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Visiting the Czech Republic to explore its many castles and taste its world-famous beers? Well, here’s one thing you should consider doing before your trip: learn Czech.
If you already know Slovak, Polish, or other Slavic languages, you’ll have an easier time. But if you’re a newbie, no need to be intimidated — there are lots of resources to learn Czech. In fact, you can get started right away by downloading apps!
Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a Babbel Czech course, that’s not available. Neither is a Rosetta Stone Czech course on offer. But while these two could’ve been great platforms to learn the language, there are other apps worth checking out.
Keep reading to see what your best options are.
What is Babbel?
But first, what’s Babbel? And why is it such a sought-after app?
Babbel is a subscription-based app that uses authentic conversations and time-tested review methods to effectively teach languages. With this app, you get comprehensive courses that develop your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
Why is this app so effective? You can check out my review of Babbel for the nitty-gritty on the app’s structure. But the two best features that are worth highlighting are Babbel’s use of audio recordings of native speakers and its accurate speech recognition engine.
Babbel is an excellent app for learners of 14 languages including French, Spanish, German, Turkish, and Indonesian. As previously mentioned, there’s no Czech on Babbel. And that’s why we’re looking at some of the best alternatives to Babbel.
The best Babbel alternatives
Fortunately for Czech learners, there’s no shortage of good apps for learning Czech. Here are the three that I can’t recommend enough:
1. Mondly
Czech, like other Slavic languages, is notorious for having complex grammar and challenging pronunciation. There are lots of noun cases and words that could be composed entirely of consonants.
Mondly makes it more manageable and more fun to learn Czech through bite-sized and immersive exercises. The lessons are gamified so they feel less intimidating.
What’s more, Mondly has a wealth of vocabulary builders, conversation drills, and lots of audio recordings from native speakers. These ensure that you’re getting a better and more authentic understanding of the language.
Key features:
- Quick and effective lessons that target all core language skills
- Learn key phrases and essential grammar
- Lots of listening and speaking practice
2. Pimsleur
Try Pimsleur Czech for FREE today
Aside from vowel-deprived Czech words, some letters in Czech are also not pronounced in the same way as in English. This makes Czech pronunciation daunting.
For a language like Czech, it’s best to learn from native speakers. Pimsleur helps with this. A time-tested way of learning languages, Pimsleur teaches you to master Czech pronunciation and sound like a native through audio recordings of native speakers.
The app features 30-minute audio lessons teaching essential Czech vocabulary and grammar applied in conversations. The goal is not just to teach the right pronunciation and accent but to also help you be more comfortable in real-life settings.
Learn more about Pimsleur in this review. Or try it for free!
Key features:
- Audio lessons featuring native Czech speakers
- Relevant Czech vocabulary and contextualized grammar
- Effective intervals for review and building long-term recall
3. Ling
Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to brush up on your skills, Ling is worth considering. This app offers bite-sized lessons that cover all the essential aspects of language learning: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
You’ll learn new vocabulary through interactive exercises and hear native speakers pronounce the words correctly, which is crucial for mastering Czech pronunciation. It even has a chatbot with whom you can practice your conversational skills!
Ling also keeps things fun with gamified elements and challenges. Lessons are designed to be completed in short bursts, making it easy to fit into your daily routine. While the app won’t get you fluent on its own, it can provide a solid foundation and can be a great starting point for your Czech language journey.
Key features:
- Interactive and fun short lessons
- Learn Czech vocabulary and grammar in a gamified format
- Chatbot for conversation practice
Other great resources to learn Czech
Apps like Mondly, Pimsleur, and Duolingo are among the most effective ways of learning Czech. But they are, by no means, the only tools available to you. Blending different types of learning resources like Czech books, online courses, YouTube channels, and podcasts gives you a holistic approach to learning Czech.
Here are some tools worth considering:
Italki: Want to learn Czech from an online tutor? Hire one on italki, a platform that lets you connect to professional Czech teachers and community tutors who can teach the technicalities of the language as well as the culture. Alternatively, you can also choose a tutor on Preply.
Duolingo: For Czech learners, it’s also one of the most engaging ways to study the language. The app teaches Czech in a beginner-friendly and easy-to-follow format. Each lesson comes with new vocabulary and grammar is taught through multiple sample sentences.
CzechClass101: This multi-platform resource has tons of audio and video lessons teaching how to read, write, understand, and speak Czech. You can access the lessons through the CzechClass101 site, YouTube channel, podcast, or delivered straight t your email!
- Naughton, James (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 296 Pages – 04/11/2005 (Publication Date) – Routledge (Publisher)
Czech: An Essential Grammar: A handy reference, this book presents the complexities of Czech grammar in a clear, easy-to-grasp way. Jargon-free and brimming with authentic examples, this textbook is suited for serious learners.
Slowczech: This podcast is great for improving your comprehension and conversational skills through lessons, stories, and interviews. Not recommended for absolute beginners though.
Cudoo: The self-paced video courses in Cudoo will help you make sense of the Czech alphabet, important expressions, and even grammar. You’ll find yourself more at ease with the language by the end of each course.
Complete Czech Beginner to Intermediate Course: This textbook promises to help you progress from beginner to confident. Full of useful vocabulary, grammar tips, sample dialogues, and an audio CD for listening practice, this is a comprehensive and interactive resource.
Forvo: Want to learn how to pronounce a Czech word quickly? Head over to Forvo and access its library of essential Czech words and phrases, all with sound clips of correct pronunciations.
Dream Prague: Hosted by Jen, an American who’s been living in Prague for a decade, Dream Prague is a great resource for learning the Czech language and culture. This channel features videos of Jen sharing language learning tips, her insights on the Czech culture, and her life as an expat in Prague.
Final thoughts
Despite the absence of a Babbel Czech course, there’s no reason for you to delay your learning. Not when there are lots of other great resources to choose from.
And so, get stuck in with any of these apps and additional resources and you’ll soon get closer to fluency. Remember to stay motivated and enjoy the journey!