Co je to burčák a z čeho se vyrábí?

Burčák vzniká (vznikat “to arise, to come into existence”) jako meziprodukt při výrobě (výroba “production”) vína. Je to částečně (částečně “partly”) zkvašený (zkvašený “fermented”) mošt (mošt “juice”) z hroznů. Obsahuje (obsahovat “to contain “) cukr, kyseliny a alkohol. Obsah alkoholu se pohybuje od 1 do 7 %. Vyrábí se z bílých a taky z červených hroznů pouze z českých nebo moravských vinic (vinice “vineyard”).

Kdy se pije?

Stánky (stánek “kiosk, stand”)s burčákem na ulicích se objevují (objevovat se “to appear”) pravidelně v druhé polovině srpna. Prodej burčáku je limitován zákonem. Může se prodávat v období od 1. srpna do 30. listopadu.

Kde se pije?

Burčák je oblibený především (především “mainly”) na Moravě. Není ovšem specialitou jen v České republice, pije se také v jiných zemích střední Evropy, například v Rakousku, na Slovensku nebo v Německu.

Jestli jste při čtení dostali chuť na burčák, můžete vyrazit (vyrazit “to set out”) na výlet v sobotu 10.10. do vinohradů v okolí Mutěnic, kde vás čeká tradiční burčákový pochod (pochod “march”). Budou připraveny 3 trasy (4 km, 9 km a 12 km), také živá hudba a občerstvení. Více informací najdete na facebooku nebo na stránkách obce Mutěnice.

Říká se (říkat “it is said”), že burčák je velmi zdravý, protože obsahuje hodně vitamínů. Buďte ale při jeho pití opatrní (být opatrný “be careful”). Pokud ho vypijete hodně, může mít vedlejší účinky (vedlejší účinky “side effects”) v podobě častých návštěv záchodu.

Images: www.mutenice.cz, wikimedia.org

Many of the people in management positions and in the international companies (“mezinárodní společnosti“) in the Czech Republic are multilingual. Most speaks English, Russian and German. In general, people in their fifties speak some German, Russian and English whereas the new generation prefers English; although German, French, Russian and Spanish are also quite popular.

Maintaining the eye contact (“udržení očního kontaktu“) is an important part of communicating your intentions in a business meeting (“obchodní jednání“); it gives away your level of interest in the discussion and that you are (not) an attentive listener (“pozorný posluchač“). Avoiding the eye contact could be interpreted as a lack of interest (“nezájem“) or bad intentions (“špatné úmysly“). Never forget to maintain the eye contact when making a toast (while saying: “Na zdraví!“). We know, it’s hard to do two things at the same time, however, there’s plenty opportunities to practice in the Czech Republic. The non-verbal communication (“nonverbální komunikace“) reflects the reserved social attitude. Speaking with hands is rather remote to the Czech speakers.

What is better to be avoided during the conversation at work (“v práci“)? For sure, asking questions about the intimate personal subjects, such as age, health, housing (“bydlení“), or finances. On the other hand, the topics as politics and economy usually recommended to stay away of are no big taboo (“tabu“) in the Czech conversations. However, you’d better get ready for lots of irony and sarcastic remarks before bringing them up – that’s the typical way the Czech people criticize or express disagreement with something.

If you are looking for a job in the Czech Republic and you are not 100% sure that you can perform in Czech yet, visit www.jobspin.cz: the Czech job portal for foreigners and multilingual people in the Czech Republic. The web is designed specifically for foreigners and multilingual Czech people looking for a job or internship in the Czech Republic! All the job openings are posted in English (or in the actual languages of the job – Dutch, German, Polish, etc.). You can browse the job openings using the criteria of languages you speak or their combinations. At Jobspin.cz, we want to make your job hunt in the Czech Republic easier!

Images: www.freeimages.com

Češi rádi v zimě lyžují a bruslí. Děti také rády sáňkují a bobují nebo staví sněhuláka. A téměř každý Čech alespoň pasivně fandí hokeji.

Lyžování

Lyžování (lyžovat “to ski”) je v České republice oblíbený sport. Lyžovat můžete na sjezdovkách (sjezdovka “slope”). Nahoru na kopec vás vyveze vlek (vlek “ski lift”). Na sjezdovce můžete jezdit i na snowboardu (jezdit na snowboardu, snowboardovat “to do snowboarding”). Ve ski areálech (ski areál “ski centre”) najdete většinou půjčovnu a servis lyží (půjčovna lyží “ski rental”, servis lyží “ski servis”) a lyžařskou školu (lyžařská škola “ski school”), kde vás i děti naučí správnou techniku. Večer si můžete užívat večerního lyžování (večerní lyžování “evening skiing”) za umělého osvětlení. Ve velkých lyžařských areálech jsou někdy skokanské můstky (skokanský můstek “inrun“), kde můžete na lyžích skákat (skákat na lyžích “to do ski jumping”).
Pokud dáváte přednost běhání na lyžích, nemusíte se omezovat pouze na lyžařské areály. Běžkovat (běžkovat, běhat na lyžích “to do cross-country skiing”) můžete kdekoli, kde je vhodný terén. Když je sníh, běžecké stopy (běžecká stopa, dráha “cross-country trail”) často začínají hned za městem.

Jaké vybavení na lyžování potřebujete?

Určitě se neobejdete bez lyží (lyže “skiis”) nebo běžek (běžky “cross-country skis”) a lyžařských holí (lyžařské hole, hůlky “ski poles”). Boty připevníte na lyže do vázání (lyžařské vázání “bindings”). Pokud rádi jezdíte z kopce rychle, nasaďte si na hlavu přilbu (přilba “helmet”). Při běžkování také využijete lyžařský vosk (vosk “ski wax”). A aby vám nebyla zima, nezapomeňte na dobré oblečení – lyžařskou bundu (lyžařská bunda “ski jacket”), lyžařské kalhoty (lyžařské kalhoty “ski pants”), čepici (čepice “winter hat”), rukavice (rukavice “gloves”) a šálu (šála “scarf”).

Nejlepší lyžování v okolí Brna

Brno svou polohou není pro sjezdové lyžování ideální. V okolí nejsou žádné vysoké hory, a také se Brňané musí spokojit s kratšími sjezdovkami.
50 kilometrů od Brna se nachází Ski areál Olešnice v nadmořské výšce 550 metrů a s 1 kilometrem sjezdových tratí.
Další sjezdovku najdete u Bystřice nad Pernštejnem v Karasíně. Délka tratě je 400 metrů, nadmořská výška areálu je 700 metrů nad mořem.
V Němčičkách, vzdálených 40 km z Brna, mají nejníže položenou sjezdovku ve střední Evropě. Nadmořská výška tohoto areálu je 180 metrů nad mořem.
Pokud je dost sněhu, lyžuje se také v Předklášteří u Tišnova, 25 kilometrů od Brna. Délka tratě je 500 metrů a sjezdovka leží ve výšce 396 metrů.
Podmínky pro běžkování bývají příznivější. V dobrých letech, když hodně sněží, stačí dojet na konečnou tramvaje či autobusu, tam nasadit běžky a vydat se na zimní výlet. V okolí Brna se lyžuje na Drahanské vrchovině. 70 km od Brna se pak nachází proslulé Nové Město na Moravě, běžkařské centrum České republiky, kde se každoročně konají velké mezinárodní běžkařské závody.

Bruslení

V zimě můžete v České republice bruslit (bruslit “to skate”), i když zrovna nemrzne. Na zimních stadionech většinou fungují veřejná kluziště (kluziště “ice-rink”), kam si můžete jít zabruslit. Bruslení venku má ale samozřejmě lepší atmosféru. Když už je dlouho teplota pod nulou, můžete si troufnout vyrazit zabruslit do přírody – na rybník (rybník “pond”) nebo na přehradu (přehrada “water reservoir”). Dávejte ale pozor na tenký led (led “ice”)!

Co potřebujete při bruslení?

K bruslení nepotřebujete žádnou speciální výbavu – pouze brusle (brusle “skates”). Že žádné nemáte? Nevadí. Na veřejných kluzištích si je většinou můžete půjčit.

Kde si v Brně zabruslit

Venkovní bruslení
Kluziště za Lužánkami
Kluziště Kraví hora
Restaurant Pavillon
Kluziště u nákupního centra Olympia
Kluziště Brno Černovice
Kluziště Brno Žabovřesky
Bruslení na stadionu
Městská hala Vodova
Hala Rondo
Hala Úvoz

Sáňkování

Napadl sníh a vy si chcete zablbnout? Popadněte sáňky (sáňky “sled”) nebo boby (boby “bobsled”) a vyražte na nejbližší kopec! Stačí úplně malý za domem.
Náš tip: Sáňkování (sáňkování “sledding”) a bobování (bobování “bobsledding”) na Kraví hoře. Velkou výhodou je, že jakmile vám začne být zima, můžete se zahřát teplým nápojem v jedné z okolních vyhlášených kaváren (Klafé, Caffé del Saggio, Café BonBon).

Images: www.freeimages.com, brno.idnes.cz, www.bruslenizaluzankami.cz, www.karasin.cz

When can you compete?

Competition duration is from 13th July till 31st August 2014.

Rules

Rules are not complicated. Just follow our Facebook profile or website, we will announce a place/city in the Czech Republic every Sunday evening. Discover the place, take a picture of you and the sightseeing and send at least 3 photos with a short description in Czech to our email info@studyczech.cz or to our Facebook profile. You don´t need to rush, you can plan your trip and visit these places till the end of summer (31st August).

What can you win?

Everyone who sends us at least 3 photos will get a small gift. Additionally, we will randomly choose three competitors who will get Adapted prose by Lída Holá.

Places

13/07 – Minaret in Lednice
Minaret or Turkish tower was build in 1797-1802 and it is the oldest still existed observation tower in the Czech Republic. It is one of the highest minarets in Europe. You can visit in the beautiful park in Lednice.

20/07 – Punkva Caves
“Strážce, Salmův sloup, Zrcadlové jezírko”, you are not familiar with these natural phenomena? Then you should visit Punkva Caves. Our second sight in the summer competition. The caves were discovered in the first part of the 20th century and they are the only one cave system in the Czech Republic which can be explore on foot or with a motor boat. We highly recommend to make a reservation in advance.

27/07 – Flower Garden in Kroměříž
After cold and dark caves it is time to relax in the garden. Especially in this one which has been on the list of UNESCO Word Heritage Sites since 1998. It is called Květná zahrada and it is a part of the beautiful and old city Kroměříž. You will definitely enjoy green shadow and fountains there during these hot summer days.

03/08 – Post office on Sněžka
Can you imagine summer without a postcard? We don’t. Let’s send a greeting cards from the unique Czech post office which is situated on the top of the highest mountain Sněžka (1602 meters above the sea level). That means Poštovna is our next stop in summer competition. Enjoy the view from there!

10/08 – Telč
Summer is the time of fairy tales, legends and myths, that´s why our next stop belongs to Telč, a fairytale-like town, where you can see a romantic castle, one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, streets and arcades with small shops. Of course, that´s not all. Town is surrounded by ponds and forests and ideal places for relax or walk. We recommend you to take a bike.

18/08 – Petřín Tower
We cannot forget our capital city – the splendid and popular Prague – in our summer competition. However, do you know how you can manage to see all sights in one trip? Climb the Petřín Tower, a younger sister of the Eiffel Tower, and get beautiful views of the whole Prague.

24/08 – Brno Observatory and Planetarium
Do you like watching a night sky in the summer? If do, then you will definitely like our next and the last place in our summer competition – Brno Observatory and Planetarium on Kraví hora. The history of this place full of science started in 1950s. Since that time it has been reconstructed nad modernized several times and you can check it on your visit. How about next week with us on Study Czech Friday event?

Photos: Freeimages.com, Wikimedia.org and StudyCzech

Don’t borrow anything on a Good Friday and don’t do any household chores, just to be on the safe side…

And don’t do any household chores. Just to be on the safe side. Good Friday is the day when the witches and other evil spirits are most powerful and a borrowed thing could be bewitched and thus bring a curse to your house. Some household chores, such as gardening or doing the laundry are also not recommended. A good excuse to have a day off.
Since magical creatures come to life, Good Friday is also the right day when you should look out for signs that might tell you what the future beholds as well as remember people who are no longer among us.

If you’re a woman, bake a “mazanec” and decorate eggs (“kraslice“).

After Friday, when you’re not allowed to do any household chores, Saturday is the day for preparations for Easter! On this day, the eggs are cooked and decorated and the sweet treats are baked. “Mazanec” is somewhat similar to the Hot Cross Buns that are eaten in the UK, although “mazanec” is not spiced and the usual recipe allows raisins and chopped almonds only. And this is, of course, the women’s job.
Read a recipe and bake your own Mazanec!

If you’re a man, braid a “pomlázka”.

You’ll definitely need it on Monday! On Easter Monday, men and boys go caroling (that is visit their female relatives and friends) and on this occasion gently (!) whip the girls with a “pomlázka“, braided whip made from willow twigs. It is said to bring them health and beauty and therefore girls give boys treats for this “favor”, such as candy, shots of alcohol (you’ve already met “slivovice“, right?) and the colored eggs. However, you’re only allowed to do this before noon. If girls see you with “pomlázka” outside after noon, they are allowed to spray water on you, so beware!

Go to see the Easter markets on Náměstí Svobody in Brno

Easter markets are taking place from April 11 to April 18 on Náměstí Svobody. The entrance is free and there are stands with Easter products (such as “kraslice“, pottery and other decorations), food and refreshments and art workshops for children. There will also be spinach soup and green beer on Thursday and an additional program during the whole markets, for example folk music and singing.

Veselé Velikonoce!

For instance I’m sure you haven’t heard a Brno-born utter the word “tramvaj” for a tram. A true Brno soul would always say “šalina“.

Although hantec was spoken mainly among the lower classes and criminals in the 19th and early 20th century, many words made it to the language spoken nowadays. I’m not going to bore you with many historical details, but many of these words are of German origin due to the fact that before WWII there was a strong Austrian community in Brno. Therefore, if you’re a German speaker, understanding hantec is going to be much easier for you. Don’t worry if you’re not, we’re going to help you. Other words were borrowed from Romany language and Yiddish.

So come with us and discover the true flavor of the Brno slang. Please bear in mind that following words are very informal, and therefore please don’t use them during a job interview. But they might come in handy in case you’d like to impress your new friends in Brno over a glass (=krygl) of beer or blend in with the locals and decipher their secret language.

Were there some other words you’ve enountered and neither you or your dictionary had any “ánunk” what they meant? Let us know!

Picture: wikimedia.org

WHEN? Friday 01/11/2013, 5:15 PM – 7:30 PM
WHERE? café V melounovém cukru a Brno
PRICE: pay-what-you-want
Level: Beginners+ — Intermediate

We are going to start our lesson in the café V melounovém cukru to warm-up your Czech. Afterwards we are going to the streets of Brno with a very nice tourist guide Irena Mašková (www.prettybrno.cz) and together with her we are going to “feel the beauties of Brno, learn to watch and see”.

During the evening you will learn Czech words and phrases which you can use when discovering other towns and sights in the Czech Republic.

Thank you all who came :)

Other Study Czech Fridays

1st Study Czech Friday – “S tebou mě baví svět” – 15/02/2013
2nd Study Czech Friday – “Eating in Brno” – 15/03/2013
3rd Study Czech Friday – “Kdo ukradl kaktus?/ Who stole a cactus?” – 05/04/2013
4th Study Czech Friday – “Where is …?/ Kde je …?” – 19/04/2013
5th Study Czech Friday – “Byl pozdní večer, první máj …” – 10/05/2013
6th Study Czech Friday – “Summer on the road / Léto na cestách” – 31/05/2013
Study Czech Friday s vůní kávy / Study Czech Friday with a smell of coffee – 21/09/2013
Study Czech Friday: Večer s kytarou / An Evening with Guitar – 29/11/2013
Study Czech Friday: Hrajeme si na obchod – 28/02/2014
Study Czech Friday: Na poště / at the post office – 11/04/2014
Study Czech Friday: Opékání špekáčků – 06/06/2014
Výlet na Babí lom / Trip to Babí lom observartion tower – 14/06/2014
Study Czech Piknik ‎- 09/07/2014

1) Denis Gardens

Denis Gardens is a park right in the middle of Brno. It’s situated around the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, on Petrov hill. Enjoy a peaceful walk through the park and the beautiful view from the top. Especially, but not only at night this is the place to be. If it’s too cold to go outside or you’re just plain lazy, you can virtually visit the park, at least.

2) Technical Museum (Technické muzeum)

Located almost centrally, in the Královo Pole District, the Technical Museum offers a great lot of permanent exhibitions (for instance clockworks, historical vehicles but also electron microscopy or steam engines). Some of the exhibitions are located outside of Brno as well (the water- and windmill, old iron-mill or a blacksmiths). For more information about the exhibitions visit the museum’s official websites.
I was very much impressed by the technical game-room where you can actually touch and watch how physics works. You can conduct pre-designed experiments on your own and watch the resulting actions. The experiments are changed from time to time, some are added, some disappear. Even though the exhibition is probably aimed at school children, it’s fun for adults as well (especially for us who are oriented toward humanities and not so great friends with technology). Worth visiting!

3) Anthropos Pavilion

If you haven’t grown up in Brno, you missed out on a lot – the Sunday visits to the mammoth! Yes, there is a mammoth in Brno. It even has a baby mammoth. It’s a part of a permanent exhibition of Moravian Museum (Moravské Zemské Muzeum). The exhibitions walk you through the evolution of humankind and the oldest settlements in Europe and Moravia.

4) Olympia Brno

I can almost hear your protest. But don’t worry, we’re not going shopping. We’re going to do some sports! From April till October, the Olympia park is open. The park offers not only a great and equipped playground for children (there’s also a labyrinth!), but offers outdoor sporting activities, such as an climbing wall and an in-line skating circle from which you can skate alongside the Svratka river and end in the city center, near the Kajot Arena (better known as Hala Rondo). Most of the attractions are free, but you’ll have to pay for the railroad and the climbing wall. Even if you can’t stand shopping and like nature, I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself here.

5) Brno Circuit

Brno Circuit is better known as Masaryk Circuit. Be careful, the name can refer to one of two race tracks. The old one is nowadays used as a public road (if you hear people from Brno say “old highway”, or in Czech “stará dálnice”, that is it), the new one is used for many racing events. Best known and probably most visited is Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
I only recently learned that there are guided tours around the Automotodrom Brno. See and feel the history of the circuit(s). If you’re a motorsport fan, this is definitely a must!

See, it wasn’t that bad or dangerous after all, was it?

Author: Dagmar Wiesnerová
Pictures: Wikimedia.org

1) Observatory and Planetarium

You certainly don’t have to be Sheldon Cooper to enjoy the “temple of science”. And you can see the stars in the sky even in bad weather. The projection of the artificial sky is extraordinary. If the weather is nice, though, you can see the night sky and have a great view on Brno as the planetarium is conveniently located in the area of Kraví hora – central and in a beautiful park.

2) Trade Fairs

Some of the shows are well known and traditional, some of them are fairly new. I could recommend following:

Autosalon: International Motor Show. The soonest will be held 5.-8.4.2013 (the posters say 4.-8.4., but be careful, 4.4. is press day only, so you can’t get in unless you are accredited).

Animefest. If you’re a fan of Japanese culture, you’d better be in Brno sometime between 10. and 12.5. 2013. For more info on the program visit: http://www.animefest.cz/general-information

Vinex: International Wine Fair, which will be held on the 24. and 25.5. 2013

Intercanis and Interfelis: International Dog and Cat shows (29.-30.6. 2013).

MSV: International Engineering Fair (7.-11.10. 2013)

I don’t want to bore you with all the fairs I’d love to go to, so check out the schedule for yourself, I’m sure you’ll find something that you might be interested in. And you should go since the Trade Fairs compound, apart from the fair, is an interesting thing to see!

3) Boat trip on the dam lake

The Brno dam lake is a very popular place not only for tourists but for many locals as well. A bike trip round the lake is the best way of spending a Saturday! If you’re too lazy to ride the bike, just take a walk or take a trip on the boat (the season is supposed to start on 11.4. 2013).
Take the boat to the Veveri Castle and spend some time there, too. The first reference to the castle is from the 13th century, today’s look comes from the 14th. My secret tip: if you’re not that much into castles, don’t go for the inside tour, but the courtyards and tower are pretty amazing. The castle is currently undergoing a reconstruction, however, it will take a long time until it’s finished. Take it as a rare opportunity to compare and contrast the reconstructed and original parts of the castle.

4) Mariánské údolí (Marian Valley)

It is said that half of Brno goes to the dam lake and the other half to Marian Valley. And it is true. Marian Valley is easily reached by bus. The Marian Valley consists of “lakes” (man made water reservoirs that were built from 1953 to 1967) surrounded by forests. During your walk you can visit several mills, restaurants, playgrounds for children and three caves, two of which are freely accessible. Worth visiting!

5) Underground Labyrinth on Zelný trh (Cabbage Market)

This complex maze of underground tunnels and cellars opened to public in April 2011 after a large reconstruction and it is something that you absolutely have to visit. During a 45-minute tour you can discover the mysterious Brno underground with its dark corners and, on a brighter side, wine cellar. Some of the corridors date back to middle ages and they go as deep as 8 meters under the ground. How amazing is that?

Enjoy your time in Brno! I’ve realized there are so many great places in Brno that are worth seeing that I just have to write a sequel to this article. Stay tuned for Brno Top 5, part 2! And what are your favorite places in Brno – my favorite city? :)

Author: Dagmar Wiesnerová
Pictures: Wikimedia.org