We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Csilla Horvath. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Csilla below.
Csilla, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
I was born and raised to Hungarian parents in Switzerland, an immigrant child who learned to navigate multiple cultures and languages from a young age. Traveling the world with my family gave me a thirst for exploration, a curiosity about people, and a love for languages. At 19, I moved to the U.S., first to LA and then to NYC, chasing a dream as a performing artist. I spent many years on Off-Broadway, immersed in the vibrant, diverse life of New York, before deciding to shift my focus and return to school. I pursued a BA in english literature and education, driven by a desire to help others find their voice—just as I had through performance.
After graduating, I spent nearly a decade teaching in New York City, working across the educational spectrum—from private to public, international, and German schools. The experience was invaluable, showing me the nuances of how different environments and teaching styles impact language learning. But then, the world changed when COVID hit.
Almost overnight, I transitioned to online teaching and started building my client base. The unexpected shift allowed me to stay connected with students across the US and Canada, even after I left the U.S. for Europe. What started as a necessity quickly became an opportunity. I realized the vast potential of online education: the ability to reach students all over the globe, transcending borders and time zones. Soon, I was teaching students in Asia, Australia and throughout Europe, finding a new rhythm in this digital classroom.
It was a revelation. Online learning wasn’t just a makeshift solution for a pandemic; it was a powerful tool that could offer a unique, personalized, and borderless education. I saw the potential to revolutionize the way language is taught and experienced, making it engaging and accessible to anyone, anywhere. This was the seed that grew into Csilla Language Lab—a space where my passion for language, culture, and global citizenship could come together.
I teach mostly children, from ages 3 up to high school, but I’ve also begun teaching adults, catering to a broad range of learners who share a passion for language. This variety keeps my work dynamic and challenging. I branded my company, Csilla Language Lab, around a traveling teacher lifestyle. As I split my time between Zurich and New York, constantly on the move, the world has become my classroom. Whether I’m in a café in Paris, on a boat in Greece, a mountain in Switzerland, on a rooftop terrace in New York City, at a beach in the Caribbean or even in the desert of North Africa, I can be connected to my students. This freedom is at the core of my brand—the concept that learning can happen anywhere, that the world itself is the best classroom. It’s not just a business; it’s a way of life, one that I am passionate about sharing with my students and inspire them to become travelers too.
With my background in performing arts—having performed all over the world—and my academic degrees, BA and MA in education and literary studies, my teaching style is far from traditional. I believe in a more progressive approach, one that’s tailored to my students’ interests and where arts and academia meet. My lessons are not about rote memorization or rigid formats; they are dynamic, interactive, and engaging, designed to inspire curiosity and a genuine passion for language. Whether it’s storytelling, role-playing, singing songs or incorporating elements of theater into lessons, I create an environment where learning is both effective and fun. In addition to blending arts and academia, I incorporate technology into my teaching, making my classes technologically advanced and engaging. I use tools like video quizzes and even create reels with students to enhance their learning experience. This integration of tech not only makes lessons more interactive and modern but also keeps students engaged and excited about their language journey. By using the latest tools, I can offer a learning experience that is both creative and forward-thinking, bridging the gap between traditional education and the digital world.
At the heart of everything I do is a deep passion for educating, helping others, and making language learning cool. It’s not just about teaching words; it’s about inspiring my students to embrace new cultures, to connect with the world, and to feel confident as global citizens. Language is a tool, but it’s also a bridge to understanding, and I’m here to make that journey exciting, meaningful, and unforgettable. Watching my students break barriers and gain confidence in their language skills is what drives me every day. This is my mission, my purpose, and it’s what keeps me passionate about what I do.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m the founder of Csilla Language Lab, a unique language education platform dedicated to teaching German in a way that is modern, creative, and globally accessible. My journey into this industry is deeply rooted in my personal experiences, upbringing, and professional path. I grew up as the daughter of Hungarian immigrants in Switzerland, a country known for its precision, multilingualism, and diverse culture. From an early age, I was acutely aware of being different, not entirely fitting in with my Swiss peers. At home, I spoke Hungarian—a language full of rich history and intricate grammar—while outside, I navigated life in a Swiss-German-speaking world. I also had to learn High German, French, English and Italian at school. These languages shaped much of who I am today, fostering a deep appreciation for languages and the way they connect people to their roots and their surroundings. I always knew I wanted a career where I can use my language skills, my background in the arts and my love for traveling. I just did not know how I will blend these together. New York City, the place for multicultural people, just like me helped me realize that I didn’t have to choose between my passions—I could combine them into something unique. Living in such a vibrant, diverse city showed me that creativity has no boundaries and that my experiences as a global citizen could be the foundation for something truly impactful. It was in New York that the idea for Csilla Language Lab began to take shape, blending my love for languages, arts, and travel into a teaching approach that is as dynamic and multifaceted as the city itself.
What sets Csilla Language Lab apart is the brand’s philosophy: the world is my office. I’ve built my business around a traveling teacher lifestyle, living between Zurich and New York while teaching from various locations around the globe. The main problem I solve for my clients is making language learning less intimidating and more engaging. I help them build confidence, develop fluency, and connect with German culture in a way that feels relevant and exciting. Language can often feel like a barrier, but my mission is to turn it into a bridge—a tool for personal growth, career opportunities, and global connection. What I’m most proud of is how Csilla Language Lab has grown from a simple idea into a thriving global community of learners. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see my students succeed and to know that I’ve played a part in their journey. I want people to know that learning a language doesn’t have to be boring or daunting—it can be a transformative experience that opens doors to new possibilities. At Csilla Language Lab, we don’t just teach German; we inspire curiosity, foster connections, and make language learning cool. It’s more than a business; it’s a passion, a lifestyle, and a way to make the world feel a little smaller and more connected.
Have you ever had to pivot?
During my early twenties, I was living my dream as a performing artist, traveling the world and performing on Off-Broadway stages. But as fulfilling as it was, I began to feel a pull toward something more stable and impactful. The turning point came after one particularly grueling tour when I realized I wanted to channel my creativity into something that could make a lasting difference.
I decided to go back to school in New York City and earned a BA in English literature and education. Transitioning from the stage to academia was both daunting and exciting, but I saw it as an opportunity to merge my love for storytelling, connection, and performance with a new purpose: teaching. That pivot wasn’t just a career change; it was a way to reimagine how I could inspire others, blending my artistic background with education to create something uniquely my own.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Yes, my side hustle absolutely turned into my full-time business, and it’s been an incredible journey. While working as a teacher in New York City, I was in diverse classroom settings, primarily in German schools. Though I loved teaching, the salary in the U.S. was barely enough to get by. To supplement my income, I started tutoring students on the side. Initially, it was just a way to make ends meet, but it quickly became clear that there was a growing demand for private, personalized language instruction.
When COVID hit, everything moved online, including my tutoring sessions. At the time, I was still working for a school in NYC, but the shift to virtual learning opened my eyes to a new possibility: creating my own online language school. I realized that I could teach students beyond my immediate geographic area and reach a global audience. This was the pivotal moment when my side hustle became something much bigger.
Some key milestones stand out in this transition. The first was building a client base that extended beyond NYC to include students in Canada, Asia, Australia and Europe. Another milestone was branding my business as Csilla Language Lab, giving it a professional identity that resonated with my vision. I hired a graphic designer who created my website, branding, and social media assets, ensuring everything looked polished and cohesive. I self-funded everything from start to finish, with no outside help or investors. Every step of the process was a labor of love and knowing that I built it entirely on my own makes it even more meaningful.
Over time, I transitioned fully into running my own online school, which allowed me the freedom to design my curriculum, tailor lessons to each student’s interests, and incorporate my creative and artistic background into my teaching methods. Now, I live between Zurich and New York, teaching students from all over the world, and I’ve turned the world into my office.
What started as a simple way to earn extra income has become a thriving business that combines my passions for languages, education, and global travel. It’s been a challenging but rewarding journey, and I’m proud to have built something that not only supports me but inspires and empowers my students.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.csillalanguagelab.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/csillalanguagelab/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089207635479
Image Credits
Duoplusdesigns and Pestana_studio