Learning Czech

One of the most challenging things in moving to another country is attempting to learn the language. It’s amazing how dependent you become when you can’t do simple things like communicate. Having my degree in communications, you would think that I’ve learned a thing or two about communicating. However, when you don’t speak the language . . . you’re helpless.

So in order to communicate, language learning has become a big priority. Although, I wish I could say it was easier than it has been. When I first got here, I didn’t want to waste any time, so I started with a tutor within the first couple of weeks. And I was SO lost. She was trying to teach me the different forms of different words. The whole time I was nodding, but thinking, “What the heck is she talking about?” I didn’t know any of the words she was using, so trying to put them into the right forms didn’t make any sense. Like, I didn’t know how to use the correct forms of I have, you have, she has . . . because I didn’t even know the words I, you, she . . . I was incredibly lost. So I stopped working with her, originally thinking that I would just take a break from her until I knew a few more words.

When I did that, my friend Lucka stepped in and started to help me. We started by learning different words that I would use. Our first lesson, I learned how to ask someone if they want some tea, and what kind of tea, and then I learned different kinds of tea. These things are practical and I can practice them all the time. From there, we’ve just worked on whatever we feel like at the time. One time I wanted to know how to ask for things at the store, like saying “I need . . .” or ordering at a restaurant, and things like that. It has helped so much, because now I can go to the store and ask for sliced ham if I want and things like that. I know I won’t learn everything from her, but it helps so much to be able to learn what I want to learn from someone who knows the language. It even helps to just sit down with her and practice what I already know.

Just yesterday I started with a new tutor. Now, Lucka and I are still going to work together on learning Czech, but I’ll have structure with this tutor (who has had experience teaching Czech to foreigners). I was very encouraged because I knew everything we went over. I found myself saying “Rozumim” (which is, “I understand”) the whole time. I’m excited to have the consistency and to be able to learn from a professional tutor.

On top of that, my friend Jana is going to consistently teach me Czech as well. She just graduated with her Masters in teaching, which makes her the ideal person to help me. I’m hoping my schedule will be pretty steady with going to the tutor two or three times a week and working with Jana four or five times a week. And if Lucka is still willing and able to help me, we can do it on the days that I don’t go to the tutor. I was told that on the average week, I should spend twelve to fifteen hours a week on language learning. Between all of these people helping me, and studying by myself, I think I’ll get those hours in pretty easily. Praise God for providing people who can help me learn to communicate!