For many of us, the process of traveling to or moving to a new country is filled with excitement and countless questions of what to expect. Our recent move to Prague was no different. Once we found out that we would be relocated from America to the Czech Republic, I immediately turned to the Internet to learn about the language, currency, and good residential neighborhoods. Everything we heard about life in Prague seemed wonderful except for that one little hiccup: speaking Czech.
Having learned French as a student, I figured picking up Czech would be easy once we moved. We were lucky enough to have language lessons provided by our relocation company, so how hard could it be to learn basic Czech, right? Besides, we kept hearing that “everybody speaks English” in Prague, so we would be fine.
It turns out we were wrong on both counts! Upon our arrival, I set out to the shops and markets armed with dobrý den, děkuji and a smile… and realized just how much Czech I needed to learn. And after my first few lessons, I started to feel more than a little desperate. Learning Czech was proving to not be an easy process after all. Should I even bother? Everyone told me it wouldn’t be worth it, after all.
After a few more months of digging into lessons, I can actually chat with taxi drivers and order at a restaurant. While I still have a long way to go, I have come to realize how rewarding it is to learn this interesting language. After speaking with my Czech teacher, Alena Kunčíková, about why so many people struggle, I compiled a list of five quick tips to help others along their Czech journey.
#1: Use the immersion to your advantage
No matter how hard Czech may seem, the beauty of living in Prague is that we are constantly surrounded by the language – in the metro, at the farmers markets or just at the grocery store. While it can be tempting to shut down our brains at the overwhelming influx of such an unknown language and just pay attention to those people and businesses speaking our own language, it’s worth it to keep your eyes and ears open every day!
Think of Prague as your Czech classroom – take advantage of the endless opportunities to reinforce your language lessons. Try to read at least one word on every sign you encounter, or understand at least one word you overhear of a conversation. Even if you’ve just learned the days of the weeks and the words for the numbers 1-20, you’ll be amazed at how often you can apply your knowledge to read simple street signs, advertisements or restaurant menus.
The first time I overheard a conversation on the Metro and I could actually pick out a few words (možná– maybe, maminka – mother, náladu– mood), I felt a joy as if I had cracked an indecipherable code! After that, it became much more fun to keep my eyes and ears open to pick out the words that I knew.
#2: Start off with more frequent classes in the beginning
If you’re lucky enough to have a Czech teacher, ask if you can take more hours per week when you begin. It might feel painful to give up so much of your time to learn such a tough language, but the increased frequency means that you will build upon each day’s knowledge gradually and avoid forgetting any “lightbulb” moments from your most previous class.
If you are not interested in paying for Czech lessons, see if you can find a conversation partner who is also interested in learning your native language. You can exchange an hour or two of conversation each week, become more confident in using Czech, and maybe even gain a new friend in the process!
#3: Learn useful phrases before grammar
Anybody that has gone through the process of learning Czech can agree that the seven cases – nominative, accusative, demonstrative, etc. – can be overwhelming at first. How are we expected to order sparkling water in a restaurant with confidence when you have to remember how to change the endings of two words just because it’s an “accusative” sentence?
That being said, the best advice I received when starting my Czech journey was to set aside the grammar rules at the beginning of the process, focusing instead on memorizing phrases and basic numbers important for everyday interactions. While this is not a sustainable mindset for the long haul, it will give you the ability to make basic conversation in the city in which you live. Having one successful interaction in Czech with a shopkeeper will then provide the positive energy and confidence that you need to head into your next language lesson with enthusiasm!
#4: Pay attention to the symbols
From the carrot (hačeks) to those countless slanted dashes (čárka), sometimes a short Czech word can look more like hieroglyphics with all of the symbols on top of the letters. It’s so tempting to just ignore those pesky scribbles when first memorizing words or learning to read a sentence. But staying focused on what each symbol does to the pronunciation of the letter will go a long way in helping you comprehend spoken Czech, and of course, also help you with your own pronunciation.
#5: Keep a positive attitude – you can do this!
There’s no doubt that the biggest enemy in learning a new language is usually ourselves. After just a few months of living in Prague, I lost count of how many times I was told to “not even try to learn Czech” by other expats and even Czech people!
The thing is, they had a point. It is a very difficult language to pick up, especially for those of us with a background in romance languages like French or Spanish. Combine the tricky pronunciation and sentence structure with the fact that Czech people are unaccustomed to hearing foreigners try to speak their language, and attempts to pick up phrases can quickly become demoralizing.
If you can set aside the “this is pointless” mindset and approach each lesson as an exciting opportunity to learn, you’ll be amazed at how much more likely you are to pick up phrases and new vocabulary.
Keep in mind that it is useful to learn Czech. Research shows that learning a new language gives our brains vital exercise and prevents dementia and memory loss, much like playing an instrument or practicing those Sudoku puzzles. A basic understanding of Czech will also unlock other languages for you in the future – Slovenian, Polish, Slovak – making your travels and conversations even more rewarding.
Most importantly, understanding the language will enrich your everyday life, allowing you to chat with new friends, learn about upcoming events and stay tuned into the news of the day.
Whether you are a fluent Czech speaker or just beginning, I hope these tips are helpful in your own language-learning journey!
Debbie Pappadakes used to live in Prague and enjoyed IWAP life to the full and took the time to learn about Prague and its history. She also enjoys cooking, reading and travel.
