What does it mean to study the Czech language at Ohio State? It means that our students are learning from one of the largest and most highly ranked Slavic departments in the country. As an added bonus, students have a unique opportunity to meet Czech natives from the Columbus Blue Jackets (CBJ) such as Rostislav Klesla, Jan Hejda, and Jakub Voráček during fall quarter. “Learning a language means learning the culture. In the Czech Republic, hockey is a national game that draws the attention of millions and it has become a huge part of our culture. ” said Czech instructor Marcela Michalkova.

The idea to bring the CBJ into the classroom started in 2006 when Karen Sobul, from the Foreign Language Center (FLC), watched a post-game interview featuring one of the Czech-speaking players. Shortly after, Sobul contacted the CBJ and invited their native speakers to visit Ohio State and converse with language students. Sobul said, “When you attempt to speak someone's native language, you're taking an interest in their culture. When you take an interest in their culture, you’re attempting to engage them on their comfort level and you get so much more from them.”

There are just under forty languages offered at Ohio State. Every quarter, the FLC tries to bring someone from the community to visit with the language classes and speak with the students in their native language. These events teach students the subtle nuances of a language including phrases and gestures that aren’t captured in a text book.

Klesla, Hejda, and Voráček created an opportunity for students to attend Columbus Blue Jackets home games throughout the season with the Czech Mates program. The players have purchased 15 tickets to all the home games for the students. When the players go on the ice, the Czech Mates will shout, clap and cheer them on.

“The languages our students are learning in the classroom are being spoken right here in Columbus and these opportunities give the students a peek at the many ethnic communities that make up our city,” said Sobul.