The Essentials
All Programs
Year High School
Language Requirements
Applicants to the Year High School Program in Poland are expected to enroll in an online Rosetta Stone language course and study independently prior to departure on program. The mandatory online course will be organized and monitored by AFS Poland who will email registration and login instructions to each student. AFS Poland requires that each student completes at least one LEVEL of the course (not to be confused with one UNIT), before their arrival in Poland for the program. If this requirement is not fulfilled, then the student must reimburse AFS Poland €50 (approx. $55) upon arrival.
During the exchange year, Polish language lessons will be provided locally for four months. The course fee, as well as the necessary books, will be covered by AFS Poland. If students wish to attend additional Polish language lessons during the second semester of exchange, they must cover cost.
Digging Deeper
Language Resources
- Rosetta Stone: Polish (see below)
- Polish Alphabet Song
- The Travel Linguist: Learn Polish on Youtube
- Mówić Po Polsku
- Duolingo: Polish
- Babbel: Polish
Cultural Resources
- Polish Culture Blog
- BBC Timeline: Poland
- Hofstede Center: Poland
- Culture Grams
–Username: afsusa – Password: cgrams
News and Media
- Gazeta (Polish)
- The Guardian (English)
- Wykop.pl (Polish)
- Krakow Post (English)
- Polish Daily News (English and Polish)
- Radio Poland
- Newsweek (Polish)
Movies and Documentaries
- Ida (2013)
- Ashes and Diamonds (1958)
- Night Train (1959)
- The Promised Land (1975)
- Dekalog (1989)
- Our Curse (2013)
- Anything Can Happen (1995)
- The Performer (2015)
- Joanna (2013)
- Salto (1965)
- Letters to Santa (2011)
Books
- The Doll (1890)
- The Girl from Krakow (2015)
- Poland (James Michener) (2014)
- Anna and the Swallow Man (2016)
- Ferdydurke (1956)
- Maly Chopin (2009)
- The Star Diaries (1957)
- The Boy on the Wooden Box (2013)
- The Peasants (1909)
- Solaris (1961)
- Tales of Galicia (1995)
- Kaytec the Wizard (1933)
- Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass (1978)
LGBTQ Resources (Diversity)
Heritage and Ethnicity Resources (Diversity)