Our Teachers
Martin Hoľko
Hi, my name is Martin and I consider myself truly fortunate, as for me, teaching is not only my profession, but also my life‘s mission… Not to mention, great fun!
I enjoy sports, traveling, history, a good sleep and making other people happy! The feeling of sharing my knowledge and experiences with my students is simply priceless.
I began my teaching carrier straight after finishing university and 10 years later, having spent seven years teaching at the gymnasium followed by three years at a primary school, I’m still enjoying it. Funnily enough, as a teacher, what I enjoy the most, are the excursions outside of the classroom and the school; where the learning is a combination of hands-on experience and fun. Having a lesson outside, maybe in a park or a historical part of the town-center, has always had a bit of magic to it. I have also been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work alongside third country nationals, where in addition to various activities we were also devoting time to teaching them the Slovak language.
Currently I am a part of the project that introduces and offers experiential learning (hands-on learning) workshops to various primary schools. I believe experiential and practical learning should be the at the very base of education and in all educational institutions. I believe individual subjects should overlap and complement each other as opposed to being taught in isolation.
Teaching of the Slovak language has, in comparison to other subjects, a great advantage in that it also includes the culture, history, geography, traditions and other whole wealth of information about our beautiful Slovakia.
Lenka Hanusová
Hi, my name is Lenka and I can honestly say that one of the greatest joys in my life is working with small children.
After graduating high school, I made the decision to continue my career in the field of education. Whilst studying biology and physics, I came to the realization that my heart was guiding me into pre-school education and for that reason I decided to start working in a kindergarten. During my 6 years practice, I was able to finish my university studies.
I am one of the lucky teachers for whom working with children is not only interesting, but also totally fulfilling! I feel that working with children is my life’s calling. I believe every child is unique and needs an individual approach. This is reflected in my practice with children; I strive to identify the uniqueness and individuality of each child and create an environment in which they can thrive. During my classes, I like discovering the beauty of the Slovak language through games, songs and poems. I love plays with puppets and dramatizing stories and fairy tales. The best reward for me is knowing my students are looking forward to my classes and seeing happy and contented smiles on their faces.
I look forward to meeting you and your little ones!
Juliana Molnarová
Hi, my name is Juliana. I am a qualified Slovak language teacher. I see my job as a mission to show to children the beauty of our language and our country and guide them through an extraordinary path of education. Working with children is the most interesting and meaningful call for me, in which I not only pass on my knowledge to children, but also expand my own horizons with their unique points of view. I truly enjoy this experience!
After finishing my university studies, I started teaching in a primary school. During my lessons, I try to put into practice the idea of Ján Amos Comenius: “learning by playing”. I believe that education should be appealing and attractive for children, therefore I engage my students with games, projects, plays and hands-on activities. My aim is to expose children to Slovak language in a playful way that they are going to enjoy, to keep language-learning fun for them and to make their curiosity brewing. My reward is their smile and progress.
Zdenka Valeková
Hi! To introduce myself shortly I can say that I am a teacher, a special needs pedagogue, and a mother.
I help children discovering their own potential; I am their guide on their path of knowledge. I believe that the driving force of education is mainly the intrinsic motivation of children for learning. Therefore I try to create a stimulating and safe learning environment where students can be themselves.
I believe in the uniqueness of everyone and with this in mind I approach each of my students. Do you make mistakes? Great! I am here for you! We all learn from our mistakes and what is even more important, we are becoming more tolerant of the „imperfections“ of others.
Apart from teaching, I provide psychological couching and counselling to parents, teachers and students, mostly to those with any kind of specific educational needs.
My current full-time work is being an internal expert for the Research Institute of Child Psychology and Pathopsychology. However, I don´t see myself as an expert in everything, therefore I am constantly in the process of studying and learning.
In my free time, I like engaging myself in various activities – sports, adrenaline experience, hiking, cycling, swimming, skiing, reading… I love spending time in nature where I can “recharge” and gain a new strength. My most unforgettable experience was climbing the Gerlachovsky peak in the High Tatras.
Slovak is my native language. This reflects not only in my ability to communicate, but also in my knowledge and passion for our country´s cultural and natural heritage, which I am excited to share with my Flamingos students!
Stanislava Michalková
Hi Flamingos,
My name is Stanka. I am a mother of two grown-up children. As a child, I had a dream to become a kindergarten teacher. My childhood dream did came through and I am living it until today. For past 20 years, I have been a teacher and second mom to children in a kindergarten. I also teach and support elementary school students with special educational needs that require individual teacher’s assistance. My work is my joy, my passion and my life.
I discover the beauty of the Slovak language and culture through fairy tales, games or stories. I help children to develop their skills for expressing the needs and feelings and using correct pronunciation. I navigate children in their development of social contacts with friends, peers and adults as well as prepare them for taking adequate responsibility. I support children’s uniqueness, healthy self-confidence and self-esteem. I apply creativity and environmental sensitivity into my daily work and build habits that lead to healthy lifestyle.
In my free time I do sports, I like downhill and cross-country skiing and fitness. I like riding a motorcycle, listening to modern and classical music. I love musicals, history and visiting cultural monuments.
Most rewarding feeling for me is seeing children excited to spend time with me, share their achievements and skills they gathered through my approach and dedication.
I look forward to seeing and enjoying our classes together.
Ivana Cigániková
Hi, my name is Ivana, I am a Slovak language teacher and lecturer. I am one of those lucky ones that have fulfilled their childhood dream in their adulthood profession. Becoming a teacher has been my dream since the elementary school, following the example of my favourite first teacher. Until today, my job is a source of a great joy and accomplishment for me.
I graduated the university with masters at Slovak language and literature, geography and catechetical studies. I have three wonderful children and a great husband who always „keep me on my toes“ in order not to distance myself too far from my students. Sometimes I try new activities and ideas first at home with my kids and in return, they give me useful educational tips on how to lecture with enthusiasm and for a joy of others.
As for teaching methods, I am a supporter of hands-on and experiential learning. I also like taking my students on various trips, to museums, galleries, cultural events etc. I believe that any unusual experience or adventure can have a great impact on children´s learning process motivation and is always an inspirational enrichment for all of us.
In addition to teaching Slovak language in primary school, I also lecture Slovak as a foreign language to adults. My last addition to my profession portfolio is giving lessons at the Flamingos school. It is with a great pleasure and honour that I can share my love for Slovakia, its language and culture with children of the Flamingos school and, in return, to learn a lot about themselves and their countries. Can´t wait to meet you at my lessons!
Katarína Kružliaková
Hello! My name is Katarína, and I was born in Liptovský Mikuláš. I am an empathetic, active, and positive-thinking teacher who takes her work as her mission.
After college, I spent a year volunteering in Baku, Azerbaijan, where we educate socially disadvantaged children. Then, I taught in kindergarten for seven years. I have been teaching pupils in the first grade of primary school for the sixth year.
I like challenges and new strategies for learning. That’s why I finished the Hejné method course in mathematics, two years of animation school, and the Comenia Script course.
Working with children is lovely and very rewarding. It is an interaction between two worlds of adults and children, and a person is thankful for gaining a clearer view of life.
I like to spend time in nature, walking or hiking in the Tatras. I often cycle after cycle paths in Liptov, and I travel. I play relaxing volleyball, ski and swim. I read books, educate myself through podcasts, and listen to gospel music.
Natália Sáčková
Hello, my name is Natalia, and I have studied pre-primary and primary education. My journey to this profession began in childhood when I discovered my love for learning and sharing knowledge with others. Since then, I have always known that I want to be someone who influences people’s lives and helps them discover their potential.
I consider my profession a true calling, allowing me to impart the beauty and depth of our language to young people and guide them on the path of education and discovery in a playful manner. I see my role as a guide who opens the doors to knowledge, exploration, and self-discovery.
Working with children is incredibly enriching and inspiring for me. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities for growth. With each student, I explore the world through their eyes, expanding my horizons, in the process. It is a great joy and privilege for me to be part of their education.
With hobbies such as reading, hiking, skiing, and baking, I have created an environment where I can constantly be inspired and develop my creative abilities. Reading gives me the opportunity to discover new ideas and perspectives, which I can then share with my students. The hiking is a source of endless inspiration and energy for me, which I can channel into my teaching and communication with students.
I look forward to meeting you and sharing our future experiences.
Shane Nerad
Hello everyone, my name is Shane, and I am from the USA. My passions in life are traveling, languages, teaching, music and being in nature. I came to Europe back in 2020 for work and travel, and after multiple years of living in different countries, my wife and I ultimately decided to settle down in Slovakia.
I am a very passionate and hardworking person, and I truly enjoy the experience of passing on knowledge to young learners. Not only that, but I believe that language learning should be fun, exciting, interesting and applicable in everyday life. After having learned multiple foreign languages myself, I understand the struggle that most learners have when acquiring a language. I find the best method to be lots of comprehensible input through stories, videos, songs, comics, conversation, and pictures. In my opinion, this is essential for making language acquisition fun and natural.
I find that by learning the English language, it enables young learners to open up new opportunities and learn more about the interesting world we live in.
I look forward to meeting you all for our English lessons!
Our Management Team
Marieta Gundová
SCHOOL DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER
Hi, my name is Marieta and here are few words that describe me: • Global citizen • Passionate Traveler • Business women • Linguist • Life-long learner • Designer • Mother
I was born in Slovakia but thanks to my parents and my carrier and passion for travelling, I have spent most of my life abroad.
Zuzana Nicolaou
Manager
Hi, My name is Zuzka. As 18 years old, I was admitted for studies of Medicine in Prague. New adventures brought me to Cyprus and instead of a doctor I became a businesswomen. I also met the love of my life and made this island my second home. However, even though that I live abroad for longer than in Slovakia, I am Slovak in my heart and I teach my children to feel the same!
