I started teaching Czech to foreigners in 1997. Since 2013, I have been at home with my son — first on maternity leave and later homeschooling him. Now I am getting back to teaching Czech, bringing with me almost 30 years of experience, as well as everything I have learnt through homeschooling.

My approach to teaching is essentially the same as it was at the beginning: I want to make Czech as easy, enjoyable, effective and practical to learn as possible. But over the years, my approach has evolved and been enriched by my experience of homeschooling.

I have mainly specialised in one-to-one lessons for complete beginners and lower-level students. I like helping students build a strong foundation and making sure they really understand and can use what they learn.

From the very beginning, I have created my own teaching materials. I wanted to find ways of explaining Czech that were clearer, easier and more enjoyable than what I found in existing textbooks.

Some of my materials and exercises were published in 2012 as Čeština extra – Your Guide to Basic Czech Grammar. Students especially liked the simple and clear explanations of grammar, the way grammar was always put into context and looked at from different angles, and the practical exercises using natural Czech that they could actually hear in everyday life. The book also included audio keys, so students could check their answers by listening.

In 2008, I founded Český blog pro cizince, a blog written entirely in simple Czech for learners. It helped hundreds of people learn Czech by showing grammar and vocabulary in context, while also introducing them to Czech culture and everyday life in the Czech Republic.

Today, I am building on these two projects and bringing what I have learnt since then into a new way of teaching Czech.

My students often appreciate that I am thorough and that I explain things in a simple, clear and visual way. I don't just go through exercises in a textbook and tick them off. I want to make sure that my students really learn what they need and, most importantly, that they can actually use it.

I am also very attentive to each student and their individual needs. I can tell when someone is tired, overwhelmed or needs a change of pace, and I adjust the lesson accordingly. I know how to introduce new things gradually, without giving students more than they can comfortably take in.

And, perhaps most importantly, I get my students talking. Even students who are initially shy or afraid of making mistakes start speaking a lot during my lessons. 

My goal is for the Czech we practise to become natural and automatic, so that students can use it without having to stop and think about every word or grammar rule.

I prefer to speak Czech with my students as much as possible. At the same time, I have learnt many other languages myself — English, German, Italian, Russian, French, Spanish, Dutch and Turkish — so I know from personal experience what it is like to learn a foreign language and what can be difficult for learners.

I believe there isn't just one right way to learn a language. Different students need different kinds of support, so I offer several ways of learning Czech.

• Option 1: Regular lessons (best for beginners)
  We meet regularly in person or online. I use pictures, conversation cards, visual prompts and carefully designed activities to help you start speaking from the very beginning. Each lesson has a clear structure and focuses on practical Czech.
• Option 2: Guided self-study + feedback
  You study whenever it suits you using my videos, listening activities and exercises. Then we meet for a short online call or in person, where I give you individual feedback, correct your speaking or writing, and help you overcome the difficulties you actually have.

Communication comes first
Instead of following a textbook chapter by chapter, we start with the topics and situations that matter to you: introducing yourself, work, family, shopping, travelling, hobbies, or anything else you want to talk about.

Grammar is not the goal — it is a tool. We learn and practise the grammar you need in order to communicate naturally and confidently.

Send me a message or give me a call and we can arrange a meeting. We can talk about your needs, what you want or need to learn, what you would like to be able to do in Czech, and what is currently difficult for you.

Based on our conversation, I will suggest a way of learning that could work well for you, and we can agree on the details together — whether we meet online or in person, how often and for how long, and how much you would like to study and practise on your own between our lessons.