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

53 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 9 - 16 of 40 reviews

I loved the interactions between everyone from all over the world and it was a really great experience to mentor Polish participants. The venues were awesome, reception was fabulous and most of the coordinators were cool. I only did the junior program which was awesome and the kids were great. I got to try Polish pierogi and I got to taste what every Polish participant kept on talking about! I tried the one with cheese filling and .... let me just say i'd have loved the meat filling instead. We had fieldtrips and I got to make some souveniers which I still have up to now. We also visited some touristic places like the mountains. I also loved the city tour which helped me to know more about the history of [Poland and how the Polish people live generally.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

There are two venue where we ate sandwiches for dinner everyday. I usually eat hot food during dinner so it was kind of weird for me to eat sandwiches for two weeks for dinner

This program is a great way to meet people from different walks of life and engage with local people. Accommodation is great, hotels were comfortable with beautiful grounds, although variety of food offered could be improved.

I would recommend this program to anyone wanting to gain experience assisting and teaching English as a foreign language or those wanting to interact with local people.

The program materials could be improved and tailored to suit participants needs. I also feel less one to one sessions and more group sessions or grammar workshops would be beneficial to participants. It's a really great feeling seeing the participants present in English at he end of the week and knowing how hard they have worked.

The city tours were a great way to learn some interesting facts and history and enriched the programs.

What would you improve about this program?

The program materials had mistakes and idioms not commonly used. I think these could be greatly improved

Angloville is a great opportunity to meet some incredible people from around the world, both the other Native Speakers and junior participants. I did 3 programmes leaving from different cities (Gdańsk, Warsaw & Łódź) which allowed me to see and learn a lot about Poland.

I only did Juniors programmes, but the participants really seemed to enjoy and engage with the activities throughout each week. I did find that the field trip activities were a bit of a gamble but overall, the people are what make the week & experience, and everyone was great!

Although each day was jam-packed with sessions, the days weren’t as tiring as I expected, and I really enjoyed getting involved in the games & hanging out/playing cards with the other mentors in the evenings.

What was your funniest moment?

The talent shows, a tie between being recruited into a dance squad and whistle choir.

It was great to go back to Poland after a 40 year gap! Obviously a lot had changed ,but the Polish people were as lovely as ever and were very appreciative and welcoming.

I was still enchanted by Warsaw and appreciated the opportunity to discover more of the city on my own ( before and after the Angloville Program).

Now that my children are older and family holidays are less feasible, Angloville gave me an opportunity to see something of the world on my own. I met some wonderful people and have made some great memories.

I am a teacher and it is good to do something purposeful during the summer break. My husband is working and it's certainly better to travel than to sit around and wait for him to come home.

I can't wait for next year's schedule to be published so that I can sign up for more!

Thank you Angloville.

What would you improve about this program?

I think it would be better if vounteers were accomodated in single rooms as the experience is very intense and everyone appreciates a little privacy.

Angloville was a great experience! I volunteered for two weeks teaching English in two different locations in Poland (Gdansk and Łodz). Over the course of these two weeks, I met some really nice people and learnt a lot about Poland. The speaking sessions were much easier than I expected they would be, and I ended up having some really interesting conversations. The Polish participants were all very engaged, and seemed to genuinely enjoy their time on the programme. Outside of speaking sessions, I took part in loads of games and group activities. These were super fun (I felt like I was a kid again!). The other English speaking volunteers were really friendly, and we hung out and chatted or played cards every night. I was sad to leave at the end of the two weeks, and would definitely recommend Angloville in the future!

What was your funniest moment?

Performing in the talent show (in a whistle choir)

A truly wonderful experience! I had the opportunity to meet a wonderful group of people that I wouldn’t usually meet while travelling. The days were long but the interesting people and conversations I had more then made up for this. I still had plenty of free time for myself to go to the gym, spa, read & socialise with other volunteers. There was plenty of food so I was never left hungry. The accommodation was also very comfortable. Communication & instructions were also very clear prior to the program starting.

On the whole, everything was well organised & I felt very supported through out the program. The Polish are beautiful people & I feel so lucky to have spent 5 days getting to know a handful of them. I would definitely recommend this program to people who are seeking a different experience while travelling & enjoy meeting new people.

What would you improve about this program?

Having access to laundry facilities. This is very important for those who have been on the road for a few weeks/months

Angloville, describes itself as volunteering and a free holiday, but it’s anything but a free holiday. Days are long, 8:30 (Juniors), 9:00 am (Kids until 9:30 (Juniors) and 8:00 pm (Kids), it’s exhausting days but worthwhile when with good coordinators, other volunteers and kids . The food, can be very poor at some programme locations, so I’d recommend doing some research before hand or bring some instant noodles and hot sauce if you like spicy food. I’d highly recommend, having a week in between junior programmes because they are very intense with constant speaking sessions and some kids aren’t very confident and talkative so you require a lot of talking to get them to speak. Overall, I’ve made some great memories, met some great people!

What would you improve about this program?

Poor wifi in all the locations I’ve experienced. Need much better food, instead of salad and sandwiches.

One of the best experiences of my life. The Angloville team was very welcoming and supportive , I met people from all around the world . The speaking sessions were very helpful for getting to know all the participants. The participants were very grateful and engaged which made the experience very fun and rewarding. The programme has a very unique environment , unlike most places were you learn a new skill , this experience was very personal and aloud all the people to bond of a different level. The children taking part felt very comfortable and were eager to try and take on any challenge. Would definitely recommend.

What was your funniest moment?

Playing games with the volunteers and coordinators.

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...