Why Polish?
Those of us who teach and study Polish have many answers to this question. Here are a few, read on!
Literature, Culture, History
Poland has a rich literary and cultural tradition as well as a fascinating history that you will explore in your studies. How many nations of 40 million inhabitants have six (seven even!) Nobel Prize winners? There's Sienkiewicz, Reymont, Miłosz and Szymborska for literature, Curie for both Physics and Chemistry and Wałęsa for Peace.
City-life
Kraków, Poland´s former capital, is one of the largest and oldest cities in Poland, as well as one of the world's most beautiful cities. With a history encompassing more than a thousand years, the city remains the spiritual heart of Poland. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish scientific, cultural and artistic life. It has a lively cultural life and music scene that offers something for everyone.
Warsaw became capital city of Poland in 1596, when King Sigismund III Vasa moved his court from Kraków. Due to its central location, Warsaw became the cultural, economic and administrative centre of Poland. But Warsaw is not all about the history. It is also a vibrant, multicultural place, where you can enjoy great cultural performances as well as a relaxed atmosphere in numerous clubs and restaurants.
Job prospects - something different
Poland has a rapidly modernising, dynamic economy, and bilingual English native speakers are always at a premium. Knowing the language and the culture is a skill that is both personally and professionally rewarding. This is particularly the case now that Poland´s accession to the EU in 2004 is making it easier for Polish immigrants to enter the UK while specialists in Polish are still few and far between.
Why Polish at Sheffield?
Students of Polish have at their disposal:
- A language teaching programme that has elements of traditional grammar-based approaches, but also a strong emphasis on communicative work and introducing students to Polish history, literature and culture, with a linguist as grammar instructor and a native speaker of Polish as conversation instructor at all levels.
- An active Erasmus exchange with Warsaw University and the opportunity to study Polish language and culture at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, which is one of the oldest universities in Central Europe. Not only do our students study at these two institutions, but the exchange component means that there are Polish students and instructors in residence at our Department here in Sheffield. This offers our students an excellent opportunity to meet and socialise with Poles before and after the Year Abroad.
- Occasional speakers and cultural activities (films, concerts) both at the University and in the community that enrich the language programme.
- A lively Polish community – students have the chance to meet native speakers in a casual setting and to improve their conversational skills.
For more information about the course, contact the Polish tutor Dr Dagmar Divjak at:
email : d.divjak@sheffield.ac.uk