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Keywords: target-like use analysis; learner corpora; tense; aspect;
The English tense-aspect system has been identified as notoriously difficult for EFL learners from a variety of mother-tongue backgrounds and proficiency levels. This is due to such factors as inadequate descriptions of tense and aspect in teaching materials or differences between the English tense-aspect system and the tense-aspect systems of the learners’ native languages. This paper examines learner use of tense-aspect forms on the basis of the Bulgarian and German components of the International Corpus of Learner English. The focus of the study is on learner misuse of tense-aspect forms and the methods to measure it. The results show that both learner groups have problems with the sequence of tenses, although their accuracy rates for the individual tense-aspect forms differ.
More...Keywords: Politics of populism; Bulgaria; populist parties; party system;
Populism has become a widely discussed topic over the last decade, both in Western Europe and in East-Central Europe. Although there is not a clear definition of this political phenomenon, many scholars have tried to tackle the issue of the emergence and the success of populist parties and movements and to offer an insight into its causes and the consequences.
More...Keywords: Lithuania; Political history; Presidency; Political system;
Lithuania is an example of the balanced form of semi-presidentialism with its advantages (mainly that it restricted a concentration of power in hands of one or few leaders) and disadvantages (as it led to several institutional conflicts, even including the impeachment of President Paksas in 2004).
More...Keywords: Russia; Slovakia; European Union; nuclear power plants; broad-gauge railway;
This paper aims to evaluate and predict the impact of the Ukraine crisis on Russian economic interests in Slovakia. It argues thatthe crisis has caused a profound change of the discourse that frames EU-Russian relations. The shift from the rhetoric of integration and partnership towards the securitisation of mutual relations could have significant implications for Russian economic interests in the European Union. Over a long period, the Slovak government of Robert Fico has been successfully working on the “reactivation” of friendly relations with Russia. However, we believe that even Slovakia could be influenced by the strategic shift in discourse towards Russia that occurred at the EU level.
More...Keywords: Proliferation; Central and Eastern Europe; crisis in Ukraine;
Central and Eastern Europe, taking into account the potential impact of the contemporary crisis in Ukraine. The authors start by describing the historical attempts made by Central and East European countries to obtain nuclear weapons during the Cold War and the post-Cold War period. The main focus is on current trends, including a prediction of possible future developments. The policies of state as well as non-state actors are considered, including nationalist calls for nuclear armament. The authors conclude that the risk of proliferation in this region should not be overestimated; equally, however, certain ‘early warning signals’ should be not ignored.
More...Keywords: Adolescents' career plans; self-concept; abilities; personality qualities; potential; skills; self-concept;
Vocational choice is understood as one of the developmental tasks in the adolescence period, which has been conceived broadly in scholarly literature as the entire period of transition from childhood to adulthood. In this period, young people usually intensively think about their future, set their life goals and their occupational orientation is formed. Ifthis developmental stage shall be successful, i.e. effectively transformed into the following stage, the adolescent must keep (or establish) a positive relationship to oneself and at the same time also have a prospect of perspective positive development.
More...Keywords: Regional media; public; journalism; mass media; democracy; local media; role of media in society;
Journalism and power are intertwined in many ways. As the media reflects, mirrors, investigates, interprets and frames the power of other institutions, media organizations themselves become powerful (Eide, 2001). The role of the legal mass media is vital in every democracy, with independent media having a crucial role on behalf of citizens – to convey information about society, to facilitate public debate, and to be a watchdog on behalf of society. In addition, regional and local media have a mission to provide a voice to inhabitants located in different geographical regions. They perceive views and communicative perspectives from a regional standpoint as a vital part of their societal role (Nielsen, 2015; Mathisen, 2010).
More...Keywords: Professional development; teachers; teaching skills; new methodologies of teaching; use of video;
Profesní rozvoj učitelů je definován jako dlouhodobý proces zahrnující široké spektrum aktivit směřujících ke zlepšení dovedností a znalostí učitele. Jedná se o kurzy, školení či semináře poskytující učitelům adekvátní podporu k jejich rozvoji včetně prostoru pro samostudium. V rámci profesního rozvoje učitelů by mělo docházet k vybavování učitelů novými nástroji, jak konceptuálními, tak praktickými (Samgorinski, 2013). V předchozí kapitole jsme s oporou o sociokulturní teorie vymezili jako zdroj učení participaci člověka v různých typech aktivit (Sfard, 2016; Vygotskij, 1976). Této perspektivy se přidržíme i v této kapitole – profesní rozvoj učitelů chápeme jako bytostně sociální aktivitu.
More...Keywords: pandemia Covid-19;kryzys gospodarczy;polityka antykryzysowa;pakiety pomocowe;
Purpose: The purpose of the chapter is to assess the extent of actions taken by selected countries to reduce the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the scale of resources used for these actions. Design/methodology/approach: Models of market economy are presented andanti-crisis measures taken by Poland, Germany, USA, China and Sweden are described. The amount of money spent on these measures is also presented. Findings: Germany was the country with the largest budget expenditure to counteract the negative economic effects of the pandemic. Contrary to assumptions, Poland was not the country with the lowest budget expenditure. Germany and Sweden introduced the largest number of instruments supporting entrepreneurs.Germany’s aid package offered more support on taxes, while Sweden’s package offered more support on employment. The United States offered the narrowest aid package, which is related to the economic model adopted in this way. Originality and value: The chapter contains an analysis of anti-crisis measures (aid packages) undertaken by Poland, Germany, the United States, China and Sweden and information on the scale of financial involvement of these countries in helping entrepreneurs. There are no studies in the literature that directly compare the forms of aid used and their volume between the countries. The chapter provides data to assess countries’ involvement in combating the economic impact of the pandemic depending on their economic model. The collected data also has theoretical implications.
More...Keywords: creativity; development; contextual; facets of creation;
Creativity is a complex process with deep sources in the individual consciousness. This fascinating, human-specific process has been approached over time from several perspectives. In the first part of the paper we will describe the main theoretical approaches in the field of creativity, defining the concepts of "gifted", "talented", gifted. Among the most important concepts on giftedness that we will analyze, we mention: general models specific to the field, systemic models, contextual model and development model, through which specific concepts were redefined, which also led to the realization of psychometric tools. necessary for the scientific confirmation, through empirical data of the theses theoretically described. The development perspective emphasizes the idea of the possibility that some special qualities or intellectual qualities that the individual has from birth to be amplified to excellence by their contextual modeling, in the school, social or family environment. The analysis of the Model of the five facets of the creative process, proposed by Annette Moser-Wellman (2001) is part of a development perspective, in which, through individual effort, self-control and perseverance, a high level of creativity can be achieved. These new attitudes and skills refer to the ability to visualize, to develop and maintain an ever-awake curiosity, to transform mistakes into opportunities to discover and understand other levels of reality, to use past experience, analogy, imitation in a new pattern, relaxation and introspection, immersion in the beautiful aspects of the world, and the use of wise thinking, defined by simplicity. Finally, creativity is a process in which both innate qualities (endowment) and context (educational, social and historical) are involved, which define, meet, and support the manifestation and creative productivity of the individual. Additional means of individual development will always facilitate creativity and amplify it.
More...Keywords: myth; religion; freedom; rational man; sociable man;
Considering human definitions as mere speculations without content, Ernst Cassirer considers superfluous the assertion so old that man would be a political zoon, a sociable and rational animal. Beyond his physical or metaphysical dimension, man is a "symbolic animal", through his work, identifiable in the ethics and aesthetics of his Freedom, through cultural creation and production (languages, myths, religions, arts and sciences, etc.), considers Cassirer. As Freedom is itself a difficult concept to define, closer to the continuous action dimension of Freedom is Liberation, as a continuous evolution towards human progress, within human societies / civilizations / cultures.
More...Keywords: posthumanist; science fiction; cinema; science fiction; cinema; Frankenstein;
İnsan ve teknoloji arasındaki ilişkinin eskisinden farklı bir boyuta taşındığı bir çağda yaşamaktayız. Bu çağ, doğa ve teknolojiyle aramızda oluşturduğumuz varlık hiyerarşisinin yerinden edildiği, ideal insan ve beden tanımının sorgulandığı bir aşama zeminine ev sahipliği yapmaktadır. Birçok disiplinin bir araya gelmesiyle oluşan bu zemin “posthümanizm çalışmaları” başlığı altında tartışılmaktadır. İkinci Paylaşım Savaşından1 sonra ortaya çıkan siyasi, ekonomik gelişmeler ve toplumsal hareketler posthümanizm fikrinin oluşmaya başladığı zamanlardır. Posthümanizmin ana çıkış noktası da tam olarak insan aklının ve özelde Batı merkezli hümanizm anlayışının sorgulanması, insanın kendisi dışındaki varlıklara karşı üstünlük iddialarının reddi ve teknolojik gelişmelerin de hesaba katıldığı yeni bir aşamanın gerekliliğidir.
More...Keywords: BiH; hate crimes; criminal law; court; prosecution; prosecutor perspective; police role; penal policy;
Hate crimes, understood as offenses motivated by hatred or prejudice against a particular group, are extremely damaging because of their harmful effect on the very foundation of society and trust between communities. In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) these offenses are particularly dangerous because of their substantial potential to increase the existing tensions and negatively affect the trust building process and genuine recovery of the whole society. On the other hand, the legacy of the local war in the nineties of the last century, the existing fragmentation of the society, the dominance of collective identities and the media propagation of intolerance (and hatred) on a daily basis all contribute to the perception that in BiH society incidents motivated by hatred are not only ubiquitous, but generally accepted as “normal”. Bearing in mind how important and serious the repercussions of hate crimes may be, it is imperative to introduce comprehensive preventive measures and activities and improve criminal legislation in this area. However, the successful prosecution of hate crimes in BiH requires much more than adopting an appropriate legal framework. The efficient implementation of the legal framework and the improvement of hate crime prosecution are subject to solving a number of concrete problems. In this regard, while taking into account the existing legal framework in this field in all of the four BiH jurisdictions, this study seeks to identify the key problems that prosecutors may face in bringing charges of hatred or deciding whether to classify a crime as a hate crime, and to establish how to overcome these problems. In other words, the fundamental objective of the study is to determine the underlying issues in this area and offer recommendations that would serve as a basis for creating the necessary conditions for the successful and adequate prosecution of hate crimes in BiH. The methodological and conceptual approach used in this study differs from that of most previous analyses and studies dealing with the issue of hate crimes, especially in BiH, which have primarily focused on analysis of the legislation, its compliance with international standards, and the reasons it was introduced. This study, with its particular approach, is primarily intended for the legislative and executive bodies, the prosecution services and the police, the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC), training centers for judges and prosecutors, as well as for all experts and practitioners who deal with the issue of prosecuting hate crimes in BiH. In accordance with the specified orientation, the study first presents the conceptual and legal framework, as well as the analytical and methodological approach to the research. After this an analysis of the implementation of hate crimes legislation in each of the BiH jurisdictions is presented. In the next section of the study specific problems which prosecutors face in their practice are analyzed, and the specific structural problems that are important to the (non) prosecution of hate crimes in BiH are clarified. All of the above provide a sound basis for the final part of the study, where, together with the concluding remarks, recommendations are given for improving the prosecution of hate crimes in the BiH context.
More...Keywords: BiH; education; public legal education; law; needs; opportunities; capacities;
A number of countries in the world have initiated various programs aimed at realization of public legal education (PLE), which may be defined as systemic and continuous dissemination of information about the legal system for purpose of better understanding thereof by the citizens, building confidence in justice institutions, and better coping by the citizens in the maze of legislation, rights, and responsibilities. Education of general public about the legal system offers potentially important contribution to addressing a number of societal problems, especially improvement of the status of various marginalized and vulnerable groups. Thus, for example, the report of the UN General Secretary for 2009 emphasizes the importance of legal education for the poor as one of the necessary conditions in order to create sustainable living and eradicate poverty. This study, completed in the period September – December 2011, confirms that there is considerable need for such educational programs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some of the fundamental reasons why PLE is especially relevant for Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter BiH) are the post-conflict, transitional, and reform contexts marked by a myriad of new legal institutes and regulations, as well as the complicated network of judicial and other institutions, and often unclear competences at different levels of organization of the government in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Creating relevant programs for public legal education is especially important for young people who are usually not aware of the legislation that relates to them, or available mechanisms of exercising their rights. Research in other countries demonstrates that it is exactly the young people who are most likely to face a legal problem. In addition, it is important to keep in mind that organizing such programs is especially fitting for a group of young people, given the fact that the formal education system, encompassing the great majority of the young people, may be used for the purpose. The goal of this present research was to assess the nature and scope of current activities in public legal education, with special focus on the youth, as well as the needs and capacities for their development within the specific context of BiH. To that end, a comparative analysis of PLE programs was conducted, mainly based on secondary sources about the programs and activities in this field of public education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, countries of the region, Europe, and beyond. In that context, experiences from Canada, United States of America, and United Kingdom were especially important, for these are the countries where such programs are the most advanced. In addition, the data for assessment was collected through primary research, which included 14 interviews with the representatives of competent ministries and other governmental institutions, as well as international and domestic organizations dealing with these issues at least to a certain extent. With respect to the current situation in the PLE domain, the first thing to highlight is that most of the past efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been directed towards education about human rights, with inconsequential engagement in awareness raising and providing information and knowledge on certain judicial institutions, their powers, and roles they play in the society, as well as the legal rights and responsibilities of citizens. The analysis shows that current efforts towards public legal education in BiH are also insufficient, and that Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the countries where PLE programs are underdeveloped, though there are also substantial initiatives in this field. Some of the major problems in this domain are weak collaboration between key players, especially governmental and non-governmental sector, and the fact that projects in this area do not sufficiently encompass important aspects of the law and legal system, such as family law, employment and labor rights, social care rights, as well as available mechanisms for protection of rights. Another problem is presented by the lack of appropriate platforms for strategic partnerships between non-governmental sector and justice institutions and other governmental institutions in this area, as well as inadequate integration of PLE segments within the strategic documents of the justice sector and other sectors relevant to certain target groups (e.g. youth strategy at different levels of government). In addition to the above, another problem is presented by inadequate representation of the PLE in formal education, which lacks permanent institutional solution, continuity of education, and of educators in this field. Most of our interlocutors think that a significant problem is presented by the lack of financing or human resources for organization and coordination, as well as for the very implementation of activities aimed at public legal education and information. Implementation of such educational programs for general population is a complex task in any environment because it requires a larger number of participants and communication channels to encompass the broadest population possible. Nonetheless, according to relevant comparative experiences and available literature, in order to fulfill their purpose, PLE programs should reflect five key principles: accessibility (information should be written in plain language, and accessible to all, regardless of obstacles like cultural differences, life in isolated areas etc.), decentralization (forming of networks and partnerships among service providers in PLE at the level of the entire state improves efficiency and encompasses the majority of population), coordination, continuity, and sustainable financing. Of course, different target groups also lend themselves to different options for implementation of PLE programs. In that regard, it is estimated that these educational programs are especially easy to organize for a group of young people given their accessibility through educational institutions, as well as due to the fact that, because of their inexperience, they are exposed to additional risk. Options for development and institutionalization of PLE programs for youth are primarily identified in expansion of the existing PLE elements within the educational system (i.e. primarily civil education subjects) aiming to include as many young people as possible, and education in this field would be implemented even before they start encountering specific legal problems. In that context, it is especially important to address introduction of curriculum contents that develop competences, as well as creating interesting educational programs to entice the interest of this population. However, one should not neglect options for implementation of PLE programs for general population, such as the activities planned in various strategic documents of competent institutions, primarily those operating in the justice sector, or the potential in the domain of PLE offered by legal aid agencies, as well as the coordinated activities by non-governmental organizations. Some of the possible solutions include intensifying activities of relevant departments of various, primarily judicial institutions (e.g. public relations departments) in the domain of PLE or long-term PLE programs implemented through the media, as well as utilizing different educational mechanisms such as seminars, printed materials, free info lines etc. Examples of the best practice in the world have served us as a framework for the analysis, as well as the source of inspiration in formulating proposals for possible future steps in the domain of PLE in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Within such comparative framework, and based on the analysis of accessible sources and practices, as well as the assessment of needs and capacities for enhancement and institutionalization of PLE programs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the following recommendations were formulated: 1. It is necessary to create an appropriate framework, i.e. strategic documents, for implementation of PLE in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They should adhere to and reflect the five key PLE principles identified, and they are as follows: accessibility, decentralization, coordination, continuity, and sustainable financing. 2. It is necessary to create detailed and long-term PLE programs for the youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a broad scope of topics, and explore options for their institutionalization. An integral part those programs should include continuous evaluation systems, which would ensure that the contents correspond to expressed needs, as well as to changes in the legal system. 3. Necessary steps should be taken towards establishment of a network or partnerships between organizations and institutions that would take active part in implementation of PLE programs. 4. It is necessary to establish an appropriate resource center, where legal professionals, as well as trainers from other professions would be able to obtain required information, training, materials, and whatever they need to conduct various activities and PLE programs. 5. Scarcity of human capacities and resources for implementation of PLE programs could be overcome by establishment of institutional mechanisms to create incentives for legal professionals to volunteer in this field. Another possible solution is to focus the education on future trainers in this field, such as teachers in elementary and secondary schools, activists in various non-governmental organizations, or to engage a number of unemployed lawyers or law students from BiH universities on a voluntary basis in realization of PLE programs.
More...Keywords: Bulgarian language; Russian language; phraseology; idioms; constructions
The study examines idioms comprising predicatives and idiomatized predicative constructions as a subtype of the predicative constructions in Bulgarian. Their description is part of a typology of predicative constructions devised as part of an effort to model an ontology of state predicates. The analysis is based on the hypothesis that predicative constructions are lexical units, part of predicative structures, whose features place them on the border between morphology and syntax. These units share specific functions and semantics, and some of them are subject to lexicographic description. Data on predicative structure groups were extracted from various linguistic resources using the classification of predicative constructions in Bulgarian described in Todorova et al. (2021). The subtypes of predicative constructions with phraseological semantics – phraseologized predicative constructions and phraseological predicative constructions – are examined and discussed in light of the Bulgarian-Russian parallel examples.
More...Keywords: Croatian Literature Festivals;
The project 5 Books from Croatia is part of a new push to promote Croatian literature in a more methodical and transparent way. ‘Small’ literatures have always been less visible in the English-speaking world, trailing behind translations from German,French and Spanish. To date, English editions of Croatian authors have been the result of individual endeavours and the passion of a small number of translators and publishers with a special interest in translated literature. But while ‘big’ languages have a tradition of systematically promoting books, such as the leading publications10 Books from Holland and New Books in German, Croatian literature is still terra incognita to most publishers, editors and the broad reading public. This is hardly surprising because well-translated,representative excerpts from the best Croatian titles are neither cheap nor easy to come by.That is why we have decided to launch 5 Books from Croatia – a publication with a clear editorial conception that once per year will present four contemporary authors and one classic, a ‘forgotten gem’. The aim of the booklet is to highlight Croatian authors whose works radiate features of the country’s culture and literature but at the same time possess a timeless and universal human quality.Sizeable excerpts (around 5,000 words each) have been translated by a team of excellent translators headed by Will Firth – also guest editor of the publication – and give a vivid impression of the rich and exciting climate in Croatian literature today.
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