Inaugural Poetry Slam
The University of Warsaw’s Institute of English Studies and Centre for Foreign Language Teaching hosted the first English poetry slam, the Spring Slam, on May 16, 2024.
In a poetry slam, students perform their original poems, competing for the approval of a random audience jury.
This dynamic spoken word competition, born in 1980s America, aims to make poetry popular.
To see the highlights from the event, visit: Event Highlights
B2 Oral Exam Format Update
Starting from the academic year 2024/2025, the format of the oral part of the B2 foreign language exam will change. A sample video demonstrating the new format is available.
Ten-Minute Play Competition
The University of Warsaw’s Center for Foreign Language Teaching cordially invites you to participate in the Ten-Minute Play Competition.
A ten-minute play is a short dramatic form that originates from the one-act play tradition. This genre made its official debut in 1977 at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, organized by the Actors Theatre of Louisville. It has since become a mainstay on English-speaking stages, representing a phenomenon in contemporary theater.
Today, the ten-minute play is a fully recognized genre embraced by many English-speaking theater creators. Festivals dedicated to ten-minute plays are held around the world, attracting young artists—playwrights, directors, and actors alike. Audiences and readers appreciate the thematic and formal richness of these works. It’s worth bringing this dramatic form to Polish audiences and enriching our theatrical repertoire.
Perhaps this can happen thanks to you—we invite you to join us in an event that aims to promote this form of artistic expression.
- To familiarize yourself with the ten-minute play form, visit: http://www.10-minute-plays.com
- To learn how to write a ten-minute play, visit: http://www.10-minute-plays.com/how_to_write_a_10_minute_play.html
Competition participants are asked to review the rules and submit signed consents and declarations in scanned form.
Please send your competition entry along with signed declarations by January 6, 2025, to: 10mpfestival@gmail.com
You can find the competition rules and necessary consents here: download
European Day of Languages: Languages for Peace
2024: Languages for Peace
‘Throughout Europe, 700 million Europeans are represented in the Council of Europe’s 46 member states and all are encouraged to discover more languages at any age, as part of or alongside their studies. This stems from the Council of Europe’s conviction that linguistic diversity is a tool for achieving greater intercultural understanding and a key element in the rich cultural heritage of our continent. The Council of Europe, therefore, promotes plurilingualism throughout Europe.
At the Council of Europe’s initiative, the European Day of Languages has been celebrated every year since 2001 on 26 September – together with the European Commission.’
Learn more here
Anniversary issue of the CNJO newsletter
On behalf of myself and all the Authors, I cordially invite you to read the latest, anniversary issue of Ciekawostki Glottodydaktyczne, the newsletter of the Centre for Foreign Language Teaching at the University of Warsaw.
This is already the tenth issue, and on this occasion, the Foreword has been prepared by the CNJO UW directors, for which I would like to express my sincere gratitude.
Dr. Karol Stępień
Editor-in-Chief of Ciekawostki Glottodydaktyczne
ACCESS TO CNJO BUILDING DURING VACATION SEASON
Due to the vacation season, the pedestrian access route to the CNJO building on the Krakowskie Przedmieście campus will be altered.
Starting Monday, July 1, 2024, the doors to the Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies building at Krakowskie Przedmieście will be closed.
Access to the CNJO building will be available only through the passage near the Visitationist Church or via the University of Warsaw Museum.
University of Warsaw Open Day – April 20, 2024
The University of Warsaw Open Day took place on April 20, 2024, providing prospective students with an opportunity to meet with representatives of university faculties and units, including the Center for Foreign Language Teaching. Our instructors enthusiastically engaged with future students, providing information about language courses and exams and inviting them to participate in our classes. We thank our instructors for their participation in this event and look forward to welcoming our future students!
SPRING SLAM
On 16 May 2024, the University of Warsaw (Institute of English Studies and Centre for Foreign Language Teaching) will host its first English poetry slam. So, what is a poetry slam?
It is a lively, interactive spoken word competition which originated in America in the 1980s. The idea was to popularize poetry which was deemed too academic and stuffy, as well as adding a competitive element. The contestants in the Spring Slam will be University of Warsaw students from all faculties who will read/perform their poems and be judged by a jury of randomly chosen audience members. Slam poetry
competitions are exciting and surprising events – it’s not always the most polished poem or confident poet that wins.
It is an inclusive event at the heart of which lies the idea that poetry is within all of us and therefore anyone can be a poet. The key is authenticity. In the digital age, it is important that we return to the very roots of communication: spoken word. So, if you feel like sharing your work then please enter our Spring Slam and send an email confirming your participation to Ms Anna Piwowarska: a.piwowarska8@uw.edu.pl!
Subject: SPRING (Wordsworth and Shakespeare have written about it but we want
your modern-day interpretation of it!)
Language: ENGLISH
Location: Dobra 55, Żółte Schody Paradne
Time: 17.00 – 19.00
Duration: 3 MINUTES OR LESS
Categories: C1 AND C2 LEVELS (winners will be awarded)
Deadline: 9 MAY 2024 (limited places available)
Jubilee Album – 70th Anniversary of the Centre for Foreign Language Teaching (EBOOK)
Jubilee Album – 70th Anniversary of the Centre for Foreign Language Teaching at the University of Warsaw (EBOOK)
Editorial Team: Magdalena Ziółek-Wojnar (coordinator). Ekaterina Bunina-Breś, Agnieszka Kowalewska, Agnieszka Harrison, Krzysztof Zabłocki, Anna Zięba