Polish Short Courses Levels
View details for each level
Course description: Level 1 is for complete beginners or those with minimal knowledge of Polish. The course runs over three ten-week terms and each session is two hours long. The course includes all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. The aim of the course is to enable students to function in simple everyday situations. The course will cover the following:
Topics:
- greetings
- introducing oneself, friends and family
- describing how one feels
- describing people
- describing environment: classroom, home and city
- discussing hobbies, activities, and preferences
- describing daily routines
- ordering food in a restaurant or café
- buying food
- going shopping and shopping for clothes
- organising a meeting
- booking a taxi and ordering things
- numbers, days, months, and dates; simple time expressions
Functions:
- introductions and greetings
- formal and informal forms of address
- giving polite orders
- making requests
- descriptive texts (describing people, home and city)
- expressing likes and dislikes
- describing skills, wishes and plans
- organising meetings and appointments
- giving polite orders
Grammar:
- consonants and vowels in Polish
- conjugation of verbs
- cases (Nominative, Genitive, Accusative and Instrumental)
- personal, possessive and demonstrative pronouns
- cardinal and ordinal numbers
- negation, questions and word order
- agreement patterns
- adjectives and comparison of adjectives
Learning resources:
Course Book
- M. Malolepsza, A. Szymkiewicz, Hurra po polsku 1. Podręcznik studenta, NOWA EDYCJA, Krakow: Prolog 2020.
- M. Malolepsza, A. Szymkiewicz, Hurra po polsku 1. Zeszyt ćwiczeń, NOWA EDYCJA, Krakow: Prolog 2020.
Additional material
- A. Seretny, A co to takiego? Obrazkowy słownik języka polskiego, Kraków: Universitas 2003.
- B. Serafin, A. Achtelik, Miło mi panią poznać. Język polski w sytuacjach komunikacyjnych, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego 2001.
- D. Bielec, Polish. An Essential Grammar, London: Routledge 1998.
- D. Gałtyga, Ach, ten język polski!, Kraków; Universitas 2001.
- I. Stempek, A. Stelmach, S. Dawidek, A. Szymkiewicz, Polski Krok po kroku, Krakow: polish-courses.com 2010.
- I. Stempek, Gry i zabawy językowe. Polski krok po kroku, Krakow: polish-courses.com 2012.
- J. Fisiak, Collins English-Polish and Polish-English Dictionary. Collins słownik angielsko-polski i polsko-angielski, Warszawa: BGW 1997.
- J. Lechowicz, J. Podsiadły, Ten, ta, to, Łódź: WING 2007.
- J. Machowska, Gramatyka? Dlaczego nie? Ćwiczenia gramatyczne dla poziomu A1, Krakow: Universitas 2011.
- K. Janecki, 301 Polish Verbs, New York: Barron’s Educational Series 2000.
- M. Pasieka, Język polski dla cudzoziemców. Ćwiczenia dla początkujących, Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego 2001.
- M. Szelc-Mays, Nowe słowa – stare rzeczy, Kraków: Wydawnictwo Zakonu Pijarów 1999.
- T. Pelc, Teraz polski. Gry i ćwiczenia komunikacyjne, Łódź: WING 1997.
News and insight from Poland in English:
Course description: Level 2 is for those who have successfully completed the Level 1 Polish Evening Course or a similar course and have gained limited experience of dealing with authentic material through regular visits to the country or through self-study. The course runs over three ten-week terms, and each session is two hours long. The course includes all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. The aim of the course is to give students an opportunity to revise, consolidate, and build on acquired skills. On completion of the course students can communicate in Polish on a variety of practical everyday matters. The course will cover the following:
Topics:
- discussing past activities (weekend, holidays, childhood etc.)
- discussing future activities (plans, resolutions, wishes)
- habits, favourite activities, preferences and abilities in past, present and future
- describing location
- asking for and giving directions
- places to visit in Poland
- organising holidays, making reservations and travel arrangements
- resting or buying a flat / a house in Poland
- discussing the weather
- discussing health related issues, making appointments with doctors
- talking about sport
- discussing work related issues
- festivities around the year and in the family
Functions:
- giving one’s opinion, presenting a simple argument, contradicting
- expressing, and enquiring about, likes, dislikes, preferences
- asking for help and basic clarification
- asking for directions and assistance
- giving directions: describing location and motion
- giving orders: polite orders, indirect requests
- describing past events and planning future arrangements
- differentiating, and discussing, ongoing and completed actions
- describing health related issues
- discussing work related issues
- discussing living arrangements; buying or renting a flat / a house
Grammar:
- revision and more in-depth study of covered grammar
- the past tense
- the future tense
- aspect of verbs
- cases (revision of covered cases and Locative)
- static and dynamic verbs followed by prepositions and cases
- adjectives and adverbs
- verbal nouns
- foreign words in Polish
Learning resources:
Course Book
- M. Malolepsza, A. Szymkiewicz, Hurra po polsku 1. Podręcznik studenta, NOWA EDYCJA, Krakow: Prolog 2020.
- M. Malolepsza, A. Szymkiewicz, Hurra po polsku 1. Zeszyt ćwiczeń, NOWA EDYCJA, Krakow: Prolog 2020.
Additional material
- A. Seretny, A co to takiego? Obrazkowy słownik języka polskiego, Kraków: Universitas 2003.
- B. Serafin, A. Achtelik, Miło mi panią poznać. Język polski w sytuacjach komunikacyjnych, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego 2001.
- D. Bielec, Polish. An Essential Grammar, London: Routledge 1998.
- D. Gałtyga, Ach, ten język polski!, Kraków; Universitas 2001.
- I. Stempek, A. Stelmach, S. Dawidek, A. Szymkiewicz, Polski Krok po kroku, Krakow: polish-courses.com 2010.
- I. Stempek, Gry i zabawy językowe. Polski krok po kroku, Krakow: polish-courses.com 2012.
- J. Fisiak, Collins English-Polish and Polish-English Dictionary. Collins słownik angielsko-polski i polsko-angielski, Warszawa: BGW 1997.
- J. Lechowicz, J. Podsiadły, Ten, ta, to, Łódź: WING 2007.
- J. Machowska, Gramatyka? Dlaczego nie? Ćwiczenia gramatyczne dla poziomu A1, Krakow: Universitas 2011.
- K. Janecki, 301 Polish Verbs, New York: Barron’s Educational Series 2000.
- M. Pasieka, Język polski dla cudzoziemców. Ćwiczenia dla początkujących, Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego 2001.
- M. Szelc-Mays, Nowe słowa – stare rzeczy, Kraków: Wydawnictwo Zakonu Pijarów 1999.
- T. Pelc, Teraz polski. Gry i ćwiczenia komunikacyjne, Łódź: WING 1997.
Polish radio and television:
Polish newspapers and magazines:
https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/
also:
News and insights from Poland in English:
Course description: Level 3 is for those who have successfully completed the Level 2 Polish Evening Course or a similar course and/or have developed a sound knowledge of the basics of the language through extensive visits to Poland or through self-study. The course runs over three ten-week terms and each session is two hours long. The course includes all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening; linguistic and cultural knowledge is reinforced and broaden. On completion of the course students can communicate in most situations and retrieve information from authentic materials. The course will cover the following:
Topics:
- Language learning goals and effective methods
- Introduction to the history and geography of Poland
- Polish cuisine and tourist attractions
- Polish traditions, both historical and contemporary
- Current changes and trends in the Polish language (e.g., feminatives, non-binary forms, new vocabulary)
- Introduction to Polish music, legends, and art
- Learning about the most influential Poles
Functions:
- Reflecting on language acquisition
- Expressing opinions, agreeing, and disagreeing
- Discussing past events
- Expressing future plans
- Navigating Polish special days and occasions
- Making suggestions and recommendations
- Speculating and making assumptions
- Writing in different registers
Grammar:
- Revision and in-depth study of covered grammar
- Cases (plural forms of Nominative Masculine Personal, Dative)
- Cardinal and ordinal numbers, including dates
- Aspect of verbs
- Present, past, and future tenses
Learning resources:
Course Book
- M. Klajda, M. Smulewska-Dziadosz, Pierogi po polsku. Język, kultura, turystyka.
Additional material
- A. Seretny, A co to takiego? Obrazkowy słownik języka polskiego, Kraków: Universitas 2003.
- D. Bielec, Polish. An Essential Grammar, London: Routledge 1998.
- E. Lipińska, Z Polskim na ty, Kraków: Universitas 2003.
- J. Fisiak, Collins English-Polish and Polish-English Dictionary. Collins słownik angielsko-polski i polsko-angielski, Warszawa: BGW 1997.
- J. Machowska, Gramatyka? Ależ tak! Ćwiczenia gramatyczne dla poziomu A2, Krakow: Universitas 2011.
- K. Janecki, 301 Polish Verbs, New York: Barron’s Educational Series 2000.
- M. Szelc-Mays, Nowe słowa – stare rzeczy, Kraków: Wydawnictwo Zakonu Pijarów 1999.
Polish radio and television:
Polish newspapers and magazines:
https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/
also:
News and insights from Poland in English:
Course description: Level 4 is for those who have successfully completed the Level 3 Polish Evening Course or a similar course and/or have developed a sound knowledge of the basics of the language through extensive visits to Poland or through self-study. The course runs over three ten-week terms and each session is two hours long. The course includes all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening; linguistic and cultural knowledge is reinforced and broaden. On completion of the course students can communicate in most situations and retrieve information from authentic materials. The course will cover the following:
Topics:
- describing people
- learning about some of the most important Poles
- talking about past, including the history of Poland
- discussing work related issues
- education (Polish system of education and comparison of systems) and life-long learning
- advantages and disadvantages of living in the city
- Polish cities and towns
Functions:
- describing and comparing people
- describing and comparing places and cities
- expressing opinion, agreeing and disagreeing
- talking about past events
- expressing plans for the future
- writing emails and CVs
- understanding job and courses advertisements
- job interview
Grammar:
- revision and more in-depth study of covered grammar
- cases (esp. plural forms of Nominative Masculine Personal)
- usage of linking words, such as: który/którzy
- cardinal and ordinal numbers (including in dates and times)
- demonstrative and possessive pronounsaspect of verbs
- adverbs and adjectives
- comparison of adverbs and adjectives
- verbs followed by prepositions and cases
- compound sentences: relative clauses and complement closes
- introduction to the usage of: oba/obydwa, obie/obydwie, obaj/obydwaj, oboje/obydwoje
Learning resources:
Course Book
- A. Dixon, A. Jasińska, Hurra po polsku 2. Podręcznik studenta, NOWA EDYCJA, Krakow: Prolog 2020.
- A. Dixon, A. Jasińska, Hurra po polsku 2. Zeszyt ćwiczeń, NOWA EDYCJA, Krakow: Prolog 2020.
Additional material
- A. Seretny, A co to takiego? Obrazkowy słownik języka polskiego, Kraków: Universitas 2003.
- D. Bielec, Polish. An Essential Grammar, London: Routledge 1998.
- E. Lipińska, Z Polskim na ty, Kraków: Universitas 2003.
- I. Stempek, A. Stelmach, Polski Krok po kroku A2, Krakow: Polish-courses.com 2012.
- I. Stempek, Gry i zabawy językowe. Polski krok po kroku, Krakow: Polish-courses.com 2012.
- J. Fisiak, Collins English-Polish and Polish-English Dictionary. Collins słownik angielsko-polski i polsko-angielski, Warszawa: BGW 1997.
- J. Machowska, Gramatyka? Ależ tak! Ćwiczenia gramatyczne dla poziomu A2, Krakow: Universitas 2011.
- K. Janecki, 301 Polish Verbs, New York: Barron’s Educational Series 2000.
- M. Szelc-Mays, Nowe słowa – stare rzeczy, Kraków: Wydawnictwo Zakonu Pijarów 1999.
Polish radio and television:
Polish newspapers and magazines:
https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/
also:
News and insights from Poland in English:
Course description: Level 5 is for those who have successfully completed the Level 4 Polish Evening Course or a similar course and/or have developed a sound knowledge of the basics of the language through extensive visits to Poland or through self-study. The course runs over three ten-week terms and each session is two hours long. The course includes all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening; linguistic and cultural knowledge is reinforced and broaden. On completion of the course students can confidently discuss most topics in depth, express themselves confidently and clearly and retrieve information from authentic materials. The course will cover the following:
Topics:
- discussing and comparing life in a city and in a countryside
- describing environment and discussing environmental issues
- talking about animals and their role in the environment
- talking about relationships (friendship and family)
- taking about people’s life
- household appliances, their function and design
- inventions
- household chores
- introduction to history of Poland
- learning about some of the most important Poles
- idioms and proverbs
Functions:
- describing and comparing places, life in a city and life in a countryside
- expressing opinion, agreeing and disagreeing
- talking about past events
- expressing plans for the future
- expressing wishes, desires, possibilities, hopes, expectations (including the verb ‘powinien’)
- making suggestions and recommendations
- speculating, making assumptions
- encouraging others to do something
- asking for help
- expressing satisfaction and dissatisfaction, including formal complains
- writing letters in different registers
- health and wellbeing
Grammar:
- revision and more in-depth study of covered grammar
- cases (esp. Dative)
- usage of linking words
- cardinal and ordinal numbers
- aspect of verbs (including after negation)
- conditional mood
- adverbs and adjectives
- comparison of adverbs and adjectives
- sentences with żeby and że
- verbs followed by prepositions and cases
- compound sentences
- pronoun ‘się’ and its cases
- impersonal forms of the verb with ‘się’, ‘-no’ and ‘-to’
- gerunds (+genitive)
- adjectival participle
- passive voice
- imperative
Learning resources:
Course Book
- A. Dixon, A. Jasińska, Hurra po polsku 2. Podręcznik studenta, NOWA EDYCJA, Krakow: Prolog 2020.
- A. Dixon, A. Jasińska, Hurra po polsku 2. Zeszyt ćwiczeń, NOWA EDYCJA, Krakow: Prolog 2020.
Additional material
- A. Seretny, A co to takiego? Obrazkowy słownik języka polskiego, Kraków: Universitas 2003.
- D. Bielec, Polish. An Essential Grammar, London: Routledge 1998.
- E. Lipińska, Z polskim na ty, Kraków: Universitas 2003.
- I. Stempek, A. Stelmach, Polski. Krok po kroku A2, Krakow: Polish-courses.com 2012.
- I. Stempek, Gry i zabawy językowe. Polski krok po kroku, Krakow: Polish-courses.com 2012.
- J. Fisiak, Collins English-Polish and Polish-English Dictionary. Collins słownik angielsko-polski i polsko-angielski, Warszawa: BGW 1997.
- J. Machowska, Gramatyka? Ależ tak! Ćwiczenia gramatyczne dla poziomu A2, Krakow: Universitas 2011.
- K. Janecki, 301 Polish Verbs, New York: Barron’s Educational Series 2000.
Polish radio and television:
https://nowyswiat.online/
https://radio357.pl/
www.polskieradio.pl
www.tvn.pl
www.tvp.pl
Polish newspapers and magazines:
https://oko.press/
https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/
www.dziennik.pl
www.gazeta.pl
www.polityka.pl
www.rp.pl
www.tygodnik.onet.pl
www.wprost.pl
also:
https://www.bbc.com/polska
News and insights from Poland in English:
Course description: Level 6 is for those who have successfully completed the Level 5 Polish Evening Course or a similar course and/or have developed a sound knowledge of the basics of the language through extensive visits to Poland or through self-study. The course runs over three ten-week terms, and each session is two hours long. The course includes all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening; linguistic and cultural knowledge is reinforced and broadened. On completion of the course students can converse reasonably fluently with native speakers, retrieve information from a wide range of authentic materials. The course will cover the following:
Topics:
- A healthy lifestyle
- Work
- Politics
- Describing people; paying compliments
- Life in Poland – foreign nationals in Poland
- Polish diaspora
- Introduction to Polish culture
- Beliefs and superstitions
- Social media
Functions:
- commenting, debating
- negotiating and discussing points of views
- reading, analysing, and summarising texts
- extracting and presenting information from written sources or visual material
- reporting on events and matters of public interest
- writing reports and reviews
- preparing presentations
- encouraging and discouraging
- ‘Reading between the lines’: detecting non-explicit content in texts
Grammar:
- Grammar terminology
- Revision of covered grammar
- Syntax of numerals; declension of cardinal numbers
- Irregular forms of nouns
- Adverbials
- Aspect of verbs
- Negative pronouns: nikt, nic, żaden
- Conditionals
- Reported speech
- Compound sentences
- Polish iconic places
- Famous Poles
Learning resources:
Course Book
- A. Dixon, A. Jasińska, M. Małolepsza, A. Szymkiewicz, Hurra po polsku 3. Podręcznik studenta, lekcje 0-10, NOWA EDYCJA Kraków: Prolog 2024.
- A. Dixon, A. Jasińska, M. Małolepsza, A. Szymkiewicz, Hurra po polsku 3. Zeszyt ćwiczeń, NOWA EDYCJA, Kraków: Prolog: 2021.
Additional material
- A. Majkiewicz, J. Tambor, Śpiewająco po polsku, Katowice 2004.
- A. Pięcińska, Co raz wejdzie do głowy – już z niej nie wyleci. Czyli frazeologia prosta i przyjemna, Kraków: Universitas 2006.
- A. Seretny, A co to takiego? Obrazkowy słownik języka polskiego, Kraków: Universitas 2003.
- D. Bielec, Polish. An Essential Grammar, London: Routledge 1998.
- D. Wolfram-Romanowska, Polish – English Idioms, Warsaw: PWN 1999.
- E. Lipińska, E.G. Dąbska, Kiedyś wrócisz tu... cz. 1, Kraków: Universitas 2007.
- E. Lipińska, Nie ma róży bez kolców. Ćwiczenia ortograficzne dla obcokrajowców, Kraków: Universitas 2000.
- J. Pyzik, Iść czy jechać? Kraków: Universitas 2003.
- J. Pyzik, Przygoda z gramatyką, Kraków: Universitas 2000.
- K. Janecki, 301 Polish Verbs, New York: Barron’s Educational Series 2000.
- M. Szelc-Mays, Nowe słowa – stare rzeczy, Kraków: Wydawnictwo Zakonu Pijarów 1999.
- P. Garncarek, Czas na czasownik, Kraków: Universitas 2004.
- P. Lewiński, Oto polska mowa, Wrocław: 2001.
- S. Mędak, Co z czym? Kraków: Universitas 2000.
- The PWN-Oxford English-Polish Dictionary, Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN 2002.
Polish radio and television:
Polish newspapers and magazines:
Further reading:
- The Penguin Book of Polish Short Stories, London 2025.
- N. Davies, God’s Playground. History of Poland volume I and II, Oxford: University Press 1997.
- A. Wierzbicka, Understanding cultures through their key words: English, Russian, Polish, German and Japanese, New York: Oxford University Press 1997.
- A. Wierzbicka, Emotions across languages and cultures: diversity and universals, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1999.
Course description: Level 7 is for those who have successfully completed the Level 6 Polish Evening Course or a similar course and/or have developed an excellent knowledge of the language through working with Poles, or through living in a partly Polish-speaking environment. The course runs over three ten-week terms, and each session is two hours long. The aim of the course is to help fluent speakers of Polish to maintain and extend their knowledge of the language, as well as to enhance their literacy and translation skills, and cultural awareness. The course includes all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. The course will cover the following:
Topics:
- Mass media
- Beliefs and superstitions
- Economy of Poland
- Important events in Polish history
- Poland in EU, NATO and other international organisations
- Human rights, citizen rights and constitution
- Polish culture: theatre, cinema, art
- Polish culture: theatre, cinema, art
- Latest trends in Poland
- Understanding Polish customs and traditions
- Introduction to Polish literature
Functions:
- understanding dialectal and societal variation
- commenting, debating
- analysing and responding to reviews and criticism
- writing reviews and summaries
- reporting on events and matters of public interest
- preparing presentations
- ‘Reading between the lines’: detecting non-explicit content in texts
- practising translation from and into Polish
Grammar:
- declension of difficult nouns
- impersonal forms
- imperative and conditional mood
- syntax of numerals, declension of cardinal numbers
- collective numerals
- names and surnames in Polish
- compound words
- reported speech
- Polish pronouns
- relative clauses
Learning resources:
Course Book
- A. Dixon, A. Jasińska, M. Małolepsza, A. Szymkiewicz, Hurra po polsku 3. Podręcznik studenta, lekcje 11-20, NOWA EDYCJA Kraków: Prolog 2024.
- A. Dixon, A. Jasińska, M. Małolepsza, A. Szymkiewicz, Hurra po polsku 3. Zeszytćwiczeń, NOWA EDYCJA, Kraków: Prolog: 2021.
Additional material
- Madeja, B. Morcinek-Adamczyk, Polski mniej obcy, Uniwersytet Śląski, 2023.
- A. Pięcińska, Co raz wejdzie do głowy – już z niej nie wyleci. Czyli frazeologia prosta i przyjemna, Kraków: Universitas 2006.
- A. Seretny, A co to takiego? Obrazkowy słownik języka polskiego, Kraków: Universitas 2003.
- A. Seretny, Kto czyta, nie błądzi. Ćwiczenia rozwijające sprawność czytania, Kraków: Universitas 2007.
- D. Wolfram-Romanowska, Polish – English Idioms, Warsaw: PWN 1999.
- E. Lipińska, E.G. Dąbska, Kiedyś wrócisz tu... cz. 2, Kraków: Universitas 2007.
- E. Lipińska, Nie ma róży bez kolców. Ćwiczenia ortograficzne dla obcokrajowców, Kraków: Universitas 2000.
- J. Pyzik, Iść czy jechać? Kraków: Universitas 2003.
- J. Pyzik, Przygoda z gramatyką, Kraków: Universitas 2000.
- K. Janecki, 301 Polish Verbs, New York: Barron’s Educational Series 2000.
- M. Kita, Wybieram gramatykę! Dla cudzoziemców zaawansowanych na poziomie C, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego, Katowice 2009.
- P. Garncarek, Czas na czasownik, Kraków: Universitas 2001.
- S. Mędak, Co z czym? Kraków: Universitas 2000.
- Seria Czytaj po polsku, Uniwersytet Śląski.
- The PWN-Oxford English-Polish Dictionary, Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN 2002.
- D. Bielec, Polish. An Essential Grammar, London: Routledge 1998.
Polish radio and television:
Polish newspapers and magazines:
https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/
also:
News and insights from Poland in English:
Further reading:
- A. Wierzbicka, Understanding cultures through their key words: English, Russian, Polish, German and Japanese, New York: Oxford University Press 1997.
- A. Wierzbicka, Emotions across languages and cultures: diversity and universals, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1999.
- N. Davies, God’s Playground. History of Poland volume I and II, Oxford: University Press 1997.
- The Penguin Book of Polish Short Stories, London 2025.