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Language and Literature |
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University of Toronto
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Polish literature Chronicle of guest lectures and events |
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ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Program of Polish Language and Literature became a part of the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures in the 1960s. Among its distinguished chairs was Danuta Bienkowska, a well-known writer and poet. After her tragic death in 1974, the professorship was held briefly by Richard Lourie, an accomplished writer and prolific translator, and then for over twenty years by Louis Iribarne, a highly esteemed translator of Witkacy, Milosz, and Gombrowicz. Until 1998, Hanka Markowicz taught Polish language.
In 1998 both Profs. Iribarne and Markowicz retired and the program changed hands. It was taken over by Tamara Trojanowska, a graduate of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow (M.A.) and of the University of Toronto (Ph.D.94). During her career, Prof. Trojanowska has taught at the Jagiellonian University, York University, and Wilfrid Laurier University. From 1995 to 1998 she directed the Polish Langauge and Literature Program at the University of Chicago. At U of T, she teaches courses on Polish literature, culture, film, and theatre.
From 2000 to 2005, accomplished linguists and second language acquisition specialists from the leading universities in Poland taught Polish language in the Program. They were Drs. Aleksandra Niewiara, Bozena Szalasta-Rogowska, and Jolanta Tambor from the Silesian University in Katowice, Dr. Anna Seretny from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Dr. Agnieszka Karolczuk from the Catholic University in Lublin and Dr. Katarzyna Kasztenna from the Wroclaw University. Since 2005, Polish language has been taught by Dr. Artur Placzkiewicz and by our graduate student, Olga Ponichtera.
During its history, the Polish Program has developed very dynamic B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. programs. It offers three levels of language instruction, ten undergraduate and seven graduate courses on Polish literature, culture, film, and theater of which five semester courses are offered yearly, including at least two graduate courses. They are available to all students enrolled at the University of Toronto as well as to the students from other institutions of higher learning.
Undergraduate students can work towards a Major or Minor in Polish literature and culture, whereas graduate students can obtain Master and Doctorate degrees, or study Polish literature as their minor field in the Slavic Department.
The Polish Program also cooperates with the Department of History at UofT. Students at all undergraduate levels can major or minor in the so-called Polish Studies Program, which combines courses on Polish literature, culture, history, and language. We have very close links with the Film Studies and the University College Drama Program (at the undergraduate level), and with the Graduate Center for the Study of Drama and the Centre for Comparative Literature (at the graduate level). The Polish Program is also a part of the Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies.
All our undergraduate literature and culture courses are taught in English. However, all reading materials are available in both languages, English and Polish.
Presently, our undergraduate program welcomes about 80-90 students a year.
RECENT NEWS
Our graduate program has two doctoral students: Agnieszka Polakowska and Olga Ponichtera. Lukasz Wodzynski is a new MA student in the Program. Two theatre and drama students are working on their Ph.D. theses under the supervision of Prof. Trojanowska.
Dr. Milija Gluhovic defended his Ph.D. thesis in the fall of 2005. He was awarded the Clifford Leech Prize for it. He now holds a tenure-stream position in the Department of Theatre Studies at the University of Warwick in England.
Dr. Artur Placzkiewicz taught Polish language at the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 2004/05. He defended his Ph.D. thesis in 2005 and is now teaching Polish language at UofT.
Agnieszka Polakowska received an Ontario Graduate Scholarship for 2004-05 and a scholarship from the Council for the Support of Polish Studies at UofT for the summer program, "Poland in the Rockies", in August 2004. She is now a recipient of the prestigious Canada Graduate Scholarship.
Olga Ponichtera received the Joseph Bazylewicz Fellowship. She taught Polish language at the McMaster University in 2004/05 and is now teaching Polish language at UofT
EVENTS:
Please go to the chronicle of guest lectures and events in the main menu for the information about the past and current events organized by the Program of Polish Language and Literature.
The Polish Language and Literature Program gratefully acknowledges the financial support from the following:
Slaby-Ungar Endowment Fund for Polish Language and Literature
created by Henry Slaby and Irene Ungar specially for the purpose of financing the Polish language courses
HENRY SLABYBorn in 1925, Henry Slaby was involved in Polish underground operations for which he was arrested by the Germans and sent to Auschwitz. When moved to Flosenburg, Henry Slaby escaped, joined the Polish Army in Italy and found himself in Great Britain after the war ended. In Britain he completed his education in business administration and became a Chartered Accountant. After coming to Canada in 1955, he settled in Toronto where in 1961 he started his own accounting business. In the 1970s Henry Slaby, by then a very successful, independent businessman, became involved in community service and politics. The list of his accomplishments in these areas is very impressive. He chaired multiple fundraising committees and was essential to completing the fundraising tasks both in Poland and in Canada. His involvement in Poland includes the restoration of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, a multimillion dollar fundraising for the John Paul Collegium Building at the Catholic University of Lublin, and recently the development of the Canadian Studies Program at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. The Canadian initiatives include the establishment of the Polish TV program and the Polish theater, the building of the Polish home for the aged (Copernicus Lodge), the Maximilian Kolbe Foundation and the building of the John Paul II Polish Cultural Center in Mississauga, the fundraising for the Chair of Polish History, many years of active participation in the Wladyslaw and Nelli Turzanski Foundation, and the establishment of the Slaby and Ungar Fund for the Polish Language and Literature Program at UofT. Henry Slaby was also actively involved in provincial and federal politics (Liberal Party) as CFO, agent and auditor. His many accomplishments were honored by the Queen (Outstanding Citizen Medal), the Provincial and Municipal authorities, the Catholic University of Lublin (Gold Medal for services and Doctor Honoris Causa as well as the title of Protector Universitatis), government of Poland (Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit with Star), and by the Holy Father, John Paul II (the Honor of Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great).
IRENA UNGAR
Born in 1916, died in 2002, nee Kolankiewicz, wife of Waclaw Ungar, a Squadron Leader of the Polish Air Force, a participant in the Battle of Britain. She left Poland in 1939 and her journey through Romania, Yugoslavia, Italy, France and Portugal brought her to Canada in 1941. She was fluent in five languages and had a remarkable professional career spanning from intelligence service for the Allies during the war, through journalism, administration, immigration services, diplomacy, and finally to her position as a Canadian Citizenship judge. She was a philanthropist, a community leader, and a great patriot. Her many involvements included several Boards of Directors: of the Copernicus Lodge (the Polish home for the elderly) and International Institute of Metropolitan Toronto. She was chairing or vice-chairing important organizations: Polish-Canadian Congress (Toronto District), Canadian Polish Women Federation, Academic Disciplinary Tribunal at UofT, and the Advisory Board of the Community Folk Arts Council of Metropolitan Toronto. She was essential in establishing the Slaby/Ungar Fund for the Polish Language and Literature Program at UofT. She received an honorary membership in the Association of Polish Engineers in Canada and gold insignia of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association. For her leadership and life accomplishments she was awarded the gold medal of the Canadian-Polish Congress, the Medal of Service of the Order of Canada, the Golden Cross of Merit (from the Polish government in exile), and a medal Sursum Corda from the government of the Polish Republic for her life contribution to culture and community service.
Canadian - Polish Congress
through the
Council for the Support of Polish Studies at the University of Toronto
For more information about the Council's support for the Polish Language and Literature program at UofT, please go to http://www.kpk.org/uot.htm
The Millennium Foundation
and
The Adam Mickiewicz Foundation
in Toronto