2024 Teaching English in Poland Program – Summer Language Camps for Hundreds of Children in Need

• The Tatras – camps in Zakopane and Ząb
• Lesser-Poland – camp in Kraków
• Sub-Carpathia – camps in Basznia, Rakszawa and Cieszanów
• Varmia and Mazury – camps  in Miłakowo, Mikołajki and Olsztynek

During three weeks, 74 American volunteers worked hand in hand with the Polish and Ukrainian educators, teaching English and promoting US civilization and culture in non-standard ways: playing, singing, dancing, sailing, cooking, art, and various outdoor activities. In the TEIP program, language learning takes place not only in the classroom but also in the woods, on a bicycle trip, and canoeing. In the mornings, campers participated in interactive language classes based on language proficiency level and age. At the same time, the afternoons consisted of workshops that brought together young people with similar interests and talents.

All the activities allowed Polish and Ukrainian students to enrich their vocabulary related to US culture, history, geography, customs, and traditions. Campers, together with American teachers and their assistants, hiked in the Mountains of the Tatras or Ojcowski Park Narodowy, danced American traditional and modern dances, painted portraits of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, played baseball, wrote and edited their first mini-books in English and made chemical experiments. Together, they prepared theatrical performances and cooked and roasted marshmallows at campfires. These activities resulted in a significant improvement in their English speaking skills. At the same time, young people learned to talk about their emotions, express their opinions, and discuss popular songs or movies.

The most important thing, however, is that the Teaching English in Poland program participants during this year’s summer camps could experience in practice how much good communication skills mean. They gained the courage to have conversations in English not only with their peers but also with adults. Thanks to their participation in the TEIP program, they became motivated to establish relationships and receive positive reinforcement.

Children and teenagers took on various challenges that also contributed to developing their socio-emotional skills. They learn responsibility, decision-making, and effective teamwork. The American volunteers designed the classes so that everyone, regardless of age, nationality, and level of English proficiency, had a chance to succeed.

In the year 2024, as has already been the case for three years, The Kosciuszko Foundation, together with Polish organizers of TEIP camps in Miłakowo, Basznia, Cieszanów, Zakopane, Ząb, and Kraków, invited children and teachers from the western part of Ukraine. The KF in NY financed the trip to Poland, accommodation, subsistence, and participation in various attractions. The main purpose of the involvement of young Ukrainians in TEIP camps was to help them forget about the war, even for a short period, and to feel like a teenager in an international group of their peers.

Despite providing an atmosphere of fun, friendliness, understanding, security, and empathy, it was still difficult for the Ukrainian campers to “move away from a war,” as they were constantly receiving bomb alerts and reading headlines of the latest news on their mobile phones. Irina Duda  from the camp in Cieszanów wrote about herself:

She is 14, and unfortunately, at such an early age, she already knows what the war is because she lives in Ukraine (…). Ira comes from Western Ukraine. She loves her homeland very much and is waiting for the end of the war.

The participation of students from Ukraine was a demanding but also rewarding task for the Polish and American staff. It was an important experience for the Polish students to develop their intercultural competencies and support their Ukrainian colleagues, who faced unique challenges due to the ongoing war in their country. Despite the difficulties, the TEIP camps provided a safe and supportive environment for these young individuals to experience a sense of normalcy and camaraderie.

The successful implementation of the TEIP camps in 2024 was made possible by the unwavering commitment, creativity, knowledge, and experience of all 74 American volunteers and their 9 courageous camp leaders. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each of them, including Kristin Miller, Cindy Peiper, Toni Burgea, Alexandra Hernandez, Taryn Matusik, Amelie Czekaj, Celina Bigio, Jenna Hagengruber, and  Emily Maguire, for their exceptional management of this year’s camps and their dedicated staff.

We also extend our thanks to the Polish organizers of TEIP camps, without whom the Teaching English in Poland could not be implemented:

• Zespół Szkolno-Przedszkolny w Cieszanowie
• Zespół Szkolno – Przedszkolny w Baszni Dolnej
• World Around School – Intercultural Primary School w Krakowie
• Zespół Szkolno-Przedszkolny im Jana Pawła II w Miłakowie
• Szkoła STO Mikołajki
• Fundacja EFC
• Szkoła Podstawowa nr 2 im. Stefana Mierzwy w Rakszawie
• Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Dzieci Oddział Mazowiecki

To learn more about the 2024 TEIP edition, as well as watch films and read books about the aims and results of the program, visit https://kfpoland.org/