S L O V A K I A

Slovakia is one of the smallest countries in Europe and

it is situated in the heart of Europe.

The population of Slovakia is about five millions. The

capital of Slovakia is Bratislava and it lies on the

banks of the river Danube. Slovakia is divided into

eight regions - Bratislava, Trnava, Trenčín, Nitra, Žilina, Banská Bystrica, Košice and Prešov.

Our national language is Slovak. The Slovak flag is formed by three parallel stripes (white,

blue, red), and by the Slovak state emblem – double cross.

The national anthem is “Nad Tatrou sa blýska” written by Janko Matuška (1844)

You can listen to the national anthem at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UALqd8t3YxY

INTERESTING PLACES WHICH ARE WORTH VISITING

Orava castle

It is a treasure of the history of Orava and still attracts

thousands of tourists every year. This castle is situated on

112m high cliff above the river Orava, in the village

Oravský Podzámok. The first document about it comes

from the year 1267. There are still impressive exhibitions,

e.g. the Castle Chapel, the Knight´s Hall, the Picture

Gallery, the Natural Science Exhibition and many others.

Gothic Wooden Roman-Catholic Church of All Saints

It is from the 15th

century. It was awarded by the EUROPA NOSTRA

PLAQUE in 1993 and this monument

was included in the list

of European Cultural Heritage. It has

a beautiful wooden altar with patrons

of the church.

Today, the church is used only

occasionally, e.g. for weddings but its

main purpose is to serve tourists.

Dobšinská Ice Cave

Dobšinská Ice Cave belongs to the most important ice caves in

the world. Since 2000 it has been inscribed on the World Heritage

List. This cave has the glaciated part at elevations from 1,100 to

1,120 metres above the sea level, the monumental glaciations of

the Dobšinská Ice Cave persist for thousands of years at

elevations only 920 to 950 metres.

Vlkolínec

Vlkolínec is a small village situated at the foot of a

mountain in the north of Slovakia. This village is

situated in the district of the town Ružomberok in

Žilina region. It is a conservation area of folk

architecture. You can find here classical wooden

block houses typical for central Europe. This village

has been included to UNESCO World Heritage Site

since 1993.

FAMOUS PEOPLE

Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav

Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav was born in Vyšný Kubín.

He was and still is a very famous Slovak poet,

playwright, novelist, translator, lawyer, and honorary

President of Slovak Matica. Hviezdoslav is one of the

leading personalities of Slovak literature and culture

in Slovakia, he belonged to among the most important

leaders in Slovak literature. There are also many

squares, streets, a village and even a waterfall which

are named by him.

In the art, we also have an artistic competition

in poetry and prose called “Hviezdoslavov Kubin”.

Among his best known masterpieces we include:

- Letorosty I., II., III.

- Krvavé sonety

- Hájnikova žena

- Ežo Vlkolínsky

- Herodes a Herodias

Juraj Jánošík

He is considered as a Slovak legend and national

hero. He was a robber who took money the rich

people and gave it to the poor ones. He grew up in

Terchová in a solitude, in the family whose name

was repeatedly on the serf lists. According to the

Slovak folk legend Juraj Jánošík and his retinue

lived in the forests between Žilina and Liptovský

Mikuláš. According to the Polish legend he was

also looting in Poland. He was so called “Slovak

Robin Hood”. Jánošík became very famous not

only in Slovakia. He was also known in the Czech

Republic.The Poles use to call him “hero of the

Tatras”.

Ľudovít Štúr

He was the Slovak national revivalist,

politician, philosopher, historian, linguist,

teacher, writer, poet, journalist and editor.

In 1843 he codified the Slovak literary

language based on the Central Slovak

dialects. He was one of the leading

participants in the Slovak National

Uprising.

Blessed Sister Zdenka

Blessed Sister Zdenka Schellingová was a Slovak nun.

She belonged to the Sisters of Mercy Order. It was the order

of the Holy cross pursuit by the Catholic Church in the

Czech-Slovakia.

Zdenka Schellingová was born in Krivá in Orava, as the tenth

of eleven children. Her original name was Cecilia. Cecilia

decided for religious life very discreetly. In her fifteen, she

joined to the Sisters of Saint Cross Order in the Podunajské

Biskupice. She decided to dedicate whole her life to God.

E D U C A T I O N

Education is very important for all. Learning and education can be called a kind of lifestyle.

“We learn for life no for school” Seneca

Tertiary education, universities

How long do we have to study to get a certain degree?

a) You can achieve the first degree after studying 3 or 4 years – after its graduation you

get the degree baccalaureate (Bc.)

b) The second degree lasts from 1 to 3 years – after its graduation you get the degree

of Mgr., Ing., art. ...

c) When you finish the third level – after the graduation you can get the degree

of graduant (PhD.)

Famous Slovak Universities

Jessenius Faculty in Martin University of Matej Bel in Banská Bystrica

Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra University of Žilina

Which faculty can we find at Slovak universities?

Faculty of Medicine, Natural Science, Economics, Art, Philosophy, Political Sciences,

Education, Theology, Sport, Military, Agriculture.

COMENIUS UNIVERSITY

“If a human would like to become a human must be educated”

John Amos Comenius

Comenius University in Bratislava is the oldest and biggest university in the Slovak Republic.

It was founded in 1919 and it follows the university traditions of Academia Istropolitana.

Studying at the oldest Slovak university enjoys popularity with international students – more

than 2,300 students from 80 countries study at Comenius University. The university admits

about 9,000 new students every year who can choose from a rich range of several hundreds

of courses. Comenius University in Bratislava is an outstanding scientific institution.

Comenius University is also involved on hundreds of national and international scientific

projects.

Faculties of Comenius University:

- Faculty of Medicine – 1919

- Faculty of Law – 1921

- Faculty of Philosophy – 1921

- Faculty of Natural Sciences – 1940

- Faculty of Education – 1946

- Faculty of Pharmacy – 1952

- Faculty of Physical Education and

Sports – 1965

- Jessenius Faculty of Medicine – 1969

- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics – 1980

- Roman Catholic Faculty of Theology – 1990 (only in Slovak)

- Evangelical Faculty of Theology – 1990 (only in Slovak)

- Faculty of Management - 1991

- Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences – 2002

Other important facilities of Comenius University in Bratislava:

- Academic library of Comenius University

- Information technology centre of Comenius University

- Botanic garden of CU

- Comenius University press

- In the area of university, there are two tennis courts with aluminic surface

D I S A B I L I T Y

Disabled persons are persons with limitation at work caused by longstanding (at least half a

year long period) health conditions or diseases, or/and difficulties in basic activities.

Types of Disabilities:

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) identifies and defines the following categories

of disabilities:

Physical - affects a person's mobility or dexterity

Intellectual - affects a person's abilities to learn

Psychiatric - affects a person's thinking processes

Sensory - affects a person's ability to hear or see

Neurological - results in the loss of some bodily or

mental functions

Associations for the disabled:

National Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: The association which provides

support and assistance for deaf and hard of hearing children, adults, and their families.

Down Foundation: The organisation which ensures that as many children with Down

Syndrome as possible are brought up within their own families and live an independent

life.

National Autism Association: An umbrella body for the various organisations

representing the interests of autistic people and their families.

National Deaf and Blind Association : The association which represents the people´s

interests - deaf and blind disability. It offers training for sign language interpreters and

special education teachers, as well as education and therapy for deaf and blind children.

Daily life:

In everyday life we can meet a lot of disabled people everywhere. While we go out,

shopping or just climb stairs without any obstacle, people who live with disability have a lot

of difficulties with things which are common for us for healthy people. That is why we must

help them with several devices to make their lives easier.

Public places:

Our government is trying to help these disabled people to live their life in an easier way. A lot

of places such as shopping malls, businesses, doctors' offices and other public places are

adapted to the needs of the disabled people.

Furthermore every public building like schools, universities, business offices have to

provide a safe incline for anyone with a handicap to enter the buildings. Besides the

buildings it is very necessary special ramps to be placed everywhere for better entry.

Paralympics Games:

The Paralympics Games is a major

international multi-sport event involving all of

the sportsmen and sportswomen all around

the world with a range of physical and

intellectual disabilities including mobility

disabilities, amputations, blindness, and

cerebral palsy. There are Winter and Summer

Paralympics Games. They follow the

Olympics Games since the year 1988. All the

Paralympics Games are governed by the

International Paralympics Committee.

Henrieta Farkašová

She was born in May 23, 1986, in Rožňava.

She is a Slovak downhill skier and a five-fold

winner of the Paralympics Games. She is the

most successful Paralympics sportswoman in

the Slovak history. At the Winter Paralympics

Games in 2010 in Vancouver where she won

three gold medals for the visually impaired

disciplines: giant slalom, super combined and

super giant slalom. Then she won a silver

medal in downhill skiing. The fourth

Paralympics gold medal was won by her at the

Winter Paralympics Games in Sochi (Russia) in 2014 skiing for visually impaired. She also

won the bronze medal here in the slalom and the fifth gold in the giant slalom.

Ján Riapoš

He was born in September 28, 1968, in Heľpa. He is a

Slovak Paralympics athlete and a representative of the

Slovak Republic for the Paralympics Games. Among his

successes belong four gold and one silver medals. He is

our most successful Paralympics sportsman. He is also

the chairman of the Slovak Paralympics Committee and

the President of the Slovak Union of disabled athletes.

In 2005 he was declared for the Paralympics sportsman

of the decade. He is considered for one of the best

European champion in the individual table tennis in

wheelchair for last twenty years.

On the last Summer Paralympics Games in London 2012,

he achieved the greatest success when he triumphed in the individual and team category .

Business Etiquette

Etiquette is variously defined for example such as

Politeness

Consideration

Thoughtfulness

Good manners & behaviour

It is treating others as you would like to be treated with consideration, thoughtfulness &

courtesy.

Introducing people

You only have ONE opportunity to make a good first impression !

When you meet someone, shake his or her hand firmly,

look directly into his or her eyes, and say his or her name

in your mind three times.

Words present only 7% of an initial impression

Vocal quality is considered for another 38%.

The rest of 55% is any first impression based on

non-verbal perceptions of appearance and behaviour.

Handshakes

Those few seconds when you are shaking your hands is very important. It can empower or

weaken a relationship. We can recognize various types of handshake.

• Controller

• Sandwich

• Dead Fish

• Limp Fingers

The basic rules of a good handshake

Hold the person's hand firmly.

Shake web-to-web, three times maximum.

Keep eye contact.

Radiate positive aura.

Eye contact

Basic rules of introducing

• In business, introductions are

based on power and hierarchy

• Gender plays no role in business

etiquette; it does not affect the order of

introductions

• Introduce someone from your firm to a client or customer

• Introduce a junior executive to a senior executive

• During the introducing of someone tell each of the individuals' names and look at him

or her

• The way you respond to someone else's introduction is just as important as making the

introduction

• Always stand during introducing and offer your hand

Conversation stoppers

Conversation topic is very important for communication. Be very careful and ready what you

are going to talk or are talking about. That

is why do not ask about :

• religious beliefs

• financial situation

• any illness

• details about a divorce or an affair

• someone's weight, height, shoe size,

age or mental health.

• harmful gossip and telling racial, ethnic, and sexually oriented jokes

Small Talk Tips

• First, observe your surrounding you are in. Your small talk will be more effective if

you take the time to look for the best possible icebreaker.

• Stay safe.

• Ask open-ended questions.

• Make strong eye-contact, the key is to make an interest and respect.

• Be aware of your body language revealing how you really feel.

FIRST AID

When an accident happens it is very important to act very fast and mainly right. Of course, it

is very complicated and difficult when there is a lot of blood, noise, chaos and you are

under the pressure. We should avoid mistakes like dragging out a person in unconsciousness

when there is no fire or it is not necessary. We should not start saving life before we insure

vehicle or we should not provide first aid before we check breathing and other vital functions.

Assecuration of the place of the accident

Stop in a safe distance in front of the place of the accident. Then place

the warning triangle in assured clear distance ahead. Turn off the engine

of the crashed car and assure the vehicle against to movement or back

lift (do not turn back reversal car)

Life saving acts

At first we must check vital functions of the patient if he or she breaths and he or she does not

growl stop intense bleeding. We cover the open wound of chest. We ensure patency of air

passages.

Check by sight:

Breathing

Bleeding

Body position

Look and colour of face

Check by ear:

Breathing bruit

Badges of the stricken (moan, answer on the questions)

Check by touch:

Breathing movements

Pain of stricken area

Deformations

Temperature of skin, sweat etc.

How to stop powerful bleeding:

Pick up the wound above the level of the heart,

push it by fingers or put a tampon there. Then

do a treatment with a bandage and if the

bandage leaks add another layer.

Dragging out:

Drag out the wounded person only if

There is another danger like fire, falling down the hillside etc

If the person blocks helping the other wounded person

It is not able to provide first aid at that position of person

Rauket´s maneuver:

Keep in mind potential damage of spine-

beware of spine rotation. If you cannot

drag out wounded person on your own.

Taking helmet off:

Carry out in pair

First the rescuer must keep head position in the ax of the body

Second one turns off the helmet also in the ax of the body

Unconsciousness:

The wounded person does not react on the accosting or shaking.

Take out freely laying objects in mouth

Slump over his head

Push forward his jaw

Put him into stabilized position

If he or she does not breath, begin to resuscitate

Keep watching the wounded person all the time

Stabilized position:

If the wounded person breaths and we feel the heart actions (we must check it every minute)

we kneel down to the wounded person and:

Bend the leg (that one which is further from you)

We put the hand on the abdomen (again the further one)

We catch patient´s bended knee and shoulder on the other

side from us and roll him over a side

We push on the forehead and bend his head back for better

breathing

We also bend his arm in the elbow and put in under the

face

Resuscitation:

Do it if you cannot hear breathing after slumping over his head and if you cannot see

breathing movements after slumping over his head

30 times push the chest right in the middle (after 30 times there comes two in breath but it is

not necessary but in that case do not stop pushing)

Anti shock steps:

Anti shock position

Make sure that he or she is

in warmth