As part of the exchange program between Masaryk University and McLennan Community College in Texas, student Brenna visited Brno to explore Czech culture, language, and education. We spoke with her about her impressions, experiences, and what she’s taking back home from this unique journey.
In the United States, it can be hard to reflect on our own culture because even after traveling for 20 hours, you’re often still within the country. Coming to Masaryk University was a chance for me to step outside of that and see my own culture from a new perspective. I wanted to learn about Czech culture – how it's different, how it's similar – and gain insights that I wouldn’t be able to attain at home.
Honestly, the quiet. It’s so peaceful here – on the trams, in the streets – people are calm and keep to themselves. In Texas, everyone talks to you, even strangers passing on the other side of the street. Here, it’s so refreshing to walk around in the morning, grab a coffee, and enjoy the calmness. I also love how public spaces are used – you’ll see teenagers and seniors alike hanging out in parks or just walking around. That kind of relaxed social atmosphere is something we don’t have much of back home, especially with limited public transport and walkable areas.
From May 12 to 20, the Faculty of Education at Masaryk University is hosting students from McLennan Community College, Texas, as part of a long-term exchange program. As over 50 of our students have studied at MCC, we’re now excited to welcome their students to Brno. They’re exploring Czech culture, history, and music, joining workshops, and even learning some Czech. Today, we speak with one of them about her experience.
I’ve really appreciated how dedicated and passionate the professors are here – just like at our college in Texas. For example, we had a music class recently that was so immersive and engaging. The teaching styles might be different in some ways, but the enthusiasm and care for students are absolutely the same. I’ve loved the academic environment here.
One key difference is how early Czech students start learning foreign languages. Most Czech students begin English in primary school, while in the U.S., we often don’t start a second language until middle or high school. That makes a huge difference – here, so many people speak English comfortably because they've been learning it since childhood. I really wish we had that same approach in our education system.
The Czech language lessons have been fantastic – really interactive and fun. We also had an incredible music concert organized by the faculty. Honestly, every part of the program has exceeded my expectations.
“I feel like the faculty here have done an incredible job and we feel very welcomed by everyone.”
I came with an open mind – I didn’t want to set expectations that couldn’t be met. But I’ve already learned so much just by being here and hearing the language around me. I’ve even started changing the way I speak to mimic certain Czech sounds – small things like that really show how much I’m learning. Any expectations I did have have been far exceeded.
We knew there would be workshops, but we didn’t realize how relaxed and engaging they’d be. Brno itself is such a beautiful and historic city – just being here has been incredible. We’re all very grateful.
Yes! Our local buddies have taken us around the city. We explored the city center on our first day – we were so excited we woke up at 6 AM! We walked for over an hour before breakfast. We’ve also visited Špilberk Castle, and one of the Czech students hosted a picnic for us near the statue of the knight on a horse. I’ve honestly cried over how good the food is – and how many picnics we’ve had!
“The teaching styles might be different in some ways, but the enthusiasm and care for students are absolutely the same.”
Definitely! We’ve had lots of local snacks – one friend is obsessed with fried cheese. We’ve been trying all the local favorites. We also learned about Czech Easter traditions, which are very different from ours but incredibly interesting.
The program has been perfect. I wish we could learn like this every day. The Czech language lessons have been especially helpful – even just learning how to order food properly was great. For example, we didn’t know the word šalina at first! The faculty have prepared such a well-rounded curriculum for us – from music to history to local customs. We even had a guided walk where we learned about famous Czech musicians. The faculty here are so involved and welcoming. We were a bit nervous about how we’d be received, but everyone has been so kind. Honestly, I could see myself living here part of the year in the future. I love it that much.
The Faculty of Education at Masaryk University hosted eight international guests for a dynamic Staff Week full of workshops, school visits, and cultural exchange focused on innovation in teacher education.
The Faculty of Education of Masaryk University is pleased to announce that Prof. Vlastimil Švec, PhDr., CSc., has been appointed Emeritus Professor of Masaryk University. This prestigious award is an expression of appreciation for his extraordinary academic, scientific and pedagogical activities, which have fundamentally influenced the development of educational sciences not only at our faculty, but also in the national and international environment.
