Teaching Serbian, Bosnian, Montenegrin and Croatian. Explore very specific but also general pieces of our complex language on this exciting journey!

Learn more about Jovana

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I speak Serbo-Croatian because of my origin. I was born in Podgorica, Montenegro and was always fascinated by so many different accent that I absorbed every new word I heard, wondered about its origin, its connections to my roots. I loved hearing people from different places using distinct words for the same item.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  Jovan Jovanović Zmaj - poet and writer of children's books. He was there, in the lines of his poems, as a kind grandfather to show understanding and support for me when I was growing up. I believe that he is a person we children needed. And I choose him, because he was there to teach me the most important lessons.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  Word "Izvolite" confuses a lot of foreigners, because we use it in different situations. It a word that expresses welcoming. Also, it is a word that a person will use while providing service. And you can use it when you hand out something to someone.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Speaking Serbo-Croatian matters to me because since young age I learned how to express myself, how to communicate everything with anyone. I acquired skills to listen and ask. And most importantly, I make impact while speaking Serbo-Croatian.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  The challenging part is to not assume the similarities between your native language and Serbo-Croatian. Its difficult to have an empty mind and speak without relying on the structure you are familiar with.
  And a very difficult part is pronunciation of our unique letters. Practice is the best way to get rid of the barriers.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  During my time in high school, our Serbian language teacher had us have a very challenging essay for our final grade. I was pretty scared, because it was a philosophical topic. It was an essay about unique and special people, who don't conform or follow others.
  
  When I received my essay back, all but one sentence was crossed over with a red pen. She made a comment: Jovana, you would have written a perfect answer if only you kept that last sentence. And I read the sentence and I saw it.
  
  Just one sentence was enough to grasp something so big and important.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  It is definitely my first trip to US. I had a lot of trouble to get my message across, not because of the grammar or my accent, but because of the word order. I noticed then, when I started changing and improving ,how important it is to forget the structure you know and to relearn.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I am very proud of my patience and attention I give to my students. I observe and react. I love to have direct and frequent communication and to chat in Serbo-Croatian about some interesting things going on around me. I love to share tiny bits of our culture and be the guide through our small universe.