In June 2026, we completed the fourth and final edition of Runway – English for Culture and Tourism. Launched in 2022 as part of the Trenčín 2026 educational programme, the initiative was designed to help professionals working in culture and tourism prepare for increased international collaboration and the arrival of international visitors.
Over the course of four years, 111 participants from cultural institutions, tourism organisations, creative industries, and service sectors took part in the programme. Teaching was delivered across 40 language groups, organised according to language proficiency, with a total of more than 1,200 hours of instruction.
“When we launched this course, it was a new field for us in many ways. English for culture, tourism, projects, visitors, networking, or presentations isn’t something you can simply teach by opening a textbook to Chapter 7. And that’s exactly what made it so rewarding. 🙂 Over the years, we’ve worked with more than 100 people from Trenčín and the surrounding region, helping professionals from a wide range of fields develop the English skills they need in real-life situations—from presenting projects to everyday conversations.”
Peter Šurik, Eloqua Language School
Runway was more than just an English course. It became a space for meeting new people, exchanging experiences, building professional networks, and gaining confidence when communicating in international settings. Participants worked on topics drawn directly from their professional lives—from presenting organisations and projects, networking, and preparing project documentation to improving conversation skills and expanding professional vocabulary.
“I attended the English for Culture and Tourism course for three years. For practical reasons, I ended up in the group that met every Friday at seven in the morning—and I never imagined I would actually look forward to getting up that early.
Natália, our teacher, made every lesson engaging and enjoyable. Her enthusiasm and energy always woke us up, and I was genuinely curious to see what new videos she would show us, what was new with my classmates, and what interesting topics we would explore together. The lessons weren’t just about grammar or vocabulary—they were about conversations, discussions, culture, and discovering new perspectives.
Over time, my classmates became friends, which made every lesson even more enjoyable. Thanks to Eloqua, I gained not only a richer vocabulary but also new friendships, inspiration, and valuable insights. If I had to decide again, I would sign up for this course without hesitation.”
Veronika, programme graduate
We would like to thank Eloqua Language School for their professional delivery of the courses and for being such a valued partner throughout the programme.
Finally, thank you to everyone who joined us on this journey. We believe that the knowledge, connections, and experience gained over the past four years will continue to benefit Trenčín and the Trenčín Region long after the European Capital of Culture 2026 project comes to an end.
