About Polish language

Polish language belongs to the group of West Slavic languages, which are part of the Indo-European language family. Polish language is inflectional and synthetic. Polish alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet and consists of 32 letters:

Aa Ąą Bb Cc Ćć Dd Ee Ęę Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Łł Mm Nn Ńń Oo Óó Pp Rr Ss Śś Tt Uu Ww Yy Zz Źź Żż

More than 45 million people speak Polish, 38 million of which live in Poland. This language is also used by people of Polish origin and Poles who live abroad. The largest concentration of them are located in the USA, Canada, Australia and Western Europe.

The language is very popular. More and more people begin to learn Polish as a foreign language (about 10 000 people on the world), 1/3 of which study in Polish schools and universities.

EXAM / THE CERTIFICATE OF ATTAINMENT IN POLISH LANGUAGE

Act on the Polish language introduces the possibility of obtaining by foreigners and Polish citizens permanently residing abroad, an official statement certifying knowledge of the Polish language. The exam takes place in Poland or abroad under the condition that the group of at least 20 people is gathered. Examinations are conducted at three levels:

- basic (B1)

- intermediate (B2)

- advanced (C2)

According to the provisions of the Regulation of the Minister of Education of 3rd July 2003 established State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language. The Commission is composed of representatives of major Polish academic centers teaching Polish as a foreign language. The Commission sets examination dates, appoints members of examination boards, prepares materials indispensable for staging the examinations, supervises them and issues certificates confirming the level of proficiency in Polish.

All exam consists of five equivalent parts checking the skills in speaking and writing. To pass it one must obtain 60% of each part of the exam. The following aspects of language competence are tested and assessed during the examinations:

1. Reading Comprehension

2. Listening Comprehension

3. Accuracy/Grammar in Use

4. Writing

5. Speaking

Detailed information about the examinations in Polish as a foreign language, procedure, exemplary tests may be found on the website of the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language: certyfikatpolski.pl

Examination candidates can fill and send the application form to the secretariat of the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language. The application form can be send by fax or e-mail: certyfikacja@buwiwm.edu.pl