Head: Dr. Hana Reichová

Žerotínovo nám. 9, 601 77 Brno

Phone: ++420–5–42 128 376, http://lingua.muni.cz

The Department of Foreign Languages provides foreign language courses for non-specialist language students at all faculties of Masaryk University: the Faculties of Economics and Administration, Arts, Medicine, Education, Science, Informatics and the School of Social Studies.

Teachers and foreign lecturers from seven divisions of the Department focus on language for specific purposes and the teaching of academic skills in English, German, French, Spanish and Russian. At the Faculties of Arts, Medicine and Law, specialist terminology in Latin is taught and courses on rhetoric are held. The Department also holds Czech courses for foreign students.

The Self-Access Centre is an important part of the Department and is situated in the building of the MU Rector’s Office. It has materials and teaching programmes that can be used by students and staff from all faculties for extending their knowledge of general and specific foreign language needs: teaching books, dictionaries, worksheets, videos, CD-ROMs and satellite TV. The Self-Access Centre provides the possibility of ”independent learning” in addition to compulsory lessons. In 1997, the Department was accepted into CERCLES, the international organization of university language departments, thus allowing access to the European network. In 1999, the Department participated in the founding of the CERCLES Czech and Slovak Association.

As to academic work, many teachers are involved in post-graduate study programmes and participate in international conferences. Some teachers take part in grant-funded research projects, one of which is the ”Refugee Law in Combination with Foreign Language” project completed in February 1999. This new obligatory optional discipline was prepared by the division of the department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Law in collaboration with the Department of International and European Law and has been recommended and approved by the Board of Directors of the Jan Hus Foundation. Guest university teachers from Holland and Belgium and professionals participated in the project.

The Department established close relations with the University of Aberystwyth (Wales, UK), and their co-operation is supported by a grant from the SOCRATES-ERASMUS programme. In 1999, the departments exchanged preparatory visits.

The Department of Foreign Languages co-ordinates the TESOL Teacher Education programme at Masaryk University. The purpose of the course is co-operation with and the exchange of experience between Czech and English-speaking students from the USA and Canada. Students who successfully complete the course work will receive certification from the University of Cambridge to allow them to teach English to adults.

The division of the Department at the Faculty of Economics and Administration participates in the TEMPUS European Studies Programme (ESPRO- EU Organization, Institutions and History) and the LEONARDO DELTA – ON LINE programme (multimedia programmes in English and German and their application in Czech).

The Department co-operates closely with the British Council. Some teachers are involved in methodological work in English university teaching and act as lecturers at various seminars and courses held by the British Council. In the last two years, the Council has supported the Department with numerous important grants.