FAQ
We run Polish language courses forforeigners. If you are interested in studying at our school and have questions, please see the FAQ section, where we have collected answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you do not find the answer to your question, please contact us,and a staff member will address your concerns.
How to sign up for a course?
To enroll in the course:
Step 1:
- Fill in the application form on our website
or
- contact us by e-mail or telephone.
After receiving your application, we will contact you to confirm your place in the course and provide you with the course payment information. We will also answer any additional questions. At this stage, your place will be reserved.
Step 2:
- Pay for the course. We mainly accept payment by bank transfer to the school's account. After the payment is received, we will contact the payer and confirm the student’s enrollment in the course.
An invoice will be issued for the student. Upon request, the school can also issue an appropriate certificate confirming course enrollment, course dates, number of hours, and payment for the course.
How do I pay for the course?
You can pay for the course:
- by bank transfer (in polish zlotys [PLN]) to the school's account
Bank name: BANK ŚLĄSKI SA ODDZIAŁ KRAKÓW
Account name: MAKILEN
Account number (in Polish zlotys)
Payment from within Poland: 86 1050 1445 1000 0092 3135 8905
Payment from abroad: IBAN PL 86 1050 1445 1000 0092 3135 8905 SWIFT/BIC: INGBPLPW Please note that all currency conversion and transfer fees must be paid by the student!
- In cash at the school premises
Can I pay in euros?
In exceptional cases - yes.
Please contact us about this.
If you pay in cash, we can only provide change in Polish zlotys.
Do I have to send the school a transfer confirmation?
No, it is not necessary. After the course fee is deposited into the school's bank account, we will contact the student and confirm the payment and booking of the course.
How long are the courses?
Our courses vary in length. During the general language course, you choose how long you want to study. Other courses generally last between 1 and 4 months. You can set the length of the individual course yourself. Additionally, you can always modify the length and frequency of the course, for instance by combining individual lessons with other lesson types or group courses. You can check the current details here.
How long are the lessons?
In a group course, one lesson is 60 minutes.
In an individual course, one lesson lasts 60, 90, or 120 minutes, depending on the preferences of the student.
Where can I get detailed information about the rules of participation in the course?
The terms and conditions of participation in the course can be found here: [link]
Individual lessons or a group course...Which should I choose?
Both options have advantages and disadvantages. We hope that the table below will help you make the right choice.
The school can also help you choose the best form of learning depending on your situation.
Please note that it is always possible to combine both types of courses.
|
Individual lessons |
Group course | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lessons adapted to my learning pace
|
V | |
|
Classes in a place of my choice (home,
|
V | |
|
Classes at the date and time I choose
|
V | |
|
I like to learn by myself
|
V | |
|
I like working in a group
|
V | |
|
I have irregular working hours
|
V | |
| I want to meet other people during the course
|
V | |
|
I like learning by talking to other students, playing games, and working in groups
|
V | |
|
I can adjust the hours and days of classes to the preferences of other people
|
V | |
|
I want to make progress as quickly as possible
|
V | |
|
I can come to class regularly on designated days of the week
|
V | |
|
Sometimes I have to cancel the lesson, and I wish to reschedule without losing any lesson time
|
V | |
|
I have special requests or needs (e.g., I learn slower, I want to spend more time on a specific skill such as writing, I want to learn specialized vocabulary, etc.)
|
V | |
|
I don't mind adjusting the pace of learning to other people
|
V |
Can I cancel my lessons?
If you are participating in a group course, it is not possible to cancel the lesson. Lessons follow the schedule, regardless of whether a course participant can or cannot attend class on the given day.
If you are participating in an individual course, you may cancel the lesson no later than 24 H before its planned start. This can be done by calling the contact number provided at the beginning of the course or the office telephone number, or sending an e-mail to the school office. Each lesson can only be canceled once.
Can I postpone the course if I cannot attend for an important reason?
In exceptional random situations (e.g., longterm illness or hospital stay), it is possible to transfer the course to another date. However, each case is considered individually. Please report to the secretariat if you have such a case to discuss.
Can I transfer the lesson to a different date and/or time?
For students participating in a group course, this is not possible unless the whole group - in agreement with the teacher and the school office - agrees to change the date.
For students participating in an individual course, it is possible to transfer the lesson to another date. The teacher/school office should be informed about the date change no later than 24 hours before the scheduled start of the lesson.
Will the lesson take place if I am late?
Lessons begin and end at the agreed times, even if the student is late. Group courses run according to the schedule. If for some reason a participant of individual lessons cannot be on time, they should immediately contact the school office or the teacher conducting the classes.
If the student does not notify the teacher about being late, the teacher will wait 15 minutes. For any lessons that the student misses or is late for, the regular fee will be charged.
When should I pay for the course?
You must pay for each course before it starts. Payment for the course is the only way to guarantee a place in the course.
How long do I have to study to get to the next language level?
Generally, students must sacrifice min. 120 H to learn the material from one level. However, the speed of learning depends on many factors, such as the individual learning pace, knowledge of other foreign languages (e.g., knowledge of another Slavic language greatly speeds up learning Polish), time spent independently learning and repeating the material, and age of the student.
{slider I don't know what level of advancement I am currently at. Which course should I enroll in?}
If you already know some Polish, you will be asked to take a placement test and speak with the teacher before you start learning in one of our courses. On this basis, we will be able to determine your current level of advancement and offer you a place in an appropriate group or individual lessons.
What language levels are the courses offered at?
Courses are available at all language levels. Some classes are only for beginners, others only for advanced students. Detailed information can be found in the table on the “Courses” page. Language levels are determined on the basis of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) guidelines. Find out more at: https://www.coe.int/en/web/language-policy/ home
What is included in the course fee?
The price of the course includes
- Polish language classes with qualified teachers
- all teaching materials
- placement test
- intermediate and final tests (also oral exams, if included in the course program)
- certificate of course completion (on request). The certificate can be sent by post within the EU at no extra charge. The certificate may be sent to other countries at the student's expense.
- the opportunity to participate in all additional language and cultural workshops organized by the school.
The price may also include other elements, depending on the course program.
Details can be found in the "Courses" tab
Who can enroll in the course? Are there any age limits?
Anyone over 18 years of age can enroll in the course. There is no upper age limit.
Minors may be enrolled in the course only by their legal guardian and only after the guardian submits a declaration of their sole responsibility for the student.
In which language are the classes conducted?
In Polish, of course! Communication in Polish during the lesson accelerates learning and provides equal opportunity to participants from different countries. Lessons are conducted by qualified teachers who know how to conduct classes in a way such that students can try to use Polish from the very beginning and that no one feels lost.
Of course, all teachers and school staff also know English and other foreign languages.
What language can I communicate with in the school office?
The main working languages of the school office are Polish and English. If you do not know these languages, please inform us and let us know your preferred language of communication (French, Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish, German). Our consultants will then contact you in the language of your choice.
Alternatively, you can always use a translator ;)
My teacher is sick. Is our class cancelled?
In the case of random events such as the teacher falling ill, the school will try to organize an appropriate substitute to lead the class. If this is not possible, we will arrange a make-up date suitable for all course participants.
Who conducts the classes?
Classes are conducted by qualified Polish language teachers. All teachers have a degree in Polish philology at the master’s level or higher. They have also completed postgraduate studies/specialist courses for teaching Polish as a foreign language. All of our teachers have many years of experience working with students of all language proficiency levels, of all ages, and from all over the world.
Our school does not employ people who do not have the appropriate qualifications or experience (e.g., students).
Which countries do your students come from?
Many of our students come from other European countries, but we also have students from more distant places (e.g., Australia, the USA, China, Japan, Syria, Morocco, Madagascar, Brazil, and Ecuador). Distance is no barrier during online Polish language courses—thanks to technology, everyone is in Poland during the lesson ;)
What are the hours of the classes?
Courses run Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 22:00.
It is also possible to organize courses at other times for an additional fee:
From Monday to Friday after 22:00 or before 7:00 - regular price + 15%
Saturday courses - regular price + 25%
Sunday courses - regular price + 50%
Courses on official public holidays - regular price + 100%
Attention! All hours listed above are given according to the time in Poland: CET (UTC + 1 in summer; UTC + 2 in winter)
What do I need to have in order to attend an online Polish lesson? Do I need to install any new software?
To participate in the lessons, you must have:
- a device enabling remote communication (e.g., mobile phone, tablet, laptop, desktop computer). However, please note that during the lesson, in addition to speaking, you will also need to see the screen clearly to learn new words and expressions; the text on a small screen may therefore not be sufficient. If your vision is poor or you value comfort, we recommend devices with a larger screen, such as a laptop. Also, please ensure that the microphone and camera on your device are working well.
- an Internet connection
Additionally, we recommend:
- using headphones, as they will allow you to hear the teacher better and will reduce background noise. Also, remember that if you do not have headphones on, other class participants will be able to hear everything that is going on in your home. Keep this in mind ;)
- a friendly and preferably quiet place to study
- something to drink (your throat may become dry from speaking Polish intensively). However, note that we do not recommend eating during the lessons!
You do not need to install new software for the lessons. Your teacher will provide you with a link to the class before it begins. Just click on it, and that's it! You are in the lesson!