This year, Helen Doron English Slovakia proudly celebrates 20 years of success, innovation, and impact. Spanning across two decades of operation, the Slovak National Franchise has built one of the most vibrant and respected Helen Doron networks in Europe, with 50 locations across the country, and growing. Student numbers have doubled since 2019, and with it, the demand to open more Learning Centres and Learning Studios across the country.
To mark this milestone, the National Franchise organised a weekend of celebration filled with learning, laughter, and inspiration. Two honoured guests were invited to join in the festivities: Helen Doron, Founder and President of the Helen Doron Educational Group, and Richard Freedman, Manager of TeenBuzz Radio.
Helen’s visit and the celebratory weekend were packed with inspiration, great music (thank you, Richard!), and memorable moments. What began as a small business built by a passionate educator and a seasoned businessman has evolved into a successful national franchise. And we at the Helen Doron Famliy, couldn’t be prouder. The Slovak team’s ability to adapt, engage families, and nurture young learners has made Slovakia one of the most established and admired markets in the Helen Doron global community.
A Weekend of Inspiration and Celebration
Helen’s visit symbolised the strong relationship between the Slovak franchise and the global Helen Doron Educational Group. The weekend began with a warm media welcome, as Helen appeared on Markíza TV’s morning show Teleráno together with National Franchisee Katalin Meszaros.
In front of a national audience, Helen and Katalin shared insights about early language learning and the philosophy behind the Helen Doron Method. Helen reminded viewers why her vision has resonated worldwide for 40 years:
“Children learn best when they feel loved, secure, and curious. Our teachers in Slovakia have built a space where every child feels exactly that. Their success is a testament to what passion and persistence can achieve.”
Katalin added her perspective from the Slovak journey: “When we started twenty years ago, parents were still discovering new ways to introduce English at an early age. We worked hard to build trust, communicate the value of our method, and show results. Today, families recognise our name as a symbol of quality and joy in learning.”
Later in the day, Helen met with Martina Jurinová from Forbes Slovakia for an in-depth interview, scheduled for publication in January. Their conversation touched on the global growth of the franchise and the remarkable success stories from individual countries such as Slovakia, where the method has taken deep root.
TeenBuzz Energy and Celebration
While Helen was sharing her story with the press, Richard Freedman, TeenBuzz Radio Manager, visited the Learning Centre in Ivanka pri Dunaji, where he hosted a live broadcast with Slovak teens. The session captured the very spirit of the Helen Doron brand: learning English through real-world communication, creativity, and fun.
TeenBuzz Radio, the world’s only ESL radio for teenagers, offers students a chance to use English naturally and confidently. Richard reflected after the visit:
“These teens are confident, expressive, and connected. You can sense the positive energy that the teachers have cultivated here. Slovakia’s franchise has done an incredible job bringing language to life.”
A Weekend of Pride and Partnership
The celebrations continued on Saturday with the Annual Teachers’ Conference, which united Helen Doron educators from across Slovakia. The event honoured 20 years of Slovak success alongside 40 years of the Helen Doron Method worldwide.
Helen spoke with emotion about the long-standing partnership: “Slovakia has always been close to my heart. You have built a model franchise that others can learn from and emulate. Your professionalism, creativity, and love for education are exactly what this global network stands for.”
That evening, Richard Freedman turned the celebration into a party to remember. As the star DJ of the night, he brought his TeenBuzz Radio energy to the stage, filling the room with laughter, music, and dancing before continuing to Hungary to lead a special TeenBuzz Radio seminar for teachers.
A Message from Katalin Deak:
As the weekend came to a close, National Franchisee Katalin Deak, reflected on the journey and what it represents:
“We are proud of how far we’ve come. Our teachers, franchisees, and marketing teams have worked tirelessly to build trust and awareness for the Helen Doron brand in Slovakia. Every campaign, every class, every smiling child has contributed to this success. Having Helen and Richard here to celebrate with us made this milestone even more meaningful. It reminds us that we are part of something truly global, and that our work here continues to make a difference.”
Here’s to another 20 years of educational excellence!
