I saw that there was a daily prompt lately about schools, education and stuff, and that question inspired me to write this post… Do you wonder how education looks like in Poland? Feel free to read this post then!

My education started in the kindergarten when I was four. It was a private one, where I was also attending for music/dance and English classes. My parents were paying a lot for it when I was a child and now… I heard that a lot of children have it for free. When I was a child it was nearly impossible…

When I turned seven, I went to primary school that it was made of six classes while now it’s eight and children over six can start such an education now. It depends on parents decision. Also, I remember tones of books which turn out to be free now again… Even though it was a really good childhood in my opinion, but the fact that average parent has more money to spend for their children for example for trips… It kinda drives me crazy, you know. Oh, I got my first phone then that was made for nothing but calls. I remember hiding in restrooms to call my mom when sth was happening because it was simply illegal to have a phone, you know. Oh, and it ended with one big final exam.

When I was thirteen, I started the Middle School, and I’ve spent there three years. Now such schools don’t exist anymore… And well, it was ending with exams which were called in Polish “mała matura”.

To High School I went when I was sixteen. I’ve spent there three years again, but now it lasts for four years… I believe it was the best time of my life. Exams mentioned above were important because they were deciding of teenagers’ lives. I went to my third choice, and at first I was sad about it, but then I was grateful because that school turned out to be perfect for me. Oh, and my class had a humanistic profile. It ended with final exams called “matura” and it’s passed when you get at least 30%. There were also speaking exams, and I heard they don’t exist anymore as well. According to the prom… It looks probably similar to those American ones, but in Poland it always starts with a traditional dance called “polonez”.

Now it’s time to tell you more about the university. I gave it five years of my life, and I was nineteen-twenty four then. I studied Polish Philology (Language & Literature). There are also studies more cultural, so it’s important to say what kind of philology it is. Well, expect that, I also had classes preparing me to work and practice. But it was a hard time because it turned out to be in the times of pandemic. I started my bachelor’s thesis before the pandemic, and the exam (defense) took place online. Well, the whole fourth year was also fully online. Oh, and these studies were made of two steps, so you take a part in recruitment twice. The first time your final exams from high school matter, and then your results from the first step of studies…

Now let’s come back to the specialization. There are five paths, and you choose the one you like the most, but some people take more… I chose “Philology For Media” which is all about marketing, PR, radio, TV, films etc. It all takes place during the second and third year…

Also, from the very beginning you must take additional courses or you can attend for them just because. In my case it was important to have the needed amount of points in several categories until the end of the third year and then the fifth. but sometimes there were also criteria all about passing few curses during the one year.

And now the last thing that needs to be said… Master’s thesis is such a big thing that you almost have no courses at all because all you should do is writing… Passing all these years were rather easy because you can create your plan of studies anyway you like. You must also remember about criteria and that’s all. Oh and also… The first year is always the hardest no matter what you study… Do you wonder if there is any so popular “student’s life”? For many probably yes. But when you party too hard… You may find it hard to pass all exams. As you already probably know… I came back to writing in 2020 just after finishing the first step of studies, so it’s all probably possible later, you know. But during the first year you always have not enough time for studying at home because there is simply a lot of material…

That’s all I needed to say. How much does it all reminds you of your own educational experiences? Let me know! I’d love to hear it!

So, tomorrow I’ll come back with the new podcast episode. Stay tuned!

Love, A.A.