e-polish.eu

What e-polish.eu is

e-polish.eu is an online platform for Polish as a foreign language, run by GLOSSA Digital Publishing sp. z o.o., the company named in the site's copyright line. It has two sides. Learners of Polish use it for self-study courses, a dictionary, flashcards and one-to-one lessons with a native speaker. Teachers of Polish as a foreign language use it for a library of lesson materials, tools for building exercises and games, a virtual classroom and group management, and a route to finding new students.

The English page calls it "the leading platform for learners and teachers of Polish as a foreign language" and heads the page with "30 years of excellence in teaching Polish"; the Polish home page goes further with "Platforma nr. 1". Under "Why choose us?" the site gives three figures: 50,000+ students registered on the platform, 20,000+ teachers using it and 60+ countries where it is used. The interface switches between Polish, English, Ukrainian, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Russian, which matters for a beginner who cannot yet read Polish instructions.

For learners: courses, dictionary and flashcards

The core learner product is a set of self-study Polish courses online. The site says they are "based on the bestselling POLSKI krok po kroku series" and that you "learn at your own pace with interactive exercises, a dictionary, and flashcards." Learners can try the online courses for free before committing; the menu links to "Try online courses for free".

Two tools sit around the courses. The Polish dictionary is described as "a modern online Polish dictionary that automatically recognizes words in any form and provides translations as well as grammar information." In practice a learner can look up a word in whatever form it appears in a text, without first working out its dictionary form. The smart flashcards "adapt revision to your progress", so you spend your time on the words you find difficult. The learner menu also includes an online Polish test, a questions and answers page and tutorials, and the site runs e-polish.eu webinars for students on how to make the most of the platform's features.

One-to-one lessons and the Kraków school

Learners who want a teacher have two routes. The first is one-to-one lessons online: "Would you like to learn Polish one-to-one with an experienced native speaker? Nothing could be easier." The page adds that you can improve your Polish from home at a time that suits you, and a separate page takes learners through the one-to-one lessons step by step.

The second is the GLOSSA School of Polish in Kraków. Its courses come in the format you pick: "in-person, online, self-study, or with a teacher." The school sits beside the platform, so a learner who starts online and later moves to Kraków can carry on in a classroom.

The coursebooks

The site presents its print and digital titles as "the most popular Polish language coursebooks on the market". Four series are shown:

• POLSKI krok po kroku, "a modern textbook series for adult learners of Polish as a foreign language", which the online courses are built on.
• POLSKI krok po kroku junior, "a globally popular textbook series for children and teenagers aged 10-15 learning Polish as a foreign language."
• CZYTAJ krok po kroku, simple A1 to A2 humorous stories for anyone who wants to improve their Polish and widen their vocabulary.
• FONETYKA, polski w praktyce, a book for people who are just starting Polish and for those who want to improve their pronunciation or get rid of bad habits.

The books are sold through the site's shop.

For teachers: library, tools and classroom

The teacher side is broad. The library, the site says, holds "everything you need to prepare an engaging Polish lesson", split into exercises, games and other materials, with a dedicated set of materials for the POLSKI krok po kroku series. A "How to prepare a lesson" guide walks a teacher through using it. The creation tools let you "quickly create exercises and games that make your lessons engaging, effective, and fully personalized."

Classroom management is covered by three named features: automatic checking of tests and assignments, a Virtual Classroom, and schedule and group management. A teacher who runs several groups can have tests and assignments checked automatically and manage groups and schedules in one place.

The community section invites teachers to use materials and ideas shared by other teachers of Polish as a foreign language, ask questions and discuss their doubts, and a methodology forum is linked from the menu. For professional development, the site offers methodology courses and webinars for teachers of Polish as a foreign language, promising "proven methods" you can use in class right away, plus e-polish.eu webinars that show the platform's features in practice, and a set of tutorials for teachers.

Finding students

This is where e-polish.eu also works as a tutoring channel. Under "New students", the site tells teachers: "Register now and we will help you find new students", with a button labeled "Start earning money". For a freelance tutor of Polish, that sits beside the materials and classroom tools as a way to build a student base.

Trials, prices and contact

Teachers get a free trial: "Try it free for 14 days!", to test the materials and tools. Learners can try the online courses for free. The home page shows no subscription or lesson prices; the site has a separate payment page, a shop for the books, and a contact page. A newsletter, offered separately to people learning Polish and people teaching it, sends news of special offers, training courses and new publications.

Who it suits

e-polish.eu suits adult learners who want a structured self-study course in Polish with a good dictionary and spaced flashcards, and who may want to add one-to-one lessons with a native speaker later. Families with children aged 10 to 15 have the junior coursebook series, and learners who live in or plan to move to Kraków can switch to in-person classes at the GLOSSA school.

It is just as much a product for teachers of Polish as a foreign language: freelance tutors who want ready lesson materials, exercise and game builders, automatic test checking and a source of new students, and teachers who run several groups and need scheduling and a virtual classroom. The site's own figure of 20,000+ teachers shows how central that side is.

The main caveat is that the platform is tied to one coursebook series. Its courses and library follow POLSKI krok po kroku, which is a strength for teachers already using those books and less of a draw for anyone committed to another coursebook.