Frequently Asked Questions
1.) Do I need to speak Polish?
All instruction at the American Studies Center is carried out in English. Warsaw is an international city and you can easily get by with no Polish. Need to pick up a package from the Pazckomat? Instructions are in English. Want to get a three-month city transit pass that entitles you unlimited use of trams, buses, and metro (for a little less than $65)? Apply online in English and pick up your card a few days later. Ordering food delivery from Glovo or picking up a delicious meal from a food hall? No problem; most restaurants have menus in English. Of course, you may wish to learn some Polish via Duolingo or other digital platforms. It isn't the easiest language for Americans to learn, but most people are excited when you try. People in rural areas and older Poles may not speak English, so it's useful to be prepared. But even in such instances, you can absolutely get by with a few phrases.
2.) What are the work expectations for teaching at the University of Warsaw?
The University of Warsaw operates on a semester system, and its "Summer Term" runs from roughly from the middle of February through the middle of June. Because you will begin teaching there during our Spring Term (roughly late March through the middle of June), you may wish to assign readings or other assignments in advance of the term for students to perform before you arrive, which can be scheduled on their "Kampus" site--the University of Warsaw equivalent of OSU's Canvas site. After your arrival, your American Studies Center course will meet once per week for 1.5 hour classes until the end of the term (click HERE for the 2023/24 Academic Calendar to give you a sense of what 2024/25 will look like). Your students will be fluent in English and eager to participate but because they will be reading in their second language, course readings should be relatively short, as should all written assignments. All readings should be made available to students as pdf files, which can be posted to Kampus. The ASC may also ask you to deliver a public lecture during your stay.
3.) What kinds of classes can I teach?
Short answer: anything that interests you. The American Studies Center is excited to offer courses in Public Policy, Political Science, American History, American Literature, Film Studies, Ethnic Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Film Studies, Media Studies, and more. Please consult the ASC website for more information.
3.) Can I travel with my family?
You can indeed! Warsaw is an incredibly family-friendly city with many excellent and affordable English-speaking international schools for pre-K through Grade 12 students. Many are based in the southern Wilanów district of Warsaw, but others are available closer to the city center. In addition, Warsaw is home to countless kid-friendly museums, play spaces, and fun activities for children of all ages.
4.) How does the faculty housing exchange work?
Because a faculty member from the University of Warsaw will be teaching in Corvallis during the same term that you will be teaching in Poland, you may elect to exchange housing with that faculty member for the three months of your stay. We will provide you with their contact information in spring 2024, which will enable you to determine the feasibility of this prospect. You are under no obligation to pursue a housing exchange, but it securing other forms of short-term housing in Warsaw can be challenging. Whenever possible, we will attempt to match the life circumstances of the Warsaw faculty member with your circumstances (e.g. a family of three exchanging with a family of three or a single person exchanging with a single person).
5.) How easily will I be able to get around?
Quite easily. Most parts of the city are well-connected by metro, bus, and tram. Download the Jakdojade app (it speaks English!) and you can quickly find the easiest transit route between any two places, buy tickets, and see when the next tram / bus / train arrives. Ubers are also cheap and plentiful in Warsaw.
6.) Do I need to open a bank account?
You may wish to open a bank account in Poland, though it is by no means necessary. Not all Polish banks will allow you to open an account without a PESEL (residence) number, and you won't have one. Bank Polski will allow you to open an account with just a US passport. Your Bank Polski app (in English!) also offers you access to BLIK, which is a contact-free payment system that means you can shop online or in-store without giving anyone your card number.
7.) What about driving?
You can-- but you need to get an International Driving Permit first. If you are interested in driving, we recommend getting it while you're still in the US. You'll be required to show your IDP in order to rent a car. Train services and airfare are relatively inexpensive and should enable you to get to just about anywhere you'd like to go within or beyond Poland.
8.) Is Warsaw safe?
Warsaw is an incredibly safe city with very low violent crime and property crime rates relative to the US or other European states. As the business and political center of Poland and one of its two cultural capitals (check out Krakow if you get the opportunity), it is LGBTQ+ friendly and is one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the country.