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A30 – Slovakia – My Homeland

Vlastnosti
predmetAnglický jazyk
typmaturitná téma
okruhanglický jazyk
číslo30
stavvypracované
Zadanie

Talk about the general information on Slovakia, its geography, climate, industry and political system, Bratislava as the capital city, the places of interest, and Slovak customs and traditions.

1. Osnova témy​

  • General information — location, area, population, neighbours, currency.
  • Mountains, rivers, lakes and the landscape.
  • Climate.
  • Industry and agriculture.
  • The political system and education.
  • The history of Slovakia in outline.
  • Bratislava and other important towns.
  • Places of interest, customs, traditions and famous Slovaks.

2. Kľúčová slovná zásoba​

  • the country: the Slovak Republic, Slovakia, Central Europe, in the heart of Europe, landlocked country (vnútrozemský štát), to border on, the euro, a member of the European Union and NATO
  • neighbours: the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria
  • mountains: mountainous (hornatý), the Carpathians, the High Tatras, the Low Tatras, the Great Fatra, the Little Fatra, the Little Carpathians, the Slovak Paradise, the Slovak Karst; peak (štít), Gerlachovský štít — the highest peak, Kriváň, Ďumbier, Chopok
  • water: the Danube, the Váh (the longest river), the Hron, the Morava, tarn (pleso), Štrbské pleso, dam (priehrada), Orava Dam, Zemplínska šírava, hot springs, spa (kúpele), Piešťany, Bardejov
  • landscape: lowland (nížina), the Danubian Lowland, the East Slovak Lowland, valley, gorge (tiesňava), cave (jaskyňa), the Domica and Demänovská caves, national park, mild continental climate
  • industry: the car industry (Volkswagen, Kia, Stellantis), U. S. Steel Košice, Slovnaft, the chemical industry, the woodworking industry, the food industry, engineering, IT, regional differences, unemployment in the east
  • agriculture: to grow wheat, maize (kukurica), potatoes, sugar beet (cukrová repa), grapes and wine (Pezinok, Modra, Tokaj); to keep cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry
  • politics: parliamentary republic, the President as head of state, the Prime Minister as head of government, the National Council of the Slovak Republic, 150 members of parliament, the Constitution
  • history: Slavs, Samo's Empire, Great Moravia, Cyril and Methodius (863), the Kingdom of Hungary, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, Ľudovít Štúr and the national revival, Czechoslovakia (1918), the Velvet Revolution (1989), independence (1 January 1993)
  • sights: Bratislava Castle, St Martin's Cathedral, Michael's Gate, Devín, Spiš Castle, Bojnice Castle, Orava Castle, Trenčín, Banská Štiavnica, Levoča, Vlkolínec, the wooden churches, Košice and St Elizabeth's Cathedral
  • customs: folk songs and dances, the fujara, folk costume (kroj), Easter customs, bryndzové halušky, kapustnica, hospitality

3. Užitočné frázy a väzby​

  • Slovakia is a small country situated in the very heart of Europe.
  • It borders on five countries and has no access to the sea.
  • Although it is small, it is remarkably varied.
  • The country is very mountainous, especially in the north.
  • The highest peak is Gerlachovský štít in the High Tatras.
  • The longest river is the Váh, but the most important is the Danube.
  • Slovakia has been an independent state since the first of January 1993.
  • Bratislava is the capital and the largest city, situated on the Danube.
  • What I would recommend to a foreign visitor is…
  • People often say Slovaks are hospitable, and I think that is genuinely true.
  • To sum up, Slovakia is a small country with a surprising amount to offer.

4. Modelová odpoveď​

The official name of my country is the Slovak Republic. It lies in Central Europe — quite literally in the heart of the continent — and it is a small, landlocked country with an area of about forty-nine thousand square kilometres and a population of roughly five and a half million. We border on five countries: the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary and Austria. The currency is the euro, and Slovakia is a member of the European Union and of NATO.

Slovakia is a very mountainous country; the Carpathians run across most of it. In the north there are the High Tatras, the highest mountains in the whole Carpathian range, with the highest peak, Gerlachovský štít, at over two and a half thousand metres, and beautiful glacial lakes called tarns, such as Štrbské pleso. South of them lie the Low Tatras with Ďumbier and Chopok, which are ideal for hiking and skiing. Further west there are the Great and Little Fatra and the Little Carpathians, and in the centre and east the Slovak Paradise and the Slovak Karst, famous for their gorges and caves. In the south and east the land flattens into lowlands, which are the agricultural heart of the country.

The longest river is the Váh, but the most important is the Danube, which flows through Bratislava and carries river traffic; there are ports in Bratislava, Komárno and Štúrovo. Slovakia has few natural lakes but many dams, such as Orava and Zemplínska šírava, and the large hydroelectric station at Gabčíkovo. The country is also rich in mineral and thermal springs, which is why we have famous spa towns like Piešťany and Bardejov. The climate is mild and continental, with four distinct seasons; the south is the warmest and driest part.

Industrially, Slovakia is best known for cars — several major manufacturers produce here, and per head of population we build more cars than almost anywhere in the world. There is also U. S. Steel in Košice, the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava, and chemical, woodworking, engineering and food industries. A long-standing problem is that most industry is concentrated in the west, so unemployment has traditionally been higher in the east and north. Agriculture produces wheat, maize, potatoes and sugar beet, and there is wine growing around Pezinok, Modra and in the Tokaj region.

Politically, Slovakia is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the President, elected directly, while the head of the government is the Prime Minister. Parliament is called the National Council of the Slovak Republic and has one hundred and fifty members.

Our history is long. Slavs settled here from about the fifth century, and later this area formed the core of Great Moravia. In 863 Cyril and Methodius arrived, brought Christianity in a language people could understand and created the first Slavic script. After Great Moravia fell, Slovakia became part of the Kingdom of Hungary and later of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and in the nineteenth century Ľudovít Štúr codified the Slovak literary language. Czechoslovakia was founded in 1918, communism came in 1948, the Velvet Revolution ended it in 1989, and on the first of January 1993 Slovakia became an independent state.

Bratislava, the capital, lies on the Danube right next to the Austrian border. Its landmarks are the castle above the river, St Martin's Cathedral where Hungarian kings were once crowned, Michael's Gate and the old town. Košice in the east is the second largest city and has St Elizabeth's, the largest cathedral in the country.

If I had to recommend one place to a foreign visitor, I would send them to the High Tatras, and then to Spiš Castle, which is one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe. And I would warn them that Slovak hospitality means being fed far more than they intended to eat.

5. Otázky na diskusiu​

  1. Where is Slovakia situated and which countries does it border on?
  2. What are the most important mountains and rivers in Slovakia?
  3. What is the Slovak climate like?
  4. Which industries are the most important for our economy?
  5. How is Slovakia governed?
  6. What are the key events in Slovak history?
  7. What would you show a foreign visitor in Bratislava?
  8. Which place in Slovakia would you recommend, and why?
  9. What Slovak customs and traditions do you know?
  10. What are Slovakia's biggest problems today?

6. Zhrnutie na ústnu odpoveď​

  • Základ: Central Europe, landlocked, about 49 000 km², 5.5 million people, the euro, EU and NATO; five neighbours.
  • Hory: the Carpathians; High Tatras with Gerlachovský štít and the tarns; Low Tatras; Fatras; Slovak Paradise and Karst; lowlands in the south.
  • Vody: the Váh (longest), the Danube (most important), dams, thermal springs and spas.
  • Hospodárstvo: cars above all, steel in Košice, Slovnaft, chemicals and wood; west–east imbalance; wheat, maize, potatoes, wine.
  • Politika: parliamentary republic, President, Prime Minister, National Council with 150 members.
  • História: Slavs → Great Moravia → Cyril and Methodius 863 → Kingdom of Hungary → Austria-Hungary → Štúr → Czechoslovakia 1918 → 1989 Velvet Revolution → independence 1 January 1993.
  • Mestá: Bratislava (castle, St Martin's, Michael's Gate) · Košice (St Elizabeth's).
  • Pamiatky a zvyky: Spiš Castle, Bojnice, Banská Štiavnica, Vlkolínec, wooden churches; folk music, the fujara, bryndzové halušky, hospitality.
Overené

Učiteľkin materiál prekladá sugar beet ako „cukrová trstina" — správne je cukrová repa, cukrová trstina je sugar cane. Materiál tiež radí Veľkú a Malú Fatru na západ Slovenska; v skutočnosti ležia v strednej časti. A ako najdôležitejšie závody uvádza len USS Košice, VW a Slovnaft — dnes na Slovensku vyrába autá viac výrobcov, tak pokojne povedz, že Slovensko patrí k svetovej špičke v počte vyrobených áut na obyvateľa.

Čo povedať na skúške

Toto je téma, kde sa oplatí mať pripravené jedno miesto, ktoré naozaj poznáš, a vedieť o ňom povedať tri vety — komisia sa takmer vždy opýta „What would you recommend to a foreign visitor?". Lepšie zapôsobí úprimné rozprávanie o mieste, kde si bol, než vymenovanie desiatich hradov. A slovenské názvy pokojne nechaj po slovensky, len k nim dodaj vysvetlenie: „Spišský hrad — Spiš Castle, one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe".

Súvisiace poznámky​

Kontrolné otázky​

Where is Slovakia situated and which countries does it border on?

In Central Europe. It borders on the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary and Austria.

What are the most important mountains and rivers in Slovakia?

The Tatras with Gerlachovský štít (2,655 m), the Low Tatras and the Fatra mountains; the rivers Danube, Váh, Hron and Nitra.

What is the Slovak climate like?

Continental, with four seasons – warm summers and cold winters; it is colder in the mountains.

Which industries are the most important for our economy?

The car industry (Volkswagen, Kia, Stellantis, Jaguar Land Rover), electronics, engineering, metallurgy and IT services.

How is Slovakia governed?

It is a parliamentary republic. The National Council has 150 members, the government is led by the Prime Minister and the President is elected directly by the people.

What are the key events in Slovak history?

Great Moravia and Cyril and Methodius (863), Czechoslovakia in 1918, the Slovak National Uprising in 1944, the Velvet Revolution in 1989, independence on 1 January 1993, joining the EU and NATO in 2004 and the euro in 2009.

What would you show a foreign visitor in Bratislava?

Bratislava Castle, St. Martin's Cathedral, the Old Town and Michael's Gate, the UFO bridge and Devín Castle.

Which place in Slovakia would you recommend, and why?

The High Tatras for hiking, Spiš Castle as one of the largest castles in Central Europe, or Banská Štiavnica for its history.

What Slovak customs and traditions do you know?

Easter Monday water pouring, Christmas Eve dinner, carnival (fašiangy), folk costumes, songs and dances, and the fujara.

What are Slovakia's biggest problems today?

Young people leaving to work or study abroad, regional differences, health care, corruption and dependence on the car industry.

🔗 Spätné odkazy (6)