Language

Most Czech people in Brno do not speak English. Don't worry, though, it's more fun that way! If you can try to say "Dobry den" at least, then they'll try to understand the rest of the grunts and hand gestures you make. To conduct proper business, it might be a good idea to take a Czech friend along with you. If you speak German or Russian, it might come in handy when speaking to the older generations, but always ask first as a sordid past might be associated with both languages. You can generally ask for an English language menu in restaurants; if you speak Italian, you can get by in the many Italian restaurants serving pizza and pasta around the city.

 

Finding English language reading material is another issue, though. The train station carries some international newspapers, although the Guardian and the International Herald Tribune seem to be the only English choices. You'd be better off reading the papers in German, French and Polish if you can. For books, the school has a small library you can borrow from, but otherwise, good luck finding anything worth reading in the few bookshops in town. If you're ever in Prague, pick up some reading material at the several English bookshops in town or at the airport.

 

Entertainment in English is a bit easier to find, as you can rent DVDs in English, and most films at the cinemas are shown in original language with Czech subtitles. Sometimes theater performances are in English as well.

 

As for learning the language, as a wise man once said, "May the force be with you." That "ř" is virtually impossible to say, and the seven cases will leave you stumped. It's a good thing there are only three tenses, though! The school will provide a weekly Czech lesson if you're interested and has a few textbooks to help you along. If you're serious about learning, though, it might be a good idea to get a private tutor, which shouldn't be too difficult to find. Sometimes you can do a trade-off, Czech for English. Picking up vocabulary from walking down the street is quite fun, too, and after a week of tram rides you'll be able to say at least "bus/tram stop" and "please get off!"