Poland for Beginners

This course is dedicated specially for students from abroad who came study in Poland for one semester (Erasmus students).

Various aspects of the Polish society both historically and present-day are presented and discussed. The main elements in the course are Polish society, culture, politics and education. Course is designed to provide not only theoretical knowledge about Poland but also to show the practical aspects of the functioning of state and public institutions.The comparative element is important and widespread in the course.

Course also provide tours to historical sites such as Biskupin or Gniezno and cultural institutions like museums or art galleries.

Both excursions and the school experience weeks are intended to be important and integrated parts of the course.

1. Key issues and devlopments in Polish society.

2. Short history of systemic transformation in Poland.

3. Changes in the production and empoyment structure of Poland.

4. Demographic trands in Poland and their social consequences.

5. Believes and value system: religions; customs and traditions.

6. Art: music, paintings, architecture; memory through visual art.

7. Young Poles‘ lifestyles, value orientations, educational and professional choices.

8. Polish women in Family and Society – gender and labour market change.

9. Separation of powers in Poland: the legislative, executive, judiciary system; Polish jurisprudential basis; Polish administration.

10. Political system and political parties.

11. Elections: parliamentary, local government, presidential, European Parliament.

12. Polish schooling in historical perspective.

13. The most important reforms and current challenges in the Polish schools.

14Levels of Polish educational system; status of teachers and students.

Week 2-4:

B. W. Mazur, Colloquial Polish: the Complete course for Beginners, 2001.

B. Wojciszke, The Negative Social World: The Polish Culture of Complaning, “International Journal of Sociology”, Vol. 34, Nr. 4 / Winter 2004-5, pp. 38 – 59.

B. Porter, The Catholic Nation: Religion, Identity and the Narratives of Polish History (PDF), University of Michigan.

Bennett, Milton, J. (1998). Intercultural communication: A current perspective, in: Milton J. Bennett (red.), Basic concepts of intercultural communication: Selected readings. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press.

L.M. Barna, Stambling Blocks in Intercultural Communication (PDF).

Week 5-7:

S. White, J. Batt, P. G. Lewis (eds) (2003), Developments in Central and East European Politics 3. New York, USA: Palgrave MacMillan.

Kolankiewicz, G. (1993), Poland, in: S. Whitefield (ed.) The New Institutional Architecture of Eastern Europe. London, UK: St. Martin.s Press.

S. Faulkner, J. McLoughlin, S. Owsiak (eds) (1999), Polish Transition Ten Years On - Processes and Perspectives. Aldershot-Brookfield USA-Singapore-Sydney: Ashgate.

Y. Choe, B. Hassler, S. Zyborowicz (eds) (2003), Sweden and Poland from a European Perspective. Some Aspects on the Integration Process. Huddinge, Sweden: Sodertorns hogskola.

S. Whitefield (ed.) (1997), The New Institutional Architecture of Eastern Europe. London, UK: St. Martin’s Press.

Week 8-11:

Pasierbek W., Faern M., Ziebertz H.-G., Poland: Family and Faith, In: H.-G. Ziebertz, W.K. Kay, Youth in Europe I. An international empirical Study about Life Perspectives, LIT Publisher, Münster/Hamburg/London 2005 (pp. 83-100).

Ingham M., Ingham M., Domański H. (Eds.), Women on the Polish labour market, Central European University Press, Budapest 2001.

Pascal G., Kwak A., Gender regimes in transition in Central and Eastern Europe, The Policy Press, University of Bristol 2005.

Inglehart R., Culture Shift in Advanced Industrial Society, Princeton University Press 1990.

Hóhn Ch., Avramov D., Kotowska I., (Eds.), People, Population Change and Policies. Lessons from the Population Policy Acceptance Study, Volume 1, European Studies of Population, Springer 2008.

Burrell K., Polish Migration to the UK in the „New“ European Union after 2004, Farnham – Burligton, Ashgate 2009.

Week 12-14:

Johansson U., Kucha R., Gender and secondary education in Poland and Sweden

in the twentieth century, MCSU Press, 2002.

Kozłowska A., Muršak J. (red) Poland, Slovenia, the World : challenges of

present-day education, Krakow Society for Education - AFM Publishing House :

commiss. by Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, 2009.

Putkiewicz E., Wiłkomirska A., (red) Problems of teacher education in

rolling changes of educational system all over the world, Wydawnictwa

Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, 2003.

Nowosad I., Ferenz K., (red) Selected essays on the condition of Polish

school in the process of social change, Oficyna Wydawnicza Uniwersytetu

Zielonogórskiego, 2004.

Bąbka J., Miłkowska G., Nowosad I. (red) A child in school setting,

Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, 2011.

Szymański M.J., Nowosad I., (red) Polish education at the time of changes,

Oficyna Wydawnicza Uniwersytetu Zielonogórskiego ; Akademia Pedagogiczna im.

KEN, 2006.

Hörner W., Nowosad I., Poland [w:] The Education Systems of Europe, Hörner, W.; Döbert, H.; Kopp, B. von; Mitter, W. (Eds.), Springer, 2007.

Upon completion of the course, the student will:

1. give an overview of Polish society and culture in a historical and present-day perspective

2. have in-depth knowledge about the Polish school system

3. have in-depth knowledge about the Polish political system

Contact hours with the teacher as specified in the programme

Independent study- reading at home and preparing for seminars

Preparation of the main assignment- research paper

Assessment criteria

1. Weekly reflections on course readings: 25% of the final mark

2. Presence on course and active involvement in class discussion: 25% of the final mark

3. Research Paper: 50% (5 pages) Students are to choose a topic of particular interest to them which relates to the central concerns of the course.