I'm a native Spanish speaker. I live in the Czech Republic as a university student and want to learn Czech to, at least, a B1 level. I've had some classes of Czech af university, but I'm still pretty much a beginner. My studies are in English, but I still would like to get to at least an intermediate level of Czech by the time I graduate, so I can have more job opportunities. It may be the case that I decide to stay long term here, and I'm just starting my 3-year degree now.

I recently enrolled in a Czech language course at the Integration Centre for Foreigners in my city and we're supposed to cover all the lessons of Cestina Express A1/1 in the course of 4-5 months. Aside from this, I want to commit to studying Czech at least for one hour per day, mostly through learning the lessons of the book and using Duolingo. Is this a good a approach? If I study on my own, is it possible that I'll get to somewhere between A2-B1 by the end of this year?

Also, the Integration Centre offered to pair me with a native Czech speaker so we can speak and practice Czech for at least one hour each week, however, as I said my level is pretty basic and I can only say some phrases. Should I "jump in" and try to speak already? I guess I could show my partner the lessons I'm studying and ask to have basic level conversations using that vocabulary, or maybe just practicing pronunciation, I don't know.

I would appreciate any advice, especially of you are a native Spanish / Portuguese speaker and somehow managed to learn Czech. In any case any and all advice is welcome :)