The Department of Polish Language for Foreigners offers courses of Polish language and Polish culture on different levels competency – A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. They are intended for candidates who want to study at any of the academies in Poland and also for those who want to learn Polish intensely.

 

The courses of Polish language last for the whole academic year (from October to June). They include 20 lessons of Polish language per week (5 times a week, 4 lessons a day). The first term contains 300 lessons of Polish language and so does the second term.

 

The students also take part in learning supplementary subjects according to their further studies (mathematics, physics, biology, computer sciences, geography, knowledge of Polish culture and history – dependent on the students’ needs).

 

The students start learning the specialization courses on the advanced level in the winter term and on the elementary level – in the summer term. The specialization subjects are taught in Polish.

 

The courses, because of the fact that they are carried out on different levels of advance, guarantee a communicative dexterity in both formal and informal situations. At the same time, the courses prepare the candidates for studying on different faculties. The students improve basic linguistic competences: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking and writing different kinds of text. Additionally, some lectures and classes on Polish history and culture are carried out in Polish and English.

 

The course ends with a written and oral examination in Polish language and with examinations in all chosen subjects.

 

The Department of Polish Language for Foreigners offers also additional activities (tours to the most interesting regions of Poland, visits to some historical places in Wrocław) and participation in different cultural events. Within the limits of the course, the students learn about important traditions and customs of the Polish nation.

 

The curriculum of learning Polish as a foreign language on the elementary level A includes subjects connected mostly with a person (personal data, education, general look, family relations, leisure time activities, health etc.). Subsequent themes contain: the surrounding of the man (both immediate: living place, students’ hostel etc. and more distant: city and its institutions), every day routines, plants, animals, weather and climate.

 

The gramatical material includes:

• declination of the nouns, adjectives, pronouns and numerals;
• verb inflexion, transitive and intransitive verbs, voices and moods of the verbs, impersonal forms of the verbs, modals and verbs connected with movement;
• comparison of the adjectives and adverbs;
• classifying words into different parts of speech;
• syntax of a single and compound sentence, double negation, punctuation.
• The curriculum includes typical communicative situations, as well.

Courses:

 

Polish history has been presented from the oldest to the contemporary times. The course has been divided into parts determined by dates of great significance to the society and the state.

 

The purpose of the geography course is to present the social and economic situation of the world with a special emphasis on Poland. The most important chemistry problems are the following atoms, solutions, electrolytes, hydrolysis, matter, reactions of oxidation and reduction electrochemical processes and organic chemistry.

 

Selected areas of biology cover, among others, the skeletal system, muscular system, cardiovascular system, lymphatic system, digestive system, nervous system and reproductive system.

 

Participants of mathematics classes will have an opportunity to get to know the language and terminology used in mathematics. They will also have a chance to make up for the secondary school knowledge they miss (e.g. digits, geometric figures, fractions, mathematical actions, functions, sequences, etc.).

 

The purpose of the physics course is giving participants an opportunity to understand the phenomena of the surrounding world and nature, the structures of physics and its connections with other natural sciences (kinematics, dynamics, thermodynamics, electrostatics, optics, contemporary physics, electric current).

 

Skills required at levels Al, A2, Bl

• sufficient to handle basic communicative situations (e.g. at the bank, information about exams, courses, telephone conversations)
• an understanding of clear statements on familiar matters, relating to e.g. the home, studying, leisure time
• main points of radio news and other simple recorded messages – familiar topics: travelling, university, habits and customs, student life, descriptions of people
• sequence of events in simple stories, e.g. memories of childhood

Reading comprehension

• you should be able to give tips, instructions and advice (e.g. to give directions, describe a town, travel route)
• you can present, using simple sentences, your plans and intentions (e.g. weekend or holiday plans)
• you can describe your place/surroundings (e.g. university, flat, students’ club)
• you can take part in conversations on common/interesting topics, and issues related to everyday life
• you can cope with travel-related issues (make arrangements, find accommodation, book a trip, etc.)

Writing

• you can write simple, coherent texts on issues you are conversant with/interested in
• you can write very simple informal letters, describing experiences, impressions, feelings
• you can make a note, simple announcement, etc.

The syllabus of a Course in Polish as a Foreign Language at B2, Cl and C2 levels contains more varied themes – relating to education, work, culture, health issues, nature and the environment, science and technology, the media, Polish traditions and customs (against other cultures), and current social issues. Diverse communicative situations are practiced, communication skills are developed. Also, key cultural issues are discussed.
Grammar skills acquired on A1, A2 and B1 level courses are developed. Besides, the most difficult problems – concerning word construction, declension, inflection, phraseology, syntax and style – are introduced.
The course also covers elements of Poland’s history and culture: historical monuments; national heritage, martyrdom and Holocaust sites; profiles of the most outstanding Polish artists.

 

End-of-course requirements

 

Listening comprehension

• longer utterances, discussions about general topics
• radio and TV programs, e.g. the news, factual programs, documentary films
• films in standard Polish

Reading comprehension

• authentic texts on subjects relating to your field of study and interests
• the gist of literary, specialist and popular science writing
• you can make use of resources such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, lexicons

Conversation and Speech

• you can start, come in and take part in a conversation or discussion on general issues
• you can present your view, give arguments and defend yourself against criticism
• you can conduct interviews, prepared beforehand, as well as conversations or negotiations
• you can deliver a successful, interesting presentation

Writing

• you can take notes from longer utterances and readings
• you can write distinguishing between formal and informal style
• you can produce general-interest and ‘technical’ texts (e.g. formal letters)
• you can write efficiently and correctly.