GRADED READERS IN CZECH
- TC
- 10. 6.
- Minut čtení: 3
Aktualizováno: 28. 7.
Graded readers are simplified books designed to help language learners improve their reading skills while gradually expanding vocabulary and grammar knowledge. In the Czech Republic, learners of Czech as a foreign language can find a variety of graded readers tailored to different proficiency levels. These resources are invaluable for building confidence and fluency. However, these books are still quite limited in the Czech market. Therefore, I am bringing you the available sources.
📚 Graded Readers for Czech Language Learners
Adaptovaná próza (adapted prose) by Czech Step by Step: This series offers short, adapted texts suitable for beginners. Each book is aligned with CEFR levels and includes comprehension exercises. Titles are available for levels A1 to C2.
Dvojjazyčné knihy (Bilingual Books): These books present texts in Czech and another language side by side, facilitating comprehension. Just be careful as they usually target a different foreign language.
Here are some examples by level:
🟢 A1–A2 (Beginner to Elementary)
🟡 B1–B2 (Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate)
Alenka v říši divů – Lewis Carroll, adapted by Petra Sůvová
🔵 C1–C2 (Advanced to Proficient)
Na této úrovni byste měli dokázat číst téměř jakoukoliv četbu. Počet slov, které neznáte by vám neměl bránit v porozumění. Ale i tak dávejte pozor při výběru. Zde jsou má doporučení, a i od mých studentů:
R.U.R. - Karel Čapek
(Rossumovi Univerzální Roboti)
A groundbreaking science fiction play set in a future where a company manufactures artificial people—robots—to serve humanity.
It was written in 1920 and it's famous for introducing the word "robot" to the world.
Key themes: technology, identity, human nature, ethics of creation
pdf 1
Bílá nemoc – Karel Čapek: pdf
A thought-provoking drama about a mysterious, incurable illness that spreads across the world, mostly affecting older people. As fear and unrest grow, a doctor discovers a possible cure—but he has conditions for using it. The play explores moral choices, power, and how society responds to crisis.
Key themes: ethics in medicine, war, power, personal vs. public good
Audience – Václav Havel: pdf
A short, absurdist play where a writer who has been forced to work in a brewery meets with his boss. Through awkward, circular conversations, the play reveals the pressures and absurdities of life under a totalitarian regime, especially for intellectuals.
Key themes: power, manipulation, freedom, surveillance, the absurdity of bureaucracy
Zahradní slavnost – Václav Havel: pdf
A satirical play following a young man who enters a strange world of political organizations and official language. As he learns to speak in clichés and empty phrases, he rises through the system—but at what cost?
Key themes: identity, language, conformity, loss of individuality, bureaucracy
Krysař - Viktor Dyk: pdf
A poetic novella inspired by the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. A mysterious flute-player arrives in a corrupt town plagued by rats. Though he offers a solution, the people’s greed and arrogance lead to unexpected consequences. The story has a dark, symbolic tone and explores deeper moral and philosophical ideas.
Key themes: justice, corruption, outsider vs. society, consequences of broken promises
🛒 Where to Buy Graded Readers in Czechia
Incorporating graded readers into your study routine can significantly enhance your language skills. By selecting materials appropriate to your proficiency level, you can enjoy reading while effectively expanding your command of the Czech language.
ALBATROST MEDIA – dvojjazyčné knihy
AVAILABLE SOON
You can also try these texts focusing on vocabulary.
A1
B1
C1