The newly opened Czech School in Ottawa launched in 2019 as part of the International Languages Program at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. We started with two groups of students at two age levels.

Our children’s program grew so much that we now have a third group for the smallest children filled with games, and arts and crafts. The high school students in our Saturday classes actually get high school credit for attending. The adult students make up the rest of that class.

We are at the end of our third successful year. Today, we have about 50 students across all levels, from the age of 4 to 93. Our free, online summer school for children from Ontario will open for its second run this June. 

The classes introduce students to Czech traditions and culture and help beginners learn the language and advanced students to improve their grasp of it. We also hold special events to connect with the wider community of Czechs and of those interested in Czech culture and history.

As part of the OCDSB International and Indigenous Languages program, in-person classes are usually offered at two locations, for elementary school students at Hopewell Avenue School, and for high school students and adults at Glebe Collegiate.

With the novel coronavirus interfering, this year again we offered classes virtually, using Google Meet, each Saturday from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm for elementary students and from 9 am to 12:30 for older students.

Want to know more about our teaching?

Watch our video made for European Day of Languages, September 2020