Foreign languages in Poland - statistics & facts
Foreign languages have gained considerable importance due to globalization, migration, tourism, and the internationalization of markets. Poland's education system strongly emphasizes foreign language learning, with English being the most popular choice among students. In the 2023/2024 school year, nearly 4.9 million pupils and students in Poland were learning English, followed by German with about 1.8 million learners. Language education in Poland reveals a dynamic interaction between traditional classroom learning, technology, and personal tutoring, which offers a personalized approach to meet the needs of those who choose this form of learning.
For those who preferred personalized lessons, in-person tutoring costs varied across cities and languages. English tutoring was the most expensive in Warsaw at 71.41 zloty per hour, while Olsztyn offered the most affordable rate at 59.34 zloty. On the other hand, Spanish lessons were priciest in Ruda Śląska at 82.56 zloty hourly, with Rzeszów keeping the lowest rate at 61.53 zloty. German tutoring costs peaked in Rybnik at 78.22 zloty per hour, while Toruń offered the most economical option at 56.97 zloty. This price disparity reflects regional differences in demand and cost of living within the country.
German remains a popular foreign language choice across different educational levels. In 2022, a substantial number of middle school students, over 846,000, were studying German. The popularity of the language extended to high schools as well, with 62.7 percent of high school pupils acquiring German in the same year. While German maintains its strong presence, Spanish has been gaining traction in Polish high schools. The share of high school students learning Spanish as a foreign language has been steadily increasing over the observed period.
Foreign languages are becoming increasingly important in Poland, and people are deciding to deepen their knowledge in this aspect. Languages are needed not only for ordinary international communication, but also in the world of technology and science. The globalization of economies and the associated flows of people, goods, and services create the need for knowledge of foreign languages.
Language learning apps and tutoring costs
Language learning apps and in-person tutoring services offer diverse options for language acquisition in Poland. With over 2.6 million downloads in 2023, Duolingo was the most popular free language learning mobile app. While Babbel, another language learning app, saw its highest revenue of over 35,000 U.S. dollars in January 2023.For those who preferred personalized lessons, in-person tutoring costs varied across cities and languages. English tutoring was the most expensive in Warsaw at 71.41 zloty per hour, while Olsztyn offered the most affordable rate at 59.34 zloty. On the other hand, Spanish lessons were priciest in Ruda Śląska at 82.56 zloty hourly, with Rzeszów keeping the lowest rate at 61.53 zloty. German tutoring costs peaked in Rybnik at 78.22 zloty per hour, while Toruń offered the most economical option at 56.97 zloty. This price disparity reflects regional differences in demand and cost of living within the country.
Language learning trends in Poland
In the 2023/2024 academic year, English emerged as the most studied foreign language in Polish higher education institutions. The prevalence of English in Polish education is particularly striking at the middle school level, where nearly all students engage in English language studies.German remains a popular foreign language choice across different educational levels. In 2022, a substantial number of middle school students, over 846,000, were studying German. The popularity of the language extended to high schools as well, with 62.7 percent of high school pupils acquiring German in the same year. While German maintains its strong presence, Spanish has been gaining traction in Polish high schools. The share of high school students learning Spanish as a foreign language has been steadily increasing over the observed period.
Foreign languages are becoming increasingly important in Poland, and people are deciding to deepen their knowledge in this aspect. Languages are needed not only for ordinary international communication, but also in the world of technology and science. The globalization of economies and the associated flows of people, goods, and services create the need for knowledge of foreign languages.
