Our Czech teachers
Jana
Teaching Czech language since: 2005
Education and Certificates: Czech Philology and Teaching at Secondary Schools, Baltic Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno (completed with the M.A. title). Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking – intensive course for teachers. International House Certificate in teaching 1-2-1 (individual courses). Experiential Learning Methods – methodology course, Prázdninová škola Lipnice. Member of the Czech as A foreign Language Teachers’ Association. Course of logopaedic prevention of children and pupils. Certified teacher of Yoga for preschool children. Courses of teaching Czech and English in Elementary schools with Montessori programme.
Why are you teaching Czech for foreigners?
I like showing foreigners the beauties of the Czech language, which we can be really proud of. Thanks to teaching, I have learnt a lot about my native language.
What is your favourite activity in class?
I like working with texts, especially with short stories and tales. It may seem boring to some people but text activities can be very interactive and a student can really enjoy them!
If you could teach a foreigner one Czech word/phrase, which one would you choose and why?
“Děkuji” because this short word makes other people feel appreciated and respected.
What motivates you to do your best as a teacher?
The progress of the student. It is a great feeling when you have a new student who can’t say anything in Czech and after a few months he/she speaks only Czech with me. There are many myths about how difficult Czech is but I don’t agree with them. Of course, it depends which level you want to master butif your goal is just to communicate in Czech, with good motivation and good learning methods you can manage it quite quickly.
What do you like doing in your free time?
Being with my family :) I love Scandinavia and the best relaxation for me is to disappear for a week or two to a Finnish forest. I also like reading books, doing yoga practice, playing piano, swimming, riding a bike, driving a car and flying:)
What would you do if you weren’t a teacher?
I would be a teacher:). I must teach, at least a few hours per week.
What would you tell those who hesitate to choose Study Czech Language school?
Stop learning about the Czech language with others, learn the Czech language with us!
Staňka
Teaching Czech language since: 2002
Education and Certificates: Czech and English Philology and Teaching at Secondary Schools, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno (completed with the M.A. title). Teacher’s Training Methodology course modeled on CELTA. International House Certificate in teaching 1-2-1 (individual courses). International House Certificate in teaching Young Learners. International House Certificate for teaching Business courses.
Why are you teaching Czech for foreigners?
It’s wonderful to see foreigners interested in the Czech language and it’s great that they don’t insist on using their mother tongue or English here, but they make an effort to learn about the culture and the language of the country they are staying in.
What is your favourite activity in class?
Eliciting words and phrases students know. And stories about how they got to know the words (e.g. one of my beginner students came to the first lesson with knowledge of: mrož/walrus, liška/fox, šiška/pinecone etc.)
If you could teach a foreigner one Czech word/phrase, which one would you choose and why?
I was trying to come up with some fabulous word, but I’ll go for the obvious one: “pivo”. Not only because we are called the nation of “beer-drinkers”, but also because it’s practical for further learning. Meeting in pubs and starting a conversation is probably the best way to bring the language to life. (But students usually know this word by the time they get to the first lesson; they usually don’t have to be taught that.)
What motivates you to do your best as a teacher?
The enthusiasm of students.
What do you like doing in your free time?
Dancing, meeting friends, walking in the woods, ikebana flower arrangements.
What would you do if you weren’t a teacher?
A florist, a dancer or an actress.
What would you tell those who hesitate to choose Study Czech Language school?
Forget about boring lessons. We bring real life to class!
Jana
Teaching Czech language since: 2022
Education and Certificates: Czech for foreigners + Czech language and literature + Baltic studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk university in Brno (completed with the M.A. title)
Barbora
Teaching Czech language since: 2009
Education and Certificates: Czech Philology and Teaching at Secondary Schools, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno (completed with the M.A. title, Ph.D. studies continues). Member of the Czech as A foreign Language Teachers’ Association.
Why are you teaching Czech for foreigners?
I had always dreamed about teaching languages. Finally I chose language which I like and know best – mother tongue. In 2009 I stopped just dreaming of it and started to teach.
What is your favourite activity in class?
My favorite activity in the class is listening, but I do not mean listening to CDs or making up a dialog or a monolog, but to the stories of my students. Thanks to this I can notice their progress, I can meet their needs, find out what they like and then I have ideas for next lessons and for new vocabulary.
If you could teach a foreigner one Czech word/phrase, which one would you choose and why?
One of my students told me that the most useful words in Czech are “no” and “jo”, even the combination “no jo”. You can respond this to every question. I agree, but if I could choose only one, it would be a phrase Promiň, promiňte. In English excuse me, I am sorry.
What motivates you to do your best as a teacher?
There is not only one thing. It is a combination of interest, enthusiasm of students, their progress, atmosphere in the classroom. Meeting people from different countries around the world of different ages with different reasons for studying Czech, willing to speak or speaking Czech without help of any other language are the most important reasons why I teach. It makes me think there are no borders, you just have to want, you just have to find the will and then you can do anything. This motivates me not only in my job, but even in my personal life.
What do you like doing in your free time?
My free time consists of meeting friends, doing sports, participating in culture events in Brno and learning languages. But the best way to relax for me is to spend a couple of days in the mountains!
What would you do if you weren’t a teacher?
I would love to work as a tourist guide. In my point of view the job of a guide and a language teacher has a lot in common. In both fields you have something beautiful, such as historical places for travelling, some set phrases for teaching, and your job is to show it to the people who are motivated to listen. Such a great job, isn´t it?
What would you tell those who hesitate to choose Study Czech Language school?
With us you will definitely make the right decision, because we encourage our students to speak Czech, and they really do!