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education<br />
MBA programs in Prague include those previously mentioned—AAU,<br />
UNYP, and Prague College, offering an MSc—as well the CMC<br />
Graduate School of Business, Institute for Industrial and Financial<br />
Management, and University of Economics Prague. Online MBAs are<br />
an option for those who have the self-discipline required for distance<br />
learning. The London School of Business and Finance and American<br />
Public University have been praised on our message boards.<br />
•<br />
teFl ceRtiFicAtion<br />
Over the past twenty years Prague has been a Mecca for those who<br />
desire a good standard of living in exchange for giving a few lessons<br />
in their native language. A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign<br />
Language) certification certainly isn’t required to achieve this but it<br />
certainly can’t hurt—and most language schools nowadays require<br />
them, not to mention diplomas and certifications are usually required<br />
to secure a work permit in the Czech Republic. TEFL certification is<br />
received following 100-plus contact hours with at least six hours of<br />
assessed teaching practice.<br />
Well-known TEFL-course “brands” include the CELTA (AKCENT awards<br />
this certificate) and the Trinity certificate (awarded in Prague by<br />
Oxford TEFL), but there are many other TEFL courses in Prague that<br />
are also internationally recognized and accredited. There are plenty<br />
of unprofessional, unscrupulous schools out there, too. A few caveats<br />
as you investigate the school or company offering that TEFL course:<br />
Be advised that it’s entirely possible to find a job on your own with<br />
certification and a little initiative—though your school may guarantee<br />
employment, and that’s fine, it’s probably not worth paying extra for.<br />
Before choosing a course, do plenty of online research and speak to<br />
alumni. Our message boards are a good place to find user reviews<br />
of TEFL courses and our directory lists a number of TEFL certifying<br />
schools.<br />
•<br />
ARt/photoGRAphy clASSeS<br />
The artiste abroad will feel very welcome in Prague. Though not a<br />
city known for its astounding collections à la Paris or Madrid, Prague’s<br />
Cubist legacy is still felt today and the Czech passion for modern<br />
design is evident citywide in visual ad campaigns, fashion and the<br />
numerous galleries and shops selling the oddball wares of up-andcoming<br />
artists. Should you like to join their ranks, the Academy of<br />
Arts, Architecture and Design (VŠUP) now awards an MA in visual<br />
arts that encompasses everything from book to boot design as well<br />
as the more traditional artistic pursuits such as glass-making and<br />
sculpture. Photography enthusiasts will find no better place to hone<br />
their craft than photogenic Prague. The Academy of Performing<br />
Art’s film faculty, FAMU, has recently instituted a program of study<br />
in English. Degrees include BA- and MA-level work; short-term study<br />
is also an option. Also offered is a new course in photography<br />
restoration. On the non-degree side of things, Studio PvM is a<br />
commercial studio that specializes in photography courses. Small<br />
classes are offered for all levels of skill and hands-on instruction given<br />
in portraiture, night photography, and landscape. Ceramic Studio<br />
Prague is another art space with regular classes. Muddum’s adult<br />
workshops focus on paper-making, bookbinding, handcrafting tea<br />
pots and other folk-artsy projects. Figure-drawing classes also take<br />
place throughout the year.<br />
•<br />
Film/ActinG SchoolS<br />
The Czech Republic has long been associated with the performing<br />
arts and numerous graduates of its Academy of Performing Arts<br />
have gone on to great acclaim. The academy has three faculties; the<br />
Film and TV School, Music Faculty and Theater Faculty. Beginning<br />
in 2011, the theater faculty (DAMU) has begun an MA program in<br />
English with acting, directing, and stage-design courses. The Prague<br />
Summer Theater School—a survey in puppetry, non-verbal comedy,<br />
and other alternative forms—is also organized by DAMU. The film<br />
school, FAMU, operates a summer program for foreign students,<br />
though the regular film school only gives lectures in Czech. Those<br />
with Czech-language proficiency are welcome to apply. The Prague<br />
Film School’s programs are all run in English and cover filmmaking,<br />
animation, documentary film, and acting for film. Students can opt<br />
for year-long semester and summer courses. The Prague Playhouse,<br />
dedicated to promoting English-language theater arts in Prague,<br />
conducts a variety of workshops in association with its Acting Studio.<br />
cookinG clASSeS<br />
Occasional and serious gourmets will find a number of options for<br />
boning up in the kitchen. The Pražský kulinářský institut has classes<br />
for both amateurs and professionals and aims to revive the culinary<br />
traditions of the First Republic. Atelier Culinari not only teaches<br />
cooking basics, but also gives instruction in food styling for a variety<br />
of media, and recipe translation. Instruction is given in a number of<br />
languages and classes are small; chef Vladislav Stuparic will travel.<br />
The Prague Culinary Academy, endorsed by Le Cordon Bleu, runs<br />
professional-track workshops in Czech and English and organizes<br />
culinary tours of Paris and other tasty locales. Plans for master<br />
classes are in the works. Prague’s critically-acclaimed restaurants<br />
are another place to go for gourmet learning. The Radisson Blu (SAS)<br />
Alcron Hotel takes students behind-the-scenes at its award-winning<br />
restaurant La Rotonde to learn how to cook three-course meals with<br />
its head chef. Classes include wine-tasting and dinner. The Zinc<br />
Master Class at the Hilton Prague Old Town focuses on Thai cuisine<br />
with sous chef, Chaiyasith Lam Srichom and executive chef, Ari<br />
Munandar. SaSaZu courses by chef Shahaf Shabtay let students in on<br />
the secrets of Southeast Asian cuisine. Chefparade and Ola Kala do<br />
culinary team-building and private parties for corporate clients in their<br />
respective studio kitchens or at the client’s choice of location.<br />
kiddie clASSeS<br />
Swimming classes are a big hit with both Czech and expat parents.<br />
English-speaking instructors staff the Riverside Sharks Swimming<br />
Club, which swims at Strahov Pool. Modrý Tygřík is another expatfamily<br />
pick and has courses for babies. Sport Academy runs summer<br />
swimming classes at Hotel Pyramida—the academy also offers all<br />
sorts of classes from judo to gymnastics—as does Swimming Andrea<br />
School of Sports for Kids. “Mommy & Me” classes in English are held<br />
at RC Andílek. Yoga Mom and Buddha Baby classes at Prague Yoga<br />
Studio are in English. The Muddum art space runs year-round artsand-crafts<br />
workshops for children, including pottery-themed birthday<br />
parties. Located on a beautiful complex near Beroun, the Velkostatek<br />
Tetín Equestrian Center trains budding jockeys. Closer to Prague<br />
and more suitable for small ones is Poni Škola in Stromovka park.<br />
The International School of Music and Fine Arts nurtures your little<br />
novice to maestro, with classes and group lessons for kids aged three<br />
to six. The Little Gym’s gymnastics classes enroll babies as young<br />
as four months. An organization devoted to bilingual families, Class<br />
Acts plans classes and social activities with Czech-English-speaking<br />
families in mind. Recent events include storytelling, a Bollywood<br />
dance class, and family yoga.<br />
dAnce clASSeS<br />
The First International Ballet School in Prague is the oldest and bestknown<br />
ballet school for children (and adults) in Prague. Only serious<br />
104 | expats.cz survival guide www.expats.cz