The Varia Team

Weronika Cygan

I love learning foreign languages – for me it’s not only a way to discover the world, but also an opportunity for interesting encounters with people. In my free time you can find me out for a walk or in a café, enjoying a piece of good cake, because sweets are my weakness. I keep my feet on the ground, although I sometimes have my head in the clouds. I like being bored, because that’s when the most interesting ideas come to me. If you want, we can talk in Polish, English, or Spanish.

Magdalena DeVault

Since my family moved to Poland in 2018, we have started becoming a part of Varia. We have grown into it. We have gotten to know the people and the place.

My husband Ken and four children: Ela, Julia, Adam, and Daniel have started taking Polish language classes. I have begun getting to know the school, the students, and the teachers. Very informally, sometimes while having a cup of coffee, other times in a passing conversation. I liked this friendly, warm place. A few times I stayed late, and now I am working (although this is not the most suitable description, because mostly I enjoy being and give endlessly) at Varia. I implement the Varia mission - I create a place where everyone feels at home. Every day, I make our school the most friendly and comfortable place to learn and to teach. I take care of everyone and everything.

I relax while practicing yoga, discover myself by taking pictures of my surroundings, loose myself in good books. I constantly learn. I never say “no” to travelling or to a great cup of coffee. I indulge myself in shapes, colors, scents. I am learning to feel.

Ania Stelmach

It is said that you can teach the workbook, the language, or the student. The last one is the most important to me, yet, the most difficult. It compels you to be attentive, constantly seek, and look for inspirations. I strive to conduct my classes in a pleasant and creative atmosphere, make them engaging, and avoid boredom. I hope my lessons are eagerly awaited by my students. After many years of teaching, I continuously enjoy my job. While during my work I give much of myself, I receive just as much.

Anna Winczura

I have been teaching Polish as a foreign language since 2005. My experience comes from teaching at universities in Poland, Czech Republic, France, and Germany. Currently, I teach online. I am passionate about foreign languages. Since I am continuously learning new languages, I can easily put myself in my students’ shoes and understand their needs. I am trying to design interesting and dynamic lessons filled with a variety of information about the Polish geography, culture, and society. In my lessons, I also use my personal interests and hobbies, including love for cooking, cinema, music, and board games.

Magda Król

I work at Varia because I like people and here you can meet the entire world. I like enthusiasts because if it were not for them, who else would learn Polish? :) I like irrational variety, even absurdity - there is always something interesting, but unexpected similarities may hit close to home. My motto is: “Having fun with Polish” - this can be accomplished while teaching grammar as well as having conversations. Welcome to my lessons!

Monika Barańska

I am a virtual teacher. :) At VARIA School, I conduct online lessons and every day I travel to a different corner of the world. In this way, I have already met students from… 30 different countries: from the United States, through Iran, to Japan and Australia.
My lessons? They are enriched with cultural information and fun facts about the Polish language, including phonetic exercises, grammar, and, above all, communication. Always in a relaxed, stress-free atmosphere!
In my free time, I read, travel, hike on the oldest volcanoes in Europe, indulge in my slight addiction to watching TV series, and improve my makeup techniques.

Nicola Agier

I became a teacher because working with people motivates me. I like learning about new cultures, especially about their scents and flavours. My students surprise me with their language discoveries and their fresh look at any cultural differences. I love Krakow, its romantic, narrow streets, and crowded cafes. I also like walking in the rain. I am interested in modern literature - you can often see me sitting on my balcony with an interesting book and a cup of coffee. My favourite writers are Italo Calvino and Matei Visniec, while ma favourite word is “flanowanie”, which means a spontaneous wandering around town and sightseeing without a map or a guide but focused on getting to know the residents.

Beata Zaręba

My adventure with the Polish language has started a long time ago, and it still continues. It is a never-ending journey through various parts of the world, cultures, traditions, and customs. I enjoy getting to know new people, their countries, personalities, and life stories. I am glad when I can offer my students the tools necessary to discover the whole new world – the world of the Polish language.
During my lessons I create nice and friendly atmosphere. There is plenty of laughter and fun. I want my students to feel comfortable and not be afraid to speak Polish.
I am inviting all explorers - desiring new adventures – to embark on the train called the Polish language and to start a new inspiring journey. Who knows? Maybe a life-long journey?

Ewelina Sasin

I love infecting people with my love for the Polish language. My students inspire and motivate me. I am a Polish language teacher, a musician, and a cultural expert - I use all this knowledge during my lessons.
The biggest advantage of my job is meeting people from all over the world, which in turn creates my desire to travel.
I have been fascinated with the Middle East region, especially its customs, religion, music, and languages. I am an avid walker – I like to travel the world on foot while listening to music or audiobooks. I am addicted to books, chocolate, coffee, and Turkish tea.

Patrycja Pałka PhD

I am a linguist. Teaching the Polish language has been my hobby for many years, and I like to share this passion with my students. I teach not only the foreigners at the Varia school but also the Polish language students at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. I am interested in many aspects of the Polish language – persuasion and manipulation techniques, the regional Polish language, and of course the Polish grammar. In my free time, I like to travel, meet up with friends, go to the movies, and practice yoga.

Iga Figiel

I am interested in people, I am fascinated by how individuals are different from each other, and how many ways there are to reach people. I discover other people's worlds through conversations, books, art, and travel. In my free time, I am learning to recognize wild edible plants and I also practice Slavic gymnastics. My way of relaxing is walking, coffee and books.

Małgorzata Drąg

Learning foreign languages is a quite the pleasure for me, so I share it with others. During classes, I try to smuggle knowledge about Polish culture, history, customs, people - then the language comes to life, it ceases to be just a set of rules and words. And let's be honest, learning Polish always comes with a lot of laughter and fun, in no other language there are so many surprises and revelations:)
I spend my free time in the water; I swim, row, dive. Sometimes I like backpacking. I cordially greet all potential and future students!

Beata Romaniuk

When I am not at work, where I explain the secrets of the Polish language and promote my native culture, I fulfill myself as a Russian language translator. I am interested in contrastive grammar, teaching methodology, and cultural determinants of communication. Outside of work, you can meet me at a museum, on a bike path, and in a bookstore.

Agata Lesiak

Later, I became a Polish language teacher and a lover of linguistic simplicity and correctness. When someone uses properly szedłem, włączać, or wziąć, my heart melts. I love linguistic flavors and the secrets of etymology. I like teaching younger and older students, especially those who are motivated to learn. I feel great when biking, spending time among flowers, or I am singing in harmony with others.

Aleksandra Kozłowska

I specialize in online education, and I always try to make my lessons interesting, practical and, above all, tailored to the individual needs of students.

Joanna Bokwa

Teaching Polish gives me a chance to share my language with people who share my passion. I often learn interesting things about the languages spoken by students.


I love Krakow, and if I'm not in the city, I'm probably somewhere in the mountains and wandering through the forest.

Maria Zalewska

As the daughter of classical philologists, I have been dealing with language since birth, not only as a tool but also as a material - dictionaries were my first „coloring books”, and later, learning etymology became a kind of sport for me. I am a native of Wielkopolska, so in my childhood, I ate „pyry z gzikiem” (yum!) and „szneki z glancem”. After moving to Krakow, and later to a village near Krakow, I quickly learned that „koń tarasi śnieg” and „niebo się zachmurało”. Language is an essential element of communication for me, and it is precisely this contact that evolves into understanding that delights me the most during lessons. I relax by taking long walks with my dog in the Dolinki Podkrakowskie or picking raspberries - that's when the most interesting ideas for language exercises come to mind. I also enjoy reading, watching ambitious cinema, horseback riding, swimming, and exploring... In addition to Polish, I speak English, French, and Lithuanian.

Katarzyna Szczotka

My work is my passion, but after all, a person needs more than just work! When I'm not working I travel, learn about new cultures, learn new languages, meet people, taste flavors, and experience the highs and lows of different places around the world. When I don't have time to travel, I retreat to my small but cozy apartment, look at photos and souvenirs from distant parts of the world, and I dream of future expeditions into the unknown

Agnieszka Futera

I have been teaching Polish to adults since 2012, currently mostly online. From time to time, I also participate in the national certificate exams as a member of the examination board, but that doesn't mean that grading is my favorite part of the job :) I feel the greatest when my students successfully communicate in Polish in real life situations. But I won't try to hide that talking about language itself simply fascinates me, and I love it when my students' questions are a start to further journey into Polish. I am particularly interested in the lexical nooks of Polish – archaisms, regionalisms, professional jargon, and slang.In my free time, I enjoy stories (lately especially in the form of audiobooks), board games, experimenting with computer image processing, and bike rides. I live in Warsaw, I come from Świdnik, and I have the greatest affection for Lublin – the city where I studied.

Julia Celer

Painting, sculpting, composing, writing… How about speaking? Shaping words, composing sentences, writing texts, and finally, painting stories. That is also creative! We usually do it in our native language, but why not use another language code?


Here, my role begins: I help people acquire a language code decorated with many ą, ę, ć, ź, ż, full of exceptions, which makes it fascinating. In other words: I teach Polish as a foreign language to people from all over the world, I have been doing it for several years, and I really enjoy it.

Michał Krupnik

For quite a few years now, I have been teaching the Polish language full-time. Instead of serious lessons and lectures, I prefer conversations, spontaneity, and sometimes even absurdity. I have the impression that surprising students—of course, within reasonable limits—often brings great results. In my personal life, I enjoy trips to unusual places (off the beaten tourist path), Polish soups, and old computer games. I find it hard to tolerate phone conversations; I don’t know why.

Sylwia Motyl

I teach with great pleasure. I explore, climb, hike, and swim in the sea with the same enthusiasm.
I hate boredom and monotony; I am energetic and constantly looking for new things. In my classes, we will laugh, have fun, and study diligently.
Language is the key to a country where, for me, there are no closed doors - I invite you on a journey together.
Language is the key to a country where, for me, there are no closed doors - I invite you on a journey together.

Alicja Dzierżak-Wawer

A teacher, philologist and psychopedagogist - by education and passion. Passionate about travel and crafts.

Lessons are not just about learning for me, they are about meeting another person - their culture, history and language goals, which we work on together.

I would like to invite you to discover the Polish language together with me!

Agata Szybura

Hi there! It’s me, Agata – a mom, wife, Polish teacher, and cyclist. If I’m not teaching, I’m on my bike :) I love traveling and changing everything around me. That’s why I spent 7 years in the USA. After visiting 25 states, cycling along the Pacific, in the Sierra Nevada mountains, in Death Valley, and across the Arizona desert, I came back home – to Kraków, to Varia, to my family. I love teaching Polish – I could do it endlessly. I especially enjoy working with the youngest students. Teaching online is my passion. What I value most are relationships with people. See you in my Varia-ous lessons!