Polword - Your Polish Teacher

May at Polword was all about bringing students together. Over the past few weeks, we managed to enjoy several wonderful outings and meetings — but let’s begin at the beginning...

Our first gathering brought together a group of enthusiasts of Polish culture in London. As almost everyone in the group has Polish roots, there was really only one place where we could meet — the historic Ognisko Polskie.

And what a place it is...

Founded at the beginning of World War II, Ognisko became the beating heart of the Polish émigré community in Britain. It witnessed some of the most important moments in the history of Poles abroad: key decisions were made there, political and cultural life flourished there, and it became home to the leaders of the Polish government-in-exile, including Władysław Sikorski and President Władysław Raczkiewicz.

The greatest figures of Polish émigré culture also passed through its doors. Marian Hemar lifted spirits through poetry and satire, while Irena Delmar enchanted audiences with her voice. Regular visitors even had their own designated tables — naturally! There was an officers’ table, and, more prestigious still, a generals’ table, frequented by figures such as Władysław Anders, Marian Kukiel, Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski, Stanisław Sosabowski and many others.

After the war, Ognisko retained its unique political and cultural atmosphere and became a silent witness to stories and conversations we can only imagine today. Alongside politicians, artists such as the painter Feliks Topolski, the poet Stanisław Baliński and the pianist Arthur Rubinstein were frequent guests there too.

Today, Ognisko remains one of London’s most beloved Polish venues, offering nourishment not only for the soul, but also for the body thanks to its excellent restaurant.

And that is exactly where our little group met — a truly delightful gathering in every sense of the word. Delicious food, wonderful conversations, and, perhaps most importantly, our first meeting in person after knowing each other only through Zoom screens 😊

Our next gathering - and discussion of "Guguły" by Wioletta Grzegorzewska (Greg) - is already planned for June (back on Zoom) 😊

And as for our next outing - this time theatrical - we will tell you all about it in our next post. Stay tuned… and see you soon 😊

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Maj w Polword upłynął pod znakiem spotkań, rozmów i wspólnego odkrywania polskiej kultury. Udało nam się zorganizować kilka wyjątkowych wyjść i wydarzeń — ale po kolei…

Pierwszym z nich było spotkanie naszej londyńskiej grupy entuzjastów kultury polskiej. A że niemal wszyscy uczestnicy mają polskie korzenie, miejsce mogło być tylko jedno — legendarne Ognisko Polskie.

I trudno o miejsce bardziej symboliczne.

Powstałe na początku World War II Ognisko przez dziesięciolecia było bijącym sercem polskiej emigracji w Wielkiej Brytanii. To właśnie tutaj spotykali się politycy, artyści, wojskowi i intelektualiści; tutaj rodziły się ważne decyzje, dyskutowano o przyszłości Polski i podtrzymywano ducha wspólnoty z dala od ojczyzny. W Ognisku rezydowali przywódcy Polski na uchodźstwie — między innymi Władysław Sikorski oraz prezydent Władysław Raczkiewicz.

To również tutaj występowały największe postaci polskiej kultury emigracyjnej. Marian Hemar dodawał otuchy swoją poezją i humorem, Irena Delmar zachwycała głosem, a wśród bywalców można było spotkać takie nazwiska jak Feliks Topolski, Stanisław Baliński czy Arthur Rubinstein.

Ognisko miało nawet swoje legendarne stoliki — oficerskie, generalskie, artystyczne — a miejsce przy nich nie było przypadkowe. Przy generalskim siadali najważniejsi: Władysław Anders, Marian Kukiel, Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski, Stanisław Sosabowski i wielu innych.

Dziś Ognisko nadal pozostaje wyjątkowym miejscem na mapie Londynu — pełnym historii, atmosfery i świetnej polskiej kuchni. I właśnie tam spotkała się nasza grupka.

Było pysznie, inspirująco i bardzo serdecznie. Wspaniałe rozmowy, mnóstwo śmiechu i coś jeszcze wyjątkowego — dla wielu z nas było to pierwsze spotkanie „na żywo”, bo wcześniej znaliśmy się wyłącznie z ekranów Zooma 😊

A już w czerwcu kolejne spotkanie — tym razem rozmowa o książce "Guguły" autorstwa Wioletta Grzegorzewska (Greg) 😊

A o następnym wydarzeniu — tym razem teatralnym — opowiemy już w kolejnym poście. Zostańcie z nami 😊

Next week, we are starting two new online Polish courses for beginners! 🇵🇱

Starting date: Monday, 11 May
Group A: 6.00–7.30 pm
Group B: 7.30–9.00 pm
Course length: 10 weeks (15 hours in total)
Price: £195

To support steady and continuous progress, a follow-on course will be available after the first term.

Maximum group size: 6 students

✨ Free trial lesson available

For more information and enrolment, please contact:
[email protected]

Polword is going to the theatre this weekend to see a Polish play in English! 🎭

When: Saturday, 2 May, 7:30 pm

Where: London’s Golden Goose Theatre
(Nearest tube station: Oval, Northern Line)

What: We are going to see two brilliant plays in English by the award-winning Polish playwright Sławomir Mrożek: Charlie and St******se, currently playing at the Golden Goose Theatre in London.

If you would like to join us, simply buy a ticket and let us know — we will meet inside :-)

We have also been invited to a Q&A session with the cast after the performance. We are especially excited because the last time we saw a Mrożek production was about 25 years ago, when Polword student and theatre director David Graham-Young staged Summer Day with great success. Mrożek himself attended the performance at the time. It was a real feast for the soul — and we are looking forward to another unforgettable evening this weekend :-)

About the Show

A double bill of hilarious political theatre by the award-winning Polish playwright Sławomir Mrożek, combining dark existential comedy with sharp observations about authority, conformity, and human absurdity.

About Charlie

“You said yourself there must be some justice, that one can’t just shoot at anybody in the street.”

How would you recognise “Charlie” if you saw him? And why do an old man and his grandson want to shoot him?

About St******se

“I try to do everything I am permitted to do, but apparently wearing trousers is not permitted.”

Two strangers unexpectedly find themselves trapped in a strange room, controlled by a mysterious “hand” that demands they remove their clothes.

More about the plays...

Don’t miss these two satirical plays from the Soviet era (performed in English translation), whose themes feel strikingly relevant today — from Trump’s America to the rise of authoritarianism and the impact of mass surveillance.

Expect dark, existential comedy alongside powerful reflections on authority, conformity, and the absurdity of human behaviour.

“Funny and brilliantly performed… the comic timing is perfect.”
— Birmingham Fest

Find out more and book:

Charlie and St******se | Golden Goose Theatre DRH Arts and Orsolya Nagy present CHARLIE and ST******SE by Slawomir Mrozek. A double-bill of hilarious political theatre by the award-winning Polish playwright. These two satirical plays from the Soviet era (in English translation) are

Fully Accredited Summer Language Courses
🗓️ Deadline: 11 March 2026
🔗 https://www.gov.pl/web/unitedkingdom/nawa-summer-courses

In recent years, Poland has become one of Europe's most dynamic economies, leading the continent in GDP growth and a thriving R&D ecosystem. Learning Polish puts you at the heart of this momentum - opening doors to enormous professional, academic, and cultural opportunities.

This year's NAWA language instruction offer is bigger than ever. Programmes run in July and August and are available both in-person and online, and last 2, 3, or 4 weeks.

✅ Who Can Apply?
• Students enrolled/staff working at British universities
• British nationals

📋 How to Apply
Submit the following via email by midnight on 11 March 2026:

Your application should include:
1. Written responses to two short questions (in English):
- Why do you want to learn Polish? (150 words max);
- What excites you most about Polish culture? (100 words max);
2. Signed RODO/GDPR Information 2026
3. A short CV (one page max) outlining your academic experience.

Apply via [email protected].

Spaces are limited! Don't miss your chance to immerse yourself in the Polish language and culture. Apply early to secure your spot.

🎓 Fully Accredited Summer Language Courses
🗓️ Deadline: 11 March 2026
🔗 https://www.gov.pl/web/unitedkingdom/nawa-summer-courses

In recent years, Poland has become one of Europe's most dynamic economies, leading the continent in GDP growth and a thriving R&D ecosystem. Learning Polish puts you at the heart of this momentum - opening doors to enormous professional, academic, and cultural opportunities.

This year's NAWA language instruction offer is bigger than ever. Programmes run in July and August and are available both in-person and online, and last 2, 3, or 4 weeks.

✅ Who Can Apply?
• Students enrolled/staff working at British universities
• British nationals

📋 How to Apply
Submit the following via email by midnight on 11 March 2026:

Your application should include:
1. Written responses to two short questions (in English):
- Why do you want to learn Polish? (150 words max);
- What excites you most about Polish culture? (100 words max);
2. Signed RODO/GDPR Information 2026
3. A short CV (one page max) outlining your academic experience.

Apply via [email protected].

Spaces are limited! Don't miss your chance to immerse yourself in the Polish language and culture. Apply early to secure your spot.

Andrzej Wajda Centenary

In honour of the 100th anniversary of Andrzej Wajda's birth, the Culture.pl has brought together the complete collection of materials dedicated to his life, legacy, and artistic achievements.

Dear Readers, (text by Bartosz Staszczyszyn, Film Section Editor, translated by AI)

I cannot imagine Polish cinema without Andrzej Wajda. Without his historical frescoes and stories about returns to the paradises of youth, without his provocative reckonings with the past, without his adaptations of literary classics — and without the films that tried to keep pace with the spirit of their times. When, as a teenager on a school trip to the cinema, I watched Prałat i inni, I understood neither the film nor Wajda’s greatness. Only later did the time come for personal discoveries and admiration: Brzezina, Ashes and Diamonds, Everything for Sale, and The Promised Land with its epic sweep. Today on Culture.pl we invite you on a journey through his life and cinema.

On 6 March we mark the hundredth anniversary of the director’s birth, and on this occasion — as well as the inauguration of the Year of Wajda — we delve into the vast world of this chronicler of the Polish soul, who immortalised Jerzy Andrzejewski through Ashes and Diamonds, and transformed Władysław Reymont’s The Promised Land into an Oscar-nominated masterpiece. What inspired him to make Ashes, and why did he ignore friends who claimed that Zemsta was unsuitable for cinema? Why did he love Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz so much? About Andrzej Wajda’s literary inspirations, his most important adaptations, and his unrealised literary plans, Agnieszka Warnke writes for us.

His filmography includes more than fifty titles — but not all of his cinematic dreams were realised. Among the projects that never came to fruition were Sarajevo 1914, about the outbreak of the First World War, and a Polish version of Heart of Darkness. Among the unrealised projects Wajda always mentioned was also a story about priests working in a coal mine. Since a great deal about a person can be learned not only from what they did, but also from what they did not manage to do, I examine what stood in the way of Wajda bringing these fascinating ideas to life.

One thing he certainly did accomplish, however, was to create several great stars. It was he who made Zbigniew Cybulski and Krystyna Janda immortal, and who recognised in Daniel Olbrychski not only physical energy but also melancholy. About them — and about why he called Jerzy Radziwiłowicz “an actor of consciousness” and Andrzej Łapicki “an Anglo-Parisian” — you can read in my guide to the Master’s acting muses.

And one more surprise. Although Andrzej Wajda is widely remembered as a master of the big screen, he was also one of the great theatre directors. His productions of The Devils, The Wedding, November Night, Crime and Punishment, and the epic As the Years Go By, as the Days Pass… attracted thousands of viewers and remained in the repertoire for years. That is why, to conclude today’s newsletter, I have for you an engaging text by Wiktoria Tabak about Oscar-worthy productions, remarkable acting discoveries, and Wajda’s collaboration with… Meryl Streep.

Enjoy the reading,

Bartosz Staszczyszyn
Film Section Editor

The New Year feels like it only just began — and somehow, nearly two months have already flown by!

At Polword, the start of the year has been full of energy. Our courses are flourishing, and we thought it was the perfect moment to give you a little glimpse of what we’ve been working on behind the scenes. We currently run around twenty group courses and dozens of individual lessons — each with its own story, pace, and wonderful community of learners. Over the coming weeks, we’d love to introduce you to some of them 😊

Today, we’re shining the spotlight on our Tuesday beginners’ group. It’s a wonderful team of students whose partners are Polish — and that’s exactly what inspired them to start learning the language.

For them, Polish is much more than vocabulary lists and grammar tables. It’s the language of family dinners, conversations with in-laws, childhood stories, wedding speeches, and future bilingual children. It’s about understanding jokes at the table, reading messages from grandparents, joining in celebrations, and feeling truly part of another culture. ❤️

They only started in January, yet they’re already making fantastic progress and enthusiastically diving into the foundations of the Polish language. Week by week, their confidence grows — whether they’re practising tricky pronunciation, mastering Polish cases, or surprising their partners with a full sentence at home.

And we’re proud to say that they can already translate some of the finest lines of Shakespeare into Polish! Sample attached 😊

Today, our students completed their very first Polish course at Polword - congratulations! 🎉

One intense week of learning, three hours every day, and a lot of new material to absorb. Now it’s time for the continuation - hopefully at a slightly gentler pace 🙂.

Next week, we are starting two new online evening courses for total beginners:

📅 Monday, 26 January - 7:30–9:00 pm (BST) - 1 place left!
📅 Tuesday - 6:00–7:30 pm BST) - 3 places left!

If you’ve been thinking about starting Polish, now is the perfect moment!

Do zobaczenia na naszych kursach! 🇵🇱✨

Join us for our new online Polish courses next week. Free trial lesson (subject to free places).

EVENING COURSES
Thursday, 22 January, 7.30 - 9 pm; 10 weeks – 15 hrs; £195
Monday, 19 January, 7.30 - 9 pm, 7.30 - 9 pm; 10 weeks – 15 hrs; £195

INTENSIVE COURSES
Monday to Friday, 19 to 23 January, 10 am – 1 pm - 15 hrs, £195

MORNING COURSES
Monday, 19 January, 8 - 9 am; 10 weeks – 10 hrs; £149
Wednesday, 21 January, 10 - 11 am; 10 weeks – 10 hrs; £149

More information: https://www.polword.co.uk/for-beginners/
Email: [email protected]