Lubosh Hanuska Jul 9, 2021:

Why don't we just use dictionaries? This topic reminds me that our profession is not going to be needed much longer. There is machine translation and there is a multitude of dictionaries. So I am told that my answer is wrong because the dictionary gives a different answer. Well...

Here is a question for those interested in the topic: Who is actually present at these classes? The lecturer? Or someone of a lower academic rank (who in Australia we call "tutor") ? I think if you answer the question honestly you will be getting closer to the right term.

Dylan Edwards (asker) Jul 5, 2021:

@ Natalia: I think "language skills" would be OK :)

Natalia Divinec Brnová Jun 27, 2021:

We had the same thing at UNI, it was called language skills - it contained academic writing, listening, speaking, and in slovak it was: "jazykové zručnosti"

Dylan Edwards (asker) Jun 25, 2021:

Thank you, Zuzana. I'm not sure why they're called "lektorské", but I get the general picture.

Zuzana Greksakova Jun 25, 2021:

I remember having these in my first years of BA. They were taught by a native speaker and we studied the actual language - basically what one learns in a public language course (grammar, vocab, etc.)

Dylan Edwards (asker) Jun 24, 2021:

Perhaps just "language practice".

Dylan Edwards (asker) Jun 24, 2021:

@ Martin. I agree it's some kind of practice or exercises. From one source I got the impression that it might include listening to the language you're studying (an interview, a news report...) and then talking about what you've heard; or giving a little talk (followed by discussion) in the language you're studying.

Dylan Edwards (asker) Jun 24, 2021:

In the dictionary I found "conversation classes" as a colloquial meaning of "lektorát".

Martin Janda Jun 24, 2021:

That's my impression too. Not sure why they are using such a weird name.
Unless there is a high risk of someone meticulously checking this, I would go for something like 'practice/exercise'.

Dylan Edwards (asker) Jun 24, 2021:

Is it about conversation classes (but perhaps broader than just conversation), "usage in practice", that sort of thing, rather than being a lecturer?