How we teach – the Pol-Langua methodology
We teach Polish according to the levels of the European CEFR scale (A1–C2), and students preparing for an exam – according to the requirements and pass thresholds of the State Commission. Each lesson lasts 50 minutes and combines revision, new material and speaking in a real-life situation. We check progress continuously and once a month we summarise it in a report – also for individual students. You will see how this works in practice at a trial lesson.
The point of reference: CEFR levels
The point of reference is the European CEFR scale of language proficiency levels, in which A1 means the first steps and C2 – proficiency close to that of a native speaker. The state Polish exams use the same level labels – from A1 to C2 – so the study plan and the exam requirements speak the same language. In the trial lesson the teacher determines your level, and your goal – for example B1 for citizenship – sets the following stages. You can check what you can do at each level in our description of levels A1–C2.
The State Commission's criteria in exam preparation
We build exam preparation according to how the exam is structured and assessed – because each part of it has to be passed separately. At level B1 the written part for adults lasts no longer than 190 minutes and consists of modules testing listening comprehension, reading comprehension, grammatical accuracy and writing skills; then comes the oral part.
| Level | Condition for passing | What it means for study |
|---|---|---|
| A1, A2 | at least 50% of the points from the written part and 50% from the oral part | an even result in both parts is enough |
| B1 | at least 50% of the points from each module of the written part and from the oral part | no skill can be left behind |
| B2, C1, C2 | at least 60% of the points from each module of the written part and from the oral part | a higher threshold – less room for a weaker part |
That is why in an exam course we practise each module separately, and before the session the student takes a mock exam in which the teacher assesses writing and speaking according to the commission's criteria. You will find details of the B1 exam structure in our description of structure and scoring.
The course of a lesson (50 minutes)
A lesson lasts 50 minutes and has a fixed rhythm: warm-up, revision, new material, practice and summary. The teacher adjusts the proportions to the level and the goal – below is a typical course of a lesson at level A2.
| Minutes | Stage | What happens | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5 | Warm-up | A short conversation, getting into Polish | Co robiłeś w weekend? |
| 5–15 | Revision | Checking the homework, practising material from the previous lesson | Wczoraj byłem w sklepie i kupiłem chleb. |
| 15–30 | New material | One structure or a group of words, with examples from real life | Idę do lekarza. Byłem u lekarza. |
| 30–45 | Practice | A conversation in a situation, role play, a short text | Dzień dobry, chciałbym umówić się na wizytę. |
| 45–50 | Summary | What you can do after the lesson, a task for next time | Napisz pięć zdań o swoim tygodniu. |
How we correct mistakes
We correct mistakes in a way that does not interrupt speaking: when the student is talking, the teacher takes notes and discusses the corrections after the utterance is finished. Priority goes to mistakes that make understanding difficult, then to those that keep recurring.
Student: Wczoraj ja byłem w sklep i kupiłem dwa chleb.
Teacher after the utterance: Wczoraj byłem w sklepie i kupiłem dwa chleby. – after w in the sense of "where?" we use the locative (w sklepie), after the numeral dwa the noun is in the plural (dwa chleby), and the pronoun ja can be left out, because the form byłem already says who.
How we assess progress
We check progress at every stage – from the diagnosis at the start to the mock exam:
- Diagnosis at the start – a trial lesson with a determination of the level and a study plan.
- In the lesson – a short task checking whether the student can use a new structure in a sentence.
- After a thematic block – a summary task: a conversation in a situation, a short text or a test.
- Once a month – a progress report: what the student can already do, what needs improving and what the goal is for the next month. Companies receive such a report for the HR department.
- Before the exam – a mock exam with assessment according to the commission's criteria.
Between lessons the student can send the teacher a question via WhatsApp – for example a photo of a letter from an office that they do not understand, or a sentence to check.
Language of explanation
The teacher explains grammar and new words in Polish, English, Russian or Spanish – in the language the student understands best. The higher the level, the more lessons are conducted entirely in Polish; from level B1 Polish is usually the main language of the classes, and another language returns mainly for harder explanations. The simplest way to check this is in practice in individual lessons or in a group.
Frequently asked questions
Does the teacher correct every mistake the student makes?
Not straight away. During a conversation fluency matters, so the teacher first corrects mistakes that make understanding difficult or keep recurring, and discusses the rest during exercises.
Can I learn mainly speaking, without grammar?
You can put the emphasis on speaking, but we do not skip grammar altogether – in Polish the endings change the meaning of a sentence. We then practise it in conversation, not in tables.
Is there homework after every lesson?
Usually yes – short, taking about a dozen minutes, related to the topic of the lesson. Its scope depends on how much time you have for study.
Sources
- Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education on examinations in Polish as a foreign language (Polish act: Rozporządzenie Ministra Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego w sprawie egzaminów z języka polskiego jako obcego), Dz.U. 2025 poz. 217 – § 14 ust. 1 (modules and duration of the written part), § 23 (conditions for passing the exam)
50 minutes with a teacher: a level diagnosis and a study plan tailored to your goal.
See also
- About the schoolWho we are, who runs the school, how we work and what we do not promise.Read →
- B1 mock examA full timed B1 exam, then the teacher marks your writing and speaking and gives a report on what to improve.199 PLNRead →
- 1:1 lessonsYou and the teacher: pace, topics and schedule adjusted to you, from A1 to C2.from 99 PLN / lessonRead →