Explore Poland & Ski for free in January & February 2023

Name: Explore Poland & Ski for free in January & February 2023
Brand: Angloville
SKU: 128901
Rating: 4.58 (40 reviews)

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4.58 Rating

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Location

Poland

Length

1 to 6 weeks

Project Types

Education Teaching ESL

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Program Details

Language

English

Timeframe

Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter

Housing

Hotel

Groups

Medium Group (16-30)

Pricing

Starting Price

Price Details

Since we are booking accommodation and food in a partner hotel for you, to confirm your spot we will require a 129 EUR refundable confirmation fee: 99 EUR refundable deposit + 30 EUR admission fee (including transaction and foreign exchange costs/fees pertaining to online payments, bank charges or wire transfers, as well as local tourism and eco taxes).

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Meals Wifi

What's Not Included

Airfare Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Nov 06, 2023

Last Reviewed: Feb 28, 2020

Wish List

54 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Do you want to stay in a beautiful countryside resort for free while meeting talented youth & discovering the local culture? Welcome to Angloville.

As an English speaker, you will join our sponsored cultural exchange programme and stay in one of our beautiful venues in Poland for 1 to 3 weeks and help European language students practise English through a series of conversations, games, workshops, and fun-packed activities. You are not required to be a formal teacher but simply a partner for conversation while having a culturally immersive experience.

All programmes are conversation-based and consist of 1 on 1 and small group conversations, games and activities, no classroom teaching involved! Due to a busy multicultural environment, the programmes are an intensive intellectual experience as you may end up speaking with various people for the majority of the day in a laid back setting.
More than 8000 participants go through the programme each year and they love it!

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ANGLOVILLE: Sponsored cultural exchange programmes

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Impact

Ethical Impact

We serve local communities is by partnering with local businesses for accommodation and activities that are often family-run small businesses. This is close to our values as we value the growth of small businesses and helping local communities. We are proud of our corporate responsibilities by supporting the local community and charity events.

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Program Highlights

100% free board and lodging (3 meals a day, shared room, private bathroom)
A chance to become TEFL-certified (optional)
Meet new international friends (12+ nationalities)
Opportunities to travel across Europe: Malta, France, Poland, Italy, UK, and many more.
A lot of fun guaranteed!

Popular Programs

ANGLOVILLE: Sponsored Cultural Exchange Programme

24+ destinations across Europe

Angloville is one of the biggest providers of free educational & cultural exchange programmes in Europe. We offer a fun and intercultural experience during which international participants can discover 8+ European countries and meet locals for free: Malta, Italy, France, Berlin, Poland, England, Belgium, and Netherlands. Where do you want to travel to next?

Program Reviews

4.58 Rating

based on 40 reviews

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Rating Spread Volunteer

5 rating 70%
4 rating 25%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 2.5%
1 rating 2.5%

Impact 4.5
Support 4.45
Fun 4.55
Value 4.3
Safety 4.65

Good for Solo Travelers

Showing 25 - 32 of 40 reviews

I had an absolutely fantastic time doing Angloville in Poland. There were some incredible teenagers on the junior programme - I was so proud of what they accomplished in only a week, particularly my mentees who did so well with their presentations.

The other NS volunteers were also brilliant - we had the best time all together, and I was so lucky to have met people from all over the world! It helped that we had an excellent coordinator who was easy to talk to if we had any issues!

There were water balloon fights, card games, cute campfire songs, pizza-making, learning what we can eat in nature... the whole experience was just epic. I would love to come back at some point in the future - and hope to meet with my fellow NS volunteers too!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

There was pasta with strawberry sauce. It was so... pink. SO. PINK.

This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my young life. On May 25 (incidentally my 76 Birthday) I met a group of the NES (Native English Speakers) and our 2 Angloville Coordinators for a tour of Krakow. It was immediately evident that these were all interesting people from different countries and life experiences. The following day we met the entire group at Bacheldowka - a beautiful resort in the Tatra mountains. Fifteen very keen Polish participants and 15 NES. It was intense with 7 sessions a day, some one on one, some two on two (my favorite) and group activities. As the week progressed the emerging confidence of the Polish Participants became very evident with the very rewarding for all Presentations. Each Polish Participant gave a 5 minute presentation in English that they had designed and researched with the aid of their assigned NES Mentor. The entire group of 30 beamed in the glow of this accomplishment. Kudos to our Coordinators as well Arrvind and Evona and thank you to them for my Birthday Cake and the extra care because I had a terrible cold for the entire week. I'll do it again - probably in the fall

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

I would not start out with a sore throat which progressed to a terrible cold and sinus infection. I would want to enjoy every moment of the interaction, the meals and the social activities.

This is a wonderful way to get to interact with people in a way no other experience in Europe allows. Spending time with someone one on one and in a group, talking, playing creating, experiencing all that entails in learning a language is incredible. I travelled all through Europe, staying in both big cities and small towns and villages. I loved seeing the medieval structures, castles, rivers, alps, housing of all different shapes and sizes. I went on tours, learning the history so many amazing places. But what I didn’t get to do was meet the people of the areas, learning about their individual lives, what they do during their daily lives, what they think about things, how they feel about things. Angloville allowed me to do just that, getting that interaction with people, and completing my adventure in Europe!

What would you improve about this program?

It would help to have all the information and time schedules regarding transportation, before booking flights.
Also it would help if recruiters had all the information and answers to questions, since they are the person you interact with prior to going.

Wonderful program that was very enjoyable. Great discussions, amazing participants and it got better as the week went on. I recommend it highly. ThePolish participants were committed, dedicated and very serious in their efforts to improve and were very impressive in their abilities and growth during the week. My mentee was wonderful and very eager to do a good job and we worked well together as she took advice, was receptive to my feedback and grew from it. We also had fun during social activities, meals and off time that enhanced the program. Having time to be outside was also important as a way to enjoy fresh air during a long day I would attend another program in the future and look forward to another experience. It was also great to see the venue and enjoy the local scenery.

What would you improve about this program?

Less idioms better situational discussions single rooms

I spent 9 days in Roehampton University, London with Polish participants in August 2018. In September 2018 I went to Poland and spent a week travelling from Poznan then a week travelling from Krakow. I got to meet volunteers from all over the world, from different walks of life and all ages, I keep in touch with some of them.
I was initially apprehensive as I didn’t know what to expect but the coordinators quickly put me at ease and I enjoyed all 3 courses. As I volunteered for 3 programs I was eligible for my TEFL certificate through the Angloville scholarship which enables me to teach English abroad.

I was amazed how much the students progressed in such a short space of time. I’ve already arranged to volunteer in Romania later in the year which I’m really looking forward to.

What would you improve about this program?

I would advertise Angloville more as none of my friends had heard of it. Also make students/participants aware that some of the venues are really remote.

Angloville was a challenging but extremely rewarding experience. I met some really interesting people from across Poland, both coordinators and the incredibly talented students. Virtually all of the other volunteers were great and helped me out quite a bit when I was still fresh. Was incredible to see the students' English develop and cultural understanding so quickly in real time along with see their (and the native speakers') amazing talents and interests. Also gave me a great experience to visit my family's native country and learn more about my heritage. Definitely recommend this for all sorts of people, especially to anyone skeptical about underdeveloped, overpriced, or straight-up scam English teaching/TEFL programs. Even with some anxiety I quickly got comfortable and found a knack for teaching I never realized I had and would like to explore more. The main coordinators, Kathryn and Erik for my programs, were both extremely sympathetic and helpful

This was an unforgettable experience! I met some wonderful people from all over the world, and had a chance to help young people improve their language skills! Also, I enjoyed finding out about the culture of Krakow and Poland. The hotel we stayed in was very nice and the food was good. The organisation of the activities was remarkable. It was preplanned in such a way that even though we had all day of activities it wasn't tiring at all! The Polish coordinators were very helpful and approachable, but also in a very laid back way which made everything run so well and without unnecessary stress or confusion. Best of all were the social time activities and games. The coordinator had so meny interesting games every evening for us. They really helped to make things more fun and relaxed. hope I'll have the chance to participate in another camp in he future.

What would you improve about this program?

The only thing that I would find that may need some kind of improvement would be concerning the skills of the students who are paired for the two on one sessions! Organisers could pay more attention to the level of their language skills and theirage so that he conversation's could go more smoothly.

This was a life changing experience for me as well as many of the participants in the programme. The opportunity to meet so many great people and really get to know them was awesome. Some life-time friendships are created here. The work that each volunteer and especially the participants put into the programme is the most rewarding experience to see how each one's confidence grew over the period of a week and how their English dramatically improved. The mentorship opportunity was exceptionally great which allowed guidance in a real life situation. The resulting presentation by the participant at the end of the week is phenomenal and such a proud moment for both parties. Group activities were lots of fun too and of course the entertainment and social time were the most fun. Work hard and play hard for big reward!!!!! This programme is highly recommended to improve English conversational skills. Participants leave this programme speaking confidently and without hesitation. A phenomenal experience and I will definitely do it again.

Questions & Answers

I'm not a native speaker, but my English is at the advanced level. Can I still apply for this program?

Probably. I attended one session where one of the “Native Speakers” was not really a native speaker, but did have excellent English skills. You will have to check with Angloville.

By Barbara Keltz on August 26, 2019

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because it gave me the ability to stay in Poland, meet the locals, and get TEFL certified through their scholarship program. It really doesn't get any better than that: All meals were provided, great accommodations, and great people to share your time with. I definitely recommend this program to anyone seeking a meaningful experience in another country.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The program provided everything from transportation to 3 delicious meals every day and great accommodations. The only thing I had to worry about was getting to the meeting location in the major city. From there, they handled the rest. You don't need fancy clothes either. Come as you are, and teach, talk, learn.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

The days are long. We wake up at 9am and teach/talk until 9pm. You get to connect with all the participants and have meaningful conversations. Come ready to talk. There aren´t any surprises. The program is well organized and brings together a great mix of people, native and foreign. After doing my first program, I wish I would have signed up for three. They have an option to sign up for more programs to get a bigger discount off of your TEFL certification. Definitely do it if you have the time.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Wake up at 9am and talk/teach until 9pm every day for a week. You get to eat three great meals everyday (generally, local cuisine) and connect with other native speakers and participants. You can take your lessons outside or stay inside. The last night the participants have a celebration. It is a nice way to end the program. It was an incredible experience all-around.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I think the first thing I thought about was the other people, participants and native speakers. Would it be fun? Would we get along? I can say, the people who also choose to participate in this program are like-minded people. The native speakers are generally travelers too. It makes for such a great mix of people from around the world. I learned a lot not only from the Polish people but also from the other fellow teachers.

Do you need prior teaching experience?

No.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

It's hard to get better than climbing Mt Kilimanjaro with an amazing group of international travelers in 2014. When you spend six days sharing everything from food to tents and stories, and all the while you're working (and walking!) toward a goal you can literally see, it makes it so rewarding when you finally get there. I'm very lucky to have a packed shortlist, and I would say working on a vineyard in Bordeaux and being in Berlin when Germany won the 2014 World Cup would also be right up there!

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

I am baffled that Budapest, as a whole, is not a bigger tourist destination. I've had the good fortune to visit during summer and winter, and there is always something to do - whether you're there for the famous thermal springs, the nightlife and ruin bars, for a glimpse into the communist past, to go crawling through caves underneath the city, or for the incredible Sziget festival. It is just an amazing place with so much going on, and it's also supremely affordable for most budget travelers. At the other end of the spectrum it's easy for me to pick on a familiar nemesis for Aussies abroad - London. It's a fascinating city but I found it difficult to really get under its skin - it felt like a great place to live, but it was hard to get into as a traveler.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I had never done any teaching work before coming to Angloville, but now I think I've found that it really suits me and there's something really refreshing about finding ways to convey new information to people. Now I find myself constantly thinking about different ways to try and make learning interesting - whether it's using multimedia materials, physical activities, research tasks and everything in between. I've also come to appreciate that most people learn best in teams or in the company of others. I guess I had too many memories of shutting myself in a room in the days leading up to exams and trying to remember everything instead of trying to understand it. I think it's a really useful lesson to have learned, and I'm trying to use it to help improve my teaching.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

I think Angloville attracts such a diverse range of people that it is really in its own league when we talk about cultural exchange. On one hand, we help people across Central and Eastern Europe improve their English skills and confidence, and that's obviously a very worthwhile goal and we're really happy to be able to help. On the other hand, we have native speakers of English who come to us looking for ways to try and understand a country or culture in a way that is more meaningful than walking tours and major landmarks. Angloville is in a really unique position to help those travellers understand a country by meeting the people who live there, and there is a really great opportunity for people to get some really special insights into the culture and make some great friends - not just here in Europe, but from across the rest of the globe as well. It's just such a melting pot that interesting things HAVE to happen - we had one program where we had multiple students who had lived under communist rule, a South African who had been oppressed by Apartheid, someone who had lived in Croatia through the Balkan War and a bunch of wide-eyed Australians and New Zealanders. I think you'd only find that mix of experiences and personalities in one place, and Angloville is it!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Once we had a Polish student come to one of our English programs, mostly because of his hobby - he loved flying and was training as a pilot. Seeing as English is the de facto language of international aviators, he really wanted to try and improve his language skills so he could go further abroad and continue his love affair with defying gravity. At our program we teamed him up with a Canadian guy who had worked outdoors all his life and had a bit of aviation knowledge, and they hit it off straight away. A couple of weeks later we got a photo of them on a flight together above the Polish city of Słupsk, and it was great to see! It's nice to know we help people build friendships as well as confidence and language skills.

About Angloville

Angloville is one of the biggest providers of free educational & cultural exchange programmes in Europe. We offer a fun and intercultural experience during which international participants can discover 8+ European countries for free, having their board and lodging in beautiful countryside hotels covered, while meeting young European students and...