08/10/2025
🇨🇿 Meet Adéla, one of our amazing Czech tutors at Czech Courses!
We asked her a few questions about teaching Czech — and her answers are just too good not to share. 💬
1️⃣ How long have you been teaching Czech?
I started teaching Czech 15 years ago when Czech Courses first opened its doors. Then I took a maternity break (because babies are demanding little language learners themselves), and I've been back in the classroom for the past 4 years.
So all in all, I’ve spent quite a bit of time explaining why Czech has seven cases and watching students’ faces when they realize I’m serious. 😅
2️⃣ What topics can be challenging to explain at A2 level?
Declensions are definitely the monster under the bed for most students, but honestly, they're not the biggest deal. If you mess up an ending, we’ll still get what you’re trying to say.
But verbs? Now that’s where the real drama happens! Use the wrong tense or person, and suddenly you’re telling me you were a cat instead of you have a cat. Big difference! 🐈
Aspect (vid) is the real troublemaker that follows students from A2 all the way up. It’s a completely new concept — their languages express completed actions differently, so wrapping their heads around perfective vs. imperfective verbs is like learning to juggle while riding a unicycle. 🤹♀️
And here’s a quirky one: students constantly struggle with phrases like “jsem pozdě” (“I am late”) or “ona je 20” (“she is 20”).
Even advanced students — bright, talented people — sometimes insist on saying “mám rád odpočívám” instead of “rád odpočívám.” It’s like a universal student glitch!
And don’t get me started on “mám 2 kočky” vs “mám 5 koček” — students look at me like I personally betrayed them when they learn the ending changes based on numbers.
"You mean the ending changes because of HOW MANY cats?!"
Yes, my friend. Welcome to Czech. 🐾
3️⃣ Are there any Czech words your students tend to use wrong as “false friends”?
Classic false friends strike all the time, but most mistakes are more like direct translation disasters. The whole “I am late” / “jsem pozdě” thing is a constant battle, as is “she is 20” / “ona je 20”.
If we’re talking actual false friends, watch out for words that look familiar but mean something totally different in Czech — like “aktuální” (current, not actual) or “prezervativ” (leads to some hilariously awkward moments when students talk about food preservatives).
4️⃣ What do your students love most about life in Prague?
They rave about the low prices (well, lower than in Western Europe anyway!), the excellent public transport (trams are basically a religion here 🚋), and of course — the beer. 🍺 Cheaper than water and better than most fancy craft brews? Students are living their best lives.
But here’s what surprises me every time: they also say Czechs are nice! I know, I know — we have a reputation for being grumpy, but students insist that once you break through the initial reserve, Czechs are warm and helpful. Who knew? ❤️
5️⃣ What do you personally like most about being a tutor at Czech Courses?
Honestly? I love meeting new people constantly. Every class brings a fresh mix of cultures, perspectives, and stories. I learn about their countries, their languages, their weird food combinations (why do some people put pineapple on pizza? Still investigating 🍍).
Teaching keeps me on my toes. Students ask the most wonderfully bizarre questions like:
"Why does Czech have a word for ‘the day after tomorrow’ (pozítří) but English doesn’t?"
or
"Is there a logical reason for verb aspect, or did someone just make it up to torture us?"
Every day is different, every student brings something new, and there’s nothing like that moment when a concept finally clicks and you see their face light up. That’s the good stuff right there! ✨
P.S. If any of my students are reading this:
✅ Yes, you still need to learn all seven cases.
❌ No, I won’t make exceptions.
✅ Yes, I know it’s hard.
❌ No, complaining in perfect Czech grammar won’t get you out of homework. Nice try though! 😄
