How Stories Shape Language: What Martin Puchner Taught Me About Teaching Croatian

The Power of Stories – And Why They Matter When You’re Learning Croatian

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a lecture by Martin Puchner at Filozofski fakultet in Zagreb — the very institution where I work and teach. Organised by Ljevak publishing and the Department of English, this event was more than just an academic gathering; it was an affirmation, a personal reminder that I am on the right path. It was a powerful, moving reminder that stories aren’t just entertainment — they are the architecture of human civilisation.

Puchner argues that literature is not merely a reflection of culture, but one of its driving forces. In The Written World, he shows how writing — from the clay tablets of ancient Uruk to modern novels — has shaped empires, religions, ideologies, and revolutions. In Culture, he weaves a sweeping narrative of global civilisation, showing how ideas, artworks, and texts have travelled across time and space to build the world we live in today.

One thing that particularly struck me during his talk was how he described the Epic of Gilgamesh — one of the world’s oldest recorded stories — and its themes that continue to echo today: friendship, loss, mortality, the flood. These same motifs resurface in countless forms across cultures, proving that although times change, our need to make sense of life through story remains constant.

He reminded us that stories are not just things we consume. They shape us.
They define how we see ourselves, our communities, our histories, our futures.

And I sat there thinking: this is exactly why I teach Croatian the way I do.

You see, I run a company that helps people learn Croatian — and I’ve designed it very intentionally. My approach isn’t just about vocabulary lists or grammar drills (though you’ll find those too — I love grammar!). It’s about learning through all four essential pillars:
👉 Grammar
👉 Vocabulary
👉 Pronunciation
👉 Culture

These are not separate silos. They belong together. Without culture, grammar floats. Without vocabulary, culture has no voice. Without sound, the words don’t breathe. You need all four — at the same time — if you want to truly learn a language and make it stick.

What Puchner reminded me of yesterday is that culture — stories — are not the garnish. They are the foundation. If you’re trying to learn Croatian and culture is left out, it’s like trying to understand a person by only reading their CV.

This Is Why I Teach Croatian the Way I Do

When I created my Croatian teaching business, I didn’t want to follow the usual fragmented approach. I didn’t want to teach grammar in isolation, or vocabulary without context, or pronunciation without meaning. I knew that real, deep learning only happens when all the elements come together — grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and culture.

That’s how I developed my unique method: through what I call the Four Pillars, all taught together — not in silos.

This method is the foundation of my full-year language learning program, The Croatian Quadrant — a comprehensive journey that begins every January and takes learners from the foundations to fluency through five progressive courses.

But I also know that some people don’t want to wait.
Some are eager to begin now.
And that’s why I’ve created the first course — Croatian Foundations — as a self-study program.

It’s perfect for those who want to get a head start, learn smart, and prepare themselves for the full journey ahead. You’ll build real skills. You’ll learn the building blocks of the language and the cultural framework it lives in. And when you’re ready to join the full Croatian Quadrant in January 2026, you’ll be ahead of the curve — confident, prepared, and ready to truly start speaking Croatian.

And yes — if you go on to join the full Quadrant program, you’ll get a discount for the Foundations course you’ve already completed. Because I believe in rewarding dedication. And because I know this preparation works.

This Is More Than a Course. It’s a Cultural Journey.

Listening to Martin Puchner yesterday reminded me that what I’m building isn’t just a set of lessons. It’s a story — a cultural path. A way of learning that honours the depth and complexity of language, and the beauty of the culture that carries it.

So if you’ve been thinking about learning Croatian —
And you want to do it properly, deeply, and meaningfully —
Start now.

👉 Explore the Croatian Foundation Course here

Study hard. Dive into the culture. Ask questions. Be curious.
And in January 2026, join me — and a small, dedicated group — on the full Croatian Quadrant journey.

By this time next year, you could be speaking Croatian. Not just knowing it. Living it.

Because stories matter.
Culture matters.
And your Croatian journey deserves to be part of that story.