Czech Language and Literature

The M.A. programme Czech Language and Literature is aimed at B.A. graduates of Czech Language and Literature who are striving at completing specialized training in the field of Czech studies, form both literary and linguistic points of view. The offered courses reflect the present-day state of scholarly knowledge of the Czech language and literature, offering students with complex information on the development of contemporary Czech, on its developmental tendencies and on the character of its structure (from the typological point of view), in the sphere of literature offering the deeper knowledge of Czech and international theoretical approaches to literature, extending the knowledge of development of Czech literature and literary history from the methodological and interdisciplinary points of view and providing an insight into the history of world literature, developing the capacity to analyze literary as well as scholarly texts. The study programme is based on theoretical fundamentals of the discipline, but besides theoretical linguistic and literary courses offers also courses orientated practically. The study programme is designed to ensure that graduates are adequately prepared as far as qualification is concerned and are to the necessary extent professionally adaptable to situations and requirements of practical life. Graduates are able to hold positions the requirements of which include a complex knowledge of Czech language and literature, the capability to use the prestigious variety of Czech for the purpose of practical communication or readiness to hold leading positions in media and cultural institutions of various kinds. Graduates are also ready for Ph.D. studies of Czech language or Czech literature. The programme Czech Language and Literature offers several study plans. Students of the double-subject programmes may specialize by choosing suitable selective courses, focusing on some aspects of Czech studies from literary or linguistic points of view (theoretical approaches to literature, Czech literature and its contexts, literature for children and youth, cultivation of language, computer linguistics, theories of grammar). Students may also choose from three specializations that will enable them to deepen their knowledge, skills and competences in one of the following spheres of Czech studies: a) graduates from the specialization Czech studies from the linguistic point of view will gain deeper knowledge in the sphere of linguistics, in which the focus, besides theoretical studies, is on the development of elementary skills and competences of scholarly work (preparation, presentation and writing of a linguistic project, writing scholarly texts); b) graduates from the specialization Czech studies from the literary point of view will deepen their training in the spheres of theoretical approaches to literature (interpretations of texts and methods from the sphere of theoretical approaches to literature), of literary history and literary criticism, will gain skills in work with texts and in editorial work; c) graduates from the specialization Czech as a foreign language will get orientation in typological specifics of Czech and in issues of its theoretical as well as practically didactic treatment as the L2 language, will be able to teach Czech as a foreign language to various target groups of non-native speakers in the Czech Republic or abroad, will be ready to work in educational and cultural institutions focused on integration of foreigners. The specific feature of this specialization in comparison with teaching Czech as a foreign language at other universities is the accent on methodology using the knowledge of computer tools modern information technologies.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• to understand theoretical approaches, concepts and methodology of work with texts from both linguistic and literary points of view;
• to explain structural characteristics of Czech on the basis of universal tendencies and language laws;
• to identify and describe significant features of the main periods of history of Czech, including developmental tendencies forming its contemporary standard form;
• to explain significant features of the main developmental stages of Czech literature in a comparative and international perspective;
• to interpret fiction and scholarly texts of various genres using adequate methods from the sphere of theoretical approaches to literature.
• to use actively analytic tools relating to theoretical approaches to literature and language.
• to create and present scholarly texts in accordance with academic standards.
• to understand specififc features of Czech on a comparative basis, especially with regard to teaching Czech to foreigners.

Graduates are able to work in numerous professions, in which expert knowledge of Czech studies from linguistic and literary points of view in required. They are also ready for independent searching, critically commenting and adequately using various sources of information, for work with language and survey SW applications as well as for creating them. They can find expert positions in traditional and electronic and traditional media, in publishing houses, in cultural institutions, in state administration and in the private sector, as journalists, editors, spokespersons, documentators, language advisors, proof-readers, lecturers, or scholars focusing on literature/language and employees of specialized academic or memorial institutions etc. Graduates from the double-subject programme can find a wider scale of positions, e.g. in relation to other languages they are able to work as translators and interpreters. It is expected that most of the graduates form the specialized programme of Czech language from linguistic and literary points of view will gain qualification for future scholarly work. Graduates form the specialization Czech as a foreign language will be able to find positions especially as lectors of Czech for non-native speakers (children and adults), in private as well as state spheres and in a wide range of activities of organizations focused on integration of foreigners and as employees of Czech educational and cultural institutions abroad.

The comprehensiveness of the M.A. programme provides graduates with the readiness to work in leading positions. Those who are interested in further training are equipped with knowledge as well as with theoretical and methodological skills necessary for the Ph.D. study programme relating to literature or to linguistics.

Within the study plan of the specialization Czech as a foreign language it is necessary to complete the course Teaching practice. The planned extent of the teaching practice is six weeks (with the obligation to teach 18 hours), for which the students will gain 10 credits. During their teaching practice, students will gain experience with teaching Czech as a second/foreign language either to children and youth or to adults. They will cooperate with partner institutions of the Department of Czech Language, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in the Czech Republic or abroad, under the supervision of teachers of this course or under the supervision of experienced lecturers from the partner institutions. Besides activities relating to the process of teaching (planning lessons, creating teaching materials etc.), students will enrich their competences in the spheres of providing and receiving feedback and of self-reflection.

Instructions relating to formal aspects of an M.A. thesis, its minimum extent and the procedure of submitting follow current instructions of Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University. An M.A. thesis is focused on a partial aspect from the sphere of linguistics or literary studies, corresponding with issues dealt with within the M.A. programme Czech Language and Literature. An M.A. thesis is based on empirical research the basis of which is student’s innovative approach to the topic. The concept of an M.A. thesis may be of theoretical, practical or applied character. Students are expected to prove their capability to judge scholarly texts critically, to choose the concept/theoretical framework of the thesis on the basis of the sources, to collect/evaluate the data and to formulate conclusions. An M.A. thesis must follow the minimum standards/requirements of the particular discipline relating to how sources are quoted and how formal aspects of the thesis are processed.