Learning Polish for Love and Connection
As a language teacher myself (I even used to teach at CVO!), I’ve always been passionate about languages. Polish is by far the most challenging one I’ve tackled, and I truly enjoy the intellectual adventure it offers.
From Zero to Real Conversations
Aside from a few words I picked up on Duolingo, I started from scratch. Thanks to Aagje’s guidance, I can now introduce myself, hold basic conversations, and talk about food. I’ve also learned the foundations of Polish grammar—like the nominative, accusative, and instrumental cases—and finally understand why some words end the way they do!
A Weekly Highlight I Looked Forward To
I’m not exaggerating when I say that the Polish class was the highlight of my working week. As a teacher, I loved being “on the other side” once a week. The group was warm and lively, and most of us were learning Polish to connect with our partners. That shared goal gave us a sense of camaraderie—and a bit of fun craziness!
A Teacher Who Makes It Stick
Aagje is incredibly skilled and dedicated. She gives personalized feedback on all our assignments and makes sure everyone gets a chance to speak. The course is perfectly paced: challenging but never overwhelming. I especially appreciated the repetition—it really helped me retain vocabulary and expressions. We also explored Polish culture and even sang carols during a festive Christmas lesson. At the end of the year, we met in person for the first time over dinner, which was a lovely way to wrap up the course.
Don’t Overthink It—Just Go for It
If you’re hesitating, don’t. Give yourself the challenge of learning a “less common” European language—it will set you apart. Plus, Slavic languages share many similarities, so learning Polish can also help you understand others like Czech, Slovak, or Croatian.
A School That Keeps Drawing Me Back
I’ve had a long and positive history with CVO centres. I first joined to improve my Spanish and later ended up teaching Italian there! That experience showed me how well-organized and supportive Crescendo CVO is. When I saw they offered Polish, I didn’t think twice—I knew it would be a high-quality course, and I was right.