Slovenian Cultural Contribution to
the European Family – a Glimpse
Marjana Finžgar
Izobraževalno Razvojni Center Ljubljana, Slovenia
(the Centre for Education and Development)
&
Miloša Gogala
Secondary School of Trading, Slovenia
ABSTRACT
We are presenting some typically Slovene features and points of interest in the form
of a questionnaire with different hints of how to use the material in the classroom
situation.
Our aim is to practice conversation and acquire new vocabulary and information.
This is just a small part of the programme we are developing for Slovenian secondary
schools in which we are raising the awareness of our cultural and natural heritage.
Lake Cerknica is one of the several natural phenomena – it vanishes every summer
and appears again in autumn. There are fairies and witches living there and only the
chosen can meet them. Shirley Roden, the English singer – songwriter, dedicated one
of her songs entitled 'The Vanishing Lake' to this amazing phenomenon.
We are going to use a special 'pair poems' technique with this song: each person in
pair gets the poem with different lines omitted, tears every separate line in part A and
puts the lines together with the partner, who has part B. Afterwards we listen to the
song together and watch the pictures of the lake.
Yet another idea that our students love: a questionnaire about Slovenia that
illustrates different areas of our history and civilisation. After doing this, the
questions and answers are put on separate cards, which can be used as a memory
game. The questionnaire that Slovenian students will get is of course much more
difficult than the one that is used for groups of foreign students who have come to
explore our country.
PRESENTERS INFORMATION:
1. MARJANA FINŽGAR
-
IRC (Razvojno Izobraževalni Center, Ljubljana, Slovenia), Šmartinska
106, 1000 Ljubljana
-
marjana.finzgar@guest.arnes.si
-
+386 420 21 067 (home)
-
Tavčarjeva 28, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia
-
SIETAR membership- no
2. MILOŠA GOGALA
-
Secondary Schoool of Trading, Kranj, Slovenia
-
milosa.gogala@guest.arnes.si
-
+386 423 34 161 (home)
-
Jaka Platiše 11, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia
-
SIETAR membership – no
SESSION LENGTH AND FORMAT:
A workshop – 90 minutes
A BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ABOUT EACH PRESENTER:
Marjana Finžgar
(Slovenia)
She has a degree in English and French from the Faculty of Arts and a post-graduate
degree of Slovene-English translating at the University of Ljubljana.
She taught English at Grammar School and Secondary School for Textiles in Kranj for 30
years; she has been retired for two years but continues teaching, now she teaches business
English at the business college IRC in Ljubljana. She has never taught French in all these
years, but is making up for it and is getting ready to assist a colleague at a private language
teaching school.She is a member of the ‘matura’(‘baccalauréat) assessment group in Slovenia.
She has participated in several IATEFL conferences in Slovenia, Malta, UK and Ireland
with her presentations. Together with Miloša Gogala they gave a presentation at the NIC
conference in Göteborg, in 2003.
All her presentations so far have been oriented towards, or influenced by, neurolinguistic
programming.
TARGET AUDIENCE
All.
Areas of professional interest:
Education
Grammar or secondary education
Domestic diversity
Culture/country specific
EQUIPMENT & AUDIO VISUAL REQUIREMENTS
Overhead projector
Slide projector
Flip chart
Cassette player
ROOM SIZE & SET-UP
Boardroom style
SESSION DESCRIPTION
1. Introduction
We are presenting some typically Slovene features and points of interest in the form of a
questionnaire that the audience is asked to complete. In the second part, when the answers are
given, we will try to involve the participants by eliciting their own comment of their
experience, thus enabling some intercultural comparison and exchange of views. We are
going to create the atmosphere not only with the discussion, but also with the help of visual,
auditory, olfactory, and gustatory resources.
2.The questionnaire
The participants are divided into groups of two/three/four, depending on their number.
Groups of mixed nationality are welcome and we expect some brainstorming here. Each
group appoints a spokesperson who will report. While looking for the right answer, they
comment on: something they found interesting or surprising; something they need more
information about; something that is the same/different in their country; a typical reaction to
something in their country; a tradition……..
The task is in the form of multiple choice answers, like for example
1- What is the name of the typically Slovene wine?
a- Cabernet
b- Cviček
c- Merlot
d- Schilcher
3.Results
The answers will be projected on the wall with more informative material and followed by
discussion. We will produce some Slovenian music, introduce some typical Slovene food, and
remember some old folk tradition. We have gathered comments from people of different
nationalities living in Slovenia on our way of life and our mentality, especially our
willingness to accept people with different mentality from our own. They told us what they
like in our country and what they do not particularly like or find difficult to adapt to. Our
national character might appear different to others than it appears to us, so these encounters
help us learn something more about us.
4.Additional activities
Depending on how long and interesting the exchanges will be, we have some more
material in stock, like for example presenting the natural phenomenon of the lake Cerknica,
which vanishes every summer to reappear with the autumn rains. The British singer and songwriter Shirlie Roden’s song ‘The Vanishing Lake’ will be presented in one of the possible
ways to introduce lyrics in the classroom. The activities involve listening, reading, working
with a partner, comparing, combining, perhaps also singing. With all these we would
hopefully arouse some interest in the lake Cerknica and spend some pleasant time occupied
with music.
We all learn more and better in a relaxed atmosphere. After doing such an exercise, our
students can produce the game called ‘memory’. On small cards they write questions and
answers or new words and translations respectively. When they have done it, they can mix the
cards, turn them face down on a flat surface and start playing the game. It is one way of
remembering things without the feeling of constraint.
PRESENTER’S CURRICULUM VITAE
Marjana Finžgar
Tavčarjeva 28
4000 KRANJ
Date of birth: 03/11/1942
Slovenian
Married
SCHOOLS
1949-1953 Primary School in Kranj
1953-1961 Secondary School, Grammar School in Kranj
1961-1966 Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana, Diploma of French and English language
JOBS
1968-1970 Translator with a business company
1970-2003 English teacher in grammar school and technical school
2003Teaching in private schools, translating
HOBBIES
foreign languages, travelling, meeting people, music, gardening
3.Co-presenter information
1.Miloša Gogala
2.The Secondary School of Commerce Kranj
3.Milosa.gogala@guest.arnes.si
5.Tel. 0038642334161
6.Jaka Platiše 11, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia
7. No membership
8.Previous IATEFL presentations- Slovenia- How Well do I Know You, 2003 in Ljubljana,
NIC- How Do Foreigners Feel In Slovenia,2003 in Goteborg, Sweden; IATEFL-How to Use
Both Sides of Your Brain Effectively, 1998 in Ljubljana; IATEFL-Stimulating Teaching and
Learning Activities, 1999 in Malta; IATEFL-Think Colour, 1999; IATEFL Dublin-Four
Different Hats, 2000.
5.A 150 word biographical note
Miloša Gogala has taught English to students of 15-20 years old, at the Secondary School of
Commerce in Kranj for 14 years. She has actively taken part in several international
conferences with Marjana Finžgar in Slovenia and abroad.She has travelled widely
throughout the world in Europe, Asia and the USA.
She has 3 daughters ranging from 5-14 years who can speak English as their second language.
She has been talking to them in English since they were babies and they have managed to pick
up English 'naturally'.
10. Co presenter biography or curriculum vitae
Name Miloša Gogala
Address Jaka Platiše 11
4000 Kranj
Slovenia
Phone 0038642334161
Email milosa.gogala@guest.arnes.si
Profile A highly motivated, well travelled, and enthusiastic teacher, with practical experience
of working with teenage children from 15- 20 years old.
Education Grammar School Kranj
Faculty of Arts
BA English Literature and Librarianship
Work Experience May1991 started working as a teacher of the English language at the
Secondary School of Commerce
Interests The English language, dancing, going to mountains and travelling
References One of my main interests is the English language and everything revolving
around it. I together with Marjana Finžgar have given several presentations at international
conferences in Slovenia and abroad. In the last two years I have been involved in the British
Council project writing and piloting materials for English literature. I also run courses for
business men.
I have travelled widely throughout the world, in Europe, Asia and the USA.
I have three daughters who are five eleven and fourteen years old and they all speak English
fluently. I have been talking to them in English since they were babies so they picked up
'naturally'.