Mission
The mission of the Centre for Foreign Language Teaching (SzJO) at the University of Warsaw, in line with the mission of the university, is to provide reliable and professional language education to students at the levels defined in the 2001 document of the Council of Europe entitled ‘Common European Framework of Reference for Languages’, using various forms of teaching that correspond to modern educational standards and recommendations of reputable language teaching institutions and organizations, in accordance with the needs of the university, students, and the job market. The Centre creates conditions for teaching and learning foreign languages for academic and professional purposes, promoting multilingualism and intercultural communication, and enabling graduates to pursue future employment, professional mobility, and lifelong learning.
Strategic aims
The strategic goal of the Centre for Foreign Language Teaching is to improve the quality of teaching services and methods of learning for students, to align with the mission of the University of Warsaw, the mission of SzJO, academic, professional and personal needs of students and doctoral students, as well as the requirements of the job market, by improving the competence of SzJO teachers and the conditions in which education takes place, as well as by conducting periodic reviews and updates of procedures, principles, and recommendations related to teaching and learning. To achieve this goal, the following are necessary:
- Efficient functioning of an internal system for ensuring and improving the quality of education to enable the best language teaching,
- Attention to the development of skills of teachers and administrative staff,
- Improvement of educational infrastructure,
- Provision of motivational mechanisms for teaching staff and other employees.
Educational Strategies
The overall language teaching strategies for the University of Warsaw students – put into effect during language classes conducted in accordance with the University Foreign Language Teaching System (the University of Warsaw Senate Resolution No.119) as well as with the state-of-art language teaching methods – are based on the expected teaching effects (learning outcomes) drawn up for all the language courses offered by the Centre for Foreign Language Teaching.
The teaching effects have been specified in accordance with the language proficiency levels described in the Common European Framework of Reference, taking into consideration the directives of the Polish Ministry of Higher Education (as of November 2, 2011).
The overall strategies have as their aim the ability to function with ease in a multilingual, multicultural academic and professional environment as well as lifetime development of one’s language skills. In accordance with our Mission Statement, the student/graduate should be able to make their way in the academic, professional, social and personal contexts. So as to achieve this aim our teachers are expected not only to possess adequately high qualifications and constantly expand and develop their knowledge and skills, but also to conform to the stipulated norms and procedures relating to effective teaching.
The teaching effects, encompassing knowledge, language skills and social competencies, are the same for each level (A2 to C2) regardless of the language. The same applies to the credit criteria (given in the course descriptions). So as to monitor the learning outcome all teachers are obliged to provide the students with ongoing assessment during the course, as well as to administer a final ‚credit test’. The format of these tests is the same for all the language groups at a given level.
In accordance with the University of Warsaw Senate Resolution No.119, students of the undergraduate (Bachelor’s/first degree) courses and students of the unified Bachelor’s-Master’s programmes regardless of the form of studies (regular day courses, evening courses, extra-mural/online courses) have the right to choose any language course that fits their needs: levels A2 to C1, general or specialist (e.g. language of Law or Economics). The languages are both those most widely spoken (English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Italian) as well as the more ‚local’ ones (e.g. Dutch or Swedish).
To help them make the right choice, students take an online placement test. Participation in the classes is also open to doctoral students. Postgraduate (M.A./M.Sc. and Ph.D.) students can also take advantage of conversational classes conducted jointly by our teachers together with lecturers from their departments.
The classes have various forms: traditional classroom sessions or conducted fully or partially over the Internet. The learning outcome is the same for all types of classes, though the forms of assessment may vary.
Besides the above-mentioned forms of teaching, students can also consult our teachers individually, during their duty hours.
Teachers of the Centre for Foreign Language Teaching are also trained to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities (in cooperation with the Office for Persons with Disabilities of the University of Warsaw).