"Serdecznie zapraszam do Polski. Od Bałtyku aż po Tatry mamy piękne krajobrazy, parki narodowe i zabytki. Poza tym Polacy są bardzo gościnni i mamy pyszne jedzenie."
I dearly invite you to Poland. From the Baltic Sea to the Tatra Mountains we have beautiful landscapes, national parks, and monuments. Besides that, Polish People are very hospitable, and we have delicious food.
Cultural Facts Language Preview Hear from our students Program Info
The Critical Languages Institute is a national training institute for less commonly taught languages, offering summer intensive courses and study-abroad programs around the world.
Every summer, CLI brings students from across the U.S. together to develop their linguistic and cultural competency rapidly and effectively through intensive immersion programs. Explore the tabs above to learn more about the Polish course offerings at CLI.
Dive into the Language
Population:
Spoken by over 60,000,000 people
Vibrant Celebrations:
Wianki: Celebration of the summer solstice
National Day of Remembrance: Dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising in Poland
Assumption of Mary: Catholic holiday dedicated to Virgin Mary
The Polish alphabet has:
32 letters
23 consonants
9 vowels
Music and Dance
Polish folk music and dance hold a special place in the country’s cultural identity. Dances like the oberek, mazurek, and krakowiak are traditional forms that have evolved from peasant dances to more formal performances, often showcased at cultural festivals and special events.
Polish Literary Legacy
Poland has a rich literary tradition, with writers such as Wisława Szymborska, Czesław Miłosz, and Olga Tokarczuk winning Nobel Prizes for their work. Polish literature often reflects the country’s complex history, with themes of patriotism, freedom, and national identity being prominent throughout its poetry and prose
Savor the Flavors
Polish cuisine is hearty and rich in flavors, with dishes like pierogi, bigos, and kapusta kiszona reflecting the country’s diverse influences. Meals often feature meat, especially pork, and traditional drinks like vodka and beer are central to social gatherings and celebrations
Language Preview
"What's up?"
Co słychać?
"Have a nice day!"
Miłego dnia
"Good Morning"
Dzień dobry
Hear from our students
Location of Language
Polish, a West Slavic language, is deeply tied to the cultural and historical identity of Poland and serves as the official language of the country. Spoken by over 60 million people, it has significant linguistic influence in regions with Polish diaspora, including Lithuania, Belarus, and parts of Ukraine. Polish also enjoys minority language status in several countries across Europe, reflecting its enduring cultural presence.
Program Information
Course Options
First-year Polish provides beginners a solid introduction to Polish grammar and conversation. Students who complete the course successfully will reach a proficiency of Novice High or Intermediate Low.
Dates: May 27 - July 11, 2025 (May 26, July 4 Holiday)
Times: 8:30am to 12:30pm MST
Students will be able to communicate in day-to-day situations in Polish, will be able to read and write effectively on familiar topics, and will have a solid foundation for further study or travel.
The program introduces Polish culture through authentic materials and media, as well as activities in Polish and structured interactions with Polish speakers.
First-year Polish combines 4 hours a day of online classroom instruction as well daily informal activities in Polish led by facilitators representing Polish-speaking communities from around the world.
Number of Credits: 8
Program Fee: $2,000
Apply Now
Program Handbook
CLI Online Programs Handbook 2025
First-year Polish students enrolled in this program introductory course will immerse themselves in Polish culture while strengthening their mastery of the language through specially designed courses and extramural activities.
Dates: Online: May 27 - July 11, 2025 (May 26, July 4 Holiday)
Times: 8:30am to 12:30pm MST
Warsaw Extension Dates: July 14 - August 8, 2025
Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is a city of 1.8 million situated on the banks of the Vistula river. The primary language is Polish, although Ukrainian is also spoken widely. Reduced almost entirely to rubble and ashes in WWII, Warsaw has risen again to become a major regional economic and political center. Warsaw is booming with coffee, foodie havens, and green spaces filled with culture. While still facing many economic, political, international, and demographic challenges, Warsaw is a true case study in resilience. Long a popular destination for Ukrainians seeking work abroad, Warsaw has also been the main destination for the millions of Ukrainians who have sought refuge in Poland, boosting the amount of Ukrainian to be heard in the city.
The second-year Ukrainian program in Warsaw, Poland offers an extensive program of extramural activities. Most are conducted in one-on-one or small group formats with local activity guides. All activities are conducted in Ukrainian.
- Daily conversation practice
- Twice-weekly small-group activities, tied to classroom topics
- Museum visits (small group activity)
- Cooking classes
- Craft classes
- Local excursions
CLI's program in Warsaw is managed jointly by Arizona State University and the School of Russian and Asian Studies. Courses are conducted at the SŁOWIANKA Language School in the center of Warsaw.
Program Fee
The Tempe program fee of $2,000 and 4-week extension program fee of $4,700* covers:
- 160 hours of online and 60 hours of abroad performance-based classroom instruction
- 11 academic credits (10 for online sessions + 3 for study abroad session)
- online talks, excursions, and cultural activities
- 4 weeks housing in a double occupancy hotel room
- breakfast in the hotel
- pre-departure orientation
- arrival orientation
- traveler's insurance
It does not include:
- international travel
- lunches and dinners
- cell phone and SIM card
- transportation to and from Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)
- personal expenses
*All prices and descriptions on this page are subject to change. Participants are responsible for checking current prices and details before signing billing, housing, or meal contracts
Apply Now
Program Handbooks
CLI Online Programs Handbook 2025
CLI Polish in Warsaw Handbook 2025
Students will solidify their command of Polish and raise their listening, speaking, and communicative skills to the Intermediate Low level or better. Graduates can interact in day-to-day life in Polish comfortably and read texts on familiar topics with ease.
Dates: Warsaw: June 16 - August 8, 2025
Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is a city of 1.8 million situated on the banks of the Vistula river. The primary language is Polish, although Ukrainian is also spoken widely. Reduced almost entirely to rubble and ashes in WWII, Warsaw has risen again to become a major regional economic and political center. Warsaw is booming with coffee, foodie havens, and green spaces filled with culture. While still facing many economic, political, international, and demographic challenges, Warsaw is a true case study in resilience. Long a popular destination for Ukrainians seeking work abroad, Warsaw has also been the main destination for the millions of Ukrainians who have sought refuge in Poland, boosting the amount of Ukrainian to be heard in the city.
The second-year Polish program in Warsaw, Poland offers an extensive program of extramural activities. Most are conducted in one-on-one or small group formats with local activity guides. All activities are conducted in Polish.
- Daily conversation practice
- Twice-weekly small-group activities, tied to classroom topics
- Museum visits (small group activity)
- Cooking classes
- Craft classes
CLI's program in Warsaw is managed jointly by Arizona State University and the School of Russian and Asian Studies. Courses are conducted at the SŁOWIANKA Language School in the center of Warsaw.
Program Fee
The Warsaw program fee is $8,900*. This fee will cover:
- 160 hours of online and 60 hours of abroad performance-based classroom instruction
- 11 academic credits (10 for online sessions + 3 for study abroad session)
- online talks, excursions, and cultural activities
- 4 weeks housing in a double occupancy hotel room
- breakfast in the hotel
- pre-departure orientation
- arrival orientation
- traveler's insurance
It does not include:
- international travel
- lunches and dinners
- cell phone and SIM card
- transportation to and from Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)
- personal expenses
*All prices and descriptions on this page are subject to change. Participants are responsible for checking current prices and details before signing billing, housing, or meal contracts
Program Handbooks
CLI Polish in Warsaw Handbook 2025
Funding Options
The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships program provides allocations of academic year and summer fellowships to institutions of higher education or consortia of institutions of higher education to assist meritorious undergraduate students and graduate students undergoing training in modern foreign languages and related area or international studies. Eligible students apply for fellowships directly to an institution that has received an allocation of fellowships from the U.S. Department of Education.
The Melikian Center offers both academic year and summer-length FLAS Fellowships. The application for both Academic year and Summer 2025 FLAS Fellowships will close on January 31st, 2025.
The Summer 2025 Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) provides eligible students with a $3,500 stipend and $5,000 in tuition during the Summer 2025 semester for funding intermediate and/or intensive study of Albanian, Armenian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS), Kazakh, Macedonian, Persian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Tatar, Turkish, Ukrainian, or Uzbek domestically or abroad.
Supported by the Melikian Center's endowment and by private donations, the Melikian Center Awards Program provides scholarships of up to $2,000 for superior applicants to study critical languages at CLI's domestic programs and up to $6,000 towards CLI's study abroad offerings.
This funding opportunity is open to all CLI applicants. High school, community college, and non-students are especially encouraged to apply.
An application for this funding is included in every CLI Language Program application.
The Melikian Center offers up to a $1,000 reduction of the published CLI program fee for qualified Pell Grant eligible students and non-students with an annual family income of $50,000 or less. This $1,000 reduction applies to online, online plus study-abroad, or study-abroad programs. Please note that a limited number of fee reductions are available; not all students who apply will receive a need-based fee reduction.
To qualify for this funding opportunity, please indicate your Pell Grant eligibility on your general CLI program application.
The State Department's Gilman Scholarship provides awards of up to $5,000 for students in financial need to study abroad, including in CLI overseas programs. Gilman applications require certification of the program by your institution's study-abroad office. If you apply for Gilman support, please contact [email protected] for assistance in getting the required information to your institution.
Gilman summer study applications are accepted from August to October and January to March. Students interested in this opportunity should apply for the early competition, if possible, since applicants to the later competition will not learn their award status until after the deadline to commit to CLI study. Please contact [email protected] for details on timing your Gilman application.
An external application is required to apply for this funding opportunity.
The Department of State's Title VIII program funds graduate students with U.S. citizenship to study less commonly taught languages.
Students who apply for an online-only program may receive up to $5,500. Students who apply for an online program with a 4-week abroad extension may receive up to $10,500. Students who apply for an 8-week study abroad program through CLI may receive up to $10,500.
Past CLI Title VIII fellows can be awarded the fellowship up to two more times, for a maximum of up to 3 fellowship awards, as long as they maintain their graduate student eligibility.
