SLOVAKIA – MY HOMELAND 1. Country and its people 2. Recommended places 3. Customs, traditions, conventions 4. Stereotypes and prejudices 5. Membership in the European Union

Comment on the following quotation. Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. George Bernard Shaw

Brainstorm the vocabulary connected with the following subtopics: LOCATION HISTORY TOWNS AND PLACES TO VISIT NATIONAL SYMBOLS, FACTS TRADITIONS, HABITS SLOVAKIA STEREOTYPES ABOUT SLOVAKS SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION SOUVENIRS

Look at the pictures and describe our national symbols. STATE EMBLEM FLAG ANTHEM SEAL

Look at the maps and describe Slovakia’s location. Which countries does Slovakia border ? What are its natural borders?

These are the events that played an important role in the history of Slovakia. Comment on some of them. ● The Great Moravian Empire (830 – 896) ● The Austrian-Hungarian Empire (10th cent. – 1918) ● World War I. (1914 -1918) ● World War II. (1939 – 1945) ● Slovak National Uprising (1944) ● Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1960 – 1990) ● Prague Spring (1967 – 1968) ● Velvet Revolution (November 1989) ● Independent Slovak Republic (1993) ● Membership in the European Union (2004)

Can you recognise the places in the pictures below? Which of them have you visited? What are they famous for? 3. 1. 2. 6. 5. 4. 10. 9. 7. 8. 13. 11. 12.

What holidays do Slovaks celebrate? What traditions are kept during these festive days? How do you spend these holidays?

Describe the lifestyle of the Slovak people in the pictures below. 1. 3. 5. 2. 4. 8. 7. 6. How are Slovaks perceived by foreigners?

(The National Council) Explain the system of government in Slovakia. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH (The National Council) The Parliament EXECUTIVE Vice-prime ministers Prime Minister Government Ministers Commander –in-chief President JUDICIAL Constitutional Court Supreme Regional, district courts

What food and drinks are typical for Slovakia? How would you describe them to foreigners?

Who are the people in the pictures below? 2. 3. 4. 1. Cyril and Methodius Ľudovít Štúr Alexander Dubček 6. 7. Peter Dvorský 5. 8. 9. Ladislav Chudík M.R.Štefánik Marta Siracká Jánošík Andrej Hlinka What are (were) they famous for?

Which would you give as a present to a foreigner? Name the souvenirs. Which would you give as a present to a foreigner? 3. 1. 2. 4. Zmeniť supolie figurky, mozno aj keramiku 6. 5.

Comment on the changes which were brought by the European Union entry in May 1st, 2004. Slovak – one of the official languages of EU EU funded projects exchange programmes, study abroad better conditions for travelling market economy job opportunities multiculturalism brain-drain Which of them are positive and which negative? How can Slovakia contribute to the European Union?

Plan a week summer stay for a group of foreign teenagers in Slovakia Plan a week summer stay for a group of foreign teenagers in Slovakia. Choose the ideas from the list below. PLACES TO VISIT ACTIVITIES CULTURAL EVENTS HOW TO GET THERE ACCOMODATION Bojnice castle Vlkolínec Bratislava Liptovská Mara Levoča The High Tatras swimming sightseeing dancing hiking sunbathing climbing theatre performance exhibition pilgrimage festival couch car train bicycle walking campsite hotel private place youth hostel dormitory tent