How AI is changing work for proofreaders, translators and English teachers in Czechia

When I arrived in Czechia in 2002, not speaking Czech was less of an obstacle to finding work than it might sound. As a native speaker of English, I could teach, proofread texts, translate, and write. 

For an expat like me, these jobs formed the expat employment lifelines, but two decades later, that route in the Czech labor market is looking far less certain.

Having worked as a proofreader for 24 years, I saw my workload drop to less than one-quarter of its previous level last year. The culprit? Clients turning to AI.

I spoke to other translators, proofreaders and English teachers working in Czechia to find out whether they were seeing the same thing. I heard that all their workloads were declining, people were changing jobs and questioning whether they could make a living doing this type of work.

Translator and proofreader colleagues all report the same decline. Some experienced translators have been forced to seek full-time office jobs, while others have applied for unemployment benefits due to the lack of work.

The demand for TEFL teachers may also be negatively affected in the long term, as one can now "learn a second language" via AI on the internet, at a fraction of the cost of a human teacher.

A talented Czech-English translator, Zuzana V., who had a full workload two years ago, sums up the situation:

"I am sorry that our professions seem to be on the brink of extinction. I hope people will realize that AI will always lack feeling and humanity, which are the true essence of art. AI translations are mechanical and based on statistical probability, stripping the work of its authenticity and personal style. A translator pours his or her soul into the text, something AI will never be able to do."

Czech-English translator Viktor H. also assesses, in colorful imagery: "Translators and proofreaders are a dying breed, going extinct on a mass scale. Like Tolkien's elves, leaving Middle-earth because of spreading evil, translators, but also graphic designers, content creators, etc. are reduced in numbers and forced to find new sources of income to survive."

Proofreaders are increasingly asked to proofread almost perfect AI translations, but those texts lack the human touch and rich variety of vocabulary of a "human" native speaker.

Job postings have shifted to an increasing demand for native speakers to "train AI" programs, rather than to provide actual proofreading and translations. Another novel job category created by AI is for native-speaking voice actors to train AI and "shape the future of AI". The dark irony is clear: positions requiring work to train our artificial replacements far outnumber the number of actual proofreading and translating jobs.

And being asked to "correct and improve" AI translations can often be a more difficult task than doing the original translation from scratch.

Šárka M., a court-certified interpreter, describes the rather terrifying problem created by AI today:

"There have already been suggestions that interpreters (especially those at the courts) can be replaced by machines providing a perfect service. This seems to me like magic pills promising the perfect body, happiness or eternal youth. Interpretation, especially in stressful situations, needs human impact. Sometimes we call ourselves tlumiče (‘shock absorbers') instead of tlumočníci (‘interpreters'), since we frequently smooth and facilitate communication and prevent conflicts which no AI could do."

Expats in Czechia today will need to expand their fields of employment and job searches. It is no longer a certainty to obtain employment in TEFL teaching, proofreading or translating, merely due to the magic words of being a "native speaker".

We translators and teachers aren’t, of course, the only ones that will and are already feeling the heat. According to iDNES.cz, 2.3 million Czechs will be affected by AI.

"Retraining and increasing education will be necessary. According to the forecast, 955,000 new positions could be created by 2035, while 355,000 will disappear." 

A study by the consulting company, Boston Consulting Group and the Central European branch of the Aspen Institute for the Ministry of Labor shows that approximately 288,000 people will have to retrain and move to other positions.

Another 67,000 people must completely change their field and undergo fundamental retraining or risk long-term unemployment.

The most affected professions, according to the most recent estimates, are analysts and software developers, legal specialists, database and computer network specialists, business and marketing specialists, writers and journalists, linguists, information services workers, and data processing and logistics employees.

The legal profession will also be impacted. Lawyers, paralegals and clerks will be affected by generative AI, which can analyze legal documents and create contracts based on templates.

Research by the Czech National Bank finds that "AI exposure is highest in financial and insurance activities and in information and communication services. In 2025, nearly half of Czech firms reported using generative AI, above the EU average of 37% and the highest share among Central, Eastern and South-Eastern European countries."

Meanwhile, about one-third of Czechs believe artificial intelligence will impact their jobs within five years, according to a new Charles University/Ipsos study. Software engineers, graphic designers, and journalists expect the greatest effects.

The findings suggest AI expectations are growing as chatbot adoption gradually increases in the Czech Republic. While some remain skeptical, others see merit and potential for such technologies. Czech education will also need to adapt, to provide students with the necessary skills to work in the new world.

Job searches by expats have to expand notably from the former TEFL teaching, proofreading and translating positions, but there will always be a way to survive and thrive.

Learning new digital skills will increase the possibilities of employment in many fields, while fluency in English remains the number one requisite for foreigners who do not speak Czech.

For me personally, every day in the Czech Republic is like being on a permanent holiday in a foreign and exciting new land. My workload as a freelance proofreader has diminished drastically due to AI, but I am optimistic that other openings will arise in fields where being a native speaker of English remains an asset.

After 24 years in Czechia, I am still not ready to give up on making a living here. But I can no longer assume that being a "native English speaker" are the magic keywords to unlocking employment.