Language / How long to get fluent in Polish? [41]

Quite...I think I'll just take it on its own terms from now on to avoid any unnecessary confusion... :)

Language / How long to get fluent in Polish? [41]

I stand corrected, but you know what I mean about the Romance languages? Certainly there's the odd crossover, but how do you get from November to Listopad?? What you've said about French is interesting - I feel there's a connection between Italian and Polish somehow, but I'll admit it's just an impression.

Language / How long to get fluent in Polish? [41]

Yeah, my house is a sea of Post-its! I've been thinking about trying Rosetta Stone, too. I have a Polish boyfriend and he's very encouraging. I've studied Polish a little on my own (just very basic stuff) and I think it's difficult for English-speakers because it has no basis in Latin. It's really exotic. Also, all the book-learning in the world doesn't prepare you for the sheer speed of Polish speech and the fact that people normally use slang, same as we do!! I get my boyfriend to read to me and try to follow the text as he speaks. Can't understand much but it's really sexy! I think it helps to try to learn it out of love for someone, that's a good incentive to just get on with it. Exposure to native speakers by living in Poland or taking lessons or just practising with Polish workmates - it's embarrassing at first, but all the Poles I've met have bent over backwards to help me. On bad days, you can feel a bit better by asking some Poles to say 'thirty three thousand Thursdays'. Yeah...!! It works both ways...English pronunciation has its moments, too. As for fluency, it has to be a labour of love to make it happen, I'm sure of that.