Many expats in the Czech Republic never learn the language. When I first moved here, I assumed this was due to a lack of effort. Determined not to break the mould, I bought textbooks, enrolled in classes, and committed to daily study sessions. Believing that “half of success is showing up,” I stuck to my routine, confident that persistence would pay off. But several years later, I’m still asking: how long does it take to learn Czech?

Why Is Czech So Hard?

Czech has a reputation for being difficult, but I hadn’t expected it to be quite this tough. In many languages, once you learn a sentence structure, you can reuse it to build new sentences. Not so with Czech. The declensions and conjugations are so intricate that producing a grammatically perfect sentence feels more like luck than skill.

Whenever I ask my Czech teacher about an odd sentence, it inevitably leads to another grammar rule and another three months of study. Then there’s pronunciation: try saying words with no vowels. In English, elocution lessons are for those with speech difficulties; in Czech, they’re routine.

The Struggle of Practicing Czech

Beyond the classroom, motivation takes another hit. Many Czechs immediately switch to English, which may explain why so few expats become fluent. Spending years learning a complex language is one thing, but when native speakers frequently switch languages, it’s easy to feel discouraged. I understand they mean well, but the subtext can sometimes feel like: “Your Czech isn’t good enough.” It’s frustrating to spend 45 minutes speaking Czech with a teacher, only to order a drink in a café and have the waitress reply in English. Sometimes, we’ll be mid-conversation in Czech, no confusion in sight, and the other person inexplicably switches to English.

My original goal was to use Czech to connect with people. Ironically, it seems to be having the opposite effect. After countless interactions where Czechs have dismissed my efforts, I now snap, “Mluvte česky, potřebuji to cvičit” (“Speak Czech, I need to practice”).

Who Will Speak Czech With You?

There are two exceptions to this trend of locals refusing to speak Czech with you. The first: elderly men at beer festivals, who often don’t speak English and are more than happy to chat. The second: homeless people. Just last week, I spent ten minutes discussing English football with a homeless man. It was such an enjoyable conversation that I briefly considered starting a social enterprise where the homeless teach Czech to foreigners.

Overcoming Language Barriers

Another frustration is that some Czechs pretend not to understand foreigners at all. I’ve seen it happen time and time again: an expat places an order in Czech, only to be met with a blank stare or a shrug. Even Czech friends get annoyed, insisting there’s nothing wrong with our pronunciation. It’s as if some people simply refuse to engage.

For learners of English, the experience abroad is the opposite. Native speakers will generally make an effort to understand, even when the grammar is off. This creates a positive feedback loop, reinforcing motivation. Learning Czech, however, requires constantly rebuilding that motivation after every discouraging encounter.

The Unexpected Benefits of Learning Czech

There are definitely upsides to learning the language, for example, struggling with Czech has made me a better language learner overall. Having failed miserably at French in school, I recently picked up a French text and was shocked to understand 60% of it. Czech has been like attempting to crack the Da Vinci Code, so French now feels like a children’s puzzle by comparison.

It has also taught me that I can only control my own efforts, not other people’s reactions. If my goal is a five-minute Czech conversation, success is only 50% in my hands; the other person might want to practice their English, be in a rush, or just not feel like chatting. But if I sign up to give a speech in Czech, that’s 100% within my control. Recognizing where my responsibility ends has been invaluable, not just for language learning but for life in general.

And despite everything, I am making progress. I recently rented a parking space using only Czech. It’s small victories like this that keep me going.

A More Realistic Approach to Learning Czech

If a newcomer asked me, “How long does it take to learn Czech?” I’d respond with my own question: “Are you aiming for fluency or just to get by?” Given the time investment and the limited rewards, it’s worth considering what level of proficiency makes the most sense for you. My advice? Learn the basics, be patient with yourself, and accept that not every Czech speaker will respond in the way you hope. Language learning is a long journey, and sometimes, the best approach is to embrace the process rather than focus on the outcome.

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