❝ My Language Learning Journey - Irena Číková in Nice❞
Hello everyone,
I'm delighted to be back with the third article in our My Language Learning Journey series!
In these articles, we highlight the testimonials of Erasmus+ students and European Solidarity Corps volunteers who share their mobility experiences and language learning journeys.
I'm thrilled to introduce you to Irena Číková, a kindergarten director and Erasmus+ coordinator, who has completed several mobility experiences in Nice.
Happy reading!
Hello Irena, could you introduce yourself, please?
My name is Irena, and I live near Bratislava in Slovakia. I have been working as a kindergarten director for 23 years. I’m also the Erasmus+ coordinator at our school, which is a major project.
What motivated you to go on a mobility experience?
In 2019, I decided to launch an Erasmus+ project at our school. We teach children a few words in French, so I thought it would be a great idea for the teachers to go on mobility in France to improve their level.
We managed to set up the project and obtain accreditation. It wasn’t an easy task for us because kindergartens are less frequently at the center of training initiatives compared to primary or secondary schools.
Where did you complete your mobility?
I went to Nice, France, for three months at Université Francophonia, a program for French teachers. It was a great experience!
I learned a lot and met several French teachers who gave me many recommendations for resources to improve my French.
Was this your first mobility experience?
This was actually my fifth experience abroad and my third time in Nice! I did my first project in 2019 and received my accreditation in 2020. Each of my mobilities lasted one week.
Why did you choose this destination?
As a kindergarten teacher, I didn’t find a better alternative for me than this university. The training wasn’t originally designed for kindergarten teachers, but I was able to adapt what I learned to apply it to younger children.
How did you adapt to the language?
The first day was very difficult for me, but then it got better.
I studied French in Slovakia, in a language school, for four years. Writing and reading are easier for me than speaking. Since I have less experience with oral expression, it was quite challenging.
I discovered the Français avec Pierre platform, created by a Frenchman living in Paris who helps learners improve their level. From that moment on, I started speaking more.
I understand French better now, but since I don’t use it every day, speaking is still a bit difficult for me.
What was your level of French before your mobility?
Before leaving, I think I had an A2 or B1 level. It was enough to prepare my lessons, but when it came to speaking, it was a bit more challenging.
What languages did you use on-site?
Mostly French, but also a bit of Czech, Hungarian, and English.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to learn French?
I recommend listening to a lot of podcasts and watching movies or series in French. It’s also essential to make friends who speak French to practice.
But above all, speaking and practicing are key. You have to overcome your fear and dare to speak!
Did the OLS platform help you with your learning?
Using OLS helped me a lot! The platform offers many courses, and the conversation sessions are a great opportunity to practice.
It’s really a plus that OLS is free. In Slovakia, I spent a lot of money on paid platforms, so it’s really great to have access to a high-quality free platform.
If you want to learn a language, there are plenty of resources available, and OLS is one of them!
How was your experience?
The Francophonia program for French teachers was very rich.
I went alone, but I wasn’t afraid because there were many programs, modules, and courses. In the afternoons, there were many activities, presentations, and educational conferences.
I found it to be a very good program for teachers, and I’m very happy with it.
What did you enjoy the most?
What I appreciated the most was the work done before and after the mobility.
I had the opportunity to participate in several webinars and courses. For example, this week, I attended two modules.
Did anything surprise you?
The weather! It was much warmer than in Bratislava. It wasn’t necessarily pleasant for me, haha.
On the other hand, I loved the people in Nice. I had the chance to meet many people from different cultures, such as Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria. I found French culture to be tolerant towards other cultures and nationalities.
What places would you recommend in Nice and its surroundings?
I went on many excursions: Villefranche, Menton, Cannes, Monaco. Every year, I visited different places.
I find Nice to be a very comfortable city. It is well-connected, which makes it easily accessible for me.
Was there anything you didn’t like about your mobility?
No, I’m really satisfied with this experience.
I think the mobility was very well prepared for my colleagues and me. My colleague who came with me was also very happy. The agency we went through perfectly met the needs of the teachers.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to go on mobility?
In my opinion, preparation is the most important thing. There are many platforms where you can find organizations and high-quality training programs—there are so many opportunities!
In our kindergarten, we sometimes struggle to find good training programs. My colleagues have limited English skills, which makes finding suitable training a bit more complicated.
OLS is a great first step.
What were the main challenges during your mobility?
The biggest challenge was traveling, especially for the older women in our group. My colleagues weren’t used to traveling alone. We had so many questions: Where should we go? Who should we go with? Etc.
However, I think this mobility greatly boosted my colleagues’ confidence.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I’m really happy because I can speak French!!
That’s great to hear—you should be proud of yourself! Thank you so much, Irena, for sharing your experience.
If Irena’s story inspired you, I recommend checking out Marie’s experience volunteering with ESC in Marseille: ❝ My Language Learning Journey - Marie à Marseille ❞ and Abdulla’s Erasmus+ semester in Nantes: ❝ My Language Learning Journey - Abdulla à Nantes ❞.
And if you’d like to share your own mobility experience with the OLS Community, feel free to leave a comment or send me a private message!
Lilas, OLS Community Manager — French