CzechClass101.com Blog

The title sounds almost funny, doesn't it? However, listening to the funeral-like tune and “strange,” old-fashioned words and expressions certainly won't make you laugh. Every time I see proud American or French people jump up and sing along when their anthem starts playing, my heart clenches. Play the Czech anthem in a room full of Czechs… Nothing will happen. Sadly, we're not patriots––quite the opposite, actually––and it shows. Don't get me wrong, when the Czech hockey team won the gold medal at the Olympics 20 years ago, most of us felt very… Czech. Since then… Radio silence in the patriotism department.In this article, we will explore and decipher the lyrics and history of the Czech national anthem. According to some, it is a... Show more

If you're planning to study or teach in the Czech Republic, this article is just for you. You might be surprised by the subtle differences between Czech and English communication during classes––be it greetings, or how we address the teachers––I know I was. I first started with English in 3rd grade. I was 8 years old, and learning to say all those new, funny sounds was very exciting and fun. Let me tell you, my 40-something fiancé doesn't find it quite as exciting, and he's constantly asking, "why do y'all say this and not that"? And I would like to address these quirky nuances in this article as well. Because no matter how funny and kind our "Mrs. Teacher" was, most of the things she taught us were just literal translations, and... Show more

Who doesn't love eating out? Especially in foreign countries! If you love exploring exotic cuisines or simply have to eat out while in the Czech Republic, this list of Czech restaurant vocabulary and phrases will come in handy. I have noticed how much people appreciate it when a foreigner tries to speak Czech. It's a tough language (or so I've heard), and locals get genuinely excited when they realize my fiancé is a REAL American who says děkuju (“thank you”) and prosím (“you're welcome'' and “please”). In the Czech Republic, the staff tends to be much nicer. In Barcelona, we were getting free desserts and complementary wine. Austrian baristas smile if I order my coffee in German. Enough about cultural differences; if you want to know... Show more

You probably know that speaking another language means that you just… Speak it. Freely. Without thinking about every word. Without pausing to remember the “correct” word, without translating in your head. The best way to improve your Czech conversation skills: Prepare your “language profile”, learn a few tricks that will make you sound natural and like you speak Czech daily (even when you don't). You can make your language skills and pronunciation seem way more advanced, and amaze yourself, native speakers, and fellow students alike. It doesn't matter how old you are. Again, you can do it at any age. What's the game plan? 1. Learn phrases about your job, hobbies, life, family, etc. 2. Learn phrases about your potential... Show more

We aren't all super bubbly extroverts, and starting a conversation is not always easy. It doesn't matter if you are at a party with native speakers, at your new job/school, or sitting by yourself in a café––there MIGHT be a situation where you just want to interact with a stranger. Or worse: You will have to interact. Unless you don't mind being “the quiet one.” How about starting a basic Czech conversation (or a conversation in any foreign language)? I remember how anxious this made me feel in my first job. Almost 75% of my coworkers were foreigners from all over the world (with accents), and everytime I met one of them in the kitchen, I was SO awkward. It still makes me cringe when I think about it. How to start a conversation... Show more

No matter how good you are, there's always room for improvement, especially when it comes to learning another language. If you've decided to step up the game and embellish your Czech vocabulary, this article will make it easier for you. In this article, I've listed 40+ useful advanced Czech phrases that you can use in various conversations, while polishing your resumé in Czech, while writing a paper, or while chatting with your Czech friends and colleagues. Czech is a fun, colorful language: We love using idioms and slang, and you know by now that the loose word order allows for some strange Czech sentence structures (i.e., a full sentence can consist of just one word). Remember that building vocabulary is much faster, more... Show more

The leap between the beginner and intermediate levels is exciting. “Suddenly,” you're able to not only order food without sweating but also casually compliment the waiter on the menu selection; you're at ease when a native speaker approaches you unexpectedly; maybe you've even started dreaming in Czech. (This is a big deal and a sign that you're actually THINKING in Czech––the language has become deeply embedded in your brain, and you're on your way to fluency!) Starting something from scratch is always hard, and you've made it! Now, you just need to expand your vocabulary, learn some useful intermediate Czech phrases, speak and listen a lot, and try to think in Czech. From now on, the road is going to be way less bumpy. I promise.... Show more

You're studying Czech, which means you've probably found out that textbooks and grammar tables play a more-or-less secondary role in your path to fluency. Awesome, right? Back in the day, we had to drill and memorize dozens of grammar rules, but those bleak times (before the internet and smartphones) are over! Today, you have numerous learning options for your Czech studies that are much more fun: Czech podcasts, YouTube channels, movies, learning websites... Language is an organic, living thing, and it's best to treat it as such. Think of young children. Do they read textbooks and spend hours a day memorizing conjugations? Not really. They play, they shove random objects into their mouths, and they listen. In no time, they’re speaking... Show more

Have you ever found yourself in a difficult situation, at a loss for words, helpless...trying desperately to tell the other person that you really, REALLY need a bathroom…in another language? Learning Czech might take years, but there are certain Czech phrases for beginners you’ll want to memorize right now because they might save your pants one day. I am being overly dramatic here—for your sake. Czech people (especially old and middle-aged Czechs) simply don't speak English, and sometimes gestures and body language just won't do. I know that some people don't like memorizing phrases because it feels like it “disrupts” the process of learning. Let me remind you that toddlers don't give a damn about grammar and vocab—they just... Show more

Congratulations! You’ve worked your way up to an advanced level of the beautiful Czech language.  You've mastered the past, present, and future tenses. You can have a pretty comprehensive conversation about almost anything and write long paragraphs. You can probably watch some movies and TV shows in Czech, and talk about various topics without getting sweaty. Your level is somewhere around B1, and your vocabulary comes up to a whopping 2500 words or so.  In this article, you'll expand your vocab even more with advanced Czech words. Beware though. It is very easy (and common) to get complacent, think you've “seen it all,” and stop working on your skills. I am a living example of how fast laziness can throw you back to “square... Show more