Preparing the young people of today for the unknown occupations of tomorrow

Jan Čihák

After completing my MA in Czech and French philology at the Charles University in Prague I taught shortly in a private Czech secondary school before I started teaching Czech and French at the English College in Prague in 2003. Over the years there I took various positions such as Senior Tutor or Head of Czech department. Over the past few years I was responsible for all matters related to the Czech educational legal background working as Director of Czech educational matters. I have been involved with the International Baccalaureate Organisation since 2011 by leading and facilitating face to face and online IB workshops (also abroad), and I am an examiner of IB Czech A course. I cooperate closely with CERMAT on the concept of the state leaving examination, so called maturita and I also worked for a few semesters at the Charles University leading seminar on how to teach Czech efficiently - this was also the time when I finished my Ph.D. in sociolinguistics there. Most of all, in school I have a passion for teaching and discovering new methods of efficient learning. Students´ progress and enjoyment of their own learning is the most important imperative for me and I can not imagine this happening without humour in class. In my private life I enjoy cycling, reading and making music - I am an enthusiastic guitar and bass player, but I also try new instruments such as accordion. I have a little daughter and spending my spare time with her is my biggest pleasure.