Rochester area Polish language classes:
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POMOST INTERNATIONAL
In 2006 we made our first trip to Rzeszow, Poland to participate in Pomost International.
Pomost is the name of a group formed in Buffalo in 1990 to offer a two week summer session in English conversation to
Buffalo's sister city – Rzeszow. The city of Rzeszow has been extremely supportive of Pomost and provides a liaison
from the city government to aid the group. They also provide lodging and meals for the two-week period.
The individual teachers must provide air transportation to Rzeszow. Teachers do not have to speak Polish,
as the whole purpose is to facilitate speaking English.
The students apply for the program in the spring. There are two groups of students – one from age 14 to 18,
and the other - adults. The purpose of the program is to facilitate English conversation. All the students
have studied English, but their skills vary from beginner to advanced. The students are evaluated by interviews
as to their skills and placed in a class with those of similar abilities. The day begins with a meeting of
all students before breaking into class groups. There is a morning lesson that lasts 90 minutes followed by a
short break. The lessons are taken from a class book written by Pomost members during the winter and spring
of the year. Then there is a workshop that is designed by the teacher to provide an activity that will
promote conversation. The afternoon session is similar. There are also special activities that replace
workshops during the two weeks. Some of these are Bingo, Field Day, Themed party (i.e.; Mardi Gras, Halloween,
etc.). Finally, there is a graduation ceremony attended by Rzeszow city officials (usually the mayor, if
scheduling permits).
The program has provided us with a wonderful way to get to know Polish children and adults. We treasure the
contacts we have made in Rzeszow. Each year former students have come back to visit with us in Rzeszow and share
their accomplishments. We have had some very successful students (one is now doing doctoral work at the Univ. of
Virginia and another received the State University of New York ‘s Governor’s award). We have had a chance to host
one student in our home here in Victor. We are in constant contact with students via e-mail. We are given many
wishes for Wesołych Świąt and Wesołego Alleluja. The weekend between the sessions has also provided us an
opportunity to travel to areas in southern Poland.
If you are interested in the opportunity to go to Rzeszow for Pomost, you may e-mail us at bpippin@frontiernet.net
or call (585) 924-3905. We'd be happy to discuss Pomost with you. We host a visitors night at our October meeting
and try to give those interested an idea of what the experience is like. This year we will be leaving July 10 for
the 2009 session and will return Aug. 10.
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