Social Commentary - The Election 2013

The Parliamentary election was the topic number one during this weekend. We were voting new representatives who are going to form a government.

We can’t say that election ended up badly, because it would mean that democracy is no good and it is not true. I think that this election gave all politicians a bloody nose.

The purpose of this election was a change. People wanted to change conditions and intellectuals wanted to revive democracy because it fell into bad ways during last years. As I see it, almost all Czech people were annoyed and discontented with the situation in the Czech Republic.

Who won the election? In my point of view, the winner is Andrej Babiš and his ANO 2011. Only two-years-old party achieved almost impossible and fantastic achievement – a little less than 19 per cent and 45 mandates. It’s clear that Czech people think that this is the change that they need.

The results of election destroyed the dream of ČSSD about dominant victory because the real result is worse than the one in 2010, when they received about 22 per cent.

Finally, it is interesting that ZEMANOVCI, the party that was established by our current president Miloš Zeman, experienced election debacle because of conflicts within the party. Maybe it is also the opinion of Czech nation about Zeman’s rule.

Moreover, ODS received only less than 8 per cent which is a huge slump because it is the smallest number of votes since their establishment. It is probably the reaction on the scandal of Petr Nečas that showed how much is the party corrupted.

The Film Review - Diana

Almost everyone knows Lady Diana, the princess of Wales, however, only few people know her as an ordinary woman. This film is not a classical biography film because it deals with the last two years of her life, when she left the royal family and her life in Buckingham Palace. These two years were filled with charitable work, new will to live and new relationship with surgeon Khan.

It sounds like an ordinary romantic film. However, it is built on poor dialogues and on the fact that two people are arguing and being reconciled all over the time. This makes the film boring and finally it has no emotional effect.

Moreover, this film should be biographical, so I expected some political or biographical facts. But there are only few moments concerning Diana’s charitable work and almost no moments concerning royal family.

In fact, it is difficult to believe that this film has the same director (Oliver Hirschbiegel) as Downfall: Hitler and the End of the Third Reich, which was nominated for Oscar.

On the other hand, Naomi Watts, who plays the part of Lady Diana, portrayed Lady Di very well so at least one point is all right.   

However, in my point of view this film is a huge wasted potential. It could show why the whole world loved Lady Diana, but it became one of the most useless films of this year.

Me and English

When I was thinking about my English experience I realised that I have been studying English for 12 years now! I was really surprised and I have to say that it is quite sad that my knowledge of English isn't at a higher level now.

Well, my first contact with English dates from a nursery school. I remember that I had a very good teacher and we learnt how to express colours, family or parts of our body in English. At that time learning English was amusing and our teacher always thought up a new entertaining game for us. 

Then I met English at a primary school. We had a lot of different teachers and learning English became more difficult but still we played some games and especially at first school it was still fun. After few years we started to learn tenses and more complex vocabulary so we could express more thoughts in English.

Then I studied at a grammar school. English became much difficult and teacher’s primary goal was to prepare us for maturity exams so we started to practise reading, listening and speaking skills. However, there were almost 30 students in our class so I had only few chances to speak. Moreover, other schoolmates didn’t keep attention and made a lot of noise so I could never hear the listening exercises. It partly caused my current problems with listening and speaking skills. 

After I successfully graduated I started to prepare for entrance exams to the University of Pardubice where I wanted to study English for business. It was difficult and when I finished the test I was sure that I won’t be admitted. However, later that month I celebrated my admission to the University. 

And now I’m studying at this university second year and it’s really difficult for me, but I like it because it is one huge challenge and I have good friends here. And that’s my English history.

I always liked English. It is very melodic language and I was happy when I realised that I understand to songs or some English phrases from films. It made me feel special because not everyone can do this.  Moreover, I like traveling so I need to be able to communicate with foreigners. I love Britain as well because it is gorgeous country full of historical sights, new modern monuments and beautiful landscapes. I really want to spend some time in Britain.

However, as I said previously I have certain problems with listening skills. I understand to people who speak English but I don’t understand to records from radio during the lessons. Moreover, I am a quite shy person so I am afraid of speaking before people. When I am alone I speak quite well, but when I speak during to another person I’m not able to express what I want to say… And I usually realise that I can’t express my thoughts because I don’t know an English word or phrase – it annoys me a lot.

I am trying to improve my skills and I am sure that they are slowly improving, but still it is not enough.

About me

Hello! Welcome to my university blog.

My name is Monika and I’m ordinary girl from ordinary small village near Chrast, but during the academic year I live in Pardubice where I study at local university. As I said previously, I’m ordinary, but there is something that makes me a little bit different from other girls at my age – I’m a dancer. Now it is five years since I have tried dancing and have fallen in love with it. I started as a ballroom dancer but today there’s lack of dancers so I have no partner. It made me think what to do without a dancer? So I’m trying Latino and Jazz now and it seems to be fun as well.

And there is another thing that makes me a little different – I have six siblings. It means that there is noise, chaos and muddle everywhere in our house. Sometimes it’s like the series of Step by step! But it’s fine that there is life in our house every day – it would be a little bit weird for me to be alone at home.

What else? Well, I also help my mother with the organization called “Křídla pro pěstouny” which is the organization for those who have children in foster care. I prepare games and competitions for kids and a program for foster parents. I like it because they are grateful and children, whose lives were hard, are happy.

In my free time I’m very creative person – my room and house are full of my products. So I’m never bored.

I think that there is nothing else important... I like music, books, nature and animals like everyone in my surrounding  …so that’s me.