Y SOFT MY TEACHER TOLD ME
MATERIÁLY PRO UČITELE
I hated the school. It was really nothing what I wanted to do. I remember a story when my teacher told me: “Muchna, do you really believe that typing to keyboard will let you survive?” and that was, you know, their attitude. Their attitude was – typing to (a) keyboard is a work for assistant, you know, and electronics that´s the key thing but my father, he led me to programming from my, I don´t know, seven, eight years old, so I started very soon with, you know, small stupid things like drawing a small house on a screen, really, these basics. So when I came to the school, to high school in 1994, 14 years old, I was already able to do some basic programming. And then I met with this attitude so it was like, we really haven´t been good friends. I passed the school some way, I even don´t understand how, they probably neither. And then I went to university. First of all, nobody including me believed that I was able to get to the university, pass the exams. But somehow, anyway, I don´t remember and I don´t even understand how I did that, but I´ve done that and I passed the exams to Masaryk University, Faculty of Informatics. And that was the thing which led me to Brno. The reason was that at that time there were no software-oriented schools. The closest one (was) Faculty of Mathematics in Prague. But that was Faculty of Mathematics and one small part of this faculty was just about programming. But this Faculty of Informatics here in Brno was really Faculty of Informatics, software, and then you have subsequent lot of things to do. So, that´s why I came to Brno and that´s what took me here. So, I started my studies and regarding the beginning, I remember it like it would be today, 10 years ago, more than that – 12 years ago, I needed some cash, you know. Parents didn´t feed me enough, it was good just for dormitory and basic living but I needed something more. So the time has come to do some work for living, too. And the first thing I took was a temporary job in Makro, that´s a wholesale store. And I was moving, shifting, waters, you know, cans of water during the night. The session started like 6 p.m., maybe 8 p.m., we ended like 6 a.m. in the morning. And the salary for that was 35 Czech crowns per one hour. That equals something roughly around 7000, OK, for month. I was able to do that for two and half days, or three days and after that I realized that hard work, or work with my hands wouldn´t be something to do for living. And after that I started to think: ”OK, you´re programming (have been programming) for couple of years already, why don´t you try to use this?” I tried that and it worked. The first thing was that…, my personal problem is …, I had and probably I still do have problem with authorities. So, for me it was not acceptable to be employed, so I started like a freelancer and I was doing this for two years and after that we established Y Soft company in year 2000 and… well, that was my background. Provided that, I didn´t finish the school. After three years I quit because the business went up and the opportunity from the business environment for me was simple – it was calling, it called me from the school.
Já tu školu nenáviděl. Vůbec to nebylo to, co jsem chtěl studovat. Pamatuju si, když mi můj učitel řekl: „Muchno, vy opravdu věříte, že ťukáním do klávesnice se uživíte?“, a to byl jejich přístup. Jejich přístup byl - ťukání do klávesnice je práce pro sekretářky a nejdůležitější je elektronika, ale můj táta mě vedl k programování od mých sedmi, osmi let, a tak jsem začal hodně brzo s takovýma jednoduchýma základníma věcma, jako je kreslení domečku na obrazovce, takový ty úplný základy. Takže když jsem přišel do tý školy, střední školy, v roce 1994, bylo mi čtrnáct, byl už jsem schopen dělat nějaký základní programy. A pak jsem se setkal s tímhle přístupem, takže jsme opravdu nebyli nějací velcí přátelé. Ale nějak jsem tu školu dodělal, nechápu jak, a oni asi taky ne. A pak jsem šel na vejšku. Zaprvé, nikdo včetně mě nevěřil, že bych se mohl dostat na vejšku, udělat přijímačky. Ale nějak se mi to povedlo, ani se nepamatuju a nechápu jak, ale povedlo se, a já udělal přijímačky na Masarykovu Univerzitu, Fakultu informatiky. A to mě přivedlo do Brna právě z toho důvodu, že tehdy neexistovaly žádný školy zaměřený na software. Nejblíž k tomu byla Fakulta matematiky v Praze. Ale to byla fakulta matematiky a jen malá část studia byla o programování. Ale tahle Fakulta informatiky tady v Brně byla opravdu fakulta informatiky, softwaru, a pak můžete dělat spoustu dalších věcí. Tak proto jsem přišel do Brna, tohle mě sem přitáhlo. Tak jsem začal studovat a ze začátku, pamatuju si to jako by to bylo dneska, bylo to před 10 lety nebo víc – dvanácti lety, a já jsem potřeboval nějaký peníze. Rodiče mi nedávali dost, to stačilo jen na kolej a základní věci, ale já jsem potřeboval víc. Takže přišla chvíle začít se nějak živit prací. A první, co jsem vzal, byla brigáda v Makru, to je velkoobchod s potravinama. A já jsem přes noc přenášel lahve s vodou. Směna začala v šest, možná v osm večer a končili jsme v šest ráno. A za to jsme dostávali mzdu 35 korun na hodinu. To je nějakých 7000 měsíčně, to jsem byl schopný dělat dva a půl nebo tři dny, a pak jsem si uvědomil, že těžká práce, nebo práce rukama není něco, čím bych se chtěl živit. Pak jsem si řekl: „OK, už pár let programuješ, tak proč to nezkusíš využít?“ Tak jsem to zkusil, a ono to šlo. Hlavní věc byla…, můj osobní problém je…., že jsem měl a pořád mám problém s autoritama. Takže pro mě nebylo přijatelný nechat se zaměstnat, tak jsem začal na volný noze a tak jsem pracoval dva roky a potom jsme v roce 2000 založili společnost Y Soft a…, tak, to je moje minulost. Z čehož vyplývá, že jsem školu nedokončil. Po třech letech jsem odešel, protože firmě se dařilo a příležitost na trhu pro mě byla jasná – lákala mě, a odlákala mě od školy.
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EXERCISE 1 Discuss and share your answers to the following questions: 1. What are your favourite subjects at school? 2. What are some special skills you have (in sports, the arts, working with others, technologies, studying)? 3. Have you worked at any summer job? How did you like it? Were you suited for it? Why or why not? 4. What is your interest in computers and programming? What kind of software programs are you familiar with and use? Can you imagine any new ones?
EXERCISE 2 Are these statements TRUE or FALSE? 1. Muchna’s teacher didn’t believe that typing with a keyboard will help him survive. 2. Much started with small things like drawing a small house as a opportunity to learn programming from his father. 3. No one including Muchna believed that he was able to get to the university. 4. Because his parents didn´t send him enough money, he needed something more from a job. 5. The first thing he did as a freelancer was work for Makro as a computer programmer. 6. His dormitory cost something roughly around 7000czk for one month. 7. He started working temporary jobs for two years. 8. He established Y Soft company in the year 2000. 9. After three years he passed the exams and finished school early. 10. For Muchna, the decision to work only on his business was simple – it was calling, it called him from the school.
EXERCISE 3 Listen and check which of the following words you heard in the video. 1. KEYBOARD
9. QUIT
2. SCREEN
10. OPPORTUNITY
3. DORMITORY
11. PROGRAMMER
4. PASS THE EXAM
12. QUALITY CONTROL
5. FAIL THE EXAM
13. TEMPORARY JOB
6. POCKET MONEY
14. EQUALIZE
7. GRADUATE
15. GLOBALIZED
8. FREELANCER
16. BANKRUPTCY
EXERCISE 4 Translate the following English words into their Czech equivalent.
1. KEYBOARD
9. QUIT
2. SCREEN
10. OPPORTUNITY
3. DORMITORY
11. PROGRAMMER
4. PASS THE EXAM
12. QUALITY CONTROL
5. FAIL THE EXAM
13. TEMPORARY JOB
6. POCKET MONEY
14. TO EQUAL
7. GRADUATE
15. GLOBALIZED
8. FREELANCER
16. BANKRUPTCY
PHRASE BOOK Use the vocabulary list above to develop questions you could ask the Manager in a mock interview. With a partner, take turns being the Manager. Role play asking and answering your questions.
BANKRUPTCY
A term which indicates a legal process whereby a company declares that it is unable to meet its expenses and executes steps to liquidate its assets to be divided amongst its creditors.
QUALITY CONTROL
A systém by which mechanisms are put into place to ensure the services and products of a company are standardized at a certain consistent level.
GLOBALIZED
The past tense of globalization. The term indicates an increased interconnection across national and regional borders through economical, social, and cultural interdependence.
EQUALIZED
A term used in business which acknowledges that differences in gender, social, racial and/or economic perspectives across national cultures need to be recognized and balanced so that they can be negotiated during communications for business investments and plans.
EXERCISE 5 LISTENING COMPREHENSION TEST Check which of the following sentences you heard in the video.
1. But at that time, it was like 1994, if I remember correctly, at that time there were no software-oriented schools, high schools, I mean, at all. 2. My father told me that electronics is not very useful. 3. Originally I didn´t want to go to university but it would make my parents happy. 4. And that was the thing which led me to Brno. 5. When I started living in a dormitory, the times were tough. 6. I remember it like it would be today, 10 years ago, more than that – 12 years ago, I needed some cash, you know 7. And I was moving, shifting, waters, you know, cans of water during the night. 8. The lectures at university were sometimes very boring but sometimes very interesting. 9. Their attitude was – typing to keyboard is a work for assistant, you know, and electronics that´s the key thing. 10. I passed the school some way, I even don´t understand how, neither do they.
EXERCISE 6 GRAMMAR AND SYNTAX TEST Rearrange the following sentences to reflect what you heard in the video. 1. that Muchna, keyboard really believe you typing to do will let you do survive? 2. that study the closest So thing was able to was I. 3. of, nobody First me get believed all that I was including to able to the university. 4. just didn´t me living dormitory enough, it Parents was good for and feed basic. 5. the I took job And was store a temporary first in Makro, that´s thing a wholesale. 6. went three After I because years the business quit up.
EXERCISE 7 DISCUSS, DEVELOP AND PRESENT 1. DISCUSS: What do you think about Mr. Muchna’s company name? What associations does the word ‘soft’ in the name and product line have for you? How does the combination of the Czech letter Y (why?) with English contribute to the profile and image of the company? Today, Y Soft is a globalized company. How does hearing Mr. Muchna’s story about how he got started influence your thinking about using your own personal interests for starting a new business? Explain. 2. DEVELOP: If you were going to develop a new company, what kind of name would you create? In a small group, make a list of possibilities. Select one of the names and develop a concept that represents the name. What would your new company do? How would it function? Describe in as much detail as possible. Create a logo to go you’re your name and concept. 3. PRESENT: your results to the rest of the groups. Decide which one your class like the most. As a group, decide what you will do with your new concept. Will you make designs for it? Make a business plan? Develop a blog and solicit more feedback? Will you make a mock company and try it out with your friends? 4. REFLECT: Does the name drive the concept behind the company or does the concept of the company make the name? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of creating first from a name or from a concept. After the concept stage, what would you need to do next to actualize it? 5. FOLLOW-UP: Develop the following phrases into complete sentences. Use the sentence to develop a short, first-person narrative. First of all, nobody including me believe that… And that was the thing which… I remember a story when… So the time has come to… After three years I quit because… At that time there were no…
WHILE YOU WATCH EXERCISE 2 1. TRUE, 2. TRUE, 3. TRUE, 4. TRUE, 5. FALSE, 6. FALSE, 7. FALSE 8. TRUE, 9. FALSE, 10. TRUE
EXERCISE 3 freelancer, dormitory, quit, opportunity, keyboard, equals, pass the exam, screen, temporary job
AFTER YOU WATCH EXERCISE 4
1. KEYBOARD
klávesnice
9. QUIT
odejít/ ukončit
2. SCREEN
obrazovka
10. OPPORTUNITY
příležitost
3. DORMITORY
studentská kolej
11. PROGRAMMER
programátor
4. PASS THE EXAM
složit zkoušku
12. QUALITY CONTROL
kontrola kvality
5. FAIL THE EXAM
propadnout u zkoušky
13. TEMPORARY JOB
brigáda
6. POCKET MONEY
kapesné
14. TO EQUAL
rovnat se
7. GRADUATE
promovat
15. GLOBALIZED
globalizovat (se)
8. FREELANCER
pracovník na volné noze
16. BANKRUPTCY
bankrot
EXERCISE 5 1. Muchna, do you really believe that typing to keyboard will let you survive? 2. So that was the closest thing I was able to study. 3. First of all, nobody including me believed that I was able to get to the university. 4. Parents didn´t feed me enough, it was good just for dormitory and basic living. 5. And the first thing I took was a temporary job in Makro, that´s a wholesale store. 6. After three years I quit because the business went up.
AFTER YOU WATCH EXERCISE 6 1. But at that time, it was like 1994, if I remember correctly, at that time there were no software-oriented schools, high schools, mean, at all. YES 2. My father told me that electronics is not very useful. NO 3. Originally I didn´t want to go to university but it would make my parents happy. NO 4. And that was the thing which led me to Brno. YES 5. When I started living in dormitory, the times were tough. NO 6. I remember it like it would be today, 10 years ago, more than that – 12 years ago, I needed some cash, you know. YES 7. And I was moving, shifting, waters, you know, cans of water during the night. YES 8. The lectures at university were sometimes very boring but sometimes very interesting. NO 9. Their attitude was – typing to keyboard is a work for assistant, you know, and electronics that´s the key thing. YES 10. I passed the school some way, I even don´t understand how, they probably neither. YES
