CROATIAN FOUNDATION
That Dream You Have...
To speak Croatian with confidence,
To finally feel at home in Croatia,
To connect deeply with your roots and culture…
It can become your reality.
Your journey to mastering Croatian starts right here.
Have you tried learning Croatian, only to feel stuck or unsure how to move forward?
It’s not your fault—most traditional methods don’t align with how adults actually learn languages.
That’s why I designed the Croatian Foundation course—to give you the structure, tools, and understanding you need to build the strongest possible base for your Croatian fluency.
START RIGHT AWAY AND LEARN AT YOUR OWN PACE!
CALLING ALL BEGINNERS AND SELF-TAUGHT LEARNERS
You’re Starting from Scratch
You’re ready to learn, but the path ahead feels overwhelming.
You’ve always wanted to learn Croatian, but you’re unsure where or how to begin.
The grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation all seem intimidating, and you’re afraid of starting in the wrong place.
You’ve tried using apps or free online resources, but nothing seems to connect—like you’re picking up pieces of a puzzle without seeing the bigger picture.
Memorizing random grammar rules or words feels pointless, and you’re not making progress.
You’ve Tried Before
but Feel Stuck
Your progress has stalled because you’re missing the basics.
You’ve attempted to teach yourself Croatian or worked with apps, tutors, or other courses, but nothing has given you the clarity you need.
Your foundation feels unstable—like you’ve skipped important steps—so no matter how much you study, it’s hard to move forward.
You feel stuck in an endless beginner phase, repeating the same lessons without real growth.
You know you need to revisit the basics to fill in the gaps, but going back feels like a chore.
WANT TO START SPEAKING & THINKING IN CROATIAN?
Here’s how we’ll do it together in Croatian Foundation:
Build strong and structured foundations for your Croatian fluency so the language begins to feel natural and intuitive.
Expand your practical, everyday vocabulary and learn how to use it in real-life situations, so whether you’re visiting Croatia or reconnecting with family, you’ll feel at home.
Make Croatian grammar finally make sense by understanding the "why" behind every rule—watch how each piece of the puzzle clicks into place, step by step.
Develop all your language skills simultaneously—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—in an integrated, natural way. This is the key to starting to think in Croatian.
Dive into the culture through the stories, traditions, and people who shaped Croatia's rich heritage, helping you feel connected to something bigger than just words and phrases.
Immerse yourself in the Croatian way of life and begin building your own Croatian identity—with care, clarity, and joy.
Are you ready to transform how you learn Croatian?
Let’s begin your journey together!
READY TO BUILD YOUR CROATIAN FOUNDATION?
Here's what there is 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.
Take 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.
Your desire to connect with your Croatian roots may be your motivation.
But the right program will make that connection a reality.
Meet Joan Clickner...
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
1-year 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!
Some love from my students
"Enjoy the process"
"The instructor Tihana, is passionate in her love for the Croatian language and culture. Throughout the course, she encouraged all her learns to keep trying, not to worry about mistakes, and to enjoy the process!"
- Lisa Jurca
"Clearly explaining"
"Hearing you speak. You sharing your experiences. Everything was explained clearly. I'm pretty sure others feel as I do that you were very welcoming and accommodating - clearly explaining proper tenses, regional dialects, pronunciation... You built in lots of practice time."
- Catherine Ostrowski
"Well-structured course, ask freely on Zoom"
"The course is a very structured one, you can listen to Croatia's culture and culinary specialities, while you can also learn the basic Croatian grammar. If you have any questions related to grammar, you can freely ask it on a weekly Zoom-call. I really recommend this course to anyone who is interested in Croatia's cultural heritage and Croatian language in general."
-Sarolta Bolla
STILL NOT SURE?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Croatian Foundation?
Croatian Foundation is the first program of the Croatian Quadrant. It is followed by Croatian Boost and Croatian Continuum.
Who is this program suitable for?
This program is designed for anyone who wants to learn Croatian, from complete beginners to those with some prior knowledge but shaky foundations.
How long will I have access to the courses and materials?
You will have access to the course materials for 1 year. Why just 1 year? I’ve found that having a clear timeline helps learners stay focused and motivated. Without a deadline, it’s easy to delay progress and lose momentum. This structure encourages you to prioritize your learning and make steady progress toward your goals!
Will I receive live support, or is it all self-paced?
The Self-Study track of Croatian Foundation does not include live elements such as live lessons, a course community, or homework corrections. However, these features are all part of my cohort-based Croatian Foundation program, which I run every January - March. If you feel like you’d benefit from more personal attention, you’ll have the option to join the next cohort with a special student discount!
How much time do I need to dedicate to the course?
The amount of time you dedicate to the course is entirely up to you. However, I recommend setting aside at least 30 minutes a day, 7 days a week, to see steady progress. Of course, if you’re able to dedicate an hour or more, that’s even better! The flexibility of the course allows you to tailor it to your schedule and learning pace.
More love from my students
I have been taking Croatian classes for a while, so the course was not entirely new. But, I was thrilled with how much information, including cultural information, in addition to grammar and pronunciation Tihana packed into this course. She presented excellent charts for reviewing, summarizing and to use in the exercises to target students with NO background in addition to those of us with grammar experience. She is open to questions all the time and structures the course to accommodate students all over the world!. The review and experience has been invaluable and helps me separate out the cases and how to use them. She encourages speaking, even if you need to add English (or whatever language) words into your Croatian, just to get you speaking.
Thank you, Tihana!
Dorothy Nemec
Tihana marries culture & language, in a way that you would experience if you were lucky enough to actually be in Croatia. Tihana presents the basics in a comprehensive way, puts emphasis where it needs to be in order to communicate practically, and covers the core grammar while pointing out what's critical and not so critical, so you know where to focus your time if it's limited. You also get lots and lots of example dialogue (written and spoken), exercises to test your knowledge, and regular live zoom sessions to ask questions, review exercises, and just get to know folks on the same journey with you. Highly recommended!
Nik Gervae
