O nas

Lektorzy: Teacher Spotlight

Agnieszka Pasoń

What is your name? Agnieszka Pasoń
Where were you born? I was born in Kraków
What would you do if you were not an English teacher? I would be a wildlife photographer
What do you do to relax? I love hiking and reading books.
What book would you take to a desert island? "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
What is your cooking “speciality”? Cannelloni with spinach
What is your ideal holiday? In the mountains or at the seaside, but off-season 😀
What is your animal counterpart? A tiger
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why? Maria Sklodowska-Curie. She was an extraordinary and amazing woman whom I admire for her persistence and passion in pursuing her goals. 

Agnieszka Porębska 

What is your name? Agnieszka Porębska  
Where were you born? I was born in Krakow.  
What would you do if you were not an English teacher? I would be a writer or a translator. Some people say I should work for the intelligence as I’m a good observer.  
What do you do to relax? I love the outdoors, so I mostly relax when going for a walk. I also listen to music, sometimes write short poems, just daydream. Teaching and learning languages is fun as well – at the moment I’m helping my Ukrainian friends to learn Polish and at the same time trying to pick up some Ukrainian.  
What book would you take to a desert island? I’d rather discover the island itself than read out there But if I had to take a book, then it would for sure be one of the Harry Potter series or The Cat Who... detective novel. 
What is your cooking “speciality”? I love cooking and baking, especially different kinds of vegetable frittatas and fruit cakes.  
What is your ideal holiday? A remote area, often on an island, like Playa Jandia in Fuerteventura or Ahungalla Beach in Sri Lanka - anywhere that feels like “the end of the world”. I also love the High Tatras of Slovakia.  
What is your animal counterpart? A cat, of course - ever since I can remember  
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why? I find this question too personal to answer. 

Amelia Iwanowska

Where were you born?
I was born in Głogów which is a small town in Lower Silesia   
What would you do if you were not an English teacher?
I would probably travel or be a full-time student.
What do you do to relax?
I run, swim, or take nature walks
What book would you take to a desert island?
"The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig.
What is your cooking "speciality"?
Italian pasta dishes.
What is your ideal holiday?
Nature, water, and sun, like in Portugal.
What is your animal counterpart?
A lion.
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why? 
Cleopatra, for her intriguing life and influence in history.

Anna Trotskaya

What is your name? Anna Trotskaya
Where were you born? ​Minsk, Belarus
What would you do if you were not an English teacher? ​Before becoming a teacher I did microbiology and I really liked it.
What do you do to relax?​I embroider or do sports to relax.
What book would you take to a desert island? ​The Good Omen or a collection of Oscar Wilde's works
What is your cooking “speciality”? ​ I don't like cooking, but my "three chocolates" cake isn't bad
What is your ideal holiday? ​My ideal holiday is long))), but that's when expectations fail to meet reality
What is your animal counterpart? ​ I don't associate myself with any animal, but they say that my dog resembles me in character
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why? ​There is no stranger from the past who I'd like to meet. Still, I'd love to talk to my grandma again because she was an amazingly wise and sarcastic person, big fun to talk to.

Eva Pal

What is your name? Eva Pal
Where were you born? I was born in Hungary
What would you do if you were not an English teacher?​I would be a travel blogger
What do you do to relax?​I love taking photos.
What book would you take to a desert island? ​Could I take my camera instead? 🙂
What is your cooking “speciality”? ​I make great burgers!
What is your ideal holiday? ​Nature adventure
What is your animal counterpart? ​My animal counterpart is an eagle
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why? ​Buddha, to learn from him

Godfrey de Meyer

Where were you born? King Willaim's Town - South Africa  How long have you been working at KEC? Since October 2023   What would you do if you were not an English teacher? A Dog Trainer What do you do to relax? Take my dog for a walk/Travel What book would you take to a desert island? Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943: by Anthony Beevor. I met the author many years ago and I am fascinated about this era.  
What is your cooking "speciality"? Gazpacho  What is your ideal holiday? Anywhere close to the coast.   
What is your animal counterpart? A Chameleon- changing and adapting according to my environment   Which person from the past would you like to meet and why? Nelson Mandela - his views and upliftment of South African society in the late 1990s were paramount to the country not slipping into a civil war. He set an example of dedication, courage, and sacrifice for all.  "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart."

Hakan Dikbakan

Where were you born?
I was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey
What would you do if you were not an English teacher?
I would like to be tennis coach
What do you do to relax?
I started to do acro yoga which is quite relaxing if you have a talented partner.
What book would you take to a desert island?
I would take the book ''Outlander''
What is your cooking "speciality"?
Protein Pancake
What is your ideal holiday?
Travel to Iceland ''The land of Ice and Fire''
What is your animal counterpart?
I am a dog person. They are always lively, friendly and loyal. 
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why?
I would like to meet Atatürk who is the founder of Turkey, military genius and father of Turks. He is a leader who devoted all his life for the welfare of his people, the independence of his country...

Jacob Springer

Where were you born?
I was born in Brownwood, Texas in the United States of America.
What would you do if you were not an English teacher?
If I were not an English teacher, I would got to Law School and pursue a JD program and eventually work as a lawyer.
What do you do to relax?
To relax, I take walks with my wife, or I read books or watch films and videos. Sometimes I play video games.
What book would you take to a desert island?
On a desert island, I would bring a copy of "A Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. The book has an important uplifting message, which would be nice on a desert island.
What is your cooking "speciality"?
I love cooking, and my favorite dish to bake is certainly a Kiev cake. 
What is your ideal holiday?
My ideal holiday is to spend one week in a monastery or on a beach. Both for me are quite relaxing.
What is your animal counterpart?
My animal counterpart must be the koala. Like me, koalas are often sleepy.
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why?
My animal counterpart must be the koala. Like me, koalas are often sleepy.

Jagoda Nosal

What is your name? Jagoda Nosal
Where were you born? I was born in Mielec, Poland
What would you do if you were not an English teacher? I'd probably be a researcher. Or I'd run a café-bookshop combo with my friends. Or I'd construct languages for TV and movies.
What do you do to relax? do puzzles, play D&D, and read a little bit about everything. And I go on lots of walks.
What book would you take to a desert island? To no one's surprise, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
What is your cooking “speciality”? A kitchen left unscathed
What is your ideal holiday? A roadtrip
What is your animal counterpart? I don't know if I have one, but my advanced students said it's either a crane or an axolotl, so let's go with that.
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why? It's super difficult to pick, but let's narrow it down to three: Elizabeth Elstob, Aniela Gruszecka, and Jan Niecisław Ignacy Baudouin de Courtenay because I think they were some of the most interesting and forward-thinking minds out there. Also, whoever wrote the Voynich Manuscript 

Joanna Widlarz

What is your name? ​My name is Joanna Widlarz.
Where were you born? ​I was born in Wadowice.
What would you do if you were not an English teacher? ​I'd be a singer, of course! Actually, I'm not just an English teacher—I'm also a licensed mountain guide and a qualified city guide. I love all my professions!
What do you do to relax? ​I read books, go for walks (in the mountains or on flatlands), or explore places off the beaten track.
What book would you take to a desert island? ​I would take several books by Jane Austen, Henry James, J.K. Rowling, J. Chmielewska.... But if I could only take one? It would be Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
What is your cooking “speciality”? ​Coffee! I'm not great at cooking, but my children say I can make good soups.
What is your ideal holiday? ​Mountains, mountains, mountains...
What is your animal counterpart? ​I don't have a specific one, but maybe I'm always "beeeeeesy" as a bee 🙂
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why? Marie Curie—she was an incredible person!                  

Kamila Kilian

What is your name? Kamila Kilian
Where were you born? I was born in Kraków and have been living here almost all my life.
What would you do if you were not an English teacher? In my teenage years I wanted to become an architect. Maybe I'll pursue that dream someday 🙂
What do you do to relax? I sleep! Also, I watch TV series, play video games and do crosswords.
What book would you take to a desert island? I'd take Rupi Kaur's poetry books. She's always been an inspiration to me and opened my heart for poetry.
What is your cooking “speciality”? Carbonara, lasagne... Italian cuisine is the one that I feel the most comfortable in.
What is your ideal holiday? Somewhere warm, on a beach, with a book to read and sun to enjoy.
What is your animal counterpart? Some people say my animal counterpart is Tom from 'Tom and Jerry' 😉
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why? There is no such person. I try to live in the present moment. 

Katarzyna Budzowska

Where were you born?
I was born in Kraków, but I grew up in a small village near Wadowice.
What would you do if you were not an English teacher?
I'd probably still do something that has to do with languages, maybe at some corporation.
What do you do to relax?
Whenever I can, I go on short trips outside the city. Other than that, I usually go back home or simply hang out with my close ones.
What book would you take to a desert island?
Most likely some sort of survival guide, to help me get by.
What is your cooking "speciality"?
I can make mouth-watering spinach pasta with creamy sauce. Although, I prefer to bake – I make a tasty lemon loaf.
What is your ideal holiday?
I love going on city breaks or renting out a car and exploring lesser-known places. A combination of the two would be ideal. The destination doesn't really matter, I'd go anywhere where I haven't been yet.
What is your animal counterpart?
Even though I'm typically on the go, I'm still a sleepy head and recently I've been enjoying spending time by myself. I think it's fair to say my animal counterpart is a cat.
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why?
Without a doubt, Freddie Mercury. He's been someone I admire since I can remember. I learned English by listening to Queen songs! I also appreciate Freddie's contribution to the music scene. I'd like to ask him about the process and generally what the 70s and 80s were like for him (I love the 80s!).

Laura Wojtulewicz 

What is your name? Laura Wojtulewicz
Where were you born? Durban, South Africa
What would you do if you were not an English teacher? I would love to work with animals.
What do you do to relax? I find baking very relaxing, especially if it involves a lot of kneading or decorating.
What book would you take to a desert island? This is a difficult question, but if I were stranded on a desert island the book I would need is a survival book on survival skills. However, if it were purely for entertainment reasons and not practical ones, I would take a challenging but noteworthy book such as "Crime and punishment" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It would keep me intrigued and raise many interesting dilemmas for me to ponder over in solace.
What is your cooking “speciality”? I am not really that good at cooking, so it would be something I have baked. I am really good at making cupcakes and muffins.
What is your ideal holiday? My ideal holiday would be one that would never end 🙂 But I love to go to places that are steeped in history, offer stunning views and great food experiences - so anywhere in Italy would be perfect.
What is your animal counterpart? I believe my animal counterpart is the wise and introspective owl. Owls are known for their keen observation skills, and I, too, have a tendency to carefully observe my surroundings and analyze situations before taking action. Owls are associated with wisdom, intuition, and knowledge, and these qualities are important to me in my personal and professional life. Like an owl, I am often seen as a quiet and thoughtful individual, someone who values learning and seeks to expand my understanding of the world.
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why? Well of course, it would have to be my dad who passed when I was young, and despite his difficult childhood, he overcame many obstacles, and always showed perseverance and resilience when facing challenges. He was also always positive and had an optimistic outlook on life. I would love to find out more about his childhood, and life in Poland.

Maciek Rumian

What is your name? Maciek Rumian
Where were you born? I was born in Limanowa.
What would you do if you were not an English teacher? I would be an artist.
What do you do to relax? I play tennis, I bake and I watch the American version of The Voice.
What book would you take to a desert island? I would take 'I'll be there for you – The one about Friends' by Kelsey Miller
What is your cooking “speciality”? Chocolate Brownie
What is your ideal holiday? In the UK
What is your animal counterpart? A dog
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why? I would like to meet Zbigniew Wodecki, who is my favourite Polish singer. 

David Wiszowaty

What is your name? ​My name is David Wiszowaty.
Where were you born?​I was born on Long Island in the state of New York
What would you do if you were not an English teacher? ​If i was not an English teacher then I would like to work at an American or Polish embassy.
What do you do to relax? To relax, I love going to a cafe and sitting outside while listening to music and observing people as they walk by.
What book would you take to a desert island? I would take The Brothers Karamazov, I bought the book a year ago and still have not gotten around to reading it.
What is your cooking “speciality”? My cooking speciality is definitely some type of pasta. My favorite dish to cook is garlic shrimp pasta
What is your ideal holiday? My ideal holiday would be to travel to Japan for at least a month. I adore Japanese cuisine and I would also enjoy exploring Japanese culture.
What is your animal counterpart? ​I'm not sure if I have an animal counterpart, but I love dogs (specifically corgis) and plan to have one in the near future
Which person from the past would you like to meet and why? I think that I would choose to meet Napoleon Bonaparte. I would enjoy having a conversation with him and hearing his thoughts on multiple topics.

Historia szkoły

Szkoła została założona w 1992 roku przez Sylwię  Wallis  - Korzeniowską , magistra filologii angielskiej UJ, BA Alliance College, USA, stypendystkę (stypendium doktoranckie) The British Council w University of Lancaster, W. Brytania, visiting lecturer tej uczelni 1980-1994 asystentkę Instytutu Filologii Angielskiej UJ, inicjatorkę International House, Kraków, oraz uczestniczkę wielu międzynarodowych konferencji i seminariów językowych i metodycznych w kraju i zagranicą.