In October, about 80 students from 21 countries started learning Polish at the Wrocław University of Technology Division of Polish Language for Foreigners. On 8th November they met at a socializing party organized in the Employer’s Club located in the university Main Building.
They were welcomed by Joanna Kozieja-Ruta – Head of the Division of Polish Language for Foreigners. There were also other Polish teachers, as well as Iwona Frankiewicz – Deputy Head of the Department of Foreign Languages, Elżbieta Szczawińska from the English language team, and representatives of the Admission Department: its Head, Anetta Stypułkowska, and Ewa Markowska. “We can be satisfied with the results of this year’s admission: we reached the number of 80 new international students. Teachers from the Division of Polish Language for Foreigners say that we swamped them with work.” – says Anetta Stypułkowska.
During the party, students communicated in English. Safoura, an 18-year-old girl from France said: “My husband is Polish so it was important to me to learn about the culture and language of the country he comes from. What’s more, we are both Muslims. In France, I wouldn’t be able to go out on the street wearing a traditional Muslim woman’s dress. Nor would I be able to come to school in one. In Poland people react in a different way: if they look at me, they usually look with interest because my appearance might be something new to them. I haven’t met with hostility.”
An intensive course on Polish culture and language will last the entire academic year. When the students complete it, they will start studies at a faculty chosen by them. They will still attend Polish classes – for them it will be a language course treated in the same way as foreign language courses for Polish students.
Maria Lewowska
Translation: Dariusz Więcławski
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