Tako Lako, which translates into English as It’s So Easy, is a free online textbook intended for beginner university-level language learners of Croatian. The textbook aims to develop intercultural communicative competence and builds upon current research on culture teaching in the foreign language classroom. The website is meant to be used primarily in an instructor-led course. However, the textbook also offers segments for independent student practice (grammar and vocabulary practice). Below you will find more detailed instruction and an overview of the website and textbook materials.
BEGINNER-LEVEL Textbook Material
A link to the beginner-level textbook (Tako Lako) is available in the top right corner of the website and opens in a new window.
The homepage of the Croatian textbook features ten units at a glance. Each unit is depicted by an image carefully designed to represent social aspects and every-day life in Croatia, and is organized around a specific topic focusing on cultural components.
Clicking on the image associated with a specific unit directs the user to a general overview of the unit. This component provides instructors and learners with information about the goals of the unit. It includes six tabs that offer detailed descriptions of the topics covered in each lesson, the objectives to be achieved by the end of the unit, an outline of communicative abilities, and an outline of the language components involved (see example: Unit 6).
The navigation bar on the left-hand side of the textbook provides quicker access to all ten units (labeled numerically 1 to 10) and their corresponding lessons. Learners can also access the Resources tab (most important pages that already appear on the main Tako lako website) through the navigation bar. Check the Textbook Structure section for more information.
TOPICS IN “TAKO LAKO” TEXTBOOK
The topics covered in Tako lako are carefully crafted to be relevant in today’s world. The topics are meaningfully contextualized with the learners’ personal experiences in mind and geared toward stimulating conversation and encouraging engagement. Some of the topics include music and film interests, travel habits, family relations, behaviors in public spaces, and traditional cuisine. Although some topics may be sensitive or personal, the textbook always offers options for learners so that all may participate and contribute comfortably and without exclusion.
LEARNERS’ REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE
Language learners follow a story of six local and two visiting U.S. students in Croatia over a 10-month period that corresponds to the learners’ academic year of learning the language. The story unfolds simultaneously with the learners’ real-life experiences, meaning that the time frame in the textbook aligns with the period during which learners are exposed to the story. This synchronization provides language learners with a sense of authenticity, allowing them to better connect with the narrative. By immersing themselves in these characters’ lives and the situations in which they find themselves, language learners gain valuable information on everyday life in Croatia and insight into how the language is effectively used in a variety of situations and contexts.
Read more under Textbook Characters.