View of Zamość (2023), courtesy of Julia Sierzputowski
LANGUAGE AND LEARNING
- … Polish is spoken by over 38 million people in Poland and millions more in Polish diaspora communities worldwide, including in the United States, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, France, the UK, Canada, and Australia.
- … Polish, a West Slavic language, opens the door to a broader understanding of the Slavic language family. By studying Polish, learners naturally develop an awareness of shared linguistic features across Slavic languages.
- … learning Polish can improve cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving, memory, and multitasking. Polish’s case system and different characters (ą, ć, ę, ł, ń, ó, ś, ź, ż) make it a great language to hone language-learning and cognitive skills.
HISTORY
- … studying Polish offers a profound connection to the country’s complex history, including its pivotal role during World War II and the Holocaust. Learning Polish allows you to engage directly with literary and historical works that document the tragic events of the Holocaust, including the memoirs of survivors. Additionally, it provides access to Poland’s rich post-war history and the period of communism, which deeply affected the country and played a major role in shaping its modern identity within Europe.
CULTURE
- … Polish is the gateway to a rich culture with famous figures in fields including:
- LITERATURE: You can discover the works of Poland’s authors—including its six Nobel Prize winners for literature, Henryk Sienkiewicz (1905), Władysław Reymont (1924), Isaac Bashevis Singer (1978), Czesław Miłosz (1980), Wisława Szymborska (1996), and Olga Tokarczuk (2018)—in their original language.
- MUSIC: You can appreciate Chopin's timeless compositions, Penderecki's haunting works (featured in The Shining!), Lutosławski's jagged brilliance, Górecki's deeply moving pieces, and Władysław Szpilman's remarkable story as told in The Pianist, with Adrien Brody.
- SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING: You can learn about how Maria Skłodowska-Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person ever to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences (physics and chemistry), how Mikołaj Kopernik (Nicholas Copernicus) challenged centuries of belief by showing that the Earth revolves around the Sun, and how Tadeusz Kościuszko designed West Point and saved the American Revolution.
- MOVIES: You can explore the films of Krzysztof Kieślowski (The Decalogue, The Double Life of Véronique), Roman Polański, (Rosemary's Baby, The Pianist), Andrzej Wajda (Ashes and Diamonds, Man of Iron), and many more!
- WORLD AFFAIRS: You can learn how Lech Wałęsa, the leader of Poland's Solidarity movement, helped end communist rule in Europe, how Pope John Paul II became a global symbol of peace and democracy, and how Zbigniew Brzezinski, as U.S. National Security Advisor, shaped U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War.
- SPORTS: You can get up close and personal with Robert Lewandowski (one of the world’s top soccer players, who has played for FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and the Polish National Team) and Iga Świątek, whose 21st-century winning streak of 37 games is even longer than Serena Williams’s.
TRAVEL
- … Poland offers a wealth of historical sites and striking natural beauty, from the historic city of Krakow to the medieval Malbork Castle, from the Tatra Mountains in the Carpathian Range to the sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea. Knowing Polish enhances your experience while traveling, helping you connect with locals, immerse yourself in the culture, and enjoy Polish traditions and cuisine.
- To support your travel, we offer a Polish Study Abroad program. You can study Polish intensively in the beautiful city of Kraków. Rutgers University partners with the University of Pittsburgh’s Summer Language Institute, and your time there counts as Rutgers credit. We also offer scholarship support to all qualified students. Find out more here!
FAMILY & COMMUNITY
- … learning the language can deepen ties with communities and family and, for those with Polish heritage and other connections abroad, reveal new aspects of your background. It allows for meaningful communication with friends and relatives, especially older generations who may not speak English, preserving traditions and history.
JOBS
- … Poland is an important economic player in Europe. As a member of the European Union, Poland has become a hub for multinational companies, offering a range of career prospects in sectors like IT, business consulting, marketing, and manufacturing. Cities like Warsaw, Kraków, and Wroclaw are centers for international business. Speaking Polish facilitates networking and professional relationships with local companies, enhances your competitive edge in the job market, allows for easier integration into the work culture, and gives you a foot in the door to work abroad in Europe and around the world.
If you’ve decided to study Polish, now check out our Minor in Slavic and East European Studies. This 6-course minor combines language courses in Polish, Russian, or other regional languages with electives in subjects like history, politics, and cultural studies. The minor is designed for students interested in Eastern Europe’s history, culture, and politics, offering interdisciplinary insight into the region. It’s ideal for those with interests in the diverse languages, cultures, and politics of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Bloc.
Questions? Reach out to Prof. Makles at