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.

 

 

 

 

Danial McDonald
English Teacher

I am an English teacher from the small city of Brighton situated in the south of England. I have worked in many professions with the most notable being a gold & diamond tester for a jewellery shop. I acquired my TEFL in Brighton England and then found a job in Shenyang, China working for a corporation called First Leap as an English teacher. Two and a half years at this job paved the way for my experience as a qualified teacher as they offered further education opportunities in the form of Oxford certified CLIL and TKT. I then acquired a job to work in Prague as an English teacher and worked with many schools and a preschool in the heart of Prague gaining valuable experience teaching many ages of Czech children. In my spare time, I like to make pottery which shows an artistic flare and a form of creativity for art, and a willingness to share and teach these forms of subjects. I also enjoy using technology in all forms for recreation and work which is a useful skill in this modern age. I love to travel and experience many cultures and my travels to Asia taught me many ways to communicate effectively when there is little to no English spoken by learning their native language to break down the barriers of miscommunication.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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
French 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.

 

 

 

Spencer Derr
English Teacher

My name is Spencer and I hail from California where I earned a degree in theater. For over six years, I have been teaching children at various levels from 2 to 17 years old. I enjoy using my knowledge of drama to help children express themselves in English and beyond. In Prague, I have worked in kindergartens, elementary schools, and summer camps.

 

 

 

Jessalyn Hubbard
English Teacher

My name is Jess, and I am a native English speaker from Florida. I have taught in a classroom setting in the United States for two years. Recently, I’ve relocated to Prague and am excited to be working as an English teacher now. I’m passionate about creating fun, engaging learning experiences for young learners!

 

 

 

 

Steijha Meserole
English Teacher

I'm Steijha, and I am originally from Portland, Oregon, USA. I have taught art to children in summer camps for 9 years. After living in France for a year nannying and teaching English to kids, I decided to explore a new city. So, I moved to Prague to get TEFL certified. Finding Speak & Do felt like a perfect way to merge my love of teaching art with English instructing. I am continually inspired by kids' adaptability and eagerness to explore and learn. Working with children reminds me to stay creative and curious about the world around me. I'm so excited to begin this journey here and get to know Prague.

 

 

 

Chaya Ita Elis
English Teacher

I’m Chaya and I’ve always loved art, creativity, and exploring different cultures. That is why Prague feels like such a special place to me. The beautiful architecture and artistic atmosphere make it an inspiring city to live and teach in. Teaching kids a new language is especially meaningful to me because I know firsthand what it’s like – it can be challenging, but also exciting and empowering! I love making learning fun and engaging, helping kids gain confidence while discovering new ways to express themselves.