INTERMEDIATE POLISH I

SLAV-P 201 / SLAV-P 503

Fall 2016

Instructor: ukasz Siciski Meeting Time: MWF 10:10-11:00

Office: GISB 4031 Meeting Place: HU 108
E-mail: lsicinsk@indiana.edu Office Hours: M 11:30-12:30 / R 1:00-2:00
or by appointment

Course Description

Welcome to second-year Polish! The goal of this course is to further develop your Polish language
skills. You will:

review and continue the study of grammar

develop your vocabulary
gain deeper knowledge of Polish culture
have a good time in class

The course is designed to improve your skills in all four areas of proficiency: speaking, listening,
reading, and writing. Although the study and implementation of new grammar is essential, the main
focus will be on Polish as a living means of communication that is, instead of merely concentrating
on knowing the language, we will focus on using it. The material will be taught in a cultural context,
and an emphasis will be put on the ability to use Polish in various everyday situations.

For the most part, we will work with authentic materials, and classes will be organized around
student-centered activities (pair and group work). In order to allow you to take full advantage of class
time to practice your language skills, classes will be conducted in Polish, and the classroom will be
considered a Polish-only zone.

By the end of this course, you will be able to communicate in Polish at an intermediate level. The
range of tasks you will be able to handle include describing peoples personalities, expressing and
justifying your opinions and preferences, making comparisons, narrating past events and discussing
your plans for the future, expressing wishes and expectations, and talking about emotions and
feelings. It is expected that upon successful completion of this course most students will emerge with
intermediate mid to intermediate high language proficiency level according to the ACTFL
proficiency guidelines (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

Texts and Materials

Textbook: A. Burkat, A. Jasiska, Hurra!!! Po polsku 2. Podrcznik studenta (Krakw: Prolog,

2010). ISBN: 978-83-60229-26-2
Available for purchase at the IU Main Bookstore (900 East 7th Street)

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 Additional materials: course handouts and other supplementary materials will be distributed in
class and posted on Canvas.

Internet resources:

Canvas: https://canvas.iu.edu
Canvas will be used in this course for communication purposes, as an online resource for course-
related documents (handouts, links to internet materials, additional exercises, etc.), and as a
learning tool for collaborative work.

Useful links:
Sownik internetowy: http://ling.pl
Sownik jzyka polskiego PWN: http://sjp.pwn.pl
Wielki sownik jzyka polskiego PAN: http://www.wsjp.pl
Culture.pl wszystko, co chciaby wiedzie o polskiej kulturze: http://culture.pl

Evaluation

Participation 10%
Homework 20%
Culture hunts 15 %
4 Vocab quizzes 20% (5% each)
2 Tests 20% (10% each)
Final exam 15%

Extracurricular activities 3% (extra credit)

Presentation 3% (extra credit)

Classwork

This is a student-centered course in which active participation is crucial for a successful and
productive classroom atmosphere. To be able to effectively communicate in a language, you need to
practice it; therefore, it is essential that you attend class regularly.

Classwork will be graded according to the following formula:

4 points: present, on time, prepared

3 points: present, late and/or partially prepared
2 points: present, late more than 20 minutes and/or completely unprepared
0 points: absent

If you must miss a class due to illness or some other legitimate reason, notify me in advance (when
possible). These absences might be excused and therefore would not affect your grade.

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Homework

As a supplement to your regular classwork, you will be given homework assignments. Make sure you
complete the assignments carefully and analyze my feedback and corrections.

Homework will be graded according to the following scale:

4 points: submitted on time, completed with good effort, at least 75% correct
3 points: submitted on time, less than 75% and more than 50% correct
2 points: submitted on time, but less than 50% correct
0 points: not submitted

The mark for your homework will be dropped by one point for each day of lateness.

Culture Hunt

Every week, you will be given one question on Polish culture. You will write your answer to it in
English. These questions will allow you to explore some aspects of Polish culture (both popular and
highbrow), Polish history, and Polish customs and traditions.

You can go to the library, ask your friend, or simply search the Internet. However, make sure you do
not copy word for word from your sources. Always use your own words in your answers!

The questions will be posted every Monday. Your answers will be due on Fridays (via email).

Quizzes

To help you master the course material and ensure that you stay on track, four vocabulary quizzes
will be given during the semester. They will be administered during the first 10 minutes of class.
Make sure you prepare for these quizzes together, they account for 20% of your overall grade in
this course.

Tests & Final Exam

Term tests will be based on the material covered in class, and will consist of 4 sections: listening,
reading, grammar, and writing. In addition to the written part, they will also have an oral component,
usually in the form of an interview (conducted by me) or a dialogue (between you and your
classmate).

The final exam will be cumulative and will cover all of the material from the beginning of the course.
It will consist of 3 sections: reading, grammar, and writing.

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Grading Scale

97-100 A+ 87-89 B+ 77-79 C+ 67-69 D+

93-96 A 83-86 B 73-76 C 63-66 D
90-92 A- 80-82 B- 70-72 C- 60-62 D-
0-59 F

Extracurricular Activities

To enrich your learning experience, the Polish Program offers a variety of extracurricular activities.
Take advantage of these activities and events to practice your language skills, interact with other
students, and learn more about Polish culture. You will hear more about these events as the semester
proceeds.

Presentation

You will have the opportunity to earn extra credit by giving an oral presentation (in Polish). Your
presentation should be 10-15 minutes long, and it should deal with some aspect of Polish culture.
You can choose your own topic, but make sure you consult me before you start working on your
presentation.

Feedback

My goal is to create an atmosphere and opportunities for successful language learning for all students
in this course. Please feel free to ask for extra help or practice materials. It is essential that you let me
know if you are having problems, feel overwhelmed, or need more of a challenge. It is better to deal
with these situations early in the semester, rather than wait until it may be too late.

Academic Misconduct

As a student at IU, you are expected to adhere to the standards and policies of the code of academic
conduct. Any suspected infractions of this Code will be handled by official rules and policies of the
University. For more information see the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct
(http://www.iu.edu/~code/code/responsibilities/academic/index.shtml).

Disability Statement

Any student who feels he/she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability must
register with Disability Services for Students first. According to DSS guidelines, only students who
have registered their disabilities with DSS are officially eligible for accommodations. When the
disability has been registered, the student will receive a letter describing any accommodations
necessary which must be presented to the instructor. More information is available from Disability
Services for Students at 812-855-7578 and on the DSS web site (http://disabilityservices.indiana.edu)
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Disclaimer

All information in this syllabus, including course requirements, is subject to change and should not
be considered a substitute for attending class or for any information that is provided to you by your
instructor.

Schedule

Week 1 Unit 1 Osobowo

Aug. 22, 24, 26
Week 2 Unit 1 Osobowo (cont.)
Aug. 29, 31, Sept. 2 Unit 2 Praca
Week 3 Unit 2 Praca (cont.)
Sept. 7, 9 Quiz
Week 4 Unit 3 To ju historia...
Sept. 12, 14, 16
Week 5 Unit 4 Plany na przyszo
Sept. 19, 21, 23 Quiz
Week 6 Unit 4 Plany na przyszo (cont.)
Sept. 26, 28, 30 Review
Week 7 Review
Oct. 3, 5 TEST 1
Week 8 Unit 6 Miasto
Oct. 10, 12, 14
Week 9 Unit 7 Wie i przyroda
Oct. 17, 19, 21 Quiz
Week 10 Unit 7 Wie i przyroda (cont.)
Oct. 24, 26, 28
Week 11 Unit 8 Relacje z ludmi kobieta i mczyzna
Oct. 31, Nov. 2, 4 Quiz
Week 12 Unit 8 Relacje z ludmi kobieta i mczyzna (cont.)
Nov. 7, 9, 11 Review
Week 13 Review
Nov. 14, 16, 18 TEST 2

Thanksgiving Break
Week 14 Unit 9 Przyja
Nov. 28, 30, Dec. 2
Week 15 Review
Dec. 5, 7, 9
Dec. 16
10:15-12:15 FINAL EXAM