Volunteer Teaching English in Poland
Support English language learning, immerse yourself in Polish culture, and gain hands-on classroom experience.
Programme Fee
$1,600-$1,750 USD
Start Date
January or September
Duration
6-10 months
Age Range
18 – 30 years
Locations
Kraków, Warsaw, Gdańsk and Żywiec
Fee
$1,600-$1,750
USD
Start Dates
Jan
or Sep
Duration
6-10
months
A Gap Year School Language Placement in Poland
Are you ready for a rewarding, people-centred role teaching English in Poland? As a school language volunteer in Poland, you’ll play a meaningful role in the lives of young people, bringing your language, culture and enthusiasm into the classroom every day. Set in some of Poland’s most vibrant urban locations, these are real schools with real students, and your contribution matters from day one.
Your role combines genuine classroom involvement with the adventure of living and working in a country rich in history, culture and character. You’ll lead activities, run interactive language and pronunciation games, and share presentations about your home country and culture, making English come alive for students aged anywhere from 7 to 19. No prior experience is necessary, making this an ideal placement for anyone drawn to education, language and the idea of making a genuine difference to young people’s lives.
Beyond the classroom, you’ll be immersed in authentic Polish life, living with a host family and exploring everything from Kraków’s medieval old town to the Baltic coast of Gdańsk. With 20 hours of school work per week and plenty of holiday time, there’s ample opportunity to travel Poland and wider Europe too. If you’re looking for a gap year opportunity teaching English in Poland that combines purposeful work with genuine adventure, this is it.
$1,600-$1,750
USD
Programme fee
Start Date
January or September
Duration
6-10 months
Have a question? Get in touch
What You'll Do Day to Day
A genuine mix of English language support, cultural exchange, and contributing to school life.
Your primary role is to bring English to life for Polish students. You’ll lead classroom activities, run interactive language and pronunciation games, and deliver presentations about your home country and culture. Your status as a native English speaker is itself a valuable asset to every student you work with.
Encourage & Inspire Young People
You’ll work with students ranging from primary age right through to sixth form, building genuine relationships and supporting their confidence in English and beyond. Your energy, enthusiasm and willingness to engage make a real difference to how students experience school life day to day.
Contribute to School Life
You’ll work alongside experienced teachers and fellow volunteers in a supportive and inclusive environment. This is a collaborative placement where your people skills and openness to new experiences help shape a positive classroom culture for everyone around you.
Is This the Right Placement for You?
We share our requirements upfront so you can be confident you’re eligible before you apply. This placement could be perfect for you if you:
- Are a native English speaker
- Are at least 17 when applying, and 18 by the time you apply for your visa (and no older than 30)
- Enjoy working with children and young people
- Have strong people skills and an open, adaptable attitude
- Are enthusiastic about cultural exchange and trying new things
- Can cover the programme fee and other associated costs (flights, insurance etc.)
What Life at a Polish School Actually Looks Like
Everything you need to know about the day-to-day practicalities of your placement.
Work Schedule
You’ll work 20 hours per week in school, leaving plenty of free time to explore Poland and travel around Europe during the holidays. It’s a well-balanced placement with real responsibility during school time and genuine freedom outside of it.
Weekly Allowance
You’ll receive a spending allowance of approximately $20 USD per week to cover day-to-day expenses during your placement.
Food & Accommodation
You’ll live with a Polish host family, experiencing authentic home life and traditional Polish food. You’ll have a private room and a genuine home away from home for the duration of your placement.
Community & Teamwork
Volunteering at a school means working closely with a diverse staff team of all ages in a supportive and inclusive environment. You’ll collaborate with local teachers and fellow volunteers, building a community around you from day one.
Support & Safety Throughout Your Placement
Every NVW placement is carefully vetted, and you are never on your own. Before you leave, your Poland Programme Manager will prepare you thoroughly for everything ahead, from visa guidance to what to expect on your first day in the classroom. Once you're there, you'll have clear roles, ongoing check-ins, and a direct line back to the NVW team if anything comes up. For you and your family, that peace of mind is built into every placement we offer.
Meet Your Poland Programme Manager
Your safety and wellbeing during your gap year is our priority.
Beata Skokowska
Programme Manager Poalnd
Beata has worked in international volunteering for 20 years and has built connections with people and communities all over the world. She is a black belt in Aikido and has trekked 48 kilometres through the Tatra mountains in two days, so she knows a thing or two about pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone.
“Poland surprises every volunteer who goes there. The culture, the history, the warmth of the people. Then you see a student’s face light up when they finally nail a phrase in English, and you realise the classroom is just the beginning of what you’re giving them.”
Fee and Other Expenses
A clear breakdown of what's included in your programme fee, and what you'll need to budget for separately.
What's Included
$1,650–$1,750
USD
- Support acquiring a sponsored visa
- A thoroughly vetted, matched placement
- A volunteer role matched to your age, experience and interests
- A dedicated placement mentor
- Any necessary training and preparation guidance
- Accommodation with a host family throughout your placement
- All meals provided by your host family and school
- A weekly spending allowance (~$20 USD)
- Ongoing support throughout your time in Poland
Other Expenses
In addition to the programme fee, you’ll need to budget for the following. Exact costs vary depending on your nationality, location and personal circumstances, we’ll go through what’s likely to apply to you during your interview.
- Return flights to Poland
- Visa and any related processing or medical fees
- Travel insurance (must meet the requirements of the host country)
- Police check from your home country
- Medical clearance, if required for your visa
- Legalisation or notarisation of documents where applicable
- Personal spending money for travel and free time
Why does NVW charge a fee?
New Ventures Worldwide is a UK-registered nonprofit charity. The fee contributes to our operating costs and allows us to continue our mission of arranging carefully vetted volunteering placements for our global network of nonprofit organisations. A financial report is published annually to the UK Charity Commission.
A Real Story From a Poland Volunteer
A first-hand account from a past volunteer whose done exactly this placement.
Poland Volunteer Reviews
Rated by people who've been there and done it.
Wonderful time in one of the Most underrated European countries
I Had such a Great Great time here. Working with the kiddies Really was the most rewarding and awesome thing I have ever done, and really helped me grow as a person. Just the feeling of coming into a classroom and in 20 faces the sun rises, that’s an incredible feeling you can not get elsewhere. Also, the experience of being alone in other country, especially Poland, where there are not so many international volunteers so you have to get in touch with local people was really a challenging, but ultimately character growing experience. I can really just recommend doing this kind of international duty to everyone, especially in Poland.
10 months in Poland - or how I discovered my love to polish mountains, language and black tea
For the past 10 months, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to live in the beautiful city of Żywiec. Located in the heart of the southern Polish mountains, this town is known not only for its brewery, scenic lake, and delicious highlander cheese, but also for its remarkable high school: Zespół Szkół Mechaniczno-Elektrycznych. If you’re wondering how to pronounce that—congratulations! That’s exactly how I felt before coming here. But after 10 months of practice, not only can I now confidently say the name of my placement but have even reached a communicative level of Polish. Sometimes I still surprise myself by actually understanding the conversations around me.
As a language assistant, I primarily worked in English classes. I helped students prepare for their matura exams, built vocabulary, played games, and—my favorite part—had one-on-one conversations with my students in English.
Thanks to my coordinating teacher Asia and my two wonderful host families, I experienced Polish hospitality at its finest. Celebrating traditions on Christmas Eve, Easter, and national holidays, skiing and hiking in the nearby mountains, and visiting stunning cities and the Polish seaside were definite highlights of my time here. But what truly made this experience unique were the small moments: making silly jokes with my younger host siblings (being the “big sister” was a first for me), walking the dog, or chatting with students in the hallway.
I also really enjoyed meeting up with the two other volunteers who were working in different parts of Poland—sharing stories, laughs, and experiences was always fun.
I’ve learned a lot—about myself, about the power of communication, and about what it feels like to not understand anything at first, which has made me more tolerant and open-minded. But perhaps my most unexpected personal growth? Learning to love black tea. I used to hate it, but during those cold Polish winter days and boredom in the teachers’ room, I slowly got used to it. Now, I have to admit: nothing beats a good, hot cup of czarna herbata.
10 months in Poland
I had wonderful experiences during my 10 months working as a primary school teacher in Poland. I was placed in the location that fit me best, just outside of Warsaw, with the opportunity to live with a Polish host family. The experience of being able to make my completely own decisions for the first time in my life, was very formative and amazing. I learned more about myself, my habits and my needs. I now feel way more prepared to face living as an adult person on my own, than a year ago. I learned how to be an (assistant) teacher and I met very nice people, from the teachers at school, Beata from NVW, new Polish friends, and the other volunteers. I can only recommend this experience, because it made me feel more secure in navigating the world on my own and overall was a culmination of seeing beautiful new places and meeting nice people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about applying for and completing this placement.
Start by completing our application form, which helps us understand your background, interests and what you’re hoping to get from the experience. Your Programme Manager will review it and assess your suitability for a school language placement in Poland. If it looks like a strong fit, you’ll be invited to a friendly video interview, usually around 40 minutes, where you can get to know the NVW team, ask your questions, and make sure the placement is right for you. If successful, we’ll match you with a suitable school and send you an offer letter. You’ll then secure your place with a deposit, and we’ll guide you through every step from there.
As early as possible. Placements start in January or September and spaces are limited. We recommend applying at least six months in advance to allow enough time for the interview process, background checks, visa application and travel arrangements. That said, if your preferred start date is approaching, it’s still worth getting in touch and we’ll let you know what’s possible.
Yes, most volunteers will need a sponsored visa to volunteer at a Polish school. Support with the visa process is included in your programme fee. We’ll explain exactly what’s required for your nationality, provide sponsorship where needed, and guide you through each step. You’ll complete the application yourself and cover the visa cost, but you won’t be navigating it alone.
NVW is not a registered immigration adviser. Any guidance we offer is based on previous successful applications and publicly available government information.
No prior experience is required. What matters most is that you’re a native English speaker with strong people skills and a genuine enthusiasm for working with young people. You’ll be supported from day one, and the placement itself is a brilliant way to gain real hands-on experience in a classroom setting.
It depends on your placement. Primary school volunteers work with students aged 7 to 15, while high school placements involve students aged 15 to 19. We’ll match you to a school that suits your age, experience and interests.
You need to be a native or near-native English speaker. This is central to the role, as your primary purpose is to support and enrich the English language skills of Polish students. If you’re unsure whether your level is sufficient, apply and we’ll assess this as part of the interview process.
Yes, return flights and travel insurance are not included in the programme fee and need to be arranged independently. Your travel insurance must meet the requirements of the host country, and you’ll need to share your policy details with us before your placement begins. We’ll advise on what to look for if you need guidance.
Schools are based in urban locations across Kraków, Warsaw, Gdańsk and Żywiec, giving you a genuine taste of Polish city life. Each location has its own distinct character, from Kraków’s stunning medieval centre to the coastal energy of Gdańsk.
Volunteers consistently highlight the combination of personal growth, professional experience and cultural immersion as the standout takeaway. You’ll develop real communication, leadership and organisational skills in a live classroom environment, all while living and working in one of Europe’s most fascinating and underrated countries. The friendships, the experiences and the perspective you gain tend to stay with you long after you return home.