What is the first day of a Polish language course like?

It’s a fascinating mix of new experiences, stress, and curiosity—on both sides of the teacher’s desk. People from all over the world come together in a single classroom: from the U.S. and Mexico, through Spain and Ukraine, all the way to Rwanda and Indonesia.

The beginnings can be surprising, especially when we ask students about the first Polish words they remember. Alongside the classic “Good morning” or “Excuse me,” students mention the romantic “I love you,” the cute “blanket,” or the very practical “Two beers, please” and “Where is the restroom?” There are also words brought from family homes with Polish roots. One student, raised in Mexico, admits that her first Polish sentence was the firm: “Be quiet!” Another student, on the other hand, points out without hesitation the absolute key to survival: “Kasia is always right” (Kasia is, of course, his wife).

Cultural clashes can also lead to some unusual mix-ups. Confusing the word “kupić” (to buy) with “kupa” (pile) is a classic example (especially since, for instance, in Turkish, a word that sounds similar simply means “cup”). On the other hand, saying that someone “works on the street” (meaning they do fieldwork) can cause quite a bit of laughter among the group.

Beata, a language instructor with many years of experience, admits that the first day can lull you into a false sense of security. “For me, it’s always about teaching the alphabet. I think it’s enjoyable because people see that Polish isn’t that difficult. In English or French, you have to figure out how to read something, but in Polish, you read each letter one after another, ” she explains.

Unfortunately, this honeymoon period ends quickly. The students in Group A2.1 recall with a laugh: “ We were a little stressed out on the first day. But the second day was worse, because we realized we really didn’t know Polish. And we got homework.”

Iga, a Polish language instructor who has been working at Varia for four years, notes that the initial reserve within the group melts away very quickly. People who are unsure on the first day—sometimes even hiding their origins due to the political situation—eventually open up, talking about themselves and their lives, even difficult experiences, such as having their bike stolen or losing their job. During breaks, they treat each other to homemade delicacies, such as Indonesian rice flour and sweet potato balls or banana bread.

Iga admits that the first class isn’t about overwhelming students with information right away. “People who come for the first time are a bit reserved; they’re feeling out the situation. They don’t know who’s sitting next to them, and they don’t know who their teacher is, ” she explains. That’s why, at the A1.1 level, she focuses on integration. Sometimes, students draw pictures of their hobbies, and then they learn together how to name them in Polish. Many of them are pleasantly surprised: they expected a stiff, school-like atmosphere, but instead find a relaxed environment with an emphasis on communication.

For most students, the first few weeks in Poland involve not only unfamiliar grammar and vocabulary, but also a cultural shock of varying degrees. Beata notes that foreigners are greatly surprised by the fact that in Poland, people don’t say “hi” to strangers. Many of them, even after living here for years, still try to greet shop clerks with a smile and are surprised by their cool response.

There are more surprises. American students note the customer service, which is so different from the standards back home (though they admit that in Poland they don’t feel pressured when a waiter doesn’t place the bill on the table during the meal). They’re also amused by the dynamics of getting around the city—they note that Poles are extremely courteous drivers, but daring cyclists. For most, beer mixed with juice remains a taste shock (and definitely a negative one).

However, Poland can also pleasantly surprise students. They are fascinated by the little things that Poles take for granted as part of everyday life: for students from African countries, massive brick buildings, a reliable power supply, or simply smooth, white walls inspire wonder and respect.

When you can find any grammar rule or conjugation chart online in the blink of an eye, why on earth would you spend your afternoons at a language school? Iga puts it plainly: “I think students don’t come here just for knowledge. They come for real human interaction. They come for the experience.”

The students themselves confirm this, by the way. One of the students openly admits what her main motivation for learning is: “Poles are nice, but when people around me are speaking Polish and I can’t join in with my classmates, I feel bad.” I always feel like an outsider, a stranger, in those moments.”

Students rarely come here dreaming of perfect fluency—most often, the B1 level is a sufficient comfort threshold for them. “They just want to attend their child’s parent-teacher conference and understand what the math teacher is saying, and feel more confident at work,” says Beata. The Polish language course gives them a safe space where they can become part of a group.

It’s hard to find a better summary than what happens in Beata’s class right at the start of Level A1.1. When a group of adults from all corners of the world sings a simple song together on the very first day—”Hi, hi, how are you?”—to break the ice, the initial stress simply melts away. Suddenly, it dawns on them that sitting right next to them are people just like them, all searching for a new everyday life. Before they really dive into the intricacies of Polish grammar, they gain something far more valuable—the feeling that they’ve found their people in this new city. And in good company, even the Polish genitive case seems much simpler.