Meet Ivona — the Bosnian language teacher at the Tako Lako course, whose lessons go far beyond grammar rules. They are a warm story about language, belonging, and love for one’s roots.

Bosnian Language – My Home, Wherever I Am!

Ivona’s experience of living in different cultures, surrounded by people with whom she shared neither language nor customs, taught her how vital one’s mother tongue is for the sense of identity and belonging.
“Far from home, with no one to exchange even a few words in my own language, teaching Bosnian meant a lot to me,” says Ivona. “By explaining it to others, I could use it every day and think in it.”

Although her greatest interests are morphology, syntax, and semantics, Ivona always brings cheerfulness, humor, and imagination into her lessons. She loves to truly know each of her students — remembering their stories, meeting their families, dreams, fears, and hobbies — and tailors the lessons to their interests.
“What matters most to me is that my students enjoy the class. That they look forward to the language, laugh, and feel safe,” she says.

For Ivona, teaching Bosnian also became a personal therapy against nostalgia.
“Teaching helped heal my loneliness,” she admits. “That’s when I realized this was my life’s calling. The course allowed me to work with children and adults all over the world — to become more creative, flexible, and better at what I do.”

The World Through the Bosnian Language

Her students come from every corner of the world — from preschoolers to adults.
“All of them are connected to Bosnia and Herzegovina in some way. Their parents, grandparents, partners, or friends carry that language in their hearts.”

Ivona’s online classroom is often filled with laughter: children protesting when the lesson ends, teenagers surprising her with their mature reflections, and adults learning the language of their loved ones with warmth and dedication.
“I’m especially touched by those who aren’t from our region but learn Bosnian to feel closer to their partners. To me, that’s a beautiful act of tenderness and respect.”

No lesson is ever the same. Games, riddles, video clips, drawings, and songs — all serve one purpose: learning through joy.
“I remember a class where kids were asked to bring as many fruits and vegetables from the fridge as they could — it looked like they had just returned from the market! And in a lesson about games, we ended up playing hide-and-seek. When I turned toward the camera, they were all hiding under their desks!”

Small Successes, My Greatest Joy

Ivona feels especially proud when she hears her students pronounce words that once sounded strange to them with ease and warmth.
“When I hear those words now flowing naturally, with confidence and affection, my heart skips a beat. Every success of theirs is proof that language is more than words — it’s a connection to home, to oneself, and to the people we love.”

A Community That Connects

“Tako Lako” is more than a language school — it’s a community.
“We make an effort to truly know our students, understand them, and adapt the lessons to them. Some of my students have been with me for over two years. I’ve watched them grow up, start school and university, fall in love… We’ve become part of each other’s lives.”

For Ivona, teaching a language means creating memories and connecting people.
“If you feel it’s time to reconnect with your roots — to talk more intimately with your family, to create memories in the language of your loved ones — reach out to us! Knowing another language is always an advantage, but more importantly, it brings you closer to your family and opens doors to beautiful friendships. My students have taught me that language is more than communication — it’s a bridge of love, understanding, and joy.”

Ivona isn’t just a language teacher — she’s a guide through the story of belonging, of warmth, of home, and of how, even far away, we can still feel close.