A client told me today: 'I’ll never be good enough in Czech.'

His goal is to achieve a clear and confident Czech pronunciation so he can effectively communicate with his customers and clients.

Throughout the whole lesson, I kept thinking how beautifully he speaks. He has one of the best Czech pronunciations I’ve ever heard from an American. He works hard, practices a lot, and is genuinely committed.

And yet, during our reflection at the end of the lesson, he felt frustrated.

He felt it was still “not good enough”.

So I told him this:

You are not a native Czech speaker who has spoken Czech every day for the past 40 years. You are an American learning Czech as an adult. And that means one important thing:

👉 Having a foreign accent in Czech is not a failure. It’s part of your identity.

Your language says so much about you. 

Imperfect Czech with an accent can show that:

🟡 you had the courage to start learning a completely new language as an adult

🟡 you keep showing up, even when it’s uncomfortable

🟡 you’re learning not just a language, but a whole culture, mindset, and way of life

Speaking imperfect Czech with an accent shows persistence, bravery, and an incredible amount of work behind you!

So if you’re feeling frustrated with your Czech, here’s a small exercise for you today:

Take a few minutes and write down everything you’ve already achieved in Czech over the past months or years. Everything you already do well in Czech. You might be surprised how much it actually is. 💛

And if you feel like sharing, tell me in the comments. I’d love to read it. 

Eliška

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 ⭐ As a Czech language teacher and coach, I help expats in the Czech Republic speak Czech with confidence and joy, so they can feel truly at home in their Czech community.

 👉 Join my 1:1 lessons, group courses, or online programs.

FEELING LOST WITH YOUR CZECH? BOOK A FREE STRATEGY CALL HERE.