Study Polish in Poland

  Poland

Krakow

Description: This Polish language immersion program takes place in Krakow, one of Poland's oldest cities and its traditional capital. Krakow is the traditional residence of the Polish kings and the home for the high aristocracy, the Krakow cityscape was the showcase of Polish art and architecture. The eclectic mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture gives the city a cosmopolitan air that puts it on par with almost any other city in Europe. There is much more to do in Krakow than site-seeing, however, and it hosts 18 university-level schools, for a total student population of 170,000, over 10% of the population! The presence of so many institutions of higher learning gives Krakow a very dynamic, energetic atmosphere, and the streets are full of interesting restaurants, bars, and, of course, shopping.

The school is housed in an historic building dating back to the end of the 19th century and located some 10 minutes by foot to Krakow's central square. Classes are held in 8 spacious, well-lit rooms, equipped with audio/visual materials, over-head projectors and white boards. There is also a study room with library and free Internet access.

* Our General Polish program consists of 20 hours a week and aims to develop the learner's general language competence and the ability to communicate in an international environment and everyday situations, as well as at work and in social situations. Throughout the course, learners expand their vocabulary repertoire and learn new grammatical structures. Through practice, they improve their ability to communicate, read and write fluently and correctly. The curriculum includes a wide range of topics such as, real life situations, Polish history, art, culture, literature and tradition, social problems, politics, and media.

* Our Combination Course program consists of a combination of the General Polish program in the morning, followed by private lessons in the afternoon (an additional 10 hours a week), for a total of 30 hours of instruction per week. Private lessons are catered to the needs and weaknesses of individual students, making this the fastest method for learning the language and developing specific language competencies.

Highlights: We believe that practicing Polish outside class and getting to know Poland and its culture is essential to language development. It is for this reason that we organize a variety of activities outside of class for our students. Our program includes:

* Lectures on Polish History, Literature, Film and Legends: This is an opportunity to discover the most important facts of a history that is over a thousand years old. Learn about the most outstanding artists and writers and works of Polish literature and films.

* Polish Cuisine Workshops: The best way to learn how to prepare "pirogi" or cook famous Polish "barszcz" soup.

* Guided Tours and Trips: In Krakow and its surrounding cities, there are numerous exciting monuments, interesting museums and picturesque sites such as Wawel Castle, Marquet Square, Wieliczka Salt Mine...

* Pub and Restaurant Evenings with Teachers and Polish Students: Pub and restaurant evenings with teachers and the students studying in their school are good opportunities to get to know each other better and make new friends.

* Barbecues and Horse riding: There are many picturesque places to have a picnic and ride horses. If you can't ride a horse, we will teach you how.

* Meetings with Local Students: These meetings with local students are a good way to get to know new people and to talk about various topics.

* Film Screenings: Film screenings permit you to enjoy Polish cinema and its most significant masters. It is also a very effective way to improve listening skills.

Some of these activities are included in the course price, however there are extra fees for others, especially those that include admission or transportation fees.

We offer two possibilities for lodging. The first is in one of our carefully selected host families, which includes a private room and half-board (2 meals a day). Alternatively, students can opt to stay in our residence hall, also with private rooms, but no meals. The residences are located 3km from the school (25 minutes by foot) and 10 minutes from the main square (Glowny Rynek). The rooms are fully furnished (bed linen, tables, wardrobe, etc...) and each has a private bathroom.

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Poland Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference

Easy Languages's Mission Statement: In this steadily shrinking world where studies and employment are taking an increasingly international tilt, active knowledge of foreign languages is becoming an indispensable skill for students, business people, and even tourists. These skills, however, are extremely difficult to acquire at home. A stay among native speakers of the target languages not only facilitates the learning process, but most experts agree that it is essential to becoming a truly fluent speaker. With over 15 years of experience in organizing journeys abroad to study languages, we here at Easy Languages offer a range of courses for every age group, time line and budget. Our students participate in everything from week long holiday trips to England to year long exchanges in Costa Rica. As opposed to the majority of organizations offering services similar to ours, we do not charge any administrative price supplements. There are no hidden costs in any of our programs. All of our prices are clearly displayed in one convenient, readable table directly on the summary page of each program. We are a company that values honesty and believes that full disclosure is part of that commitment.

Year Founded: 1993