variety of shopping choices is also available, such as department stores and outdoor markets. People who live in urban areas can buy everything they need at any time of the day, but in rural areas the shopping choices are more limited, and people usually have to go to other towns or cities in order to purchase particular items. On the other hand, life in a big city can be quite hectic and stressful. From time to time, we all leave our homes when we travel on holidays. There are lots of interesting places all over the world which people like to visit. We can enjoy visiting and seeing new towns, cities, museums and galleries and thus learn about different cultures. We can visit famous European capitals such as Paris, London, Rome and Vienna. Those who like swimming and sunbathing often go to countries with the sea and lovely beaches. Some holiday makers prefer even more exotic warm places such as the Seychelles, a paradise for divers. Some people like a peaceful countryside and physical activities, so they prefer going on a hike in a pristine environment. They discover wild places which we would normally see only on television, for example, the Galapagos Islands, the Grand Canyon in the USA or Ayers Rock in Australia.

In Slovakia and the Czech Republic, there are lots of places which can attract holiday makers. We live in countries of great scenic beauty, interesting histories, and numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation. There are many national parks, mountain ranges and nature reserves to be seen and explored. Our countries are extremely rich in mineral and thermal springs with healing effects. We also have extensive deposits of high-quality healing peat and mud. Just in West Slovakia, there are approximately twenty thermal baths, which are ideal places for summer holidays. Visitors can spend a relaxing week, enjoying massages and healing cures. The Slovak countryside is dotted with castles that remind visitors of the attacks the Slovaks suffered from Tartar invasions. The villages and regional towns are unique with their reconstructed buildings. On the other hand, Slovakia lacks world-class attractions, and its tourist infrastructure is not well developed.

By the way, what is it like in the Czech Republic?

Give a brief account of the most visited places in the Czech Republic. Do you think, the standard of services is on the same level as in Slovakia?

Answer the questions:

1. What are the disadvantages of living in towns and cities?
2. Explain the following terms: suburb, rural area, and infrastructure.
3. Which places in the world would you recommend for people who love to see a pristine environment?
4. Describe your ideal place for living.
5. The Covid-19 pandemic has encouraged many people to work from home. If this trend continues does where we live matter as far as work is concerned?

Towns and places

A multicultural society is a society where people of different races, cultures, traditions and religions live, work and communicate with each other with mutual respect for the benefit of all of them. There are many multicultural societies all over the world where communities live in peace with each other, but in some countries this is sometimes not the case. There are different types of multicultural societies. We can divide them into ones where  different groups of people live together in the same neighbourhood and societies where different groups live in the same country but live in a neighbourhood with their “own kind of people.” The United Kingdom has welcomed newcomers for centuries. It is a mixture of diverse ethnic groups, each with their own distinct culture and sometimes their own language or religion. Many British Muslims celebrate, for example, Ramadan. Today about two million Muslims live in Great Britain, and their growing number has resulted in the establishment of more than 1,500 mosques. The term “Asian” refers to all people with roots or family connections in the former British colonies of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Some are Hindus and others are Sikhs. These two groups celebrate the festival of Diwalli on November 6th. With such a great variety of inhabitants coming from different parts of the world, London is considered to be a cosmopolitan city. However, it is a little bit different in New York. New York is also cosmopolitan but not so mixed. Nationalities stay in their own areas, for example, the Russians in the Russian section, and the Polish in the Polish section. The area where many Chinese people live and where you can find many Chinese shops and restaurants is called Chinatown. America has always been a “melting pot” in which many diverse cultures are mixed together and have been transformed into a single great American culture in the end. The USA prefers the process of assimilation or social integration, and so they encourage immigrants to take pride in America and become “Americanized.” Living in a multicultural society has some advantages. Multiculturalism gives members of the cultures that are brought together a taste of what the others have to offer. As people come together, different ideas are shared and people can learn things from cultures that they would not have known about at all if there had not been more than one culture in their society. People can get to know new traditions, cuisine, music and fashion as well. As with most things in life, there are positives and negatives to multiculturalism. Social, ethnic and religious tensions, prejudice, discrimination, racism and ethnocentrism are among the most prominent negatives.

In Slovakia we live with different cultures as well. Out of a total population of 5 million, there are over half a million Hungarians living in the south of Slovakia, and minority groups of Ruthenian and Ukrainian origins live in the East. The Gypsy minority group are spread throughout Slovakia, and their numbers are rising rapidly. The Gypsy minority groups get a lot of attention as they often say that they are treated unfairly. Unfortunately, this causes tension between Slovaks and Gypsies, but we also have to mention that there are a number of projects to help integrate this ethic group into our society.

Answer the questions:

1. What is cultural assimilation?
2. Do you live in a multicultural environment?
3. What are the problems resulting from multiculturalism?
4. How can you benefit from multiculturalism?
5. Are you and your family tolerant and open to other cultures? In what ways?

  Multicultural society

First things first: HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE LEISURE or FREE TIME?

Basically, to most people it is a period of time spent out of work and essential domestic activity, or the period of time before or after compulsory activities such as eating and sleeping, going to work or running a business, attending school and doing homework, household chores, and day-today stressful operations. WHAT TYPE OF LEISURE ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN? Are they active leisure activities such as walking, yoga or jogging, which expend little energy, or are they high-impact activities such as, e. g., kickboxing, soccer, ice hockey or other sports that consume much more energy and are competitive? On the other hand, are you into playing chess or painting, which involve almost no physical activity but require a substantial mental effort? Whichever of these activities you are involved in, they are much better and more useful than passive leisure activities in which you do not exert almost any physical or mental activity such as, e.g., going to the cinema, watching TV, or gambling on slot machines. Nevertheless, passive leisure activities are also a good way of relaxing for many people as long as they do not become an obsession.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE WAY YOU SPEND YOUR LEISURE TIME?

If you are the type who works indoors and spends most of your time sitting and doing office work, you will probably prefer doing sports, going camping, hiking, fishing or picking mushrooms. If your job involves a lot of physical activity, you may prefer to spend your free time reading books, magazines or watching television. To some of these people, collecting stamps, postcards, badges, model cars or ships, bottles, napkins or antiques might be a relaxing type of hobby. Socializing with your friends at dinner, having a drink after a hard day at work, having a regular night out at weekends, dining out or dancing the night away at a club or disco might be a normal part of your free time. Maybe you are what is known as a “workaholic” – a person who works compulsively at the expense of their free time or “slackers” – someone who avoids work and spends as much time as possible in leisure activities. If none of the above categories fit your life, THEN WHAT ARE YOUR MOST FAVOURITE HOBBIES?

What we need now is a clear definition of what a “hobby” is: according to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, it is “an activity that you do for pleasure when you are not working.” So let’s try to categorize them a bit:

One of the most usual types of hobby is COLLECTING a lot of things and even as many experiences as possible: vintage cars, stamps, napkins, etc. and collecting experiences of a particular type: train/bus/ aircraft spotting, bird watching, visiting continents, countries, states, national parks, etc. Also playing games may help develop practical skills and might serve as exercise or have an educational, stimulating or psychological role. Unfortunately, some of them might be counterproductive if played for an uncontrolled period of time, e.g., PC games, especially when young children play them. Another type of hobby is OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY – hiking, trekking, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, cycling, caving, and doing water or snow sports. They are enjoyed by many as a bit of fun, an adrenaline rush or an escape from reality. Extreme sports can be considered a very popular and frequent type of hobby especially for young people.

CREATIVE HOBBIES: they usually result in some end product – woodworking, software and artistic projects, creating models, restoring/tuning cars, building computers from scratch or creating card or paper models of planes or ships. For some “hobbyists,” cooking can be considered a very delightful activity and not a tedious duty; the same goes for gardening or keeping pets of all kinds. If you are more domestically oriented, then HOME-ORIENTED LEISURE ACTIVITIES are certainly your cup of tea: watching TV and DVDs, playing computer games, browsing the Internet, chatting on social networks, reading, listening to music or visiting friends. Of course, many people’s social lives are closely bound up with their interests, so they visit clubs and societies, amateur dramatic groups, film societies, dance clubs and special interest societies focused on, e.g., art, astronomy, local history, archaeology, etc. Believe it or not, spending weekends in shopping malls has currently become a very common pastime, especially for young people. They just go window shopping, play darts, eat out, go bowling or just meet friends and idle their time away in the anonymous crowds of other people. It is probably not a very healthy alternative to those activities mentioned above, what do you think? All in all, no matter whether you prefer spending your leisure time alone or with other people, the most important thing is that you relax and enjoy doing it, because that’s what a pastime is all about!

Answer the questions:

1. What types of leisure activities are people usually involved in?
2. Give examples of low and high impact activities and passive activities.
3. Give some examples of things to collect and the way people usually keep them.
4. What extra-curricular activities are offered by your school?
5. Why may games be rather dangerous for some people?
6. Comment on your favourite outdoor recreation activities.
7. Which creative hobbies are you into?
8. Are home-based leisure activities appealing to you? Why/why not? Explain.
9. How do you personally spend your free time?

Hobbies and Leisure Time

Most food has its origin in plants. Seeds of plants are a good source of food for animals, including humans, because they contain many healthful fats, such as Omega fats. Edible seeds include cereals (maize, wheat, rice, etc.), legumes /strukovina – luštěnina/ (beans, peas, lentils), and nuts.

Oilseeds are often pressed to produce rich oils. Fruits make up a significant part of the diets of most cultures. Some botanical fruits, such as tomatoes, pumpkins, and eggplant, are eaten as vegetables. Vegetables include root vegetables (potatoes and carrots), bulbs (onion family), leaf vegetables (spinach and lettuce), stem vegetables (bamboo shoots and asparagus), and inflorescence vegetables (globe artichokes and broccoli and other vegetables such as cabbage or cauliflower).

Animals are used as food either directly (meat) or indirectly (products – milk, eggs, honey). Some people do not consume meat or animal food products for cultural, dietary, health, ethical, or ideological reasons. Vegetarians choose to give up food from animal sources to varying degrees.

Vegans do not consume any foods that contain ingredients from an animal source.

Animals, specifically humans, have five different types of taste: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (the Japanese word for delicious – it is characterized as savoury /pikantný – pikantní/, meaty, and rich in flavour). The tastes that provide the most energy (sugar and fats) are the most pleasant to eat, while others, such as bitter tastes, are not enjoyable. Water generally has no taste.

Many cultures have a recognizable cuisine, i.e., a specific set of cooking traditions using various spices or a combination of flavours unique to that culture. Popular types of ethnic foods include Italian, French, Japanese, Chinese, American, Thai, and Indian cuisine. Food presented in a clean and appetizing way will encourage people to consume it. A common saying is that people „eat with their eyes.“

While many foods can be eaten raw, many also undergo some form of preparation. This may involve washing, cutting, trimming, mixing, heating or cooling, pressure cooking, fermentation, combination with another food, or adding other foods or ingredients, such as spices. In a home, most food preparation takes place in the kitchen. In restaurants, trained chefs prepare food, and trained waiters serve the customers.

Dietary habits play a significant role in the health and mortality of all humans. Imbalances between the consumed fuels and expended energy result in either starvation, often connected with famine, or malnutrition. Poor intake of various vitamins and minerals can lead to diseases that can have far-reaching effects on health. Deficiencies, excesses, and imbalances in diet may lead to various health problems such as scurvy /skorbut/, obesity, or osteoporosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases as well as psychological and behavioral problems. The science of nutrition attempts to understand how and why specific dietary aspects influence health.

Answer the questions:
What is your favourite kind of food?
Are you afraid of genetically modified food? What are some disgusting things that people eat?
What restaurants in your area would you recommend? How do you feel about cooking?
In what ways is climate change affecting our diet?
Is it a good thing that seasonal foods in our country are now available all year round because they can be grown in far-away countries and flown here?

Food.pdf