Mluvim trochu cesky

U.K. Ambassador Anne Pringle told BBC radio on Fri. that she doesn't find the Czech language all that difficult. A few moments later, though, she noted that she's spent a lot of time studying Russian. This makes the study of Czech much easier, but what about foreigners who don't have a background in another Slavic language? CEO Terrence Valeski of Eurotel told MF Dnes that he gave up on Czech - other than how to order in a restaurant and greet people - after realizing that most people speak English. He said he'd still like to learn Czech and probably should. The fact is, though, that a busy manager on a short-term assignment can't realistically be expected to learn more than the basics. Czech is simply too difficult. The CR is making great progress toward joining the West, but its language will always remain a conundrum for most non-Slavs.