wykady

Wykład is a formal oral presentation of information delivered to an audience, typically students, in educational settings. It is a central component of many university courses and is usually given by a lecturer or professor.

The standard Polish spelling of the term is wykład in the singular and wykłady in the plural; in non-diacritic texts the form wykady may appear, but it is considered nonstandard. The noun derives from the verb wykładać, meaning to lay out or to explain, with the sense of an exposition or presentation of knowledge.

In practice, a wykład is generally a one-to-many instructional session, designed to convey core material, explain theories, or present problems and solutions. Durations commonly range from 45 to 90 minutes, and the session may include lecturing, illustrated by slides or other media, followed by questions or discussion. The person delivering a wykład is called a wykładowca (lecturer) or profesor, while the topic is part of a course’s formal curriculum.

Variants include wykład otwarty (open lecture) for the general public or unregistered attendees, and wykłady gościnne (guest lectures) given by visiting scholars. In contrast to a referat (a shorter or more report-like presentation) and to a seminar (which emphasizes discussion and interaction), a wykład is typically more lecture-driven and less interactive by design.

See also: Referat, Seminarium, Wykładowca, Plan wykładów, Studia.