Petra Junková is an English
“Do you know that moment when you just know?”
That’s how my Fulbright journey began. It wasn’t a formal ceremony or a thick stack of paperwork — just a simple WhatsApp message. I had just received the contact details for our new ETA (English Teaching Assistant), Charlie. When his profile picture popped up — a wide smile beneath a light brown cap (which, I’ve since learned, he almost never takes off) and a CamelBak strapped to his chest — I knew. We clicked instantly.
Photo: Charlie Rodgers (in a red jacket) on a hike with Petra and her students from Gymnázium Tanvald, Krkonoše Mountains, Fall 2022.
We were both eager to hit the ground running, but I could never have predicted how much that one academic year would reshape my future — both personally and professionally.
The Spark: More Than Just a Classroom
Watching Charlie interact with my students was, in a word, incredible. There is a particular kind of magic that happens when a native speaker becomes part of a school’s everyday life. It’s the difference between learning a language and truly living it.
Our partnership quickly grew beyond the classroom. We carried that energy everywhere — organizing an American Fair Day buzzing with excitement, navigating the halls of the European Parliament in Brussels, experiencing the ultimate culture and language clash during a trip to London, and dancing through the Czech tradition of Maturitní ples.
It wasn’t always easy. Like any team, we faced challenges and occasional “lost in translation” moments. But we supported each other, persevered, and rose to every challenge together.
Witnessing the exceptional support provided by the Czech Fulbright Commission during Charlie’s stay gave me the final push. Seeing how deeply they cared for their ETAs made me realize that I wanted to grow professionally through the same community. That same year, I applied for the Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) program through the Fulbright Program. Although my first application was unsuccessful, the experience only strengthened my determination — and the following year, I was accepted.
The TEA program transformed not only my perspective on education but also my teaching practice. I was introduced to student-centered approaches, Social-Emotional Learning strategies, and innovative ways of integrating global issues into language teaching — methods I now actively implement in my classroom.
The TEA program transformed not only my perspective on education but also my teaching practice. I was introduced to student-centered approaches, Social-Emotional Learning strategies, and innovative ways of integrating global issues into language teaching — methods I now actively implement in my classroom.
From the Jizera Mountains to University of Northern Colorado
If my experience hosting Charlie was the spark, my seven weeks at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley were an explosion of color.
Stepping into Greeley West High School felt like walking onto a movie set — locals in Greeley even called it “Disney World.” Imagine a school for 2,000 students with massive theatre and jazz halls, professional pottery studios, wood workshops, and even facilities for animal care.
As a Czech teacher, many things felt wonderfully unfamiliar. I watched teachers call their students “Sweetheart” or “Love” — a level of warmth that contrasts with the more reserved European approach. Yet alongside this openness was a deep mutual respect. Every classroom felt like a home, carefully personalized so that entering one was like stepping into a teacher’s private world.
Beyond observing, I experienced what it meant to be a student again — exploring pedagogy, educational technology, and new approaches to classroom engagement. These experiences encouraged me to reflect on my own practice and inspired me to create a more inclusive, collaborative, and globally oriented learning environment for my students.
A Global Melting Pot
While immersing myself in American culture (and learning that in Greeley the “national” food is definitely Taco Bell), I was also part of a vibrant international community of educators from 22 countries.
We truly became a global network. I found close connections with teachers from Hungary, Slovakia, and the Baltics, and drew deep inspiration from colleagues from Iraq, Malaysia, Cambodia, and the first Fulbright participants from Tanzania and Kenya. With teachers from Hungary, Turkiye and North Macedonia, we launched a European project addressing eco-anxiety through Social-Emotional Learning methods.
This experience showed me how international collaboration can directly shape classroom practice and empower students to address real-world challenges. Today, I continue to build on this experience with my students through a “Worldwide Map of Needs,” connecting them with this global network. They are not just practicing grammar — they are living the language through meaningful communication, developing intercultural competence, critical thinking, and a sense of global responsibility.
The experience also encouraged me to take on a more active leadership role at my school. I now share innovative teaching strategies with colleagues, introduce international perspectives into our curriculum, and promote global collaboration among students and teachers.
The “Wall-E” Moment
Fulbright is perfectly balanced—it gives you the academic rigor of university life (Pedagogy, IT tools, ESL) but also the "safe space" of a Friendship Family.
I was paired with a young American who shared my passion for cinema. One night, we watched Wall-E. It was my first time seeing it, and I loved it—mostly because the movie is almost silent, which meant we spent half the time just chatting and sharing our views on life. Sitting on that American sofa, I realized how much we all have in common.
My Message to You: Do Not Hesitate. Apply.
The TEA program is a masterclass in balance. You become a student again — exploring pedagogy, social studies, and new technologies — while experiencing the life of an American high school teacher firsthand. It equips you with practical tools, global connections, and the confidence to innovate in your own classroom.
The TEA program is a masterclass in balance. You become a student again — exploring pedagogy, social studies, and new technologies — while experiencing the life of an American high school teacher firsthand. It equips you with practical tools, global connections, and the confidence to innovate in your own classroom.
Four years ago, I found myself questioning my direction as a teacher and searching for renewed purpose in my career. Today, I am part of a global professional community that continues to shape my teaching, my students, and my outlook on education. I returned home with renewed motivation, innovative teaching strategies, and the confidence to lead new projects — including organizing an American Fulbright Day at my new school in Jablonec nad Nisou.
Fulbright is more than a program; it is a community that transforms educators and connects cultures. It shows us that education has no borders and that meaningful change begins with curiosity.
You don’t need to be perfect — you just need to be open to growth. The Fulbright Program opens doors to the world, builds lifelong connections, and transforms not only educators, but entire learning communities.
Don’t just teach the language — live it.
Take the step. Apply. Your journey may begin with a single message, but it can change your entire world.
