CzechClass101.com Blog

Let's debunk this myth about Slavic languages being incredibly hard and almost impossible for English-speakers to learn. Oh, please.  How hard is it to learn Czech? Not at all. Sure, there's going to be a lot of new things—things that seemingly make no sense, things you'll hate, and things that will make your tongue twist. However, Czech isn't that hard, complicated, or nasty. It's just different from English. Learning another language is always an exciting process. Yup, it’s hard at the beginning (beginnings are hard whether you're learning Czech, training for your first half-marathon, or learning how to produce an edible dinner without setting your kitchen on fire). But once you turn the corner, things get easier and you start... Show more

Mistakes are annoying, and no matter how often you tell yourself that it's okay to make them, they still suck. I get it, friend, I've been there. I'm a professional translator, and after years of living in a bilingual environment, I still have to pause from time to time and make sure I really want to say "kitchen," not "chicken." I ask my American boyfriend for help and clarification all the time. Also, just this morning, I read a Facebook post from Czech Television about a commemorative PLAGUE (instead of "plaque"). In this article, we’ll be covering typical Czech mistakes that English-speakers make. The Czech language, like all other languages, has its quirks and surprises that might catch you off-guard or flat out confuse the... Show more

Hello there, friend! How are you today? How has your day been? How long have you been studying Czech? Do you speak other languages? Do you speak English?  You can probably tell that this article is all about the most common Czech questions and answers. I'm going to teach you some basic questions in Czech that may come up in pretty much any conversation, and how to answer them. Why is this important? Well, learning these common phrases and questions will create a great base for your vocabulary and make any interaction in Czech a lot easier for you. There’s more to it, of course. Asking the right question is an awesome way to start a conversation, learn new things, get where you want to be (geographically and spiritually), and learn... Show more

Taking a Czech language test or exam is a decision that might change your entire life. Let's get a bit touchy-feely and personal, shall we?  My long story short: "Oh, maybe I want to be a translator or something, what do I do? Okay, apparently I need a certificate...when's the next exam date? In a few weeks? Cool! Erm... How am I supposed to learn all this stuff in three weeks?" -> Daily panic attacks and lots of crying in the shower (figuratively speaking). -> Passed the exam. -> Works as a freelance translator and writer, currently sitting on a couch thousands of miles away from home, and writing an article on how to pass a Czech language test. See? It's doable, even if you don't have the time (or money) for a specialized prep... Show more

Have you ever wondered how some people speak like seven languages? Maybe you even have a friend who starts ordering food in the local language within three days of your vacation.  Yep, people like that exist—and you could be one of them. In this guide, we’ll introduce and explain the most common Czech sentence patterns. Learning Czech has never been this easy! You probably know that Czech might be a little tricky to learn (All the conjugation and declension! Lawd!) and that sentence patterns in English and Czech have pretty much nothing in common. Let's make things easy and forget about lengthy grammar explanations. By simply memorizing the most common Czech sentence structures and patterns, you’ll be able to create dozens of... Show more

You asked, so we provided—easy-to-follow instructions on how to set up your electronic devices to write in Czech! We’ll also give you a few excellent tips on how to use this keyboard, as well as some online and app alternatives if you prefer not to set up a Czech keyboard. Table of Contents Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Czech Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for Czech How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer How to Change the Language Settings to Czech on Your Computer Activating the Czech Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet How to Practice Typing Czech 1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Czech Learning a new language is made so much easier when you’re able to read and... Show more

Verbs are considered the most important part of speech when learning any new language. They describe every single mental and physical activity we do, from the moment we wake up in the morning to falling asleep at night. Even sleeping is full of verbs: you sleep, you breathe, you relax, you dream, you toss and turn, you snore… okay, maybe you snore!  The word ‘verb’ comes from the Latin for ‘word’ - your first indication that it's pretty important. In elementary terms: these are the ‘doing’ words and they exist in every language. Verbs are essential in communication and no sentence can exist without one. When learning to speak Czech, the verbs you know will be your building blocks to make sentences. Whether you’re commenting on the... Show more

Do you remember the moment you fell in love with languages? Do you desire to learn or advance in Czech quickly and effectively? Then you need a Czech tutor. A common question that first-time language-learners ask is "Where do I begin?" The answer? Guidance. For native English-speakers who want to learn Asian languages, for example, timelines provided by the U.S. Foreign Service Institute can appear discouraging. However, defeating these odds is not unheard of. If you want to beat the odds yourself, one of the best learning options is a subscription to Premium PLUS from Innovative Language. As an active Premium PLUS member of JapanesePod101.com and KoreanClass101.com myself, I have an enjoyable experience learning at an accelerated... Show more

It doesn't matter why you're learning Czech: Do you want to be able to order a schnitzel in a restaurant, or are you planning to write your first novel in this beautiful Slavic language? We've got you covered. In this guide, we'll explain the specifics of the Czech sentence structure, and show you how to memorize and work with its patterns.  It might seem quite confusing at first because the Czech word order is entirely different than that in English—let's say it's more relaxed and the rules are VERY flexible. Maybe you're thinking: "Oh, whatever. Everyone knows what I'm saying as long as I'm using the correct words, right?" No, my friend, I'm sorry. We're not mind-readers, and you could get us seriously confused and worried if... Show more

What’s your relationship with the clock like? Does it run your day from a morning alarm to a cut-off chime for bed, or are you more of a go-with-the-flow type, letting your mood and emotions decide how much you fall in line with time? Understanding time in Czech is an important part of your studies. As humans, our lives are filled with habits and schedules. From waking up and going to work or gym, to missing rush hour traffic on our way home, we’re always aware of time. We have routines around coffee breaks, meetings, soccer games and vacations. In fact, time can seem rather capricious - going slowly, going fast, sometimes against us, other times on our side - like a force that has a life of its own. In science, time is often... Show more