Turning love of linguistic structures into student success

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A journey from student to teacher across generations

Martina’s path to teaching began with an unexpected challenge – she needed tutoring in Croatian during her first year of primary school because she simply didn’t want to learn to read. “I didn’t want to learn how to read. That was the biggest problem with me,” she recalls with a laugh. This early struggle with her native language sparked a curiosity that would eventually blossom into expertise. She went on to study German and Croatian studies at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb, developing a particular fascination with what many students find most daunting: grammar.

Her teaching experience spans an impressive range – from private primary schools teaching Croatian as a mother tongue to gymnasiums where she taught German as a foreign language, and now Croatian as a foreign language at Let’s Learn Croatian. “I really have experience in all areas now,” she explains. “German as a foreign language and Croatian both as a mother tongue and as a foreign language. I’ve really experienced everything – working with all age groups, from young children who need pedagogical guidance to motivated teenagers who already know where their lives are heading.” This breadth of experience across age groups and language contexts gives her unique insights into how different learners approach language acquisition.

Discovering the beauty in linguistic structures

What sets Martina apart is her genuine enthusiasm for grammar – often the most feared aspect of language learning. “People don’t like grammar, but for me, grammar is really the best thing about languages,” she says with evident passion. This love affair with linguistic structures began during her studies and has become central to her teaching philosophy. She finds joy in analysing structures, discovering similarities and differences between languages, and explaining linguistic phenomena to her students.

Her academic background in both German and Croatian studies provides her with invaluable comparative insights. “I can understand where the difficulties are, whether in grammar, pronunciation, or vocabulary,” she explains. This bilingual expertise allows her to create meaningful connections between languages, helping German-speaking students understand Croatian through familiar linguistic frameworks. Her passion for languages extends beyond her professional life – she’s currently learning Spanish and Swedish, and has studied Dutch in the past, giving her firsthand experience of the challenges her students face. She particularly enjoys working with groups of German speakers learning Croatian together, as it enables her to draw explicit comparisons and highlight useful similarities whilst addressing specific challenges that arise from their linguistic background.

Beyond the classroom: a world of inspiration

Travel is Martina’s greatest passion outside teaching, and it profoundly influences her approach to education. “I really, really love to travel,” she emphasises, describing how she and her boyfriend seek out new destinations regularly. Her favourite city is Copenhagen, which she describes as “simply beautiful, super organised, super clean.” London also captured her heart with its beautiful buildings and streets, whilst Thailand opened her eyes to completely different ways of living that she “couldn’t imagine here in Croatia.”

These travel experiences aren’t just personal indulgences – they inform her teaching by giving her firsthand understanding of what it means to navigate new cultures and languages. “I love getting to know new cultures, maybe learning new languages, walking through foreign cities, enjoying nature,” she explains. When not travelling internationally, she and her boyfriend explore Croatia itself, hiking and cycling through the countryside, always seeking new places and experiences that broaden their perspectives. Back home, Martina channels her love of travel into interior decorating, transforming her Zagreb flat with souvenirs and pieces collected from around the world, bringing memories of distant places into her everyday life.

Creating connections through personal touch

Martina’s teaching philosophy centres on human connection rather than purely academic achievement. “I place great emphasis on a human and personal approach. That’s the most important thing for me in teaching,” she explains. Every lesson begins with genuine interest in her students’ lives – asking about their week, their day, their experiences. This creates what she describes as an “open, trusting atmosphere” where meaningful learning can occur.

This personal approach allows her to adapt lessons spontaneously to match her students’ moods and needs. “I try to create an environment where everyone can really feel comfortable,” she says. From these foundations emerge lively conversations about travel, daily life, and diverse topics that naturally incorporate both life themes and grammatical concepts. Whilst maintaining the curriculum and textbook structure, she prioritises this personal exchange that makes language learning feel natural and engaging rather than purely academic.

The rewards of watching progress unfold

The moments that bring Martina greatest joy are often subtle but profound – watching students suddenly speak Croatian more fluently than they could just weeks before, or seeing them overcome their fear of making mistakes. “What makes me happiest is when I can see in class that suddenly the participants can speak Croatian much more than before, than a month ago or just a week ago,” she reflects. These breakthrough moments, when fear transforms into confidence, represent the true success of her teaching approach.

Her students motivate and inspire her in return. “I learn a lot from them too,” she acknowledges. “I’ve learned many new words, expressions, cultural peculiarities about Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.” Sometimes her students offer entirely new perspectives on her own language, creating mutual learning that enriches both teacher and student. This reciprocal relationship keeps her enthusiastic and motivated, proving that the best teaching happens when genuine human connections form the foundation of learning.