CROATIAN STARTER PACK
Go from “smiling politely” at Croatian conversations to actually joining in—confidently and clearly—without memorising endless grammar tables.
(Even if you’ve tried apps, free PDFs, or classes before and nothing stuck.)
For beginner & returning learners who want usable Croatian — diaspora, partners of Croats, expats and Croatia-lovers who want more than 50 tourist phrases.
Belonging starts when you can understand—and be understood
You can love Croatia without speaking Croatian.
But when you think in Croatian, doors open: family dinners, friendships, work options, feeling at home.
Right now, not having Croatian
might be:
Holding you back at family gatherings—conversations turn into background music behind glass.
Keeping you outside deeper friendships and opportunities at work.
Making everyday moments harder: cafés, travel, offices, neighbours.
You’ve invested time and money already…and yet:
You still hesitate with u / na / kod / bez and endings.
You “know” rules, but freeze in real conversation.
People talking to you switch to English after two sentences.
It’s frustrating. It’s not you. It’s the method.
Let's bust a few common doubts:
“Croatian is too difficult.”
Croatian is systemic—not random. Endings carry meaning; once you see the map, it clicks.
“I’m just bad at languages.”
If you learned your first language, you can learn another. Adults struggle because they’re taught in pieces.
“If I memorise grammar first, I’ll finally speak.”
Research says otherwise. You need comprehensible input + guided production—not charts alone.
Why learning Croatian has felt hard (and how we fix it)
It’s not your fault. Research shows five predictable barriers:
⚠️ Complex morphology (cases & endings). Every preposition triggers hesitation; endings shift with gender and number; plurals feel unstable.
⚠️ Pronunciation & prosody are skipped. Č/Ć blur, stress feels random, and Croatians switch to English.
⚠️ Fragmented resources. Ten apps, six PDFs, three teachers — nothing connects. You “know” rules but can’t use them.
⚠️ L1 transfer. English instincts move word order; clitics drift; aspect betrays even Slavic speakers.
⚠️ Uneven skills. Grammar nerds freeze when speaking, social learners skip writing, bookworms can’t follow fast speech.
👉 That’s why in my program, you’ll see a clear map of how my 4 Pillars solve these problems.
NOW, SLOW DOWN YOUR SCROLL FOR A SECOND.
Imagine what it would feel like to finally make sense of everyday Croatian — and start joining in instead of staying silent.
You’d be able to talk more easily with your Croatian friends, family, colleagues, or partner — with smoother conversations, fewer awkward switches to English, and the confidence to express yourself without freezing.
You’d build stronger bonds with Croatian loved ones, feeling included at the table, laughing at the jokes, and sharing moments instead of watching from the sidelines.
You’d feel more at home in Croatia — whether with relatives, at the café, or at the market — able to take part fully in daily life, not just survive it.
Meet Joan Clickner...
BUT WAIT, HAVE WE MET YET?
Dobar dan, I’m Tihana…
I was raised in Croatia by parents who believed culture is not something you read about — it’s something you live.
My father was prosecuted in the Croatian Spring of 1971; my mother devoted her life to heritage, and was later awarded the Red Danice Hrvatske with the image of Marko Marulić by President Tuđman. They raised me in cathedrals, museums, and village traditions — Croatia wasn’t an idea, it was my daily inheritance.
Later life stretched me abroad — to Michigan, where diaspora families baked bread and left Podravka jam at my door, and to Melbourne, where Croatians made me family when I was far from home. That’s when I understood: Croatian isn’t only spoken in Croatia. It’s a bridge across oceans.
Professionally, I’m an Associate Professor of English literature at the University of Zagreb, and I also speak English, Italian, and German. But this — teaching Croatian — is my calling. I created the 4-Pillar Method because I saw what happens when learners are given only fragments. When grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and culture finally work together, the language becomes alive — and usable.
I’m also a single mom of two teenage boys, a runner who laughs at herself mid-race, and someone who believes in longer tables, not higher fences.
For me, Croatian isn’t just a language. It’s belonging. And that’s what I want to share with you.
ENOUGH CONFUSION. HERE’S YOUR CLEAR PATH TO START LEARNING CROATIAN…
Croatian Starter Pack
A clear, step-by-step online program that shows you how Croatian actually fits together—so you can start using real, everyday Croatian and feel closer to your people.
The Starter Pack is self-paced and designed for beginners, rusty returners, and early intermediates.
Learn with short video lessons, guided practice, and living cultural texts—plus a monthly live Q&A where I answer your questions.
Lifetime access. Desktop & mobile friendly.
The method behind Croatian Starter Pack
Not grammar dumps or random apps. A research-grounded 4-Pillar Method—Grammar • Vocabulary • Pronunciation • Culture—working together inside one scene, so your brain keeps it.
Active listening in real scenes
Short dialogues from Croatian life (café, family table, name-day, travel) at natural and slowed speeds, with English support when needed—so you understand and notice what matters.Grammar revealed in context (micro-maps)
One clear function at a time (e.g., u/na for “where”), practiced inside living sentences. You swap one piece (place/subject/object) and feel endings and word order change with purpose—no wall of charts.Ear → mouth training for Croatian sounds
Targeted loops (listen → shadow → minimal pairs) inside the very lines you’ll use, so č/ć, dž/đ, š/s, stress & rhythm become natural—and people understand you the first time.
(Culture is the thread running through everything—because you don’t just learn words; you learn a way of life, and that’s what makes language stick.)
How is the Croatian Starter Pack different from other Croatian programs?
It gives you clarity, not chaos
Most learners end up with ten apps, six PDFs, and three teachers — and nothing connects. That’s why you “know” rules but freeze in real conversations.
In the Starter Pack, everything follows a predictable weekly rhythm: Cultural Spark → Dialogue → Practice → 7 Daily Nuggets. Each step prepares the next. No overwhelm, just steady progress.
It teaches the language you’ll actually use
Too many resources obsess over abstract grammar or tourist phrases you’ll never say again.
Here, you start with living Croatian: how to order, ask, tell, and describe in the exact form Croatians actually use — endings, stress, rhythm included.
It integrates all 4 Pillars
Other courses split grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and culture into separate silos (and usually skip pronunciation altogether).
The Starter Pack is built on my 4-Pillar Method — where every scene you study is seen through four lenses: grammar (structure), vocabulary (chunks), pronunciation (clarity + belonging), and culture (the glue that makes memory stick). That’s what finally makes Croatian usable.
It’s taught by a professor, not an app
I’ve been an Associate Professor at the University of Zagreb for 20 years, and I speak four languages myself (Croatian, English, Italian, German). I know both the research and the real struggles learners face. This course is designed for heritage learners, partners of Croats, and Croatia-lovers who want more than “survival phrases” — they want connection.
👉 That’s why the Starter Pack is different: it doesn’t give you fragments. It gives you a map you can follow tomorrow.
After the Croatian Starter Pack, you will be able to:
Use simple everyday chunks correctly (e.g. Molim kavu, Idem u park) with the right case endings.
Handle basic prepositions with confidence (u, na, kod) because you’ve practiced them inside real-life sentences, not charts.
Introduce yourself and ask simple questions without freezing.
Order food and drinks in Croatian without the conversation switching back to English.
Place stress more naturally and pronounce tricky contrasts like č/ć, dž/đ, š/s, so Croatians actually understand you.
Follow along in short dialogues from everyday situations (café, family table, travel, name-day) at both natural and slowed speeds.
Write and speak short sentences that balance all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing).
See Croatian as a connected system (grammar + vocabulary + pronunciation + culture) instead of scattered rules — which means you stop translating word by word and start thinking in Croatian.
Want to experience the same?
What you get inside the Croatian Starter Pack
Croatian Foundation Course (123 video lessons organized into weekly tracks)
Weekly themes include: greetings, family & imendan, ordering food, directions & movement, table talk, literature & film.
Every week follows the same staircase: cultural spark → dialogue → 7 daily nuggets (tiny tasks you can finish in 5–15 minutes).
BONUS: Voice Kickstart (11 lessons)
Master the alphabet & sounds, stress & intonation, linking, listening & imitation—and run it alongside Foundations so your pronunciation grows from Day 1.
BONUS: 🎥 Recorded 4-Pillar Method Masterclass
BONUS: 🗣 Accent Quickstart Kit (intro video + stress PDF + drill calendar)
BONUS: 📑 Printable helpers: Croatian at Your Fingertips, Chunks, cultural booklet
Monthly Live Q&A class
Send your questions by email; I answer them live. Join live or watch the replay.
✔ Lifetime access. Works beautifully on desktop & mobile.
✔ This isn’t a “20 phrases” crash course. It’s the foundation for real fluency — the starting point for B2 and beyond — designed for people who want to belong, not just survive as tourists.
Want to know the details?
Here's what's in store for you:
Say Hello to Croatian!
Learn to greet people, ask simple questions like “What is this?” and “What is that?” Dive into the history of the Croatian language, explore the significance of the Baška tablet, uncover the beauty of glagolitic letters, and master the Croatian alphabet.
Introduce Yourself with Confidence
Discover how to introduce yourself and talk about where you’re from. Expand your vocabulary with words for family members while learning about the fascinating life and art of Vlaho Bukovac. Through his family, you’ll also uncover the richness of Croatian family traditions.
Celebrate Croatian Name Days
Learn how to talk about name day traditions, a cherished part of Croatian culture, and practice conversations for the table. This week is all about bringing language and tradition together in a warm, conversational way.
ORDER FOOD AND DRINKS IN A RESTAURANT
Explore Krka National Park and master how to order food and drinks in a Croatian restaurant. Get a taste of both the natural beauty and culinary culture that makes Croatia unique.
Navigate the Streets Like a Local
Uncover the magic of St. Nicholas Day traditions while learning how to get around town with ease. You’ll master directions and transportation-related conversations to confidently move through any Croatian city.
Share Stories at the Table
Delve into the tradition of Lepoglava lace while learning essential phrases for chatting with family at the dinner table. This week combines language, tradition, and moments of connection.
Dive into Croatia’s Literary Heart
Meet the beloved Croatian author Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić and her classic story Šegrt Hlapić. Along the way, expand your vocabulary with words for cutlery, pots, pans, plates, and more—everything you’ll need to talk about meals and the kitchen.
Plan a trip
Wrap up your journey with the iconic Croatian film Tko Pjeva Zlo Ne Misli. Learn how to plan a trip, buy tickets, and confidently navigate train travel, so you’re ready for real-life adventures in Croatia.
A Glimpse at the Weekly Outline:
Week 1
Master Croatian greetings, learn the alphabet, personal pronouns, the nominative case, and present tense of the verb "to be" while exploring "What is this?" and "Who is that?" Plus, complete a daily bite-sized exercise (just 15 minutes) to practice and reinforce what you've learned.
Week 2
Introduce yourself confidently, state where you're from, and dive into the genitive case, negative and interrogative forms of "to be." Maintain consistency with a daily 15-minute exercise to solidify your skills.
Week 3
Explore expressing possession with possessive pronouns in the nominative and deepen your understanding of the genitive case. Keep your progress on track with a quick daily practice exercise.
Week 4
Learn the verb "to have," the accusative case, and how to indicate location with the locative case while understanding direct and indirect objects. Reinforce your knowledge with a 15-minute exercise each day.
Week 5
Master the A-type verb conjugation in the present tense across positive, negative, and interrogative forms. Stay consistent with a quick daily exercise designed to support your learning.
Week 6
Grasp the dative case, E-type verb conjugation, reflexive possessive pronouns ("svoj"), and deepen your present tense skills. Daily bite-sized exercises will help you retain what you've learned.
Week 7
Explore I-type verb conjugations, instrumental and vocative cases, and develop fluency with practical usage. Keep sharpening your skills with a daily 15-minute practice session.
Week 8
Discover J-type verb conjugations, special verbs like "pomoći," "otići," and "jesti," and learn possessive adjectives to round out your Croatian fluency journey. Wrap up each day with a quick exercise to reinforce everything you've learned.
Some love from my students....
How about these amazing bonuses for free?
Croatian Voice Kickstart
Most courses skip pronunciation — but if Croatians can’t understand you, everything else falls flat.
That’s why the Voice Kickstart runs alongside Week 1 of the Starter Pack.
In 11 short, practical lessons, you’ll:
🎙 Master the Croatian alphabet & sounds — no more guessing between č/ć, dž/đ, or š/s.
🎵 Train your stress & intonation — Croatian isn’t flat; it’s musical. You’ll feel the rhythm from the start.
🔗 Learn linking & flow — how words actually sound in real speech, not just in isolation.
👂 Strengthen your listening ear with targeted loops (listen → shadow → minimal pairs → repeat).
🗣 Build confidence to speak out loud knowing you’re being understood.
You don’t just learn about pronunciation — you practice it daily in tiny 3-minute sessions. By the end, you’ll sound clear, natural, and recognisably Croatian.
Recorded 4-Pillar Method Masterclass
Why do so many learners stall out in Croatian?
Because they learn in fragments — grammar here, vocabulary there, pronunciation skipped, and culture treated as an afterthought.
In this recorded 60-minute masterclass, I show you how the 4 Pillars — Grammar • Vocabulary • Pronunciation • Culture — actually work together to create a system you can use.
You’ll discover:
🧩 Why charts and lists don’t stick — and how to replace them with living sentences
🎯 How to anchor grammar in real use without overwhelm
🗣 Why pronunciation and rhythm are essential from Day 1
🌍 How cultural context makes memory stronger and learning more joyful
This masterclass gives you the big picture of Croatian learning — so you’ll never waste time wondering “am I doing this right?” again.
Accent Quickstart Kit
Croatian isn’t just about words — it’s about sound and rhythm. If your stress is off, even simple sentences can sound confusing to native ears.
That’s why I created the Accent Quickstart Kit, a practical starter bundle you can use alongside your lessons:
▶ Intro video — understand how Croatian stress and melody work (without phonetics jargon).
📄 Stress PDF — a clear reference you can check anytime.
🗓 Drill calendar — 10 days of short, guided
practice to make natural stress automatic.
With this kit, you’ll stop second-guessing yourself and start sounding more authentically Croatian — from your very first conversations.
Printable helpers
Sometimes you just want something you can hold in your hand, glance at, and use right away.
That’s why you also get a set of printable companions to keep Croatian close at hand:
📑 Croatian at Your Fingertips — a quick-reference sheet for the most useful patterns and forms.
💬 Chunks booklet — everyday ready-to-use phrases you can drop into conversations with confidence.
🌍 Cultural booklet — stories, traditions, and context that make the language memorable and meaningful.
Print them, pin them by your desk, or keep them on your tablet — they’re your pocket support system for learning and living Croatian.
All in all this is what you get...
🎓 Learn Croatian while learning about Croatia and Croatians through 8 weeks of culture-driven video & audio lessons.
📚 See grammar revealed inside stories and dialogues — no endless rule-memorising, but real usage you can copy and adapt.
🗣 Start to sound Croatian from Day 1 with Voice Kickstart: pronunciation, stress, rhythm, and ear–mouth training loops.
👀 Follow easily even as a beginner with English support where needed, plus printable PDFs and cultural notes.
💬 Learn useful Croatian chunks and expressions from every lesson, with explanations so you know when and how to use them.
🗺 Stay on track with a clear weekly staircase (cultural spark → dialogue → 7 daily nuggets). You always know what to do next.
📧 Get support directly from me by sending in your questions, answered in the monthly live Q&A (join live or watch the replay).
♾ Lifetime access + free updates — once you’re in, you keep everything, including future improvements.
Bonuses
✨ Croatian Voice Kickstart - Master the alphabet & sounds, stress & intonation, linking, listening & imitation in 11 video lessons.
✨ Recorded 4-Pillar Method Masterclass — understand the big picture of how language learning really works.
✨ Accent Quickstart Kit — intro video + stress PDF + drill calendar.
✨ Printable helpers: Croatian at Your Fingertips, Chunks, cultural booklet.
What's the investment and what am I getting?
Join today and gain instant access to:
A guided, step-by-step learning path where every lesson builds logically on the previous one.
Holistic language development: practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking while starting to think in Croatian.
An immersive multimedia experience: video lessons, cultural insights, interactive exercises, and engaging materials tailored to adult learners.
Practical, real-life grammar lessons integrated into meaningful contexts for effortless application.
Functional everyday vocabulary, perfect for family conversations, travel, or reconnecting with your Croatian roots.
The flexibility of a structured, self-paced program designed to fit into your busy life.
Course completion certificate
Lifetime access to all course materials, ensuring you have the time to absorb and revisit the lessons.
This is your chance to start strong, gain confidence,
and set the stage for fluency.
Let’s begin your Croatian story together!
Croatian Starter Pack
Croatian Starter Pack
Here's what you get:
Croatian Foundation course 127 €
Croatian Voice Kickstart course 37€
4-Pillar Method Masterclass 17 €
Accent Quickstart Kit 17 €
Printable Helpers 27 €
Monthly live Q & A Sessions 97€
Questions via email 97 €
Total value: $419
Now Just $197
STILL NOT SURE?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Croatian Starter Pack unique?
Because it doesn’t teach in fragments. Most courses give you grammar here, vocabulary there, no pronunciation, and culture as an afterthought. The Starter Pack connects all 4 Pillars — Grammar, Vocabulary, Pronunciation, and Culture — so Croatian finally makes sense.
How long does the Croatian Starter Pack take to complete?
The core program is 8 weeks, but you have lifetime access. That means you can repeat, review, or take it slower depending on your pace.
When will I be able to understand and speak Croatian?
By the end of the course, you’ll understand and use everyday Croatian chunks, join in simple conversations, and order food or ask directions without freezing. You’ll also sound clearer thanks to the Voice Kickstart.
Which proficiency level will I reach with the Starter Pack?
The Starter Pack takes you through A1 level — enough to handle everyday situations like greetings, ordering, directions, and simple conversations. It gives you a strong foundation to move into A2 and beyond, but it’s not a full fluency program.
Is the Croatian Starter Pack suitable for complete beginners?
Yes! It’s designed for both total beginners and “false beginners” who’ve tried before but got stuck. Everything starts simple and builds step by step.
How does the Starter Pack work?
Each week follows a staircase: Cultural Spark → Dialogue → 7 Daily Nuggets (tiny tasks that take 5–15 minutes). You’ll learn grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and culture together — in context.
When do the live classes take place?
There’s a monthly live Q&A. You can send questions by email in advance, join live if you can, or watch the replay later.
Does the Starter Pack have any interactive exercises?
Yes — the daily nuggets are interactive: listening, speaking, and writing tasks. You’ll also get pronunciation drills, printable helpers, and chances to try out real-life sentences.
Is this a membership with monthly payments?
No. It’s a one-time payment of €197 (or 3 × €72). That’s it. No ongoing subscription.
Why should I join if I can find Croatian videos on YouTube for free?
Random videos can be fun, but they don’t give you a clear system. The Starter Pack connects everything into one path, gives you live support, and ensures you actually progress instead of collecting fragments.
What happens if I get stuck?
You’re supported! Send your questions by email and I’ll answer them in the monthly live Q&A. If you can’t join live, you can watch the replay.
Do I need to buy any extra materials?
No. Everything is included: video lessons, dialogues, transcripts, pronunciation training, cultural notes, and printable helpers.
What if I already know some Croatian?
Then this will help you connect the dots. You’ll finally see how grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and culture work together instead of in pieces.
Will this really help me speak Croatian?
Yes. From Week 1 you’ll be using real-life sentences, practicing pronunciation, and building your own. This isn’t a “20 tourist phrases” crash course — it’s the foundation for real fluency.
Have more questions?
Send me an e-mail at: [email protected]
