TEFL Reviews

TEFL Reviews

Country Facts

TEFL Trainees / ESL Teachers

Size:
Total Area: 312,685 sq km
Land: 304,255 sq km
Water: 8,430 sq km

Population:
July 2010 estimate: 38,463,689
July 2004 estimate: 38,626,349
Density: 122.052/km2

Neighboring Country:
Belarus, Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast), Slovakia, Ukraine

Currency:
Currency of Poland: Zloty (PLN)
Code: PLN
Subunit: 1/100 grosz
Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 zl
Central Bank: National Bank of Poland
Mint: Mennica Polska

Politics:
Poland is a democracy, with a President as a Head of State, whose current Constitution dates from 1997. The Government structure centers on the Council of Ministers, led by a Prime Minister. The President appoints the Cabinet according to the proposals of Prime Minister, from the majority coalition in the Sejm.

Constitution: adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997; passed by national referendum 25 May 1997; effective 17 October 1997.

Cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers.
Elections: President is elected by vote every five years; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm.
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Tribunal.
Major Parties: Civic Platform (PO); Law and Justice (PiS); Democratic Left Alliance (SLD); Polish People’s Party (PSL).
Minor Parties: Poland Plus (PP); Social Democracy of Poland (SDPL); Democratic Party – demokraci. pl (PD).
Other Parties: Catholic-National Movement; Communist Party of Poland; Confederation of Independent Poland; Conservative People’s Party; Democratic Party; Greens 2004; Labour Union; Liberty and Rule of Law; Movement of the Reconstruction of Poland, etc.

Language:
Official Language: Polish 97.8%
Other and unspecified 2.2%

Religion:
Roman Catholic 89.8%
Eastern Orthodox 1.3%
Protestant 0.3%
Other 0.3%
Unspecified 8.3%

Culture:
The culture of Poland has been influenced by both Eastern world and Western world influences. These influences are evident in Polish architecture, folklore, and art. Poland is the birthplace of some world famous individuals like Pope John Paul II, Marie Sklodowska Curie, etc. The character of Polish art has reflected world trends. Painter Jan Matejko included many significant historical events in his paintings. Polish literature dates back to the 12th century and includes many famous poets and writers like Jan Kochanowski, Adam Mickiewicz, etc. Many world famous Polish movie directors include Academy Award winners Roman Polanski, Andrzej Wajda, etc. World famous actresses were Helena Modjeska and Pola Negri. Polish cuisine has both influenced by the cuisines of surrounding countries. Polish cities and towns reflect European styles.

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Most popular sport: Football (soccer)
Other sports: Track and Field, Basketball, boxing, ski jumping, fencing, handball, ice hockey, swimming, volleyball and weightlifting.

Important Cities:
Warsaw (the Capital), Krakow, Lodz, Wroclaw, Poznan, Gdansk, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Lublin, Katowice, Bialystok, Gdynia, Czestochowa, Radom, Torun, Kielce, Olsztyn, Rzeszow, Opole