Article by Vita Cafnik, teacher at Cherry Tree, an English-speaking preschool in the heart of Vinohrady. There are many perks to raising a multilingual child. It’s pretty obvious that multilingualism in itself is an advantage. Being able to speak more than one language in an ever so global world is a valuable asset. However, there is more to multilingualism than what meets the eye. Many studies have revealed some amazing benefits that come from speaking multiple languages, and starting this marvelous journey from an early age, can restructure the brain for the better. So what are the advantages of raising a multilingual child? Children who speak more than one language develop higher cognitive skills: Speaking more than one language provides exercise for the brain, which works as a muscle – the more you work out, the more it “grows”. Bilingualism improves brain’s executive function, which is “the management system in the brain” responsible for directing the attention processes used for planning, solving problems, and performing a variety of mentally demanding tasks. Studies have shown that differences in brain activity related to bilingualism can be spotted as early as 11 months of age. Bilingual kids have higher memory retention Bilingual children tend...
The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union (EU) for a period of one calendar year during which it organizes a series of cultural events with a strong pan-European dimension. “When I look at the previous cities that won the competition, it had a very positive impact on everyone and I am convinced that it will also help Budějovice. The project could have a huge impact on tourism and the local economy,” explains Juraj Thoma, Deputy Mayor of České Budějovice. “From the experience of other cities that won the title in the past, it is a good idea to start preparations about ten years in advance and create a separate team fully dedicated to preparing for the candidacy,” he adds. Other towns expected to submit bids for 2028 include Ostrava, Zlín, Liberec. Prague received the title of European Capital of Culture in 2000, and Plzeň 15 years later, defeating Hradec Králové and Ostrava. Cities that have received the title in the past not only saw a high number of visitors in the year of celebration itself, but a steady increase in the number of tourists. The title leads to both increases in local business revenue and...
The Prague City Council has approved a proposal outlining the renovation and modernizing of the Smichov railway station and its immediate surrounding area. The plan was presented two years ago and has finally been given the green light to be put into action. The initial plan was to build in stages but the city has decided to complete the remodel all at once. Conceptual designs for the proposal have been released and the renovations would radically change the outdated, neglected, and crime-ridden state of the current train station. “The Smíchov terminal will be the first truly modern railway station in Prague. This is a unique project of a traffic hub, which we only know from abroad so far,” said Adam Scheinherr, Deputy Mayor of Prague in an interview with Czech Crunch. The new terminal would make travel more efficient as it would reduce transfers for passengers and connect railways, metro, trams, and buses as well as a park-and-ride car park with a thousand-vehicle capacity. The proposal states that long-distance and suburban buses will have their own designated area directly above the platform whereas city buses would park in a different, centrally located de-boarding area. The terminal and boarding platforms would...
Sultan Khamzaev, a member of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation and chief executive of the project Sober Russia, proposed to ban Czech beer on Russian territory as a reaction to the expulsion of eighteen diplomats on Saturday. In his opinion, such a measure will make Czech political groups realize that their statements and actions will have economic repercussions for the entire country. Russians, according to Khamzaev, will be able to live without a beverage, and the embargo will help reduce the alcohol consumption among the population. “In Russia, people consume about eight billion liters of beer annually, including a certain percentage of Czech beer. We need to ban it and let them consume it there themselves,” Khamzaev asserted in an interview with the radio station Moscow Speaks. A number of Russian politicians spoke out against the proposal. They consider the measure to be childish, inefficient, and potentially pernicious for Russia. “I am always very suspicious of such initiatives. What will it lead to? What does beer and all these conflicts have to do with it?” said Andrey Panferov, First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Novosibirsk Oblast. “Time will pass and everything will fall into place. And...
Viewers can see the Mayor’s Residence, New Town Hall, and Škoda Palace. On 20 April, the municipality of Prague announced the launch of a new video programme called “Prague Stops” (Pražská zastavení). This programme has been designed with the idea of showing both citizens and tourists some of the best-known yet inaccessible places in the city. Currently, there are 5 short episodes of this new series on the City’s Youtube channel. The Prague Stops programme allows people to see the Mayor’s Residence, New Town Hall, and Škoda Palace from inside. What is more, they can also learn about the history of these places as the short episodes feature speakers who comment on the buildings and their use throughout the years. Entertainment and recreation The director of the Media and Marketing Department of the Prague City Hall Jana Berková explained the idea behind the video series: “Last year we were all affected by the coronavirus pandemic and people lost many opportunities for entertainment and recreation, including the open days of municipal buildings. Traditionally, we once allowed the public to see the Mayor’s Residence, the New Town Hall, or the Škoda Lounges in the Škoda Palace. With these videos, we want to at least partially compensate the public...
The impact of the first phase of resumption of work of establishments will be evaluated, and the future reopening schedule will be presented, said Karel Havlíček, Minister of Industry and Trade. Last Monday marked the first phase of easing of previously introduced restrictions. The government decided to implement the so-called rotational learning for pupils of the first grade of primary schools. Preschoolers could attend kindergartens once again, and special schools returned to normal teaching. Children’s clothing and footwear shops, stationery stores and some services such as locksmiths, dry cleaners, and laundries had welcomed their customers for the first time in months. If the pandemic situation develops well, the government will present the plan for the reopening of other facilities. According to Havlíček, the cabinet is to wait for ten days from April 12th to assess whether the measures taken were adequate. “If the situation develops well and if the incidence goes to the key threshold that we have agreed upon – that is 100 [cases] per week for 100,000 people, we are ready to present the system of loosening of restrictions in regard to shops and services on Thursday,” Minister said. “On Thursday, the government will meet to assess the...
For most who have been infected, as well as due to stress. In addition to the classic COVID-19 symptoms of infection, there are various new manifestations of infection that have been documented in recent months. Diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal pain are often present before the onset of respiratory symptoms. If these symptoms occur, it is important to address them, especially diarrhoea as the most common serious symptom of the disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has also affected the psychological health of people, causing increased stress levels. Stress can worsen symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The response to treatment of IBS is highly individual and often not sufficient. Czech manufacturers of the enterosorbent Enterosgel discuss the methods of treating irritable bowel syndrome. Diet It is good to increase fibre intake. What is important is that it be a soluble fibre that is less fermentable, such as ispaghula or psyllium. This is the only type of fibre that has a proven effect on IBS. On the flip side, it is important to be cautious with insoluble fibres, which can exacerbate the condition of some patients. The role of food allergies has not been confirmed. For a large part of patients, it is...
Beer consumption in the Czech republic was badly affected by the coronavirus last year, the country’s brewing body said Tuesday. The amount consumed annually on average by each person in the country dropped by 7 liters to 135 liters, the Czech Union of brewers said. It´s the lowest figure since the 1960s, according to the union. Frantisek Samal, the head of the union, said up to 500 pubs were forced to close for good, and hundreds more are expected to follow suit this year. “I don’t remember a time when pubs and restaurants were in such crisis,” Samal said. The Czech Republic might be the world’s 86th largest country in terms of its population, but it ranks 19th in total beer consumption, according to the most recent Global Beer Consumption Report, published by Kirin at the end of 2020. The country’s world-beating per-person average beer consumption hit 188.6 liters in 2019, outpacing Austria, in second place, by more than 80 liters per person. Bars and restaurants were closed for months after the pandemic hit the country in March last year, while the ban on drinking alcohol in public and the cancellation of sports, cultural and other events also contributed to...
The Czech Republic’s economic level, which is based on the current purchasing power parity of a country, will rise to 88 percent of the average of 19 euro area countries next year. The Czech Republic is thus getting closer to Italy in this regard and is better off than Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Portugal, and Spain. Last year, the Czech gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in relation to the euro area was also at 88 percent, but this year it will probably fall to 87 percent. The Czech Ministry of Finance pointed out that, according to estimates, GDP per capita in current purchasing power parity decreased last year due to the effects of the pandemic in all monitored countries except Lithuania. The largest decline in GDP was recorded in southern European countries with a greater focus on tourism, especially in Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy. “Although GDP per capita in terms of current purchasing power parity in the Czech Republic probably fell last year, the relative economic level vis-à-vis the euro area might have risen slightly to 88 percent. It could be around this level in 2021 and 2022 as well,” said the Ministry of Finance. According to the Ministry’s...
A new group calling themselves Zastavme velezradu (Let’s Stop High Treason) projected the word Velezrada (Czech for High Treason) on Prague Castle, the seat of President Miloš Zeman, last night. After the publication of reports regarding the explosion at a munitions depot in Vrbětice in 2014, the public expected the reaction of the head of state. However, President Miloš Zeman, through his spokesman Jiří Ovčáček, announced that he would not comment on the situation until the end of this week. PM Babiš recently said that Russian involvement in explosions at a munitions depot in Moravia in 2014 does not constitute state terrorism. The operation was rather a botched attack on goods being purchased by a Bulgarian arms dealer. “Miloš Zeman is an agent of a hostile country that invaded the Czech Republic and killed Czech citizens. He is a traitor, and as such he can no longer be the head of the state,” points out the group Zastavme velezradu. In 2015, in a protest against President Milos Zeman, a group of artists has taken down the flag over the presidential residence in Prague and replaced it with a large pair of red boxer shorts. The radical artists said they were...
The decision was made amid a sharp escalation of relations between Russia and the Czech Republic, following the expulsion of 18 Russian Embassy employees and accusations of Russian intelligence’s involvement in explosions at arms depots in 2014. Prague authorities demand that Russian Embassy vacate an area of 5,000 square meters, currently occupied by the diplomatic mission. Before 1968, the mentioned area was a part of the adjacent Stromovka Park in Prague 7. “The Prague city council called on the Czech government to hold negotiations in a bid to bring the Russian Embassy territory to the state that preceded the Warsaw Pact forces invasion in 1968,” he tweeted. According to the Czech media, the area in question is about 5,000 square meters. The city authorities plan to plant trees and flowers in this area, as it was prior to August 1968, when a soviet military camp was deployed there. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and First Deputy Prime Minister Jan Hamacek on Saturday announced the expulsion of 18 employees of the Russian embassy in Prague, who were allegedly “officers of Russian special services.” The move came in the context of the newly leveled circumstance of the 2014 blast at the ammunition depot...
The pandemic continues but it’s not a reason not to get out there from time to time. We’ve compiled a list of some memorable spots for your adventurous days in Prague, especially on weekends. Prokop Valley Located in the southwestern districts of Prague (Barrandov), lies a whimsical valley that also has two streams flowing freely. Prokop also has a natural reserve, which is quite large and expansive. There are benches for sitting and just lurking about. Visit in on a good day during this spring, you might just be lucky enough to catch in on a quiet day without too many people around. Be sure to bring a book and a nice cup of tea. Castle Park in Dolní Počernice Dolní Počernice is an old village with some quaint and beautiful castles surrounding the area, along with some other establishments like a church, and a watermill. If you’re looking to experience that old-Europe aesthetic, coupled with a peaceful atmosphere, we recommend that you take a peek. There’s a brewery near the park, which has a takeaway option. Finish off your escapade with a visit to the Nebušická viewpoint. Get a beautiful glimpse of what’s there before finishing your trip, it’s...
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