I have a degree in theater studies and I am almost a Polish philologist (still working on my thesis), but my professional experience spans a wide range of fields: I have led handicraft workshops, delivered pizza, taught children dance, chemistry, physics and English language, worked in a printing house, a Żabka, a hotel, and even a casino. I co-organized an arts festival, worked as an animator, wrote an article for a newspaper, guided people through an escape room, and worked as a waitress. Eventually, I discovered my true calling – teaching Polish as a foreign language.

What helps me to teach effectively:

The complexity of Polish grammar and explaining it to others genuinely excites me, but I always remember that communication is the core function of language, and mistakes are a natural part of it. I always strive to make my lessons engaging for my students, so instead of another textbook story about Krakow’s old town, I choose materials that interest and engage each group and individual.

Because I want my students to be exposed to different varieties of Polish rather than just hyper-correct language typically found in textbooks, I also organize a film club, where we watch Polish films and explore different shades of the language – colloquial, dialectal, vulgar etc. – while also learning about Polish culture and history and also simply having fun.