News
2008-09-22/ We take pride...
in our students!
We are proud of you for being so eager to learn and even more eager to participate in our cultural programme ;).
We are happy that you were with us this summer and brought some Italian temperament, Australian sun, Greek feasts, Spanish liveliness and Belgian chocolate (yummy;))...
It is thanks to you that our school embraces the whole world, all the continents...
We learnt what a morning in the Swiss Alps looks like (Andrea), how many people you should invite to a Greek wedding (Julia), how to make delicious Ukrainian dumplings (Anna), how to say hello in Filipino (sister Nancy) and goodbye in Japanese (Chizuko), what a typical French cheese tastes (and smells) like (Yann), and how some Polish words sound in Chicago (Nathan)...
We'd like to thank all and each of you for a great holiday – for being the reason why after so many years our work is still our passion.
2008-08-01/ Poland - Ukraine side by side
Matryoshkas, Combat Hopak, Lvivian rapper Frank,Ukrainian fashon show...Last Friday Krakow's main market square turned into a real Ukrainian feast...You can eat Ukrainian borscht there, listen to Ukrainian music, buy Ukrainian jewellery...
Krakow is equally actractive for our eastern neighbours. Last Friday they could hear a Polish famous singer Ewelina Flinta, performing live especially for them, and every day they can take part in "Ogrody Wiedzy" (gardens of knowledge)- a series of education workshops, games and competitions as well as Polish lessons organised by Varia Center of Polish Language.
The project "Poland-Ukraine side by side", organised by the "¦wiat M³odych" associatio, in cooperation with our Schoo, among others, provides the opportunity for both sides to get to knowits neighbour better, promotes tolerance and aims at breaking common stereotypes about the nations.
The time between 14 and 16 is a special time in "Ogrody Wiedzy" - we invite all children to take part in games with the Polish language prepared especially by our teachers especially for them.It is also an opportunity to listen to Polish fables and win interesting prizes.
2008-07-01/ A Recipe for a Great Holiday
If you have been wondering where to go on holidays so that it is fun and practical, we have a solution for you! We would like to invite you to a place full of good thoughts, spontaneous people and scientific spirit – Varia School.
All you need is to like singing (Polish songs...;),
dance Krakowiak (Pecker Dance),
be able to pronounce „ g¿eg¿ó³ka”,
and... mold „pierogi ruskie” (Russian dumplings/pierogis).
Because Varia is not only a school of Polish, but also a laughter and health factory (because, as we know, laugh is healthy...) and a generator of fun ideas for spending your free time in Krakow.
We warmly invite you to a Polish holiday! From 13 July to 20 September.
2008-07-01/ Studying in Krakow - Pros and Cons
Krakow is rightly called a student city – it is here that almost 100,000 young people enjoy their education and social life.
Why Krakow?
Candidates choose Krakow because it is situated close to the place they come from (over 46%), and because it is a nice city (almost 40%). Another important factor is the prestige enjoyed by the universities – the Jagiellonian University is ranked as first in this respect, closely followed by Collegium Medicum and Cracow University of Economics.
Pros and cons of studying in Krakow
Despite overall satisfaction with studying in Krakow, the list of problems faced by students on a daily basis is quite long. What are the greatest disadvantages they mention? Communication and cost of living. Commuting, overhauls, traffic, overcrowded buses...
What students also found irritating is administration inconvenience at universities and crowds of tourists in the city centre. Other, relatively rare, drawbacks are low salaries, lack of perspectives after finishing education, noise, Cracovian people's mentality (misers) and... pigeons.
Among the greatest advantages of the city the students have listed excellent universities, libraries, level of education and great lecturers. A lot of students also recognise the city's cultural value, its art and history. Thriving student life and the city's unique atmosphere have also been found of importance.
And because of this atmosphere...
no other city in Poland :)
Based on an article from „Gazeta Wyborcza Kraków”
2008-03-20/ Easter meeting
On Wednesday 19th of April, we and our students met together. The reason was approaching Easter. We were eating Polish dainties, wishing each other the best and telling stories about Easter tradition in our countries. In Germany a priest hallow a fire instead of a food and children try to find an Easter Rabbit (Bunny) in the garden. In Great Britain the most popular is sweet bread in a shape of a cross. In Italy according to the saying: Christmas is for family, Easter for friends - people have fun with their friends.
2008-01-28/ Spring semester
New Year, new decisions and ... a new semester in our School.
You can study in the morning or in the evening with people from the whole world. You can take part in more or less intensive courses (2 or 3 times a week) and of course our teacher will keep an eye on you for the whole time!
If you would like to learn more about our semester courses, please chech the information in "Polish courses" or please call us: +48 12 633 58 71.
2008-01-10/ Christmas carol
On Wednesday evening (19th December) we and our students were trying to create the atmosphere of Polish Christmas Eve. There were candels, the Christmas Tree, a borsch and a herring. We were telling stories about tradition during the Christmas in different countries. We found out that it is possible to spend Christmas on the beach (Australia) and the gifts are brought by Tree Kings on 6th of January (Spain and Portugal). In the end we got emotional - while breaking the wafer we were wishing ourselves the best.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
2007-12-01/ Divination - fortune telling will tell you the truth
On thursday 29th November our students meet together to celebrate the old Polish tradition. In the evening called Andrzejkowy Wieczor the most important were magic and fortune telling. We tried to discover our real characters by choosing our favourite fruits or by analising numbers in our date of birth. We found out that among us there were some despots, melancholics, perfectionists. The divinations told us about great events that await us in the future: two new wifes, a huge inheritance, an excellent knowledge of Polish grammar, a date with Shrek.
It's good to know that our future will be so optimistic!
2007-10-01/ Semester courses - several months' intensive learning
Regular meeting with Polish language, friendly teachers and students from all over the world - with a cup of coffee drunk in a very nice atmosphere.
We teach Polish in the morning or evening, on intensive basis (3 x per week) or regular (2 x per week)...Always with great effects!
Our goal is to establish a close friendship with the Polish language. Varia students need to understand it and get along with it in any situation.
Such friendship is meant to last :).
We invite you to participate in the semester courses organised by our School. More detailed information can be found under 'Polish courses'.
2007-09-25/ various VARIAtions - various vacations
Thanks to our students, who came to Krakow for the 2-week adventure with Polish, this summer was full of positive emotions.
We would like to thank you all for taking part in VARIA-courses, that was really great!!! Extraordinary and uncommon. It was a real pleasure to work with you and spend the holidays in that atmosphere.
Kasia, Aneta, Ola, Ewa, Ania, Monika and everyone who has helped us in organising your staying here.
Time for the summary:
We hosted 105 students this summer. They came from Germany, England, United States, Ireland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, Esthonia, France, Belgium, Holland, and even from the far Australia.
The youngest student was 14 years old (have fun Anton!), the oldest was 78 (all the best for Bernard). The absolut fan of Polish language was undoubtedly Mr. Kowal, who was taking 10 lessons per day - we appreciate your efforts and strong motivation:)
What have we done together? What have we seen?
Everyone remembers our Saturday-trips to Ojcow, Zakopane and Wieliczka. Our VARIA-Globetrotter trophy goes to Marina and Angelo! In two weeks they managed to see almost the whole country (and pass the final test:))!
Our hit - 'co to za zagadka, dwa kó³ka i Agatka?' - congrats to Kerstin, Nat, Carlo, Carolinka and Baptiste for their spontainous lake bath. Agatka says 'hello' to all of you!!!
Krakow by night...homework done in the underground pubs...flatparties (thanks to Philipinio, Tiago, Matthias and Joerg), 'mad dogs' and dancing till dawn.
Thanks again for everything guys!!!We hope to see you in Krakow again (or any other place in the world).
2007-09-01/ Krakow's favourite places for sunny days
Sun likes Krakow.
From the beginning of holiday we had loads of sunshine. Hot days in town that's a harsh time for everyone. Therefore, the best way for active rest during sunny days is to move away from the hot pavements and big crowds on the street.
Here are our proposals: places we can take students after classes so that they can enjoy some fresh air, relaxation and nice sorroundings.
1. Twardowski Rocks (Ska³ki Twardowskiego) - one of our favourite places. It only takes 25 minutes walk to get to this very nice place. Here you can find everything you need - high rocks perfect fot climbing, meadows and forests for romantic walks, and finally a dam with incredibly clean water.
2. Kryspinów - only 20 km away from Krakow. This is a perfect place for all the people who want to take a brake from the city's busy atmosphere. You can find many interesting attractions including watering places, playing fields as well as numerous bars that organise massive parties. It is also possible to rent the water sports equipment. It is highly recommended to take a tent when going to Kryspinów, as it is really hard to leave.
3. Wisla Riverside (Bulwary Wi¶lane) - one of the best places in Krakow to have a long and refreshing walk, famous among Krakow people and tourists. On the riverside, you can enjoy beautiful views of Wawel castle, get on the boat and go for a cruise down the river or simply lie on the grass and get a nice suntan.
Krakow is just perfect for every occasion, perfect for everyone!
2007-05-22/ Krakow - the city of music - reasons why Krakow is the place to be for sound sensations seekers
Tired of listening to the same stuff all the time? Angry when you go to a different country and you hear exactly the same music as in your homeland? Eager to explore new horizons in music? If your answer is yes, then you should come to Krakow.
In the city of Krakow the old and traditional meets the new and modern, and so is the case with music. Concerts, festivals, music clubs – all these places offer a wide variety of musical sensations, ranging from classical music to traditional folk songs to modern jazz and electronica. Almost every night you can be in a different place listening to a different kind of music – one day at a jazz concert, next day at an ethnic music festival, then in Kazimierz enjoying indigenous klezmer music.
Krakow being one of the cultural centres of Europe offers you also music from countries other than Poland. If you've ever been to Krakow, you've surely happened to see bands, choirs, orchestras from different parts of the world performing live in the Main Square or other popular and easily accessible places. Also in small and hidden places like pubs there's something going on every night – you can listen to a local industrial metal band or explore the beauty of exotic Siberian khoomei vocal.
When it comes to music, the best thing about Krakow seems to be the fact that you have easy access to great music live and practically for free. So next time you get bored with Britney or Kaiser Chiefs you know where to go.
2007-05-22/ Juwenalia 2007 - let (unruly) students rule!
The greates students' holidays in Poland, a celebration of youth and joy - Juwenalia 2007 - is over. One again Krakow's students showed the city belonged to them for those few days of spring. A colourful procession of nearly 100 thousand students marking the beginning of the holiday madness, put the participants into a remarkable state of joy and ease.
And so we took off! Open air concerts, cabarets, film shows gathered thousands of fans of good music, art and student fun every night. Students had a chance to forget about the imminent exams for a moment and gather strength to "fight" the examination session.
"We've never seen Krakow so colourful and ful of sound," said our students who also took part in the celebration. "You really can't miss such a party!" they added unanimously. We couldn't agree more and we can't wait to get more next year - impatiently waiting for the next big celebration of joy and imagination!
2007-05-23/Holidays in Krakow
The next VARIA-tions with the Polish language and Krakow start as soon as July! Polish language courses combined with a rich cultural programme and homestay accommodation is not only a good way to get to know Krakow, learn a new language and meet new people but above all a recipe for an inventive and beneficial way to spend summer holidays.
Polish lessons outdoors, trips to interesting places (Zakopane, Wieliczka), guided city sightseeing tours, theme nights, meetings with Polish students - these are just some of the many things we have prepared for you. So if you don't like boredom and you're ready for two very Polish weeks in the city that has never disillusioned anyone, you're welcome to join us!
Intensive Polish language course, cultural programme, accommodation:
Summer courses: |
I 15.07 – 28.07.2007 |
II 29.07 – 11.08.2007 |
III 12.08 – 25.08.2007 |
IV 26.08 – 08.09.2007 |
V 09.09 – 22.09.2007 |
2007-04-01/ Winter talks by hot tea
Winter is over and so are our 2-week winter courses. And although it can't be denied that spring is a lovely season (the sun, the flowers, the dresses), we still miss havinga cup of tea with our students, bellies filled with laughter, „w¶ciek³y pies” late in the evening...
Thank you for that warm winter time. Thanks for the dances in Lubu-Dubu (Andy, Tim), constant joking (Petar the joker), the first heralds of spring (Medi, Ivonne, Caroline, Torsten), talks at the fireplace and the Dutch shoes (Michael, Nicole), original ideas to follow (Christian), the pie (Granma, Konrad), for everything... to EVERYONE.
And we hope to see you soon.
2007-02-22/ Józef and the Krakow room - VARIA's brand new classrooms
Józef is working hard. It is the thing about old buildings - they don't like being renovated. Józef knows that and he knows his job well. So it will be cool, in the classic Krakow-style...
There are two totally new rooms - rooms to study, talk, have a coffee, or watch a film. They are nearly done. The cups are already in the sideboard, the board is hanging on the wall, we only need tables and it will all be ready.
Józef is now in our Krakow room. He is fighting against the Smok wawelski (dragon) and Lajkonik. He will soon move the Wawel castle. The whole Krakow is here with us and all that we need is students who will shortly fill up the classrooms. We let our students work and play and make them see that learning Polish does not have to be dull!
2007-01-21/
How to be cool in Polish - a survival course for Erasmus Students What you need to survive here are, in fact, just a couple of words in Polish. But the smart guys can do more - haggle about the price with the taxi driver, charm the police officers when they want to fine you for speeding, or arrange a date... in Polish!
And it is so far from the truth that Polish is difficult. A little motivation and a good teacher are absolutely enough. You've got the former, and we've got the latter. So, our dear Erasmus Student, why don't you let us make you and Polish best friends?
Intensive course of Polish Language for you:
Course starts on: 01.03.2007 (20 classes = 40 lessons)
Price for one lesson: 12 zl
top
