36 hours of full-time Polish language classes, educational law and the Polish core curriculum will be given to Ukrainian teachers between August 29 and September 2 as part of a training course at the Faculty of Philology. This is part of a four-month course aimed at preparing refugees to work in Polish schools. In June this year, the project received a grant of nearly PLN 800,000 from the Centre for Teacher Education.
- 'For many months we have been training those who teach the Polish language to refugees from Ukraine, and now we are also training you - teachers who want to support the functioning of our educational system, so that it will be easier for students from Ukraine. I would like to thank you very much for this effort,' - said the Dean of the Faculty of Philology, dr hab. Urszula Patocka-Sigłowy, prof. UG, during a meeting with all the students.
The course participants present in the hall have been taking part in weekend online classes since the first of July. Meetings were held in 12- or 13-hour blocks in seven groups of 20 participants. Altogether, the entire training comprises 374 hours. It aims to raise participants' Polish language skills to the B1 plus level.
The course provided participants with accommodation, meals as well as childcare.
In addition to Polish language classes, Ukrainian teachers also learn about Polish educational law and the core curriculum in early childhood education, mathematics and the humanities. The course also includes classes in didactics and selected aspects of intercultural psychology taught by dr hab. Ewa Czaplewska, prof. UG.
- 'Also before February 24, many foreigners of different nationalities were living and working in Gdańsk, and children with migration experience were studying in Tricity schools. However, since March this year, the number of foreign children has increased dramatically. Almost all teachers now work in multilingual and intercultural classes. Not only Ukrainian, but also Belarusian or Russian children sit at school desks. These pupils, who used to be friends, suddenly become enemies because of adult decisions. That's why we involve psychologists in this course,' - said prof. dr hab. Aneta Lewińska from the Faculty of Philology, author of the substantive programme of the entire training.
Also speaking at the meeting with all the trainees was Tomasz Michlewicz from the Department of Education and Sport in the Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, who talked about the genesis of the idea for the entire course and announced further assistance in the form of further training. At the end of the meeting, the Director of the Teacher Education Centre, Ewa Furche, wished everyone to find their place in the Polish educational system.
The classroom part of the course will run until September 2, while the online classes and the entire training will end on October 31. The lecturers include eight staff members of the Institute of Polish Philology, two doctoral students of Prof. Aneta Lewińska, but also lecturers from the CJO, from ACJPiKP and graduates of the Teaching Polish as a Foreign Language specialisation in Polish Philology and Postgraduate Studies in Polish as a Foreign Language.
