Take advantage of the unique flavor Prague has to offer. CEA offers a wide variety of local immersion activities to match your interests. Whether you enjoy music concerts, clubs, sports, cooking classes, language exchanges or something entirely different, our resident staff can help you get involved in the local culture. During the orientation session, the local staff will also introduce you to their database of over 30 exciting volunteering and unpaid internship possibilities. Here are just some examples of how you can get involved in Czech life:
Assistant teaching of English at Elementary School
Education majors or minors can apply for this position and compare the local environment and practices with their teaching experience from the US.
Assistant to the Costa Rican Consul in Prague
International Studies or Political Sciences students may appreciate the opportunity to assist the Consul in his daily routine and to better understand the workings of diplomatic services.
Volunteer Internship with Members of the Czech Parliament
Students can gain insight into Czech politics and society by observing the daily routine of a Member of Parliament, actively assisting him/her in all aspects of the day-to-day running of a busy parliamentary office, thus gaining practical work experience in a multicultural world-- an invaluable supplement to classroom learning. All placements are unpaid and will be determined upon arrival in Prague.
Volunteer Internship in Journalism at the Prague Tisková Press Agency
Students will assist with the compilation of foreign news, focusing on the development of equal rights policies as well as other projects working with a well-known Prague press agency. All placements are unpaid and will be determined upon arrival in Prague.
Volunteer Opportunity in Environmental Conservation
Students who enjoy the outdoors can volunteer to assist the Czech Forestry Commission to renovate hiking trails, preserve footpaths and repaint signaling marks in the mountain forests of the Czech national parks. All placements are unpaid and will be determined upon arrival in Prague.
Guest Speakers
CEA will invite 1-2 interesting guest speakers to talk about their work and life in the Czech Republic.
Surprise Guest for Dinner
Students can follow another avenue in trying to meet locals by extending a blind dinner invitation to a "young talented film maker," "a successful Prague entrepreneur," or "a nanotechnology scientist" or what have you… and the CEA staff will do their best to fulfill students' requests.
Sports in Prague
Ice Hockey is very popular in the Czech Republic-- more popular even than soccer. The Czechs have produced many world-class players, many of whom have been lured "across the pond" to play in the NHL. The city's two most popular soccer teams are Sparta Prague and Slavia Prague. Sparta is the Czech Republic's biggest and most successful soccer club and they frequently qualify for the Champions League. The Sparta stadium is located near Prague Castle and their fans are among the most ardent in Europe. Matches against local rivals “Slavia” are well worth seeing. CEA staff will arrange for tickets to attend major hockey and soccer matches while students are in Prague, and those who wish to play either soccer or Ice Hockey in Prague will have the opportunity to join a local club.
Language Exchange
CEA staff can arrange for students to meet with Czech language exchange partners to practice Czech in a real life context. Most partners are regular Czech university students who are studying English or other languages. Language partners can also help CEA students experience the city and its culture, providing tips on how to get around and where to find sights and activities of interest. This program is a great way to meet other young people and enhance speaking skills.
Opera and Classical Music
In Prague, the opera and classical music scenes are flourishing. The city has two established opera houses, four major orchestras and a whole host of elegant classical music venues. Concerts are often held in the palaces and churches of central Prague. The city's concert calendar is full of virtuoso performances from world-class conductors and musicians. Students can put on their glad rags and have a great night out at an opera performance or classical concert with CEA.
Czech Folk Culture
The Polka was originally a Czech peasant dance, developed in Eastern Bohemia. Students will love an evening of trying a few steps of some traditional Czech Polka Dances, an integral part of the country's folklore. They can join the locals and sing along with some Bohemian and Moravian folk songs, a great way to meet friendly Czechs of all ages and experience a new and different aspect of Czech culture.
