How to learn Czech when you are too busy?

Tips for your Czech learning journey

Ahoj, tady Eliška and please hear me out today. I am sure my post will inspire your Czech learning because it changed mine.

I’ve experienced many highs and lows in my life. I’ve had peaks of energy when everything seems possible – managing my clients, business, home, friends, learning a language feels effortless. I feel the urge to create new projects from scratch, explore new places, meet new friends, and even start learning two new languages simultaneously. My goals quickly become quite ambitious.

Then, the low moments come, and everything I’ve dreamed of seems so distant. How can I possibly learn Arabic and Finnish with a second baby on the way, a growing business, and having just moved last week to a beautiful but totally new place in Královo Pole in Brno, where I know no one and even cooking in the for-me-unknown kitchen drains my energy? (wow, taková dlouhá věta!)

That’s when I remind myself: This low moment is temporary, and what matters is my perspective and outlook.

My logical mind shapes my reality. But, truthfully, I don’t need to be this superwoman who pretends to manage everything just because she’s an adult and that’s what adults are supposed to do.

So, what's my alternative?

I really want to try this method of learning Finnish! This language sounds to nice to my ears! I like the Finnish approach to life and their nature is saying “Eliškooo, kde jsi? Přijeď!”

I turn to my intuitive mind. I focus on my emotions, desires, and gratitude. What do I really want? How do I want to feel? What can I let go of?

Gradually, my mind calms down, and my ambitious projects feel achievable again with a different approach.

And that approach is...?

I don’t have to sacrifice quality time with my family or friends or my favourite book to learn that language.

I simply find ways to integrate learning into my day. Instead of opening a lesson in an app or in a grammar book, I take my headphones, stroller, and my boy outside. I listen to a 10-minute Finnish talk and let the language sink in. If the speaker has questions I either just listen or try to respond with a word or two. When later, cooking in the evening, instead of clothes/toys shopping on Vinted, I have my colorful PDF pinned to the kitchen wall, reading phrases aloud to practice my pronunciation.

But most importantly, before I switch to another language, I take a moment to remind myself of my goals and the joy I’ll feel after engaging with my target language.

I stop for one minute and remind myself why I am learning Finnish and what my feeling will be after having listened to the talk in Finnish (even if, yes, I do not understand much yet…). I will feel proud of myself. I will feel good. I will feel like my day had a pinch of foreign spice. It will feel like I’m breaking the routine and finally making progress in learning that language.

What about you?

How will you feel at the end of today, having improved your Czech, even if just for 5 or 10 minutes?

Remember, 5 minutes a day, five times a week, adds up to 20 hours in a year. To už je něco!

Have you heard about the 20-hour rule? It suggests that:

"It takes approximately 20 hours of deliberate and focused practice to become reasonably competent in a new skill."

The 20-Hour Rule

So, I’ve decided to give it a try. With over two months until my second child arrives, dedicating 15 minutes from Monday to Friday means I’ll have completed 12 hours of Finnish learning by the end of April. And I know I’ll feel fantastic, I will be proud of myself because 15 minut, to je nic, to je triviální – btw, it’s better the time spent scrolling on Instagram in the bathroom. 🙂

Would you like to join me but don't know where to start?

Let’s embark on a 4-week commitment together in the 21-day grammar challenge. That’s a total of 5.5 hours of Czech. And with the added bonus of a WhatsApp group conversation to either replace your 15 minutes on challenging days or to enhance your daily Czech engagement.

With 15 + 15 minutes daily, in 4 weeks, you’ll have reached 11 hours of Czech, similar to my Finnish journey in nearly three months. It sounds amazing, Melgar Hartwig , doesn’t it?

"MY LISTENING SKILLS IMPROVED. I ALSO HAVE A BETTER FEELING FOR THE SENTENCE STRUCTURE NOW."

Lucas

from Germany

We don’t really need much to learn a language. The biggest obstacle is often our own mind and its tendency to be lazy. Let’s find a way to overcome this laziness and feel great together!

Měj se hezky, uč se česky.

Eliška