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.

Asha Dowgray
English Teacher

Hi, I am Asha and originally come from the South Island of New Zealand. I have been living in Prague since 2023. As well as teaching, I enjoy playing the saxophone, hiking in nature, and taking photographs. My favorite part of teaching is helping students learn through games and activities – making the process fun as well as educational!

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.

Dylan Bolinger
English Teacher

Hi, my name is Dylan! I’m originally from a small town in Iowa, USA. I received my bachelor’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) at the University of Northern Iowa and I am currently completing my master’s degree in it. I moved to Prague in August and I absolutely adore it here. The people, the culture, and the food are all amazing! I have previously worked at a daycare for over ten years and taught during summer school programs. I love working with children because of their playfulness, honesty, and curiosity. I look forward to meeting you!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

Aurora Estrada
English Teacher

Hi! My name is Aurora and I am studying psychology at the University of New York in Prague, UNYP. I was born in the Czech Republic and also studied abroad in Canada. I like to keep things playful and interesting for the students as well as myself. I have experience with one-on-one teaching children. I would describe my teaching style as fun, safe, supportive, and focusing on sparking an interest in English in the students. I enjoy teaching children because of their energy which keeps the sessions positive and entertaining. I am looking forward to seeing you!

Fabienne Haber
English Teacher

My name is Fabienne Haber, and I am from France. I studied in Paris, where I obtained a BA in Modern Literature. I lived in Japan for five years, during which time I immersed myself in the Japanese language, culture, and society. I studied Japanese and gained extensive experience working for a Japanese production company, organizing contemporary dance performances and concerts for two years. During this time, I also enhanced my teaching skills through various experiences. I provided regular private lessons to business professionals and students, taught intensive seminars to groups of approximately 20 students, and hosted educational broadcasts in the French language for the national channel NHK for four years. After returning to France in 2001, I dedicated six years of my career to working for a prestigious international contemporary dance festival. Since 2007, I have made the Czech Republic my home. In Prague, I have been working as a coordinator and production manager for documentaries broadcast on Japanese television. Additionally, I've been in charge of international relations for a festival focused on dance and theatre. Alongside these roles, I have been teaching French to adults and children of all levels, either individually or in small groups.

Taylor Lawritson
English Teacher

My name is Taylor and I love to read, write, go outside, and do yoga in my free time! I fell in love with Prague after spending a summer studying here in college. I especially love all of the public art and the amazing public transportation. There is nothing like getting lost in this city! I love working with kids because they are so creative! I always come away from my lessons thinking about the world just a little bit differently, and I love learning alongside the little ones and especially getting to play with them! I have worked with children in different capacities since I was a teenager, and my last role in the United States was specifically working in child development for children 0-5. I currently work with a few different language schools teaching children through a variety of methods, especially experientially!