Czech

Czech is a Slavic language, related to Russian, and even closer to Polish and Slovak, which can be learned more easily after Czech. Unlike Russian, it uses the Latin alphabet and is thus more immediately accessible to the western learner. Czech may be difficult (make no mistake), but for that it remains rewarding.

The Czech and Slovak Republics joined the European Union in 2004 and are the fastest growing markets in the EU. Western European nations have moved many factories eastward, finding burgeoning markets with fewer governmental restrictions and a population eager to work. Banking and property investment are also growing sectors of the Czech Republic economy.

In the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures students can explore the languages, cultures, literatures, and cinemas of the Slavic and East European nations. The faculty have lived, traveled, and studied in Central and Eastern Europe, bringing a wealth of lived experience and academic expertise to their teaching. Most classes are small, fostering collegiality and access to instructors for focused engagement. Many of the students who pursue a major in our department spend time abroad during their undergraduate career.

Students with prior knowledge of Czech should arrange to take a proficiency test by contacting iuslavic@iu.edu.