Comments on: Why Czech isn’t as hard to learn as you think

By: Benny Lewis

Benny Lewis — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:13:00 +0000

Then you must be living in some other Czech Republic that I haven’t heard of, because I certainly didn’t dream up having conversations with natives.

I hear the word “impossible” a lot from some readers in comments. Some people throw this word around way too much.

Your last sentences shows how poorly you pay attention. You clearly haven’t read my site’s about page. Such lack of focus means that your 8-10 hours a week are not as solid as they could be. Please try harder to be social. All that studying is making you get bogged down on details and feeling to shy to try, optimistic normally or not.

By: Benny Lewis

Benny Lewis — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:20:00 +0000

Great to hear Keep up the good work!

By: Gillia

Gillia — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:07:00 +0000

I’m teaching at some universities in Prague and decided to learn how to pronounce Czech words mainly because I’d heard the language was difficult – 7 cases etc etc. so I decided not to bother to learn it. BUT….. today I had my first lesson and was very excited to discover that nouns ending in A are feminine, in a consonant are masculine (so much easier than German), there are no definite or indefinite articles, prefixes and suffixes are extensively used, only one form of the verb rather than several as in German, French etc, pronounciation a darn sight more logical than English is for foreigners (I am so pleased I learnt it from birth !!!) so…. I decided I would take the time and make the effort to learn at least to an elementary level. Then tonight I foond this log post which reinforced exactly what I’d discovered today.

By: Slawomir

Slawomir — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:37:00 +0000

správné poznámky!

By: Slawomir

Slawomir — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:37:00 +0000

správné poznámky!

By: Slawomir

Slawomir — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:37:00 +0000

správné poznámky!

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Thu, 26 May 2011 23:16:00 +0000

De nada Mucha suerte con el checo!!!

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:28:00 +0000

Well put Petra!! Yet another excellent example of someone succeeding when really applying himself!

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:31:00 +0000

“As a native …. I think that the most challenging thing about ….. is not to learn basics of it but to fully master it”
Natives of almost every language in the world would fill in the blanks with their own story, especially English and French speakers.

Otherwise, thanks for sharing that interesting reviver story!

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:22:00 +0000

That’s great!! Best of luck with your Czech project

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 05:40:00 +0000

I imagine you mean IN 3 months. Plenty of people become fluent after 3 months all the time

By: Martin

Martin — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:34:00 +0000

Hello from the Czech republic.
Yes, the Czech language is not that hard as someone would say. But I don´t think that a person can become fluent after 3 months
Best wishes,
Martin.

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:55:00 +0000

A lot of people think they are that kind of learner. The problem is that there is so much grammar you will never have learned enough. I just wrote a post about this practice of waiting while you learn enough, so it may be useful to you.

Getting in touch with speakers online is NOT dangerous. You don’t have to meet them in person!! Just chat – it’s fine!

Waiting until you have digested all the grammar will be a very slow path to speaking a language. If you want to take on 16 that’s fine, but you’ll have to get into each one much quicker!!

By: Jayashri

Jayashri — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:04:00 +0000

I really enjoy learning Czech. Here in Singapore, there is NO WAY to practice conversation except getting in contact with native speakers online. However, given that I am 16, I do feel that’s a little dangerous…
Since I tried to learn on my own through internet sources, I had no way out but to begin with grammar and work on it like crazy. I started by digesting and breaking down the Wikipedia articles on Czech grammar (declension and conjugation, mostly). From there, I have been building my grammar up and fitting my vocab into the grammar framework. I would rather learn the entire grammar and make sure it is perfect from day one than learn it by ‘usage’ and ‘trial and error’, because I am the kind of learner who tends to remember the wrong things if wrong at the start.
I think the grammar and the sound of the Czech are so, so beautiful. While I want to have learnt 16 languages before I die (I am at my 5th now), I think this will always be my favourite

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Thanks for the comment

By: K6zgm

K6zgm — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 03:14:00 +0000

Hello! I am trying to learn czech to meet my boyfriends extended family in Prague this summer. I was so happy to read this excellent posting. Thanks for the positivity! I will stay tuned for your future language ventures
Best wishes from Canada,
Trisha

By: Benny the language hacker

Benny the language hacker — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 23:40:00 +0000

Hear hear! When I meet the downers, I usually show them the door. They can’t contribute in any positive way to my mission. Advice and corrections are great, but “you’ll never be able to do this” broken records are crap company.

By: Benny the language hacker

Benny the language hacker — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 16:09:00 +0000

Thanks!

By: Vee

Vee — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 18:50:00 +0000

This is very encouraging to me. I am certainly going to give it a go. Great attitude you have and it’s catching.

By: Vee

Vee — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 18:50:00 +0000

This is very encouraging to me. I am certainly going to give it a go. Great attitude you have and it’s catching.