91µÎµÎ

Bartek Rosiak, the youngest teacher in Poland, owes a lot to the scientists from the Faculty of Philology of the 91µÎµÎ

21-year-old Bartek Rosiak from Lodz made headlines when, after completing – in a fast-track procedure – his BA studies at the Faculty of Philology, 91µÎµÎ, he started working as a Polish language teacher at the Primary School No. 182 in Lodz in September this year. He became the youngest fully qualified teacher in Poland. He conducts lessons according to an original programme and his pupils do not use textbooks.

He was admitted to the 91µÎµÎ as a laureate of the Olympiad of Polish Literature and Language, but participated in the university classes as part of the "Talented at School, Brilliant at the University" programme, implemented by the 91µÎµÎ, already in the final grade. The individual study plan offered to him at the Faculty of Philology of the 91µÎµÎ enabled him to complete the studies faster and obtain a bachelor's degree – Bartek was simultaneously pursuing the BA and MA studies.

– It does not mean it was easier for me – he comments today. – Graduating faster means taking exams at a crazy pace and learning more on your own. But it has never put me off, I’ve taken up the challenge and I’ve made it.

Bartek will complete his accelerated MA studies in a year. Now we can mention that he was not always an outstanding student. In the primary school, he was considered not very gifted and lazy, which translated into low grades. The reason was undoubtedly the trauma caused by his mother's death when he was 7 years old. From then on, his grandmother brought him up. It was only in junior high school that Bartek gained impetus and the highest scores appeared on his diplomas, and in high school he could already participate in classes with the students at the 91µÎµÎ.

– I am thinking more and more often to smoothly start studies at the 91µÎµÎ Doctoral School of Humanities next year, after defending my master's thesis – he confides and probably knows what he is saying.

During his studies, Bartek Rosiak has conducted research at the Department of Literature of Positivism and Young Poland Period under the supervision of the Head of the department, Prof. Dorota Samborska-Kukuć. At the Department of Contemporary Polish Language, under the supervision of Prof. Ewa Szkudlarek-Åšmiechowicz, he has dealt with linguistic issues. At the same time, he has been gaining knowledge and experience at the Department of Polish Language and Literature Teaching under the supervision of Prof. MaÅ‚gorzata Gajak-Toczek. He has already written several articles on the so-called didactic measurement, which examines the pace and quality of knowledge acquisition, and Polish language examination (it is about fairness of the assessment, evaluation criteria and methods of checking).

– This is an area of science, which has been poorly explored by Polish scientists, especially the didactic measurement of the Polish language, and this is what I do – he explains.

When asked about the scientists who are his role models and who help in his development to the largest extent, he has no hesitation in pointing the three following Professors:

In particular, I owe a lot to Dorota Samborska-Kukuć. She is my mentor and basically a friend who has always supported me in difficult times, giving me emotional support. Prof. Szkudlarek-Śmiechowicz looked after me during the health turmoil. I admire Prof. Gajak-Toczek for the fact that when she was our lecturer, she went through the habilitation procedure and at the same time worked in a technical college. She inspired me to teach at school without resigning from my research career, because it can go hand in hand, and even help me develop on both levels.

Source and photos: Marcin Kowalczyk, Promotion Centre, 91µÎµÎ