Language / Kasia and Zosia pronounce [17]

Were you in London as a tourist or did you work in an office? At work your written work may be of concern but on the street? In America nobody ever corrected my English though at times I had to repeat myself as we speak a little fast. I was there of course, as a tourist.

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]

In England most pupils learn French but if a Frenchman had to make himself understood in French in a food shop in England in order to buy food he would starve!

I think also that the Poles are rather like the Brits and are not really linguists. I must say that I have met Czechs and they seem to find English really easy. Some of them can speak it really well. Maybe it is because their accent is softer and they feel that they sound better in English? Confidence is a lot to do with it, I suppose.

Travel / Changing Poland [75]

I am wondering if Poland can ever change. Some years ago, I was in Gdansk and visied an area where I stayed during the Communist era. It is called Orunia, if I am not mistaken. You get there by bus. I remember I stayed on a street called Podmiejska. Her house has since been bulldozed to make way for a road expansion scheme. A really dreadful place. Sad. cold, dirty, rundown and empty of any soul. I walked home from the bus stop with a young schoolgirl from Poland. She has been living here in England for the last two years. I asked her if she would want to go back and she said to visit her family and friends, yes, but to live-never! Her mother has exchanged Poland for the Tesco supermarket shelf filling department on a night shift. 600,000 of Poland's young have followed her. Can Poland ever be strong with such an exodus? They always complain about their voting rights in the EU but under Russia they had none.

Travel / Changing Poland [75]

Yes, they are probably cheap but my God, have you ever looked at the place? I would prefer to live in Kingston Upon Hull!

Yes, I do remember it very well and it was awfull. Dirty wet streets-something like a film script of England in the 17th. century. I have heard that there is a lot of crime there but then again I weas there twenty years ago. Not a place to bring up a family, but then again. where in Poland is?

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]

Who was Joseph Conrad?


I have never found the Polish to be quite linguistic-more on a par with their plumbing!

Language / Some example sentences using each of the cases in Polish [33]

No it is not. Ja znam madrego kolegi and znam madrego mezczyzne.

USA, Canada / Getting my Polish fiance into the US [16]


I wish you all the best of luck with your future together. However, make sure that it is for life. I have met many examples where people are just used and then dropped later on. When I was a student in Portsmouth a student in the year ahead of me went to St. Petersburg and married someone who worked for Russian Gas. I said it was a mistake but was told by the Best Man to be that "they were very much in love". After six months she left him and went around with every man she could find. There is a tale in this somewhere. You talk about moving back to Poland but in my experience, very rarely would a Pole want to return to their home land.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]


Yes, but then there is no competition because you are working for very little money and are not taking away a Polish person's job.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]


I think that it is about competition. A long time ago there were very few Polish in England. Fifteen years ago if we saw a Polish car, we would turn round and follow it and when we could, we would invite them to our house for tea-it was that rare to see Polish in England. Now, fifteen years on and 600,000 later, it is a different story. When I do my shopping we do it in silence as we do not want to advertise our 'polishness'. Cheap labour is a good thing in the short turn but Poland is the looser as they are loosing the talented young and the British get a raw deal as labour rates are low, sick pay and holiday entitlements are non existent. It is the rich capitalists who benefit as they have a pool of cheap maluable labour. England has always survived on a combination of cheap low skilled workers, not high tech as in Germany.

Travel / Changing Poland [75]

What does that mean? O co chodzi? Nie rozumiem.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]


I bet I am bigger than you!

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]

Ja nic nie chcialbym czytac w jezyku polskim!

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]


Yes, and they do. Anybody can teach English in Poland.

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]


Not as stupid as you. I can speak Polish and have never even lived there. You can not say the same, can you?

Travel / Changing Poland [75]

I think I know where that is to be built. I imagine that is an architect's drawiing. As I say, I have not been back for several years now.

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]

Then there is no reason for you to attack me and be rude, is there?

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]

I do not see any reason why I can not be a teacher in Poland.

Maybe I will come to Poland and open my own school and be in direct competition with you?


Its more than that as there is also social control at play here.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]


Why do you say that you are putting me in my place? I studied Russian for four years in the 1980's at the then Portsmouth Polytechnic and in Moscow before studying Polish and then TESOL. I would have thought that my experience would outstrip you anyday. I have met Russian girls teaching English in Poland. Anybody can teach English in Poland-even Russians.


If you can not even speak Polish then how on God's earth can you do tranlation work in class?

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]


Should be ciekaw jestem


So what is it then that allows you to teach English or anything else for that matter in Poland but excludes everybody else?

UK, Ireland / The British workers denied jobs because they can't speak Polish [45]

I think that this has happened because the Polish are exploited and it is a good excuse not to give a job to an Englishman as the wages, term and conditions of service are probably bordering on the illegal and the English are not wanted as some of these dubious practices will have to come to an end. Mind you, do you often see English people working in Chinese restaurants in England if they can not speak Chinese?

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]

I do not want to teach English in Poland and have already said so. I could never live on the low wages, mind you, I bet you are working towards a very satisfying long term pension. How much are your wages when you are sick? What do you get? Two bottles of Polish beer?

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]

bo on jest glupi!! If you are considering staying in Poland it might be an idea to start to learn the language first. Look up the word poniewaz first in a dictiobnary and then you can write a little better Polish. I tell you what, I will come and give you some free Polish Language lessons the next time I come over to Poland-you can have them for free as all language lessons the world over should be.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]


I can not comment on this at all. I have never worked overseas. I simply did a TESOL (Trinity College, London) as that is what my local college of F.E. was offering in the year 2000. I thought that there was very little difference between CELTA and Trinity and I know that Trinity has been growing in strength over the last few years. They are both only four week courses and I would have imagined that the differences between the two would be minimul, especially after some work experience. Are you seriously telling me that a good experienced teacher would be turned away from a school because they have a TESOL and not a CELTA. I do not believe that for one moment.


Yes, and I make big mistakes now too. I learn all the time just like anybody else. Before I went to Jagiellonski, I knew very little Polish.

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]

As we say in English though, 'there is always room for improvement'. In fact, I was at a car boot on Sunday morning and a Russian was selling video tapes and had a sign up selling his wares in Russian. Even he made mistakes in his written Russian and I had to point this out to him. Do not worry, my corrections are all free of charge. I will not charge you a penny, or in your case-a zloty!

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]

Simply because you are so arrogant I can not come to Poland-Poland would not accept me in Poland only you can work in Poland. Have you bought the title deeds to the whole country? It is all about you and your position in Poland. Do not worry, I will not come to Poland and be in competition with you, if that is what concerns you. To tell you the truth, I have seen all I want to in Poland and enough for a whole life time. If I did not have responsibilities I would not be here in England but I would not choose a country like Poland either. I would prefer Turkey or even somewhere further such as South Korea in which to teach English-for one, the weather is nicer and so too are the people!. Do not worry-I will not 'gate crash' one of you classes!

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]


At least it is good to know that the Polish students do not have to pay you much for your lessons. How much is it they pay you a month in Poland for your unskilled job? Two packets of peanuts?

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]


You must be dreaming! A small Polish school gives you 900 pounds per month towards your rent plus wages? You must be drinking some of that funny stuff.


The best part was your attempt to write in Polish


Very unlikely, I would have thought


Again, you do not know Polish anyway so why is it hilarious?

I have been over Halifax, Canada, not much of a place to look at.

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]


Just out of interest, how much is 4,000zl a month. I have not used Polish money for a long time. and I know that they have devalued and changed their money a few times since. I imagine that there are about six zloty to the pound now.


Who ever said thaty I am an experienced typist? Every time I make a keying error you are down my throat yet you make serious errors in Polish and you take it all so seriously that you ask for advice before you dare defend yourself. Oh, it is acceptable I have just asked a student...you are a little crafty. Mind you, I have met a lot of teachers of English overseas, especially in Poland and have really liked any of them. None of them could speak Polish or show any interest in it but all like to tell me what they can earn for giving private lessons. Anyway, when your contract 'is up' you too will no doubt move on to another country and in two years from now everything will just be a distant memory. I would not take it all so seriously. My CELTA is better than your TESOL ect. Teaching English as a foreign language an unskilled job which attracts zero points even on the Australian emmigration list. Do not take it all so seriously for God's sake.

Language / A Native American or a Native Pole: Who is better into which language? [116]

Thanks for that. I knew that the Polish zl was around about six to the pound. My maths is not a strong point at the best of times If he is earning over 700 pounds per month maybe I will change my mind and join the Brits in the teaching profession. Mind you, I have heard that prices are also very high now in Poland. Gas, electricity and petrol are the same as in the UK-so I have been told-but things may change after twenty two years.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]


Because every time I make a keying error, you are down my throat. Bo on jest glupi-do you remember those words? Who wrote them? Who was it about?