Our attitude
As the proverb says: “You live a new life for every new language you speak. If you know only one language, you live only once.” You might not agree with this but you will certainly feel more confident and live a fuller life if you learn the language of the country you live in. We will do all we can to support you in studying Polish during your stay in Poland.
We know that learning Polish can be a challenge, that’s why here’s what makes the courses at Polish Linguistic Institute special:
-
courses on all levels (A0-C2),
-
classes with teachers who have taught for over 3000 hours in the last two years,
-
a two step accurate language level assessment system enabling proper match of the group,
-
a flexible class timetable,
-
groups of 5 to 10 students,
-
a course preparing for Polish as a foreign language certification exam (the certificate is necessary in proceedings of recognition as a Polish citizen),
-
complementary individual classes,
-
a handbook free of charge,
-
access to the library,
-
a certificate of completion at the end of the course,
-
documents necessary to obtain visas,
-
accelerated teaching for Slavic groups,
-
a friendly atmosphere and international groups
We try to tailor our mode of operation to our students’ lifestyle so that they can really benefit from the courses at Polish Linguistic Institute. The Council of Europe developed The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: learning, teaching, assessment, which differentiates between the following levels:
Keeping in mind that our students are constantly on the move, we’ve created an even more detailed division of Polish language proficiency levels. Both our language course enrolment period and the trimester mode of holding classes are based on it. We believe that this classification best suits our students’ needs:
Each module takes a trimester and includes 44 hours of classes. The way the course curriculum is constructed allows students to prepare for state certificate examinations (The Certification of Proficiency in Polish). Students are ready to take the exam after completing B1 level. Obtaining this certificate is usually necessary if you’d like to apply for Polish citizenship.
Our system of precise levelling guarantees passing the exam (provided you learn Polish with us and you follow the arrangements outlined in the contract). The details of the curricula are available at the office of Polish Linguistic Institute.
You can start a language course at Polish Linguistic Institute (regardless of the level) four times a year – in January, April, July or October. If you start at A0, you can expect to continue at A1.1 next trimester - with the same teacher and at the same time. Of course, you can always change a group at the end of the trimester (there are plenty to chose from!)
How we do it?
Our office is open from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00. Where are we? Please check the Contact tab.
The language proficiency test at Polish Linguistic Institute has two steps:
– a written test
– an interview with one of our teachers, which enables precise evaluation of the language level of each of our students and to choose an appropriate group for learning.
After you complete the language proficiency test, we invite you to a placement interview with our teachers. This will help us check your listening and speaking skills. Check the schedule of our teachers to select an appropriate meeting time.
PAfter the interview with our teacher, we will be able to determine your level of knowledge, and you will be able to choose the right time for you from our list of available classes (PLI offers classes in the morning and evening). Every three months there is new start of groups at all levels.
The teaching materials include materials from "Krok po kroku" series published by Gloss and „Przejdź na wyższy poziom" published by Nowela. Every student receives their own new handbook.
Classes in Polish Linguistic Institute are conducted in small groups, and the participants’ level of Polish language proficiency in one group. is similar. We provide classes at 23 levels!). At the initial stage, classes in Slavic and international groups are based on different curricula, curricula to increase the effectiveness of the courses.
The classes are conducted without any intermediary language, so that Polish is often the only language of communication within the group.
We encourage you to immerse yourself into the language environment, both at Polish Linguistic Institute and in real life. Warsaw offers many occasions to do this! Try to use some didactic materials available at our library, plan a visit to a museum or a theatre or join our Polish Film Club or participate in our conversation course. Talk with your classmates in Polish while having a delicious cup of coffee by our cosy reception area. And if this is not enough for you, take some individual classes.
Doing homework is a condition to progress in learning. Prepare to spend at least one hour on doing homework before classes. The course also includes tests, which require some preparation from you.
If you meet all the requirements of participation in the course, at the end of it we will award you with a certificate of completion of the course, according to Art.13 section 2 of the resolution of the Minister of National Education of 11 January 2012 on continuing education in non-public institutions (Official Journal [Dz.U.] of 2014 item 622).
We guarantee that by continuing to learn Polish on our courses and consequently passing from one level to another, you will get the best results and you will pass the exam in Polish as a foreign language. If you fail, you will get your money back!
Levels
Each level is a set of linguistic competencies. Our levelling system helps you get an idea of what you will learn.
Please chose and click below to check a level
-
A1.0
You can introduce yourself and tell something about yourself, your hobbies and your profession. You can do shopping using Polish and order a taxi. You know the days of the week and you can count. You know how to communicate in these situations, formally and informally.
A1.1
You can name food products, place an order by phone and in a restaurant, and go shopping at a supermarket (including fruit, vegetables, dishes, desserts, food, drinks). You can describe your family, whether it is big or small. You can also tell what and how often you do during your day, what you did yesterday, ask about the time, and go for a beer.
A1.2
You can switch your GPS device to Polish because you can find your way in a city or describe how to get somewhere. And once you get to a post-office, you can get everything done. If you go to the Office for Foreigners, you will fill out necessary forms in Polish. You can find and describe everything in your flat as well. When do you go on holiday? What will the weather be like? What do you dream of? You can answer these questions in Polish.
A1.3
Such important events as birthdays, Christmas, Easter, weddings, etc. are a part of social life. Now you can write e.g. a birthday card in Polish, including wishes. Are you looking for a flat? Now you understand classifieds and know what to pay attention to when looking for a flat. You know some geography in Polish, so you can talk about your travels. Are you planning a trip for the weekend? You will need to talk in Polish at a railway station, airport or bus station. If you want, you can also start writing your autobiography because you already know the past tense and you can specify dates. -
A2.1
We pay great attention to appearance. You will be able to describe your clothes and appearance of another person. Therefore, you can also give advice and compliment someone. Sometimes we are not entirely happy with the things we buy. This is not a problem because you can make a complaint. You can also describe your body and how you feel. After this course in Polish, you will have no problems with communicating at a doctor’s office, the hairdresser, tailor or mechanic.
A2.2
We live in an era of various media, so now it is time to learn how to navigate in the Polish virtual reality. Have you seen an interesting film? You can talk about it, and read or write a review. Do you like sports events? You can switch to a sports channel in Polish. Do you have a growing number of friends in Poland? Even if you live in the same city, you often communicate via Facebook/Skype/email. This is no longer a challenge for you.
A2.3
At this stage, learning Polish becomes more business-like. You can search for a job, go to a job interview, write a cover letter and resume. Nothing on holiday is a surprise any more because we will discuss more nuances: equipment for various sports, more situations at an airport. You will discover so many interesting parts of Poland that you will feel like travelling. -
B1.1
You study at a Polish NGO. Work in an NGO can bring a lot of satisfaction and be a great adventure. You can already become a volunteer in such an organisation. We are always on the move: to work; on holiday. There are sometimes accidents on roads, bumps or collisions. You car does not want to start? You have parked your car and cannot leave because someone has blocked you in? You can handle both crisis and everyday challenges of road traffic.
B1.2
Now you can find your place in every company because you can talk to everyone about everything. What do we talk about? Nature, weather, recent events, ecology, politics, economy and sometimes history. You can start dreaming in Polish, as you can already say what would happen if...
B1.3
It is time for sophisticated structures and vocabulary. This is also an excellent occasion to show you more about the culture (including Polish): the art, films, theatre, paintings and photography. You cannot admire the art without being able to describe your emotions. You will also gain new knowledge about more mundane topics, including some philosophy, shopping, our needs and how advertising affects us.
B1.4
Congratulations! You have reached a moment when you can freely communicate, read newspapers and watch TV in Poland. Time to sit the State Certificate Examination in Polish as a Foreign Language. After practising exam exercises with the help of teachers, you will pass the examination with flying colours. We will keep our fingers crossed! (Optional level). -
B2.1
Practice makes perfect. We will talk about recent important events that are discussed on TV and in newspapers. No subject in this trimester will be a surprise for you. You will notice that you have already heard about these topics, but cannot remember everything. Yes, learning Polish is very intense, but the devil is in the detail. At this stage, we will focus on things that might have escaped you. All this to make it easy for you to use various media.
B2.2
If you already knew how to handle a job interview, you could more or less describe a person (their appearance and character), describe what you did on holiday or what your plans were for your next holiday, now, when listening to you, one may think that you have always lived in Poland.
B2.3
Time to improve Polish while watching Animal Planet and National Geographic in Polish. Discussions about nature and animals can teach you idiomatic expressions and other metaphors related to our life. The second part of topics includes the housing situation. Discussions about changes in the society. You need to refresh communication-related situations associated with rental or purchase of your own place.
B2.4
Regardless your religion, when living in Poland you will notice various superstitions, beliefs and traditions. After this course, you will know where they come from and what they mean. You can read a horoscope in Polish. You can also tell a fairy tale because you will read more than one of these in Polish. We know that you can navigate throughout the city, but now is the time to improve your topography skills. -
C1.1
An important subject that the Poles refer to in various contexts are the 50 years of communism and People's Republic of Poland. This trimester includes a long list of topics to be discussed: safety, law and order. We will talk about health and experience with the public health care in different countries. We will also discuss ways to avoid visits to a doctor, so we will show you how to lead a healthy lifestyle and follow a healthy diet.
C1.2
You have been able to communicate both formally and informally for a long time. Now you will learn some savoir vivre, i.e. organisation of various events: from invitations and dress, to catering, manners and topics to discuss. You will read many interesting articles in Polish and maybe even write a few.
C1.3
In this trimester, we will talk about stereotypes regarding nationality and gender. We will analyse manners or their lack on roads. We will repeat many grammatical issues when talking about how we live in the world of omnipresent media and information, and about life in the big city and related opportunities/limitations available in Warsaw.
C1.4
After this trimester, you know a lot of sophisticated words and ways to express yourself. Now you will have some more practice in discussing social roles and challenges of being a woman or a man in the modern world. After a discussion on contemporary Polish youth, no topic will surprise you. -
Congratulations! You can probably speak Polish better than some people born in Poland! But do not rest on laurels because there is always something you can learn in the Polish language. If you want to study in Polish or if you mainly use Polish at work, only after this trimester you will be at ease with reading literary or specialised texts.
The learning pace in Slavic and international groups at the initial stage is different, so up to the level A2.2 the classes are conducted separately for international groups and groups of people speaking Slavic languages fluently.
Cost of courses
The price of one course module (one trimester):
1200 PLN
The price includes:
- a precise, two-step levelling procedure (a written test and an interview with a language teacher),
- 44 academic hours in a small group
- a handbook (as you progress you will receive more advanced ones).
If you miss your classes, your teacher will always give you the materials from the previous class. We also offer individual supplementary classes that will help you to catch up.