Krakow NRCSA designed our Krakow programs to be comprehensive - we offer customized Polish immersion courses to adults, teens, and children that utilize our facilities and local ones. With NRCSA - Krakow, we provide our students flexibility in their option of 25 or 36 hour class hours per week and their choice of host family, apartment, university, or private residence living. Our Krakow packages are for those who seek an academic, cultural setting coupled with alternative pursuits for those who love adventure.

Modern-day Krakow takes its economic and cultural root in the fast-paced Renaissance era of the 14th and 15th centuries. This iconic period witnessed the growth of the city as an artistic den for many Italian painters and housed scientific luminaries such as Copernicus thanks to Eastern Europe's second oldest college - Jagiellonian University. Today's age of constant technological improvement juxtaposed against a firm cultural and commercial background certainly harkens back to this period. Krakow now is home to over 40 festivals a year. Among them, you will need to experience the Tirrenale of Graphics, the International Short Films Festival, and the Sacrum Profanum. It is the head of philharmonics where over 2500 performances take place and is the resting place of 30% of Polish art. The true stamp of cultural stamp of Poland is here.

Befittingly, however, that this very authentic Polish city bears the indelible print of a tortured past. Swedish, Prussian, Russian, and Austrian empires have all taken their turn carving up this beautiful land on the Wisla River. Jewish remembrances are a integral part of this city and this country's heritages. Indeed, on some accounts, up to 85% of the Jewish populace perished during World War II.

NRCSA-Krakow governs our Homestay Programs with the binding principle that in-house, everyday language training is equally as important as classroom learning. To realize this principle, we extend our ensurance of the cleanliness and comfortibility of Krakow host lodgings. Both private citizens and families offer the opportunity to utilize their homes for 2, 3, 4 week or longer programs. Since the majority of students who venture to Krakow to learn Polish utilize Homestays, these citizens are checked thoroughly through rector visits and surveys. A problematic host gives us a bad name and this is why we opt not to use ones after being labelled as such.

Homestay & Activities Program As previously stated, the majority of our students use the Homestay option thanks to the immense language benefits it bestows upon the learner. We place students in a single room of a host family or private citizen. Lodging is typically a 15-minute walk to the center. A student should apprise NRCSA if he or she desires to participate in activities with his or her host famly.

Please take note that our Homestay Program is in alignment with either a 25-hour or 36-hour program tutoring program at the main center. The Homestay & 36-hour Program is specifically for those learners who anticipate learning the maximum amount of Polish during their tenure in Krakow. A student has the added-cost option of adding semi/completely private lessons for extra help or faster progress. The 25 and 36-hour programs emphasize speaking and conversational methodologies with reading and writing being of terciary and fourth importance.

Apartment & Activities Program For the individual, couple or family who needs more privacy, NRCSA-Krakow offers a second lodging option. There are apartments rented out for varied cost (depending on season) billeted for one, two or three. Particpants who select this Program offering are entitled to the full package of cultural activities mentioned in the Homestay option. Depending on the specific locale, apartment lenders usually provide one to two meals per day. However, meals are inexpensive in the city. Students may choose shared & private options in regard to washroom and shower. Facilities and TV are included. Kitchennettes are shared. Students also do not have to worry about bringing bed linens as this necessity is taken care of. If you are interested in an apartment or hotel, please check with NRCSA about price as these are not mentioned in the Fees page.

University Program For students seeking credit for university study, NRCSA offers a reasonably-priced semester to year-long program with an extremely competent university in Krakow. Programs at the University are held through the Polish as a Second Language Division. University professors all have a philological degree with years of experience instructing Polish to foreign students. Participants may start at four different acquisition levels and take three to four required language & culture classes. Keep in mind that students also choose an elective that is not language-related. Students lodge in on-campus dorms.

A note about academic credit is also pertinent. NRCSA, since the late 60s/early 70s has been working hand-in-hand with US universities to fulfill students' desires to study abroad. Students do receive a certificate of completion which is typically accepted by accredited US academic institutions.

Children's Program NRCSA-Krakow holds occasional special programs for children aged 6 to 12 wherein they learn the basics of the Polish language through songs, games, and music. There is no regulated manner of teaching to this age group because foreign language instruction depends on the maturity and age of the student. We do, however, stress oral communication with younger students. Four hours a day is the maximum amount of time a child is allowed to spend in class. Please notify NRCSA for the specifics of this program!