CROATIAN QUADRANT
Learn Croatian in a way that transforms not only your language skills but also your life
Your journey. Your pace. My backing. (Beginner - Elementary - Intermediate)
Does this sound familiar?
Do you dream of walking the cobblestone streets of Dubrovnik, effortlessly exchanging stories with locals?
Do you imagine savoring the scent of freshly baked pogača as you chat with your relatives in your grandparents’ village?
Do you long to feel truly at home in Croatia, where the Adriatic breeze carries the whispers of your heritage?
Whatever your vision, it begins with crafting your Croatian story. It’s about more than just words or grammar—it’s about stepping into a world where language becomes a bridge to family, culture, and belonging.
To make your Croatian dream a reality, you need:
A clear understanding of the language’s structure and patterns.
A strategy for remembering and using new words in meaningful ways.
A mindset shift that helps you think in Croatian and not just translate.
A sense of joy in learning, where progress feels achievable and rewarding.
This is where I come in. My program is designed to guide you every step of the way, blending expert techniques, cultural immersion, and real-life practice. Together, we'll achieve your Croatian dream.
Your story is waiting to be told—in Croatian.
Let’s start crafting it, one word at a time.
Step-by-Step Croatian Mastery Plan
Croatian Foundation
Lay the groundwork for your Croatian journey—learn to confidently introduce yourself, navigate daily conversations, and master the essentials of Croatian grammar and sounds.
Croatian Boost
Expand your horizons—step into more advanced interactions, from organizing trips to exploring Croatian recipes, while mastering past tense, the imperative, and plural forms.
Ponavljanje 1
Reinforce your foundations—consolidate the essential grammar and vocabulary from Foundation and Boost, so every conversation feels natural.
Croatian Continuum
Take your skills to the next level—dive into complex conversations about theatre, travel, and finances, and tackle the intricacies of verbs, future tense, and declension.
Ponavljanje 2
Achieve total confidence—review and refine your advanced skills to think, speak, and engage in Croatian seamlessly across any situation
What is Croatian Quadrant™?
An Unforgettable Journey to Croatian Mastery with the Transformative Approach
Learning Croatian isn’t linear—it’s an evolving, enriching journey, where every step builds on the last. Think of it as an upward spiral, deepening your skills and confidence as you progress.
Here’s what your path with the Croatian Quadrant™ Program will look like:
Follow the Croatian Mastery Roadmap: Dive into carefully structured, bite-sized daily activities and weekly lessons that make complex concepts manageable.
Progress at Your Pace: Move as quickly or as steadily as suits your schedule and goals, with the flexibility to revisit and reinforce lessons whenever you need.
Get Personalized Support: Join live sessions tailored to your current program. Submit your exercises for feedback, ask questions, and receive clear guidance from an expert.
Unlock Cultural and Linguistic Insights: Participate in monthly Masterclasses where we explore cultural nuances, linguistic patterns, and strategies to think and speak like a native Croatian.
Practice and Connect in the Croatian Circle Community: Be part of a private, supportive group where you’ll practice conversation, celebrate milestones, and stay motivated with like-minded learners.
Each step is crafted to help you not only learn Croatian but also fully embrace and embody it—making the language, its culture, and its heritage a natural part of your story.
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...
You path to Croatian Mastery: Step-by-Step
Croatian Foundation
Build Your Language Roots
Begin your journey with a strong foundation in the essentials of Croatian language and culture. Learn the sounds of Croatian, uncover the patterns behind noun genders, and master the fundamentals of verbs and cases. With this comprehensive start, you’ll gain the confidence to handle basic conversations and navigate everyday situations.
Transformation: You’ll confidently introduce yourself, talk about your family, order food and drinks at a restaurant, discuss the weather, and make plans for trips or travel by bus, train, or tram. Everyday interactions will feel achievable and engaging.
Grammar & Skills:
Master Croatian sounds, the verbs biti (to be) and imati (to have), the four present-tense conjugations, and the structure of the seven cases. Learn how to identify noun genders and apply grammar to real-life scenarios like conversations at the table and planning excursions
Croatian Boost
Expand Your Croatian Horizons
Continue building your skills with the next level of Croatian language mastery. Dive into essential grammar like noun plurals, adjective declension and verb conjugation in the past tense, and learn how to give directions and express desires using the imperative. This step will enhance your ability to describe experiences and organize your day-to-day interactions in Croatian.
Transformation:
You’ll confidently visit museums, theaters, and concerts, discuss your morning routines, navigate sightseeing trips, organize outings, and read Croatian recipes with ease. Conversations about family relations and table talk will feel natural and engaging.
Grammar & Skills:
Master plural forms of nouns, adjective declension, the imperative mood, and the past tense. Learn how to apply these to practical situations like discussing plans, sharing experiences, and making recommendations.
Ponavljanje 1
Solidify Your Foundations
The first comprehensive review course, Ponavljanje 1 is thoughtfully designed to ensure that the vocabulary and grammar from Croatian Foundation and Croatian Boost are revisited, reinforced, and firmly anchored. Build on your progress with targeted practice and master the essential building blocks of the Croatian language.
Transformation:
By the end of Ponavljanje 1, you’ll feel assured in your grasp of the foundational elements of Croatian. The key grammar structures, from present tense conjugations to plural forms and the imperative, will be second nature. Essential vocabulary for everyday scenarios—from introducing yourself to navigating conversations at a restaurant, museum, or market—will be ready at your fingertips, empowering you to communicate with confidence.
Croatian Continuum
Mastery in Motion
Step into advanced Croatian with a focus on deeper grammatical structures and real-world communication. This course guides you through the comparison of adjectives, declension of numbers, and nuanced grammar like verbal aspect and direct and indirect speech. You’ll also gain confidence in discussing future plans and expressing preferences with advanced vocabulary and the verb htjeti.
Transformation:
You’ll navigate complex conversations with ease—whether discussing a theater or concert performance, managing financial transactions at the bank, shopping for gifts at the market, or sending letters and postcards from the post office. Enjoy train trips, explore Croatian cuisine, and confidently engage in meaningful dialogues about your experiences.
Grammar & Skills:
Learn advanced topics like the future tense, declension of pronouns, comparison of adjectives, declension of numbers, and the practical use of verbal aspect. Apply these skills in conversations bringing your Croatian fluency to life in real-world settings.
Ponavljanje 2
Mastery Through Review
Ponavljanje 2 is a comprehensive review course designed specifically for graduates of Croatian Continuum. This advanced recap solidifies the vocabulary and grammar you’ve learned, ensuring that your skills are polished and ready for real-world application.
Transformation:
By the end of Ponavljanje 2, you’ll experience a remarkable boost in your speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension skills. With consistent practice and careful attention, you’ll find yourself naturally beginning to think in Croatian—unlocking a new level of fluency and confidence in your language journey
Can Learning Croatian Still Be Effective, Engaging & Enjoyable?
It’s 2024. The world has changed, and so have the ways we learn. With technology at our fingertips, language learners have more options than ever before. Yet, your journey to mastering Croatian might still feel like a cycle of small victories and frustrating plateaus. Why? Because if you’re relying on outdated methods, you’re facing today’s challenges with yesterday’s tools.
Memorizing vocabulary lists alone won’t help you hold meaningful conversations. Following rigid, traditional courses won’t guide you to connect deeply with your Croatian heritage. What you need is a course designed for today’s world—a course that’s dynamic, culturally enriching, and rooted in methods that work for modern learners.
That’s where the Croatian Quadrant comes in.
If you want to transform your understanding of Croatian from fragmented grammar and vocabulary into a cohesive, meaningful language experience...
If you’re ready to learn through a blend of cultural insights, historical context, and real-life applications, designed specifically for adult learners...
If you want a program that supports your individual pace while giving you live interaction, expert guidance, and a nurturing community of fellow learners...
Then the Croatian Quadrant is your gateway to mastering Croatian with clarity, structure, and joy. With its unique integration of language and culture, and a roadmap designed for modern learners, this program goes beyond traditional methods to give you the tools you need to succeed.
Some love from my students
This is your chance to start strong, gain confidence, and set the stage for fluency.
Let’s begin your Croatian story together!
More love from my students
"I would recomment Tihana to everyone!"
"As someone who learned their second language as an adult, I really appreciate the learning from a local approach. You get this experience as well as the expertise of a professional/professor, which is the best combination possible. I love Tihana's style of teaching, the motivation she provides throughout, and the depth of her knowledge and passion for teaching others about her home country. I would recommend Tihana to anyone!"
- Hannah Vought
"Lots of personal attention and support!"
"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"
- Andy Smith
"A sense of belonging to a wonderful group"
"What I liked best was the structure and weekly format with lessons. The culture sessions and the tests and practice pages were all amazing to have and use. What I got out of it was a sense of belonging to wonderful group."
- Olga Felton
CROATIAN QUADRANT™: BEGIN AT THE BASICS, FILL THE GAPS AND MOVE FORWARD
Review: Begin with the foundations and revisit the Croatian Quadrant steps to solidify your knowledge.
Engage with the Community: Join the Croatian Circle to connect with fellow learners, participate in cultural discussions, and share your progress.
Live Learning: Attend live lessons tailored to your current level to ensure you grasp every key concept.
Take this opportunity to close the gaps and prepare yourself for the next exciting steps on your Croatian learning journey!
What my former students are saying
"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
QUADRANT LIVE SESSIONS
Grammar Therapy
⏰Time:
Tuesdays 8 AM Zagreb Time
📍
What to Expect:
Engage in lively, instructor-led conversations based on the vocabulary and grammar you’ve mastered so far.
Share your learning experiences, challenges, and triumphs with fellow students.
Receive guidance and answers to your questions in a relaxed, supportive setting.
A perfect opportunity to build confidence in speaking Croatian while connecting with your peers.
Ćakula Cafe
⏰Time:
Thursdays 11 AM and 8 PM Zagreb Time
📍
What to Expect:
Dive into the week’s grammar lesson with a detailed, easy-to-follow explanation from your instructor.
Get all your grammar-related questions answered in real time.
Gain clarity and practical strategies to tackle even the trickiest grammar topics.
Tihana's Masterclasses
⏰Dates and Times:
Announced in advance
📍
What to Expect:
Learn Better, Learn Smarter: Masterclasses focused on improving your learning strategies, maximizing retention, and building confidence.
Explore Croatian Culture: Deep dives into Croatia’s rich history, festivals, traditions, and more to enhance your language-learning experience.
💾 Can’t make it live? No worries!
All live sessions are recorded and will remain available in the group for a year, as long as you have access to the program.
Revisit these sessions at your convenience to reinforce your learning.
REAL PROGRESS FROM REAL STUDENTS
STILL NOT SURE?
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
What if I am a self-taught advanced student?
If you’re a self-taught advanced student, the Quadrant program will provide a thorough recap in the Croatian Foundation course to ensure your grammar and vocabulary foundations are solid. Once you’ve reviewed the basics, you can confidently move on to more advanced levels.
How do zadaće (assignments) work in the courses?
Every week, after completing a unit, you can submit written assignments. I will correct them and provide personalized feedback. You’ll then follow the instructions to work on the feedback and refine your understanding to complete the assignment.
What is the difference between Croatian Foundation and the full Croatian Quadrant program?
Croatian Foundation focuses on beginner-level skills and includes limited access to Croatian Circle and live sessions for 2 months. The full Croatian Quadrant program spans all levels, includes additional courses like the Pronunciation Perfection course, and provides extended access.
How long will I have access to the courses and materials?
Students in the Croatian Quadrant program will have 2 years of access to the courses and materials, while those in the Croatian Foundation course will have access for 1 year.
What is Croatian Circle, and how does it benefit me?
Croatian Circle is an exclusive cultural hub where you can explore masterclasses on Croatian history, literature, festivals, and more. It also includes simplified classics for beginners and discussion archives.
Will I receive live support, or is it all self-paced?
Both programs include two weekly live sessions for interactive learning and Q&A opportunities. Additionally, you can ask questions anytime in the private group.
What if I miss a live session?
All live sessions are recorded and will be available for you to review at your convenience.
How is the program structured?
The program combines pre-recorded lessons on a teaching platform with live sessions, weekly assignments, and a supportive online community.
What makes this program different from other language courses?
This program blends language and culture, connecting grammar and vocabulary to Croatian heritage and identity. It uses a research-backed methodology designed for adult learners, emphasizing understanding, retention, and practical use.
Will this program help me speak Croatian in everyday situations?
Absolutely! The lessons are crafted to help you communicate confidently in daily scenarios, such as introducing yourself, discussing family, ordering food, and more.
Do I need any prior experience in learning Croatian?
No prior experience is required. The program is structured to take you from the very basics to functional fluency, depending on your starting point.
How long will it take me to complete the program?
Croatian Foundation, Croatian Boost and Croatain Continuum are designed to be completed in 8 weeks, with a structured pace to guide you through each course. If you fall behind by 1 or 2 weeks, you can easily catch up during the program or in Ponavljanje 1 and Ponavljanje 2 which last 4 weeks each.
For those who need more time, don’t worry! In the Croatian Quadrant, you’ll have access to the lessons for 2 years, and in the Croatian Foundation course, you’ll have access for 1 year. Additionally, the private groups will remain active throughout the year, and I’ll be available to answer your questions even during the summer months.
You’ll have ample time and support to make the most of your Croatian learning journey.
I highly recommend this ... it has more information than I had expected. I wasn't sure what to expect when I signed up, I was just going to dabble in it and see what happened. Then I was completely wrapped up in it and eager to learn more! I was a little scared whit starting with grammar, I had expected a more basic beginning: letters, numbers, greetings. But as it played out, I was more comfortable.
Jessica McGovern
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
