From drama stages to language classrooms

Following her mother’s footsteps

“My mom has always shown me that being a teacher is a noble profession where you can make a genuine difference in people’s lives,” Maja explains, describing the influence that led her to study Croatian language and philosophy at Zagreb’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

What started as following her mother’s example evolved into Maja’s own conviction that language teaching offers more than grammar rules – it creates bridges between cultures, people, and sometimes even parts of ourselves.

The classroom as a stage

In Maja’s lessons, language learning transforms through drama techniques. Students improvise conversations, adopt new personas, and create stories – all while absorbing Croatian vocabulary and grammar structures.

“When students hide behind a character, they can express themselves more freely without overthinking grammar or vocabulary,” she explains. “Drama methods work perfectly with language learning because both are about authentic communication.”

This theatrical approach creates a rare learning environment where making mistakes isn’t just accepted – it’s celebrated as the only genuine path to fluency.

Beyond teaching: exploring mind and matter

While her professional life revolves around language and drama pedagogy, Maja’s curiosity extends far beyond the classroom. She practices meditation and journaling, diving into psychology books to better understand herself and others.

“I’ve recently become fascinated with exploring mental well-being,” she shares. “But I also love discussing quantum physics with my brother who studied mathematics. There’s something fascinating about understanding how reality works at both particle level and cosmic scale.”

This breadth of interests reflects her teaching philosophy – that genuine connection to a subject comes through multiple perspectives and approaches.

The magic of language holidays

“We are enabling students to create connections – to understand people they love,” Maja says, describing what makes teaching meaningful to her. This philosophy comes alive most vividly during intensive language holidays, where students spend a week immersed in Croatian lessons and culture.

These concentrated experiences create a unique dynamic that Maja treasures. “There’s something special about watching students create video recaps of their week together. You see the spark in their eyes when they realise not just how much Croatian they’ve learned, but how deeply they’ve connected with each other.”

Creating community through language

For Maja, teaching Croatian means fostering a space where individual needs balance with collective learning. She keeps groups small – never more than eight students – to ensure everyone receives personalized attention while still benefiting from peer interaction.

“The most challenging and rewarding part is recognizing when someone needs a different approach – when to simplify, when to challenge, and when to let students help each other,” she explains. “Sometimes peers understand each other better than I can explain.”

This community-centered approach reflects Maja’s broader vision of language teaching as more than skill transmission – it’s about creating spaces where people find their voice, their confidence, and sometimes even pieces of themselves they hadn’t yet discovered.