Learning English with Harry Potter

My wife has an eleven-year-old niece who simply adores fantasy stories, like JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings or Philip Pullman's books - readily available in Czech. But, following the recent much-publicised launch date of the sixth Harry Potter - the 2nd to last - JK Rowling's series once again took centre stage in the centre of her world.

When my wife and I recently took her niece on a trip it was clear her niece saw the period before the Czech translation comes out as an interminable wait. The Czech versions, translated alternately by the Medek brothers, have been impeccable - but even they can't magically churn out a translation overnight. And, so, I could hardly be surprised that when "our" niece kind of grumbled at us, knowing I'd read the latest Potter and was fully up-to-date, while she'd still have to wait.

Of course, there is a major upside to this. My wife's niece is a bright girl with all her studies ahead of her, and in grade six she's already learning Spanish and English. We can thank the Czech school system for that. But, for sheer enthusiasm Harry and Mrs Rowling, too, have played an important part. Not only has the author got a lion's share of children reading again - she's inspired many of them to learn English as a second language - so that they will eventually be able to read Harry Potter in the original. After being raised on the Czech versions, the English place and character names will take perhaps a little getting used to, for example Diagon Alley is pricna ulice and Headmaster Albus Dumbledore is Albus Brumbal in Czech - but on the whole the translation is very faithful to the meaning and sound of the original words. Perhaps only the game of Quidditch is an exception - Czech kids call it famprfal.

As my wife's niece and I discussed Harry Potter - it was during a day trip, by the way, to a very magical region, the mountain known as Rip where legend says the first Czechs appeared - she pretended she would take the months of waiting for the new Potter in stride. But I knew all awhile she was bursting to find out what everything that had happened biting back questions, at the same time worried I might blurt out a spoiler. Of course I wouldn't. But, I suspect her "need to know", at least at the same time as everybody else(!), will be a catalyst for her to learn. She may not speak English fluently just yet, but I'd be willing to bet she will by Seven.