Language / Two questions for people who learn polish [57]

Excellent advice, Mafketis! I concur in almost every respect, in addition, don't underestimate the importance of kiddie TV shows, apropos not being ashamed of seeming "dumb"--:):): LOL

Language / Two questions for people who learn polish [57]

Yes indeed, Seanus. This too often includes teachers starting beginners off at a level way over their heads, e.g. poetry, classic lit. etc., which the teacher him/herself enjoys, but is pedagogically as well as often culturally irrelevant to the learner and frequently, not only confuses, but in fact, can wreak irreperable damage on the student who learns outdated idioms/etc.. and later can't "unlearn" what they've been taught, like my 'computer virus' example of a basic error which may never be rid from the system!

Amending my own earlier post regarding short story reading at a more advanced level, I ought to have included more mid-to late 20th century authors in my list of favored writing-:)

Language / Two questions for people who learn polish [57]

No, jaka szkoda! Szybkiego wyzdrowienia, Seanus-:) Writing's tough, this is true. Conversely, higher-level, i.e. A-level English in, among other EU-countries, Poland should also be taught, ideally, by English (British or US/Canadian) native speakers. This probably won't happen though, as it'd be much too expensive for the government to pay, that is sponsor, foreign nationals (even if EU members). Therefore, the bulk of the population will continue to be left to ill-equipt, Polish native speaking instructors, often with heavy accents, and less than fluent working knowledge of either English-language literature in the original, or, the sheer experience of having taught same in English to English speakers, say, in highschool or college, perhaps abroad, like the UK, the US or Canada.

Language / what is the difference between prosze and poprosze? [39]

I always heard 'Proszę o chleb.', then again, maybe my hearing's going as well--:):) LOL

Language / Rok vs. Lat [30]

Wonder then whether the Russian 'urok' (written of course more like 'yrok' in Cyrillic!), meaning 'lesson' as in a textbook or primer, is related to the above meaning for Polish 'rok'!

Language / What do you find difficult about learning Polish? [98]

Sound advice. It's always the same for foreigners learning any language. They try translating from the familiarity of their native tongue, forgetting of course, that words, sounds, meanings, etc. resonate, often totally, differently with a native speaker of the language which the foreign learner is trying to acquire. This no doubt frustrates any language teacher, if, say, an American asks during the lesson "How d'you say 'Thank G_d it's Friday!' in Polish, or 'There goes the ball game!' in Turkish etc...

True language acquisition at any age, should be "How is it said?" rather than "Why isn't it said the way we say it in our language?"

Language / Polish language problems (orthography) [47]

Gumishu, perhaps here, "zrozumiesz" might convey the subtle degree of difference you want to indicate, cf. "Czy rozumiesz? = Do you understand? (in general) vs. "Czy zrozumiesz" = Are you beginning to understand? (right now)

Language / What do you find difficult about learning Polish? [98]

Bondi, thus the famous pun: 'Egyesegere!' = To your health! vs. 'Egyeseggedre!' = To your arse! --:):):)

Language / Two questions for people who learn polish [57]

You're probably correct, Bondi. I'm still a bit too unfamiliar with foreign- specifically English-language pedagogy in Central and Eastern Europe. I did live for a time in Germany, as you've probably gleaned from my posts, and so have a much better insight into German English-language instruction. From experience, I can safely say that it's bloody awful! LOL. Oh sure, Germans seem to speak a lot of English abroad, as well as at home in international situations, yet, rarely is the quality of their English much good! Good enough perhaps to impress numerous monolingual or non-German-speaking foreign visitors, but hardly passes muster with an educated native (though many Germans then rationalize this lack as simply 'good enough' -:):):) )

Americans often see only the best and the brightest Germans who come to the States and teach at Harvard, MIT etc... and of course all sound practically like Brits, with flawless Oxfordian accents. This though, is scarcely the reality for the bulk of German speakers, both at home as well as abroad.

Language / Du ju spik polisz? [21]

Have to read the link, but already I can say that the issue of language erosion is one dear to my heart. Will have to post back once I've finished it.

Thanks in advance!

Language / mój vs. swój [9]

Saw recently in a Polish magazine ad "Bądź panią swego życia" = Be YOUR (as opposed to someone else's-:) lol) own woman.

Language / Iterative and semelfactive verbs [37]

Looks pretty darn accurate thus far, Osioł. You might also include in "round two"
"być"/"bywać" = to be vs. to frequent, i.e. be at/with regularly:

BY£EM wczoraj wieczorem u moich rodziców. = I was with my parents yesterday evening

BYWA£EM każdej niedzieli wieczorem u moich rodziców. = I used to be with my parents/at my parents' house every Sunday evening.

Language / Iterative and semelfactive verbs [37]

Correct, Gumishu! Polish aspects RARELY correlate easily with English 'tenses'-)))!!!

Language / Popular Polish expressions/proverbs relating to months of the year [10]

Is there a rough equivalent in Polish for "March goes in like a lion and out like a lamb."

Language / what is the difference between prosze and poprosze? [39]

......or sometimes when answering the phone, occasionally with 'Słucham!' preceeded by the family name , e.g. 'Lipiński, Słucham!' = Hello, _____Lipiński speaking! or anything similar.

Rather formal though, I must say-:)

Language / Popular Polish expressions/proverbs relating to months of the year [10]

Brilliant, Gumishu! Many thanks. That's precisely what I wanted. Off to the loo, will post again later)))

Language / Iterative and semelfactive verbs [37]

As per usual, Polish is far more exact than English! The next time some Yankee-Doodle Dunce starts to tell another "dumb Polak" joke, I swear, I'm gonna say what the late great Ted Knight (nee Kasziński) said in the same situation: "Now, tell it to me in Polish!" LOL

If any tongue, at least European, constantly tests the mental agility of the learner, it's got to be Polish)))))

Language / Verb endings attaching themselves to other words [9]

......Kiedyś spotkamy się dziś wieczór? - Przed kinem.
Gdzieś mieszkasz? - W Zakopanym.
.......

Language / Verb endings attaching themselves to other words [9]

....Guess I missed that one, Darius:))) lol

Language / The best way for me to learn Polish [89]

Crossword puzzles (rozrywki, krzykowski) are also a super way of learning new and interesting vocabulary-:))))

Language / The best way for me to learn Polish [89]

Thanks, Serca--:)))))

Do you know f.ex. German as well as your native language? Just curious. LOL
Which others can you speak? I know a number myself, among them Polish, German,
Danish, Swedish, Dutch, (survival) Spanish and I have a fluent reading knowledge of
Norwegian.

Many Polish speakers find English a nightmare in reverse; we have MORE exceptions
than actual rules, almost zero correlation between often completely irregular spelling
vs. pronounciation and a staggering choice of vocabulary!!!

Ever seen an old movie from the early '80's called "Sophie's Choice" with Meryl Streep
as a young Polish-Jewish immigrant to America? In one line during the film she remarks
to her equally young English "tutor"/later romantic interest how English has sooooo
many words for one word in her language. "You have (reading from her first dictionary)
for "fast" 'fleet', 'rapid', 'expeditious', 'speedy', 'swift', I get dizzy just to think of it all.."

Language / Kupić - Kupować [17]

....and don't forget also "ZAkupić/-ować" = to go shopping, probably as with the root verb "kupić" originally derived from Germanic "kaufen":))))

Language / Kupić - Kupować [17]

:))))) thanx, gumishu. Though I really think it ought to be the other way round (he-he!!)

Language / The best way for me to learn Polish [89]

.... or maybe Meryl's character was just plain illiterate, LOL
It has been known, though more rarely among Jews, this is true--))

Language / Polish Language Pronunciation - Example Words and Phrases [178]

Well, many Jews were given special sanctions by the Hapsburg Monarchs, namely Emperor Franz-Josef, that's somewhat true. This isn't to imply however, that there was any less hostility towards Jews among the rank and file population at the time. In fact, Austria's anti-semitism was almost as virulent as Poland's, and more than in Germany. Don't forget either, the German "Aufklaerung" spread all throughout the Empire and Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Moses Mendelssohn (himself a Jew!), Goethe himself, all contributed to a dissemination of French ideas regarding human equality etc.

The Austro-Hungarian situation was slightly different. Much of the region was still a rather backwater area, far behind France and England in either mercantile or cultural influence.

While most Jews from beyond the Pale, as you mention, were the most numerous immigrants to the New World, many Polish Jews settled for a time in Germany as well as other European countries, often forever, while others did indeed emigrate to America.

Language / Kupić - Kupować [17]

Americans "take" and exam, a decision etc.. the Brits "do" an exam (..but "take" decisions, much as the French LOL)

In German, "einkaufen" or "einkaufen gehen" both mean "to go shopping" (compared with just "kaufen"/"sich kaufen"= to buy something), whereas "Einkaeufe machen" means literally "to DO shopping".

Apprarently in Polish, it's different:))))

Language / The best way for me to learn Polish [89]

I'm impressed, Serca! An interesting cache of languages you have. Welcome to PF, O kindred spirit (O Geistesverwandter!)--:))))))

I'm simultaneously "working on" Turkish, Hungarian, Albanian and trying (LOL) to brush up on my rudimentary Russian!

As a professional translator/interpreter, the only languages I could ethically work in are German, Polish, Swedish, Dutch and Danish.

Language / Iterative and semelfactive verbs [37]

I believe we term it "iterative", e.g. "IDĘ na spacer." (iterative - repearted just once)
vs. "CHODZĘ na spacer." (frequentative - performed ritually, indeed, on a daily basis)
Future (perfective) would of course be "PÓJDĘ na spacer." = I WILL be taking a walk/stroll..... vs. "I take a walk/stroll REGULARLY." or "I'm going for a walk RIGHT NOW."

Language / Iterative and semelfactive verbs [37]

Probably right, Polonius--:))

Presumably the poster was confused about the terminology used in the thread and not the content specifically.

But I could be wrong-:)

Language / Kupić - Kupować [17]

I misstyped. Americans "make" NOT "take" decisions (usually) LOL