How to start speaking Polish? Choose individual Polish lessons

Table of Content:

1. Why is it worth choosing individual Polish language lessons? – Flexibility, personalization and comfort of learning.
2. First steps in learning Polish – Basic phrases, phonetics, grammar and vocabulary.
3. Benefits of individual lessons – Faster progress, breaking the language barrier, adapting to individual goals.
4. Individual lessons + group courses in a package – Interaction with other students, increasing the attractiveness of learning
5. How to sign up for individual lessons? – Step by step – start learning.
6. What will you be able to do after a few months of regular Polish language learning? – Basic phrases and grammatical structures
7. Interesting Facts about the Polish Language – Why is it worth knowing Polish?

1. Flexible schedule Individual Polish language lessons allow you to fully adjust your schedule to your needs. Whether you prefer learning in the morning, evening or on weekends, you can set convenient classes that fit your lifestyle.
2. Personalization of teaching materials Individual lessons mean that the teaching materials will be tailored to your interests and goals. This means that each lesson can be completely different – because its content depends on you, your needs, and the current language challenges you are facing. For example, if you work in a specific industry, the teacher will prepare specialist materials that will help you quickly learn vocabulary and phrases related to your profession. You can learn legal, medical, business, technical or IT language – it all depends on what is useful to you. This way, you do not learn random words or dialogues that will never be useful to you. Instead, you focus on practical topics, such as writing business emails in Polish, conducting phone calls with clients, preparing presentations or small talk in the office. The teacher can also develop situational scenarios typical of your everyday life – e.g. a conversation with a superior, customer service or a team meeting. Personalization concerns not only the content, but also the form of learning. If you are a visual person, you will receive more graphic materials and mind maps. If you learn best by listening – the lessons will be rich in dialogues, podcasts, recordings. And if you like to have everything in order, the teacher can create an individual learning plan for you, divided into weeks, goals and a revision system. In addition:
   – adjusting the pace of the lesson – you learn faster or slower, depending on your capabilities and the time you can devote,
   – flexibility in choosing additional materials – you can ask for home exercises, revision sets, flashcards, online quizzes or access to applications,
   – responding to current needs – do you have an important conversation in Polish in a few days? The lesson can be entirely devoted to preparing for it.
3. Choosing your preferred teacher Comfort while learning is of great importance – especially when you are learning a new, demanding language like Polish. By choosing individual Polish as a foreign language lessons, you have the opportunity to work with a teacher with whom you feel comfortable and who meets your expectations – both in terms of personality and teaching style. Some students prefer a teacher who speaks slowly and explains grammar rules very precisely, others prefer dynamic lessons with an emphasis on conversation and spontaneous language situations. In individual lessons, you can decide whether you want to work with a teacher who has experience in teaching at an academic level or with someone who is great at working with beginners. Such a choice means that you build a relationship with the teacher faster, have more trust in the learning process and are more willing to engage in conversation – even when you still make mistakes. A good relationship with the teacher translates into greater motivation, regularity of learning and better results. What’s more, if necessary, you can change the teacher and find someone who meets your current needs even better.
4. Focused teacher’s attention During individual lessons, the teacher’s full attention is focused solely on you. You don’t have to share your time with other participants, as is the case in group lessons – you are the centre of the teaching process. This model of work allows you to correct language errors on an ongoing basis, thoroughly discuss grammatical ambiguities and return to issues that are difficult, without the pressure of time and the group. What’s more, the teacher can observe your progress from lesson to lesson and quickly notice which areas require more attention – whether it is pronunciation, grammatical structures or listening comprehension. Thanks to this, each lesson becomes as effective as possible, and you feel that you are really making progress. This approach is especially important if your goal is to quickly break the language barrier in Polish. Regular interaction with the teacher, who adapts questions, conversation topics and level of difficulty to your abilities, builds your self-confidence and makes speaking Polish more and more natural and relaxed. Individual attention means not only greater efficiency, but also a sense of security and motivation to continue learning.
5. Possibility to learn anywhere Polish language lessons can take place at the school, in your home, office, or online. Such flexibility gives you the opportunity to choose the most comfortable place to learn – in line with your lifestyle, daily rhythm and preferences. You don’t have to waste time commuting or give up lessons due to a business trip or change of residence. More and more people choose online learning, which provides the same high level of content as stationary classes, while allowing you to learn from anywhere in the world – all you need is a computer, tablet or phone and a stable internet connection. You can start a lesson from your own living room, from a café or from the office between meetings. For people who value direct contact, stationary learning is also possible – in cozy classrooms at school or with a teacher traveling to your home or company. This option works particularly well for children, seniors or people who learn better in direct contact with the teacher. Regardless of the form, you decide where you feel best – and this has a huge impact on the effectiveness of learning and regularity of participation in classes. Individual lessons adapt to you – not the other way around.
6. Methodological support At the Varia Polish Language Centre, the entire teaching process is overseen by an experienced methodologist, whose task is not only to monitor the work of teachers, but above all to ensure high quality classes at every level of advancement. This means that your learning is not accidental or conducted “by feel” – each lesson is based on well-thought-out didactic assumptions, consistent with the current standards of teaching Polish as a foreign language. The methodologist ensures that each teacher uses appropriate teaching techniques with the student, selects the right materials and adapts teaching methods to the individual needs of the student. Thanks to this, you can be sure that the curriculum not only meets your level, but also takes into account your goals – regardless of whether you are learning Polish for everyday use, for professional or academic purposes or preparing for a certification exam. What’s more, the methodologist also supports teachers in the field of didactic innovations, recommending new tools, materials and working methods. Thanks to this, students have access to modern and proven educational solutions – such as applications, language games, online learning platforms or individualized revision plans. This methodological support is an invisible but very real value that makes learning Polish at Varia not only effective, but also professional – from the first lesson to the moment you achieve your goal.

• Basic phrases and expressions

Learning basic Polish phrases, such as greetings (“Dzień dobry”, “Cześć”), farewells (“Do widzenia”, “Na teraz”), or introductions (“Mam na imię…”, “Jestem z…”) is a great starting point. Such phrases are not only useful in everyday conversations, but also give great satisfaction – after just one lesson, you can greet a neighbour, place an order in a café or ask someone for directions. Individual lessons allow you to systematically consolidate these expressions in different contexts: through role-playing, dialogues or short conversations. This builds self-confidence and naturally develops communication skills.

• Phonetics

The Polish language has sounds that are difficult for most foreigners – especially consonants such as “ś”, “ź”, “cz”, “sz”, “ż” or characteristic nasal vowels: “ą”, “ę”. Individual lessons provide a unique opportunity for intensive work on correct pronunciation. The teacher focuses on your specific difficulties and helps you overcome them step by step – through phonetic exercises, audio recordings, repeating syllables and words, and regular correction. Importantly, correct pronunciation from the very beginning prevents the development of bad habits that are difficult to eliminate later. Working on phonetics is the foundation of effective communication and better understanding of Polish speech.

• Polish grammar in practice

Polish grammar may seem complicated – cases, declensions, aspects of verbs. That is why it is so important to learn it in practice, and not just from tables. In individual lessons, grammar appears in the context of real situations – you do not learn the dry “accusative”, but, for example, how to say “I buy coffee”, “I see a car”, “I read a book”. The teacher gradually introduces new constructions and immediately shows how to use them in conversation, what they mean in different contexts, how their form changes depending on use. Thanks to this, grammar is not an abstraction, but a tool that helps you express your thoughts effectively in Polish.

• Vocabulary related to everyday life

At first, it is best to focus on vocabulary that you can use right away – in a shop, in a restaurant, in an office, on public transport or at the gym. In individual lessons, you learn expressions and phrases that reflect your everyday needs and situations that you actually encounter. This could be talking about shopping, making an appointment with a doctor, talking about your day or asking what time it is. This approach makes you feel the real value of learning – after just a few lessons, you can cope with typical situations. What’s more, you can expand your vocabulary in line with your interests: sports, culture, travel, professional work – it all depends on you.

At the Varia Polish Language Center, we focus on learning Polish in Polish, which means that from the very beginning, students are immersed in the language. All instructions, explanations, and exercises are conducted in Polish, which promotes quicker acquisition of new structures and vocabulary. This method eliminates excessive translation and allows participants to naturally get accustomed to the sound and logic of the language.

The instructors use gestures, images, and context to facilitate understanding, making it possible for even beginners to gradually develop their language skills. Through a variety of activities, such as dialogues, role-playing, and interactions with other students, participants are encouraged to actively speak and think in Polish from the very first lesson.

Thanks to the communicative method, students not only learn grammatical structures and vocabulary but also develop practical skills through real conversations and everyday language situations. Simulations of real-life interactions – such as shopping at the market, chatting in a café, or asking for directions – make learning dynamic and useful. Course participants have the opportunity to practice correct pronunciation and accent through phonetic exercises and audio recordings that help them get accustomed to the rhythm and melody of the Polish language.

Moreover, our intensive Polish course places a strong emphasis on building confidence in speaking. We gradually eliminate the fear of making mistakes and encourage spontaneous speech in natural settings. Regular conversation classes allow students to break language barriers and gain increasing fluency in communication.

Our classes are held in small groups, which allows instructors to take an individualized approach to each student. The lessons are full of interactions, dialogue exercises, language games, and simulations of real-life situations, such as ordering coffee in a café, asking for directions, or having a conversation at the market. This way, participants quickly break the language barrier and gain confidence in communication.

1. Faster progress in learning Polish

Thanks to the individual approach, you can adjust the pace of learning to your abilities, learning style and available time. You don’t have to wait for other course participants or skip topics that are not yet clear to you. Each lesson can focus exactly on what you need – e.g. grammar review, vocabulary development in a specific field or conversational exercises.

You learn at your own pace, without the pressure of a group, which significantly increases the comfort and effectiveness of learning. This is especially important when you want to quickly achieve a communication level – for example, before starting work in Poland, studying or a business trip.

2. Effectiveness confirmed by research

Numerous studies in the field of foreign language teaching indicate that one-on-one learning is more effective than group classes. Why? Because the student has more opportunities to actively use the language, asks more questions, and receives more individual tips and feedback. The teacher can immediately spot errors and explain them in a simple, understandable way.

In addition, the teacher has the ability to adapt the materials and work method on an ongoing basis – so as to maximize your potential. In practice, this means faster assimilation of new material, better consolidation of knowledge and greater motivation to study regularly.

3. Breaking the language barrier

One of the biggest challenges for people learning a foreign language is the fear of speaking – the fear of making mistakes, being misunderstood, making a fool of yourself. In individual lessons, you don’t have to worry about that. The lessons take place in a safe, friendly atmosphere, and the teacher is there to help you – not to judge.

Regular conversations, even simple and on everyday topics, allow you to break the language barrier and build self-confidence over time. You will notice that after a few weeks you are able to talk freely in a shop, ask for directions or tell how your day went. This is a great satisfaction that motivates you to continue learning.

4. Adaptation to individual goals

Not everyone learns Polish for the same reasons. For some, it is a professional need – they need to communicate with clients, co-workers, and officials. Others learn for themselves – to better understand the culture, to be able to talk to their family, and still others – to pass the B1 exam or to start studies in Poland.

In individual lessons, you decide what you want to focus on. The teacher adapts the scope of the material, the type of exercises and the teaching style to your specific needs. You can work on writing emails in Polish, preparing presentations, practice industry vocabulary or even prepare for job interviews – it all depends on your goal. This is tailor-made learning that brings real results.

The option of combining individual Polish as a foreign language lessons with group courses is a great option for those who want to achieve comprehensive development of their language skills. This allows you to benefit from an individual approach during one-on-one lessons, while at the same time participating in a group course that will allow you to improve your Polish in interaction with other students.

At the VARIA Polish Language School, you can combine individual lessons with courses, such as an intensive Polish course in Kraków https://varia-course.com/kursy-w-szkole/intensive-polish-course/ or Polish online courses https://varia-course.com/courses-online/, which adapt to your needs and preferences. Such a hybrid of learning gives you the opportunity for a flexible approach and faster progress in learning Polish.

Here’s how you can start your individual Polish language course at Varia:

Contact: Contact us https://varia-course.com/contact-us/ to arrange a first meeting. If you have any questions, our team will be happy to answer them by phone or email. If you do not need additional information, go straight to the next steps.

1. Fill out the application form https://varia-course.com/application/
2. Take a placement test: If you already speak some Polish and would like to test your knowledge, take a placement test on our website https://www.varia-course.com/online-tests/ We will determine your current level of Polish to make sure we start your studies at the right stage.
3. Start learning Polish: After determining all the details regarding the schedule, location of classes and the purpose of learning, you will start your individual Polish language course, under the supervision of an experienced teacher who will guide you through the next stages of learning.

When you start learning Polish as a foreign language from scratch, you may have the impression that the road to fluent communication will be long and complicated. But after a few months of regular meetings – for example, 90 minutes twice a week, which is the most common option – you will see that you are really making progress. Individual lessons make learning faster, and the effects are visible after the first few weeks.

Here’s what you can achieve in 3-4 months of systematic study:

• Mastering basic vocabulary and grammar of the Polish language

You will learn words and expressions needed in everyday life: numbers, days of the week, colors, food products, family members, everyday activities. You will also learn basic grammatical structures, such as the conjugation of verbs in the present tense, basic cases (nominative, accusative), questions, negations and simple sentences with adjectives and adverbs. Thanks to regular exercises, you will be able to independently build correct sentences and react in simple communication situations.

• Introducing yourself freely and talking about yourself in Polish

You will learn to talk about yourself – your name, where you are from, what you do, what you like to do in your free time. You will be able to talk about your day, your weekend plans, your family or your favourite dishes. Such skills are the basis of every conversation – both in social and formal situations. You will also gain confidence that you can speak up and maintain a short conversation in Polish.

• Conducting simple conversations in shops, restaurants or offices in Polish

You will start to function freely in public spaces. You will know how to ask for bread at a bakery, order coffee at a café, buy a ticket, ask about the time, book a doctor’s appointment or deal with a matter at the post office. Together with your teacher, you will practice such scenarios during the lesson – in the form of dialogues, language games or situational scenes. Thanks to this, you will learn to speak not only correctly, but also naturally and understandably to the interlocutor.

• Understanding basic dialogues and Polish subtitles

You will begin to understand typical messages and dialogues – both spoken and written. Examples? You will hear and understand questions such as: “What can I get you?”, “How much does it cost?”, “Would you like the bill?” or “Where do you live?”. You will be able to read a simple text message, a restaurant menu, a notice on a door or basic instructions in an office. With each week, your understanding of the Polish language – both listening and text – will improve.

• Greater confidence in conversations with Poles – you will no longer avoid speaking, but will start looking for opportunities to use the language.
• Motivation to continue learning – visible progress gives you energy and convinces you that it is worth going further.
• Better understanding of the culture and realities of life in Poland – when you learn the language, you naturally also learn about customs, social norms and ways of communicating in different situations.

All this already at a beginner level – if you study regularly and work with a teacher who really understands your needs. And this is just the beginning of your adventure with the Polish language!

Finally, here are some interesting facts about the Polish language that will surely make your learning more enjoyable:

• Why is it worth knowing Polish? Mastering Polish opens the door to the rich culture, literature and history of Poland. Knowledge of Polish is also an asset on the job market, especially in connection with the dynamic development of Poland.
• The Polish alphabet contains 32 letters – including unique characters like “ą”, “ę”, “ł”, “ś” and “ź”. Although their pronunciation may be complicated at the initial stage of learning, individual lessons will allow you to eliminate these difficulties until you feel confident in pronouncing each word.
• Rich vocabulary – Polish has one of the largest vocabulary resources in Central and Eastern Europe. It is estimated that there are as many as 500 thousand words in Polish! In individual lessons, you have the opportunity to develop thematic vocabulary, tailored to your needs.

Ready to speak Polish?
With individual lessons in Polish as a foreign language, you will quickly overcome the language barrier and gain confidence in communication. Take the first step and with the help of our experienced teachers, you will achieve success!

Check out our offer of individual lessons at school: https://varia-course.com/kursy-w-szkole/individual-classes/

Discover our offer of individual online lessons: polish-language-online-course-for-beginners/

Or maybe you are looking for individual lessons in Polish as a foreign language for your child? Here you will find more information: /individual-lessons-for-children/

The author of the article is Katarzyna Hoffmann, co-owner of the Polish Language Center Varia in Kraków. She graduated in German Philology from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.