Petr Čech is a professional footballer from The Czech Republic and currently plays goalkeeper for English Premier League club Arsenal. He is a former captain of the Czech Republic national team and has previously played for Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, Rennes and Chelsea. Petr’s native language is Czech, however, he has been passionate about language learning throughout his whole life. He learnt German and English whilst at school, and at the age of 20, he moved to France to join the Rennes football team, where he learnt French – he has since also spent time mastering Spanish.
We understand that you can speak English, German and French, how did you go about learning each?
When I started going to school, the first language I learnt was German. Although this is the language I have been learning the longest, I haven’t used it much in the last few years. When I was in high school I started learning English as my second foreign language, but my level of English at that time was very average.
Then, for my career, I moved to France – before moving there I couldn’t say a word in French, however, being a goalkeeper requires good communication skills so I took a very intensive course. I had lessons after every training session for about three or four weeks, I then continued weekly lessons for two to three months. As I like learning languages, three years ago I decided to pick up Spanish as it seemed to be the language that was missing. I have a lot of teammates who speak Spanish so it’s been great to get to understand them.
How proficient are you in each?
I can read and write in all the languages I have learnt. Even if you can speak a language very well, at times you will need to be able to write and an understanding of grammar is very important – when you know how to read and write in a language I think it becomes easier to speak it as well.
Did you enjoy learning them?
I love learning new languages! With French it was a little rushed because I had about two weeks before the season started and I had to learn at least basic French so that I could communicate with my team mates. It was a bit stressful, but once I started getting the language in my head, I was able to start using it and I quickly improved. You get a real sense of accomplishment and happiness when you can move forward and improve.
What was your motivation for learning them?
My motivation… The first, German, I had to learn in school. 60% of the border around the Czech Republic is German, and a bit of Austria, so I thought it would make sense to learn the language closest to me. I chose English as my second language because everybody uses English. The whole world literally speaks English and so it’s very useful! I knew if I wanted to progress in my career, speaking languages helps because it eases the settling into a new country, and a new team.
When I came to France I had no other option, I had to speak French because there were about three people in the whole club who could speak English well and that I could communicate with – which wasn’t good! I understood that the best way to settle in and understand what’s going on, and to perform well, was to master the language. I took very intensive lessons, and obviously my motivation was to speak the language as fast as possible, and facilitate my life in a new country. I would say that my motivation to speak Spanish was so that I could speak to everybody in the dressing room in their native language – to understand everybody, and to understand their culture. I think once you understand a language, you understand the culture surrounding it as well.
Which language is your favourite? Why is it?
My favourite language, actually, is Czech, just because it’s so colourful. We have so many combinations, words and expressions. I have to say there are a lot of things which you can say in Czech, but you cannot really translate, because the meaning would make no sense. When you read a book in Czech it is so colourful and you can express yourself in so many different ways. It is very interesting.
During your career you have been lucky enough to see the world, either as part of your national team at World Cup tournaments or with Chelsea and Arsenal – has your ability to speak different languages helped you on your travels? If so, how?
When we travel anywhere around the world, when not everybody knows one language, you can just use another, and you always find a way to speak with people. You feel a kind of freedom because, wherever you go, you know that you will be able to communicate somehow. Obviously I imagine if you go somewhere like Japan, you’ll find a place where nobody speaks any of the languages you know, but it’s very rare!
When you are on the pitch or at the training ground do you tend to speak English with other players or different languages for different players?
I speak all my languages basically every day with the people in the dressing room and it’s a pleasure to be able to do so. On the pitch, if it’s a group of players I’m trying to communicate with, then I use English because you need to make sure everyone understands what you are saying. But if it’s for one player I try to use their native language, so that there is no problem with communication.
I believe that if you are someone who has just come to the country and you are not familiar with all the football terms, in the heat of the moment and under pressure you might not get what your teammate is asking for. So to avoid confusion, I try to give the order in the native language of each player. This helps to make them feel comfortable and means they don’t have to translate anything. Some people have the level of English so it doesn’t really matter, but with others it’s easier for them when they hear it in their native language.
Have there been any differences between language used at Chelsea and Arsenal?
English is the main language in English football, and everyone should respect that. Obviously it’s easier to communicate when you choose one language so at Chelsea, and Arsenal, its English. Nonetheless, when you have groups of players from the same country they will speak their native language, and so, in both the Arsenal and Chelsea dressing rooms, there is a lot of Spanish and French spoken. Now at Arsenal, we have a lot of German speaking players, which is good for me because I can practice my German which I haven’t used for a long time!
Off the field, has there ever been an occasion when you have faced a language barrier? If so, what?
Well if you go to places where nobody speaks English – if you go to Indonesia or if you go to China or Japan, or anywhere where they don’t speak any other language – obviously you hit a barrier. You have to explain with your hands, in like a kind of sign language, exactly what you want. It’s rare you will go to a place and face this issue, but I think that, having learned all these languages, there is always a way that someone understands at least something a little bit. I would say that there are languages which come into groups together, so sometimes even saying it in your own language, you can find a way to communicate and speak with people. It’s very surprising.
When you were growing up, did you have a favourite language teacher? If so, why?
My favourite language teacher was my French teacher Manuella, and it was because she made classes fun. We played kind of role games where you had to play a different character and basically use the group of words we were learning about. We cut pictures and items from magazines and it was really helpful to see the visual of words, and how they are written. That was fun and I think I learn better like this. When I learnt Spanish myself I used this method because I think it really helps.
Are there any other languages you want to learn? If so, why?
Well there are so many languages in the world! I don’t know, maybe one day I’ll learn Chinese or Japanese or Arabic, or one language that is really exotic to us Europeans! Maybe one day – let’s see!
For another perspective on the importance of language learning in sport, read our interview with Jonny Wilkinson.