• Gift Catalog
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
Call Us: 800-487-1074
Global Volunteers
  • Countries
    • International Partnerships:
      • China
      • Cook Islands
      • Cuba
      • Ecuador
      • Greece
      • Italy
      • Nepal
      • Peru
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • St Lucia
      • Tanzania
      • Vietnam
    • USA Programs:
      • Appalachia – West Virginia
      • Blackfeet Reservation – Montana
      • Rosebud Reservation – South Dakota
      • Española – New Mexico
  • Projects
  • Give
    • Giving Options:
      • Donate Now
      • Gift Catalog
      • Ways to Give
      • Philanthropy
  • Impact
  • Blog
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Repeat Volunteers, Volunteer Voices Poland

Teaching and “Adopting” a School in Poland Motivates Retiree

teaching English in a school in Poland

Alumni volunteer Gary Gullikson talks about his experience teaching English in a school in Poland, his 3rd service program in the country.

This year was my first year of organized teaching English in a school in Poland. Previously I taught at a summer camp in a county-owned historic estate called Reymontowka, which is a few miles from the eastern Poland city of Siedlce. This experience was different and more challenging because the school had formal class plans devised by the English teachers.

teaching English in a school in Poland

Gary with the 7 and 8 year old students

Eight days of teaching in an mixed elementary-middle school in the town of Strzala was more of a challenge because it involved students ranging from 7 years old to 16 years old and necessitated changing material and techniques from one class to the next. Ms. Agnes and Ms. Joann were the English teachers at the school.  I was well prepared by them on student expectations and felt totally at home because of the excellent support given to me. I could see they were very dedicated to preparing their students for a world where English is the closest thing to universal language. The younger children were like kids in the U.S. – very excited and enthusiastic – while the older students took some time to loosen up.

teaching English in a school in Poland

Student assembly on the last day

My positive feelings of accomplishment were rewarded at an all-school assembly at the end of my time at the school. There was a well planned and performed program of genuine thanks and gratitude for me coming to their school to teach. I was given a book of Polish historical and geographical attractions, a tasty cake baked by two of the older students, and a CD of pictures taken of me and the students in class – going over English use in everyday activities, doing the hokey-pokey, and even kicking a rugby ball during a pregame warm-up. Teaching English in school in Poland had a major impact on me – the teachers, administrators and, most importantly the students, demonstrated how important it was to have Global Volunteers at their school.

There are few places in my life that I have received a confirmation of the importance of my role in such an obvious manner. Teaching English in a school in Poland was definitely one of them. My next trip for Global Volunteers will be back to the Strzala school in 2016 to teach English and renew the friendships I made this year.

Footnote – Several months after returning to the U.S. I decided to “adopt” the English program at the Strzala school. I asked the teachers through the local Global Volunteers leader in Poland (Dorota Wierzbicka) for a list of needs to enhance their English program. The list was provided in the order of need. I then wrote a check to Global Volunteers, who is administering the donation.

Share this:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
September 14, 2015/0 Comments/by globalvol
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Volunteer-Gary-Gullikson-teaching-english-Poland.jpg 1125 1500 globalvol https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png globalvol2015-09-14 18:47:122019-03-31 16:02:29Teaching and “Adopting” a School in Poland Motivates Retiree
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

You must log in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Partner Communities

  • China 66
  • Cook Islands 44
  • Cuba 117
  • Ecuador 88
  • Greece 68
  • Italy 54
  • Montana 42
  • Nepal 16
  • Peru 98
  • Poland 77
  • Portugal 42
  • South Dakota 8
  • St Lucia 57
  • Tanzania 144
  • Vietnam 43
  • West Virginia 24

Categories

  • Boomer Volunteers
  • Conversational English
  • Couples Volunteering
  • Culture and Traditions Worldwide
  • Development Impact
  • Family Volunteers
  • Free Time Options
  • Global Volunteers
  • Group Volunteering
  • Impact Stories
  • Individuals on Teams
  • Projects for Professionals
  • Reaching Children's Potential
  • Repeat Volunteers
  • Retiree Volunteers
  • Staff Worldwide
  • Student Volunteers
  • Uncategorized
  • Volunteer Voices
  • Women volunteers

Tags

alumni volunteers American Indian culture Appalachian culture best destination peru Care for children Caribbean island College groups Conversational English cook islands economy covid-19 covid-19 consequences Cuba people-to-people donate for children Earthbox gardens economic support Essential Services food insecurity Funding your fee Health and nutrition High school groups Labor projects lgbt program peru resume resume high shcool retiree service-learning share food Spring break summer volunteer program support children Support women teaching children teaching english team leader things to do peru top places to visit peru tourism cook islands tours peru travel peru volunteer benefits Volunteer impact work on reservations Work with youth youth volunteering
  • About Us
  • Boards of Directors and Advisors
  • US and International Staff
  • Our Beginnings
  • Our Vision
  • Community Partners
  • Collaborators
  • Compare Us
  • Volunteer Vacations FAQs
  • Accountability and Agreements
  • Travel Risks
  • Impact and Outcomes of Service
  • Donate to Global Volunteers
  • Donate to a Volunteer
  • Money Matters – Explaining Your Service Program Contribution
  • Discounts & Fundraising
  • Alumni Center
  • News/Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Agreements
  • Site Map
  • Contact
  • Podcast
  • Volunteer Portal
  • Employment
Global Volunteers
375 East Little Canada Road
St. Paul, MN 55117-1628 USA
(800) 487-1074 | toll-free
(651) 482-0915 | fax
globalvolunteers.org
email@globalvolunteers.org

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Subscribe receive notifications of new posts and updates by email.

Global Volunteers - Partners in Development ® | © Copyright 2002 - Present Global Volunteers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Global Volunteers is an apolitical, non-sectarian, non-profit (501C-3) tax-exempt organization.
  • Send feedback about this web site and its administration.
Debbie O’Connor: “Volunteering is good for the soul…̶... Family volunteer experience in Crete “Our family volunteer experience in Crete was one of the highlights of...
Scroll to top
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.