I am Joanna Majchrowska, a language teacher and postgraduate student in Finance and Accounting, planning to launch a Polish as a Second Language school in Poland. My Host Entrepreneur, Michiel de Meulenaere, runs coLanguage, an online language-learning company. I discovered EYE while seeking practical, real-world business experience to complement my academic and teaching background, having previously studied abroad through Erasmus+. I joined to see how a language-education business is run day-to-day, from pricing and marketing to client acquisition, and to reduce the risks of starting my own venture. I expected to gain hands-on skills, an international perspective and a professional network to support my future business.
During my stay I gave Polish and Spanish lessons to coLanguage students and developed A2-level Polish e-learning course content, including grammar explanations, vocabulary and dialogues, later reviewed and improved based on feedback. I took part in weekly all-team meetings where members shared progress and received feedback from my Host. With Michiel, I discussed pricing strategy, SEO and social media marketing, student acquisition, financial structure, company culture and recruitment practices. I also attended Lanzadera business formations on strategy, financing, culture and product tools. The relationship with my Host was collaborative and mentoring-based: he explained real business decisions and let me apply them directly to course design and planning.
I developed practical skills in course design, pricing strategy, digital marketing (SEO, organic social media) and client acquisition, directly applicable to my future Polish language school. I gained a clear understanding of how a small language-education company structures costs, sets prices, and grows sustainably, plus first-hand exposure to using AI tools for content creation. I built a strong professional relationship with my Host Entrepreneur, who remains a valuable contact and mentor, and expanded my network within the Lanzadera entrepreneurial community. This experience gave me confidence and a concrete, tested framework to launch my own venture.
EYE gave me the real-world business experience I needed to turn my teaching passion into a viable language school project.