Three years with Slovak language - Learn Languages Organically

Have you ever wondered what it is like to learn Slovak? And why would anyone even learn such a small language that isn’t even on Duolingo? My student Sara set out on this journey because of her husband, and in this interview, we look back at the last 3 years she has spent studying Slovak. She talks about what fascinates and what frustrates her, including a moment when she was surprised at how many words we have to say “steal”.

So, who are you and what led you to studying Slovak?

My name is Sara; I’m Spanish and I’m a teacher of Spanish and primary education. I started learning Slovak because my now-husband is Slovak, and I wanted to understand his language better and be able to communicate with his family when we visit Slovakia.

How do you usually communicate?

We usually speak English, but now that he knows Spanish, we use it as well. And there are attempts to speak Slovak, too.

Attempts?

For example, if I want to ask him to do something, I’ll try saying it in Slovak. Or if we are walking in the street and we see something, I try to say something in Slovak and he’ll answer back in Slovak – until it gets too difficult, then we switch languages. When we visit Slovakia, communicating with the family gets better and better, though I think they aren’t fully aware of my progress. They often assume I don’t understand them or think that speaking Slovak might be bothersome for me. So I try bit by bit, but sometimes they don’t give me a chance to speak.

Why don’t you rely solely on English?

For one, my husband’s family doesn’t speak English. And in the area where they live, many people don’t either. So when I’m there, I want to be able to communicate with the locals and not always depend on my partner.

Let’s get to the big question: How did you learn or are learning the language? Can you share a bit about your experience learning Slovak?

I started with a private teacher – you (wink wink) – and the book Krížom Krážom. We began with basic vocabulary and present tense conjugation. From there on, there were more reading and listening activities, and I gradually gained more confidence with the language. I was able to watch some short videos for children, then we moved on to movies or series and even podcasts.

Always with Krížom Krážom to support the learning process. I like how having someone to talk to regularly helped me focus on communicating, not just learning lists of words I might not use.

Given how limited the teaching resources for Slovak are, Krížom Krážom is a classic. How do you like the book?

I like it, I like the way it tells the story with the four characters. I also think it’s quite varied, it has a lot of different activities.

Could you tell us more about how your beginnings were? How did you find the language? Did it become more difficult or easier with time?

In the beginning, it was quite difficult, especially the pronunciation and writing, since some letters and sounds are completely different from Spanish. It was complicated to retain it in my head. I don’t think it got more difficult or easier later, but the challenges that I have to overcome to keep moving forward shifted. The pronunciation and writing aren’t as hard now, but there are other aspects of the language that are challenging.

Such as…?

Such as prepositions and declensions.

Even the verbal aspect doesn’t seem so difficult compared to them?

No, because once you know the structure of verb conjugation, which we worked on a lot at the beginning, it gets easier. Now, I don’t have to think about conjugating new verbs; my brain just does it.

Three years ago, you started from scratch. Tell us more about your current language level. Are you satisfied with it after the time that you invested?

I’m at the B1 level now, which is fine for my goal, considering we only have one lesson a week. Of course, if you want to learn Slovak, for example, to move there, you need more time. But that is not my case, since I’m based in Spain.

As a proud teacher, I have to boast that you passed the B1 exam. Were you surprised or did you expect an even better result?

The first time I saw the exam, I thought, “Ugh, so difficult, no way I’ll pass.” But then, you break it down and it gets better. Yes, there were some exercises that were more difficult than others, but I guess you don’t realise your language level until you have to prove it.

What is your current relationship with Slovak like? Would you describe it as a burning passion or rather love-hate?

I think it’s good, I enjoy it. Although it might sound strange, I like doing the homework during the week. Maybe declensions make up the ‘hate’ part, but I like studying Slovak. Now that I understand it more, I do like the way it is spoken, even though the pronunciation can still get a little tricky. But I don’t find it as difficult as in other languages, and the way of constructing sentences is also fine.

How is Slovak if you compare it to other languages you studied?

Compared to English, it does seem more difficult to me, because English is quite easy to learn in my opinion, with simpler grammar and syntax. Comparing Slovak with Dutch, it doesn’t seem to me that there are so many differences in the way you learn the two languages. Generally speaking, once you overcome the initial struggle with pronunciation, it actually gets easier. Slovak is phonetic, so you read what you see and write almost the same way as you pronounce.

What would you say if you were to compare Slovak with your mother tongue? I, for instance, often feel like we can get much more specific when it comes to verbs, compared to Spanish.

It’s funny you mention that—I only noticed it after I started studying Slovak. In Spanish, we often use one word to describe many things, though there are exceptions. It really hit me as we were discussing the topic of stealing – you have like 50 words for stealing depending on where you steal or how you steal? In Spanish, we use one, maybe two words, but we don’t get too specific with that. And, of course, the declensions always surprise me!

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You visited Slovakia multiple times. Was there something that surprised you? Did you feel ready from the linguistic point of view the first and the following times?

I remember that I felt like I was in another world the first time I went to Slovakia because I didn’t understand anything. I was not able to distinguish where a word started and ended when people were speaking. I only heard sounds, but I didn’t know how, if they were saying two words or ten. Also, it was December and the weather was very different, quite different from what I was used to. But I guess that is more of a cultural difference. I don’t want to say that the people were cold, too, but I saw them rather as serious, they didn’t use their hands or gestures. Now I understand that people may be less expressive, which isn’t good or bad, simply different.

Speaking of the cultural differences, we all know the cliches of easy-going Mediterraneans and cold Eastern Europeans. After years of being in close contact with the people and the country, can you say the cliches are true or did you prove them wrong?

I know what they say about the Northern/Eastern countries, but I don’t think you’re that cold. People from Slovakia were always very nice and hospitable. I was also very pleasantly surprised by your food. It’s not that I am fussy, but I really liked it, vianočka with Granko is simply the best!

You have spent quite some years of your life with a Slovak man. Is there something you would like to change about this nation?

Something I would like to change is that Slovaks do not complain so much. I think people value things too little, sometimes it feels like everything is bad, everything pessimistic, but I would not see it this way. It is true that the country has its problems in general, and there are for sure many Slovaks who have a bad time due to personal circumstances, but sometimes it is a bit too pessimistic, too much complaining, envy. I do hear that from the outside, but when you are in Slovakia, life has many good things. The village where my husband is from is very calm and the country in general seems beautiful to me from what I could see.

If we can get back to your Slovak learning: what helped you the most or what helps you the most so far?

Definitely listening. The textbook recordings help you at the beginning, but what was quite a jump for me was when we started watching Peppa Pig in Slovak. Since the language in the book is somehow filtered, watching these cartoons helped me to have a more real awareness of the language.

To be honest, none of my students truly loved watching Peppa Pig and I feel like you weren’t too crazy about it either. Tell us, what is your actual favourite learning content in Slovak?

As for the videos, the transition from Krizom Krazom to Peppa Pig was something I really liked, since it is no longer a material prepared for foreigners, but for Slovaks, even if they are children. When we moved on to movies and series, it is really motivating, because even if you do not understand everything 100%, you can follow a movie just like a native speaker. Thanks to you, I watched some Disney movies that I had never seen in Spanish, Wreck It Ralph was one of my favourites. I remember that one time you recommended to me a song from Majk Spirit, I would sing it all week long. So it’s great to be dealing with culture or things related to the country, because that’s how you learn the language, too.

Right now I really like listening to podcasts, even though they are difficult. When I go on vacation to Slovakia in the summer, we sit in the garden and we listen to Rádio Express, which is very similar to what I listen to. So I guess the next time I go to Slovakia, I will be more attentive to what they say on Rádio Express.

Do you have any future objective related to the Slovak language or the country? Something you would like to try, achieve or visit?

I just generally want to improve the language to be able to communicate better. I am able to do it now, but sometimes I get stuck, so my speaking skills are something I would like to work on. To be honest, I don’t have any travel wishlist, maybe I would like to explore more the West of the country, since until now we have been moving around more in the East where my husband is from.

My very last question: what would you advise to anyone who wants to learn the Slovak language?

Patience, especially at the beginning. I think it depends on what your mother tongue is, but for example as a Spaniard, I saw it as a bit of a shock, if you are not used to hearing or reading things in Slovak. I guess it will be different for someone living in Slovakia than for me, who is learning the language from Spain. At the beginning, everything seems very strange, but then it makes sense.