Polish Language Training for Employees: A Practical Guide for HR

“Our team works in English – do they really need Polish?” HR managers ask me this a lot. I am a certified teacher of Polish as a foreign language, I have taught Polish for more than 10 years to students from 70+ countries, and many of them moved to Poland for work. My honest answer: in the office, maybe not. Everywhere else, yes. Here is a practical guide to Polish language training for employees – what level they need, which format fits a busy team and how to roll it out without extra work for HR.

Why foreign employees need Polish – even in an English-speaking office

Many international specialists in Poland – engineers, IT and finance teams, shared-services staff – use English all day at work. The problems start after work:

• The doctor and the pharmacy. Booking an appointment, explaining symptoms, understanding the instructions.
• Renting a flat. Letters from the landlord, the building administration, a broken boiler.
• Offices and services. The bank, the post office, simple forms – often only in Polish.
• Colleagues. Lunch, coffee and small talk usually happen in Polish – and that is where people really become part of a team.

When everyday life is a struggle, people feel like tourists in their own city. Employees who can manage it settle in faster, feel at home and are more likely to stay. That is why Polish lessons are one of the simplest ways to support foreign hires after relocation – and a benefit they use every single day. If you are not sure how difficult it is for your team, I wrote an honest guide: is Polish hard to learn?

Which Polish level do your employees actually need?

Polish levels follow the European CEFR scale. For employees, three levels matter:

For most international hires, A1 is the right first goal. It changes everyday life the most for the least time. Some employees later want B1 for their long-term plans in Poland – I explain the exam in my guide to the B1 Polish exam. Official requirements differ and change, so employees should always check the current rules with the office that handles their case.

Not sure where each person stands? Every employee can take my free Polish level test – about 10 minutes per part.

4 ways companies offer Polish lessons

1. In-house group classes with a teacher

A teacher comes to the office or runs a weekly online class for a group.

• Good for: live conversation and team spirit.
• Watch out for: people of different levels in one group, fixed times that clash with meetings and shifts, and missed lessons that are hard to catch up on.

2. Private lessons with a tutor

• Good for: one person with a specific goal, maximum speaking time.
• Watch out for: the cost per hour adds up quickly for a whole team, and every tutor teaches differently.

3. A self-paced online course

Each employee follows a complete video course for their level, in the browser or in an app.

• Good for: mixed levels, remote and hybrid teams, shifts and travel – everyone learns at their own level and time. Usually a one-time price per person.
• Tip: choose a course that includes teacher feedback on speaking and writing, and set a simple routine so people keep going.

4. A learning budget or benefit

The company gives employees a budget – directly or through a benefit platform – and people choose a course themselves.

• Good for: freedom of choice.
• Watch out for: without a plan, many people never start – and HR has no view of progress.

Group classes vs a self-paced course: at a glance

There is no single best format – it depends on your team. If your people work different hours or have different levels, a self-paced course is usually the easier base. If live conversation matters most, add speaking practice on top.

How to roll out Polish training in 5 steps

1. Ask your employeesA two-minute survey: who wants to learn, what is hardest in daily life, how much time they have.
2. Check their levelA free level test shows where each person should start. Most international hires start from zero, with A1.
3. Start with a pilotAbout 5 motivated people for 1–2 months. You learn what works before you roll it out to the whole team.
4. Make time for itEven one hour a week in working time makes a big difference – it shows the company takes it seriously.
5. Check progress once a monthWho has started, how many lessons each person has done, who needs a reminder. Share small wins with the team.

How to keep employees motivated

• Short and often beats long and rare. 20–30 minutes a few times a week works better than a two-hour marathon once a month.
• Connect it to real life. Encourage people to use one new phrase a day – at the bakery, in the lift, at lunch. These useful Polish phrases for everyday situations are a good start.
• Let Polish colleagues help. A “Polish lunch” once a month, where Polish colleagues speak slowly and simply, works wonders.
• Celebrate milestones. Finishing A1 is a real achievement – say it in the team chat.
• Make it a benefit, not homework. People learn best when it helps their own life, not when it feels like a performance target.

What does Polish language training for employees cost?

The two models are very different:

• Teachers, tutors and group classes are usually paid per hour – the cost continues for as long as the training runs.
• Self-paced courses are usually paid once per person, with access for a long time – in my courses, lifetime access that the employee keeps.

When you compare offers, look at the total cost per person to reach a level (for example A1), not only the price per hour.

How I help companies

My self-paced courses take learners from zero to B1, explained in clear English and built around real situations from life in Poland. For companies, I offer team packages:

• The right course for each employee's level – beginners and advanced colleagues in one package
• Teacher feedback on written and voice homework for 6 months with VIP seats
• A monthly progress report for HR by email
• A certificate of completion for every finished course
• One contact person and one invoice for the company
• A pilot for 5 people to start

See how it works on my page Polish language course for companies (also in Polish), or write to me with your team size and city.