Language / What's the best "Learn Polish" book? [33]

I'm not sure if you're looking for something like that but at Jagiellonian University teachers usually use "Cześć, jak się masz" by Władysław Miodunka:

universitas.com.pl/ksiazka/2191

Maybe it's not to colourful but very accurate and helpful.

They also recommend "Hurra po polsku":

eksiegarnia.pl/index.php?s=karta&id=143308

It's definitely the most modern book and it's really well done (in my opinion). It comes with a CD and an exercise book. If you're persistent enough it can help you a lot to know real _contemporary_ Polish.

Both of the books are based on communicative aproach.

You can find more books from "Polish for foreigners" series here:

universitas.com.pl/katalog/kat_38

Buziaki
Edyta

Language / What's the best "Learn Polish" book? [33]

I forgot to mention that both of these books are for A1 level (the second part of "Cześć jak się masz" is for A2 level). "Hurra po polsku 2" is for A2 but it's not that good as the first part. But still - it's probably the only book for Polish learners which look like a book for learning a foreign language - you know, most books published in Poland look like writen for learning Latina, not Polish real language - but that's mainly beacause lack of money; publishers still don't believe that they can earn any money investing in publishing a good, colourfull book.

On the other hand, books published outside Poland sometimes contain serious mistatakes (recently in one of the books I saw a strange statement, something like this: "In Polish there are two ways of writing "sh" sound which are: "sz" and "si" ("ś")"

- it's completely untrue! "sz" and "ś" (sometimes writen as "si") totally different sounds! I know it's one of the most difficult things for foreigners to learn the difference between them but it's really important (that' difference between "KaSIa" - polish name and "kaSZa" - groats, etc).

But, back to the topic, "Hurra po polsku" is published with financial support of one of the language schools and that's why it's more modern I think.

And - telefonitka - if you need a book for A1 level and want to buy "Hurra" you can buy it in any Polish online bookshop - you would be closer to the language :-D and probably - it would be even cheaper ;-)

Buziaki
Edyta

Life / Polish clothing for school project USA - need some ideas [5]

Lots of Polish 12 year old children:



I hope that's what you are looking for :-)

Buziaki
Edyta

Language / What's the best "Learn Polish" book? [33]

telefonitka is right (I don't know this "Waystage" word, too :-))

There is something called Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It describes 6 levels of language knowledge:

A Basic User

- A1 Breakthrough
- A2 Waystage

B Independent User

- B1 Threshold
- B2 Vantage

C Proficient User

- C1 Effective Operational Proficiency
- C2 Mastery

This common framework is very useful for people involved in language teaching and testing but also for students. If you move to another country for example it's easier for you to continue learning because A2 level is the same in Poland and in Spain (and any other level in any other EU country).

You can find more information here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_European_Framework_of_Reference_fo r_Languages

or here:

coe.int/T/DG4/Linguistic/CADRE_EN.asp

I hope I explained it a little :-)

Buziaki
Edyta

Life / Polish people living in Poland, How do you see your future? [37]

I live in Krakow since I was born and I don't see my future in black colour. Yes, I admit, I would like to find a job for holidays somewhere abroad, because I have some dreams. I'd like to build my own house which is unavailable for a student or just after studies. As a teacher at primary school I will be able to earn about 700 zł monthly for a few years. 6 weeks of work in Holland last holidays gave my boyfriend 10 000 zł... so you can see the difference. I think many Poles work abroad because they want to earn more, not because they can't find a job here. If you really want to work you will find job, really.

So, maybe I'm going to work abroad this summer (if I find a job ;-)) but I really couldn't leave Poland for longer, forever. I have my family here, my friends, my memories, my favourite places, my dog, my cats... all my life is here. Poles ale devoted to where they live. In US people often change a job, a house (I heard so). Here, if you build a house you can be sure that many generations of your sons and grandsons will live in it, too. People often start a job at the age of 18 and don't change it until they retire. Ofcourse, things are changing now but it's still quite usual way of living.

I'm a Polish teacher, when I finish my studies I'm going to teach foreigners so well, I will probably have to work abroad. It was a kind of decision when I was choosing these studies but I can't imagine not living in Poland. I can go abroad for a year or two, but my heart will be here, I'm sure.

And about situation in Poland - I believe it's getting better, especially after joining EU. I know our government now is... well... let's say it would be better if there wasn't any. No government would be better that this one :-) Their ideas are stupid and destroying Poland and its future but I hope they can't spoilt everything.

There are many good changes in Polish everyday life. Everything is getting more and more expensive, that's right, but salaries grow, too (9% this year, am I right?). There are more companies who decide to employ young people, even without experience (they train them themselves). If you are ready to learn new things and really want to work you will find a job (as you can see, I don't agree with Misiek242 :-)) The problem is that Poles like to complain about everything and not to do anything to change their situation.

I don't know what else you would like to know...

Buziaki :-)
Edyta

Language / The Longest Polish word?? [23]

There is a lot of words longer than 18 letters. Just think about cardinal numbers in Polish, for example:
siedemtysięcyczterystapięciesiątadziewiąta (osoba w kolejce) - 7459th (person in a queue) :-) But of course the queue may be longer ;-)

Konstantynopolitanczykowianeczka is partly old-fashionable now because "Konstantynopol" is called "Stambuł" since a long time ago :-) Konstantynopolitanczykowianeczka is rather a joke :-)

Buziaki
Edyta

Language / Funny sayings on Polish weddings [14]


Sweeten by a kiss, of course :-)

Sometimes it's continued:

Ona temu winna, ona temu winna, pocałować go powinna"
(after a kiss):
On jest temu winien, on jest temu winien, pocałować ją powiniem"
(after a kiss):
Nie pijemy wódki, nie pijemy wódki, pocałunek był za krótki :-)
(after a looong kiss ;-)):
nas uczyli w szkole, nas uczyli w szkole calujemy sie na stole
(when a couple kisses on a table:)
u nas moda taka, u nas moda taka - całujemy na stojaka

or:

kieliszek swój do ręki weź i wypij aż do dna. i całuj na lewo i całuj na prawo i całuj jak się da. jak żeś wypił to se nalej i butelkę podaj dalej.

or:

pan starosta nie w lesie, nie w lesie, nie w lesie, i pół litra przyniesie, przyniesie, przyniesie :-)

And there's many, many more, usually about kissing and vodka :-))

Buziaki
Edyta