A New Opportunity
In previous editions, I shared how I, the director of Language Atelier, began my career while writing my Master’s thesis in Prague, which ultimately led to the founding of our school.
During this time, I dedicated myself to my thesis, spending countless hours in Prague’s libraries, reading extensively in Czech and German about the history of the Bohemian lands. I poured my heart into crafting my “masterpiece” late into the night. While teaching Italian privately, I also connected more deeply with the local community, immersing myself in Czech culture.
I graduated in October 2010, and the commission was so pleased with my work that I received an offer that was incredibly difficult to refuse.
The Attempt at an Academic Career
My tutor, a leading Italian expert in Czech literature, offered to nominate me as a candidate for a PhD at Jihočeská univerzita in České Budějovice, with my research center based at the Institute of Czech Literature in Prague. A desk in a shared office with other researchers was prepared for me. I successfully passed the admission exam and felt both excited and curious to embark on this new challenge of building an academic career.
However, I soon realized that researching an almost unknown Czech-German poet from the late 1800s was not quite my true calling. Additionally, I found myself making one-day trips to České Budějovice (2.5 hours one way) for exams and meetings. The atmosphere at the Institute was quite cold and unfriendly, leaving me feeling stagnant and trapped in an undefined limbo. To make matters worse, the small scholarship I received barely covered my rent.
This situation motivated me to develop my side job. I found great joy in teaching, refining my methods, and attracting more students. As a result, new opportunities began to unfold before me.
