Speak & Do Team

Bára Kvasničková
Owner, Founder & Managing Director

Bára has loved foreign languages and English in particular since she was a child. She gained her first teaching experience when she was only a 10-year-old girl and started learning English at school; right after her classes, she would rush home to teach her aunt, whose daughter had emigrated to the USA, whatever it was that she had just learned. While studying English and American philology at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University she taught company courses and individual and group lessons. She studied in the US – both at the high school and university and spent one year as an Erasmus student in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. After completing her studies, she lived and worked in Ireland. Her current focus is on teaching small children, for whom she created the unique experience-oriented Speak & Do project, which incorporates elements of Montessori pedagogy and Hejný’s mathematics. Bára abounds with original ideas for kids’ activities – be it sports, trips, arts and crafts, little science experiments or just ”simple” games. She promotes a respectful and respecting partner-like approach to children and practices this day with her son and daughter (6 and 4 years old). Her special talent is to bring people together. Whatever she does, she does 100 percent. Speak & Do is her ”third baby” and her current passion.

Beth Shaughnessy
Online English Teacher

After completing my studies in Childcare, English literature, English language and Psychology in England I decided to see what a TEFL course could offer me and so I flew over to Prague with my partner. In England, I have left behind my horse and my much-loved job of delivering Princess parties to children from just one to ten years old. Despite loving my day to day life in England, the urge to travel and teach had me itching at my fingertips - a desire I knew could not be contained. At home, I have grown up in a family with seven siblings; not only has this given me the advantage of growing up in a big, loving and caring family household, but I have also established a natural talent for caring for children of all ages. My passion for children is no better expressed than when working alongside Bara at Speak & Do where we teach children the basic English language in a fun and caring way.

Ginger Bertron Simpson
English Teacher

Hello! I grew up in a bilingual household and I’ve always been fascinated by languages. When I was 17, I followed my globe-trotting English mother to Colombia for two weeks… and stayed for four years. While I was there, I became interested in teaching after having the opportunity to teach local children how to play rugby.I’m a very outgoing and active person and love to implement some sporty activities into my time with the children. I moved from Colombia back to Europe to finish my university studies and chose to study in Prague. I was expecting a big cultural shock, but this city has welcomed me in an incredible manner and made me feel right at home. Shortly after arriving, I started working with children and found that I had a real passion for it. Children love me, and I love them. I have more fun sharing my time with them than going to a boring dinner party!

Petra Brandalikova
English Teacher

Hi, I’m Petra. I've been teaching 3-10-year-old kids for three years now and I was with the Speak & Do team for the SummerCamps. I also teach adult classes. I studied languages at the Faculty of Education and creative education at the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Kids teach me how to play and discover new things that's why I enjoy my time with them.

Danielle Bodnar
English Teacher

Hi, my name is Danielle and I’m originally from a small town in New York state, USA. I came to Prague to try teaching English, and I have found that I really like both! Prague is a beautiful, perfectly sized city, and teaching English to students of all ages has given me a chance to learn more about Czech culture and my own mother tongue! I love being creative in my free time, and when I teach, and I love bringing out creativity in other people. I like how kids can come up with some fun, crazy ideas!

Jennifer Wheeler
English Teacher

Hi, my name is Jennifer. I've recently moved from Seattle, USA and I'm so excited to teach English in Prague! I have worked as a primary school teacher for 4 years in the US and I've also taught kids and adults how to swim and rock climb. I love both the challenge and satisfaction of working with kids. They grow a tiny bit each day and it's so cool to watch them explore and learn new things! Teaching is a great way for me to help others and harness my creativity.

Jake Buckner
English Teacher

I am from the United States and have been teaching English for about 4 years. I was working in sales when I started volunteering at a local middle school in Savannah, Georgia, where I am from. I found that I had a passion for teaching, and decided to change careers. I figured I could continue to teach in Savannah, or I could teach English and travel. I decided to travel and found that Prague was a great place to live and teach English overseas. I have lived in Prague for a little bit over a year. In my free time, I am an actor and comedian, performing with an improv comedy group called Script for Brains here in Prague.

Kim Douwes
English Teacher

Hi! My name is Kim and I'm a Certified TESOL instructor who hails most recently from California. I have many years of experience teaching adults and children in Asia, the US and Europe. I enjoy travel, meeting new people and learning about their culture. This makes teaching English a perfect job for me! I'm really looking forward to meeting your children and getting them on the road to English fluency by adapting the Speak & Do format to their learning style.

Liam Bulgen
English Teacher

I am from Cape Town, South Africa, and I moved to Prague two years ago with my family. Last year I was approached by a parent at my daughter's kindergarten regarding a teaching position that was becoming available at Prague's oldest English kindergarten. The following week I started working at this kindergarten as a teaching assistant and I immediately felt a deep desire to become a teacher. The rest is history. Helping children progress and develop confidence brings me great pleasure. The undiluted sound of children laughing brings me great pleasure. I have a corporate sales and entrepreneurial background. In my own time, I enjoy spending time with my daughter, listening to music, and designing functional art.

Venetia Dunlop
English Teacher

My name is Venetia. I am English from England! I first moved to Prague in 2006. I moved away for a few years and very happily returned last year. I have a TEFL certificate and have taught English to different nationalities and different ages since 2007. I get as much pleasure from teaching more advanced business English as to when I teach children through play and fun. We have fun exploring CZ with our dog, greatly enjoy learning about Czech culture, and have recently taken up the game of bridge. Learning to play bridge and to speak Czech are the biggest challenges in our lives!

Nathan Priestley
English Teacher

Hi, my name is Nathan. I’m from Kent in England and I have recently started working for Speak & Do. I moved to Prague in September because I fancied a change and I have never tried working or living in a different country so I thought I would give it a try. Back in my hometown, I was teaching primary school children with learning/behavioral/social issues. I love working with children because I believe that they can equally teach you as much as you are teaching them but in many different ways. They also remind us that life is supposed to be fun and doesn’t need to be such a struggle, we can learn and grow everyday of our lives and have fun in the process.

John Butler
English Teacher

Hi there my name is John and I am from right smack dab in the middle of the United States, Kansas city. Otherwise known as the heart of America but my heart lies with kids and teaching. I came to the czech republic for the beautiful architecture and of course pivo! I bring a lot of energy to the classroom and I like to have classes where the kids have fun while learning.

Emma Johnston
English Teacher

Hey there! I'm from Macon, Georgia in the Southern U.S. and after earning a B.A. in Women's Studies and English, I moved to Prague to earn my TEFL certification and work with young learners! I love working with children and have been everything from a nanny to a camp counselor to, most recently, a children's librarian for the past three years. I love teaching through hands-on play, arts and crafts, and lots of storytimes. Besides teaching, I love animals, reading, and exploring the city!