27 women from two classes have officially completed the Polish language course for people from Ukraine organized in our city. The 60-hour course is aimed at adults who came to our city from across the eastern border. The Starachowice commune, together with the project partner, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, planned the organization of classes for 60 people. The courses are held under the project "Direction Future - Starachowice Local Development Program" financed by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.

Polish language courses are very popular among our guests from the very first day of their introduction. The first two groups started their classes in April. Classes were held in the building of the City Hall, the Culture Park and the Municipal Public Library and ended with a knowledge test.

On Tuesday morning, at the City Hall in Starachowice, a group of a dozen or so students received the Polish language course A1 course completion certificates. The course completion documents were presented by the Deputy Mayor of Starachowice, Marcin Gołębiowski, together with the representatives of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce who conduct the classes.

Today only Polish was spoken

- I remember today that when we met at the beginning of the course, I symbolically opened our common path to learning Polish. The beginnings are always the most important, but also the most difficult. The slogan that guided this course was "Polish, Polish for beginners". We wanted to teach you the basics of the Polish language, but also of cultural Polishness. You could learn about the different uses of the language, see the different scenes and learn the dialogues. All this was supposed to show you the diversity of our language - admitted Dr. hab. Stanisław Cygan, head of the Center for Polish Culture and Language of the Jagiellonian University in Kielce.

- It is said that the Polish and Ukrainian languages ​​have common features of 70 percent. We are in one Slavic language family and we are very similar to each other. Remember, however, that you need to polish this language and you have to participate in linguistic communication. You've learned the basics, but this language is supposed to serve you every day. Today I know that we will be meeting some of you at a course for students in Kielce. Finally, I can only thank you for your kind reception and wish you a good start in Poland - added the professor.

- Today we only speak Polish. We can speak Polish because you are already coping with this language thanks to your participation in the course, so I would like to thank you on behalf of the Mayor of Starachowice - added the deputy mayor.

On behalf of the course participants, Inna Mekheda, one of the students, gave thanks for participating in the course.

- We would like to thank the city authorities for taking care of refugees from Ukraine. We would also like to thank you for organizing these language courses that help us to acclimatize in your country. You are all wonderful teachers. Thank you for the enormous amount of work and commitment to the organization of these classes - she concluded.

Two groups have already completed the course

Currently, the course in the third group is ending, and from Monday (May 30 this year), more students will start learning Polish in the fourth and fifth groups. 60 people will study the Polish language in 5 groups planned under the project.

As part of the free Polish language course, its participants have the opportunity to learn basic vocabulary, expressions, phrases useful in everyday life and learn about Polish customs and traditions.

The best ambassadors of our city

The Polish language course for adults who came to our city from Ukraine is one of the many initiatives supporting refugees from beyond the eastern border proposed by the Starachowice authorities. The Deputy Mayor of the City, Marcin Gołębiowski, who was present at the summary of the course, emphasized that the city authorities are trying at every step to create good living conditions for our guests.

- We want you to feel comfortable with us. I have information that so far almost 100 people from Ukraine have found a job in Starachowice. We are very happy with this data. Such as the fact that over 600 PESEL numbers have been assigned in the City Hall - emphasized the deputy president Marcin Gołębiowski.

- Regardless of what the decision of the ladies will be regarding your future, please remember that we are your friends, and each of you is always welcome in our city. I hope that you will be the best ambassadors of Starachowice, and if you go to Ukraine, you will come back to us one day to visit our parks, houses and streets that you have known well during this time. I wish you the best and I am convinced that your children also feel well with us. I know that they learn very well at school and they have many opportunities to present their artistic talents - added Marcin Gołębiowski.

Free language courses organized in Starachowice turned out to be an important solution for people fleeing the aggression of Russia in Ukraine, seeking refuge in our country. Refugees wishing to learn the language of their "new homeland" take advantage of the educational offer of the Starachowice authorities with great interest.

Registration started in March

We would like to remind you that the registration for the free course started at the end of March this year. and after a few days, the list of applications included several dozen names of people who reported their readiness to learn the Polish language. Ukrainian citizens expressed their willingness to participate in the classes by phone, e-mail and through a special application form.

- Every day the list of applications was filled with new names of people willing to participate in the course. Free Polish language courses organized by the City Hall turned out to be a great idea for our guests from Ukraine. People who came to Poland from across the eastern border want to learn our language and want to get to know the native culture. Knowledge of the Polish language will certainly make it easier for them to find a job, and above all, it will give the opportunity to efficiently settle many official matters and matters of everyday life - says Monika Tyczyńska, coordinator of the Polish language course organized at the City Hall in Starachowice.

The courses are carried out by the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce as part of the project "Direction of the Future - Starachowice Local Development Program", which is co-financed under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism for 2014-2021 (85%) and the State Budget (15%) under the Program " Local Development ".

Classes in Starachowice are conducted by:

dr hab. Stanisław Cygan - professor at the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, who is the head of the Center for Polish Culture and Language of the Jagiellonian University in Kielce on a daily basis. Stanisław Cygan is the chairman of the Polish Language Proficiency Committee and the organizer of the Summer School of Polish Culture and Language at the university in Świętokrzyskie. Moreover, he conducts classes with scholarship holders of the Erasmus + program and related programs, as well as in Ukrainian-speaking groups.

Katarzyna Pękala, MA - teacher of Polish as a foreign language at the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce. Specialist translator. English language lector.

Monika Jaworska, MA - MA in Polish philology, teacher of Polish language and culture with over 25 years of experience, teacher of Polish as a foreign language. PhD student at the Institute of Literature and Linguistics at the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce.