What's the best "Learn Polish" book?

It'd be great if it came with software or CD's.
It doesn't have to be modern, but I've tried software based programs like Rosetta Stone and honestly didn't catch on because it tells you phrases but doesn't really go in depth. I'd rather have a good old book.

I have some polish-speaking relatives so I can ask questions and I already know pronounciation because I've been hearing English and Polish around the house for all my life.

I'm not impatient and I'm quite studious, so don't base it on time restrictions, just quality.

Dziekuje. (Hope that's right).

You will find links to some Polish language learning resources here: polishforums.com/polish_language_learning_links-17_8328_0.html

The best of these is this one, a First Year University course - totally free download :) - It's actually several books, all in pdf form.

h t t p://polish.slavic.pitt.edu/

proszę bardzo - ur welcome

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

i have this book and it is also the same book and the ach ten jezyk polski book is used by the polish female that teaches us in college here in the UK :)


will have to get this one :) will check amazon - nope not on amazon :( nor available on waterstones either

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

Um, what are levels A1 and A2 respectfully?

taken from the inside cover of the cześć jak się masz? book as mentioned by Edyta that i have and is a good book and is used by the polish person that teaches us Polish at college along with another book.

A1 is basically Introduction to Polish (Breakthrough)
A2 is Waystage - whatever that means?

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

telefonitika how can i find out about Polish language courses in my area. I'v asked at adult education but nothing.

where do you live Lisa hun ?

Dorset but near the somerset and wiltshire borders

not sure down your way then hun have you got a polish shop anyways you could advertise or check with a main college or university in your area that may run a course :D

i go to an evening class at the local main college/university here in Doncaster but may advertise for additional help. At least you are around alot of polish people who are willing to assist your learning etc. the ones i knew from wincanton didnt stay in touch :( have more on myspace and through other forms of communication :)

Hello telefonitka, I'm from Doncaster too!! A strange coincidence me thinks - it's not exactly full of people wanting to learn Polish!!

How is the course at College going? Do you know if there are plans for another course in september?

I am also looking for a good Polish book - I have the 'rough guides' phrase book, and my polish friend told me it isn't very good.

I've been learning a few months now, and love it. Although it is very hard. Jezyk polski jest barzo ciezki! Sorry I don't know how to put the funny e's and a's in on this forum.

Darran

hi dazzamc

please to meet you (bardzo milo mi) course is ok though i am not good on the speaking and would love extra tution in this area to be honest mate so thinking of putting an ad in shop in town see if can get some extra help in this area.

where in donny are you? im in wheatley!
Not sure on another course in september this one started in november and numbers have dwindled down.

I have the following book: czesc Jak sie masz coursebook (you can find it on amazon mate) it is one the tutor at college has used plus a another one. I have been learning since november last year and i find it difficult as i am no longer with a polish group of people to assist learning would love to meet more like to assist. (knew loads at wincanton trax park site when i was there)

if you ever want any help or anything give us a holla as i can quite happily scan and send you the stuff i get at college if it helps.

I have the lonely planet polish phrasebook and i took it to college and every one ended up buying it and finding it useful.
I also have 301 polish verbs fully conjucted which is an added bonus (amazon).

true on not many people wanting to learn in doncaster when we have quite a large polish community esp in balby area :)

tara

keep in touch i have msn and gg and skype :D

Telefonitka,

I'm sure that there'd be someone who can teach you. I think the going rate is about £15 an hour though.

I have the advantage of having friends who are polish so I don't think he's gonna want paying. One of them was an english teacher in poland so he is bilingual. We're gonna help him brush up on his english and he's gonna teach us polish!!

I live in Balby! So I am surrounded by poles :) I hope they do another course in september. Numbers always dwindle on language courses. I'm doing BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE and it started with 20, and now it's pretty much halved.

I'll have a look for that book. Do you think it's best on market? Mine is called the ROUGH GUIDE to polish and it's not the best. My polish friend said it's not very good.

I get a LOT of stick for learning. Especially at work.

Any particular reason you started learning? I have 2 reasons : primarily because learning a foreign language is encouraged in my religion - I'm a Jehovah's Witness (don't run off, we are actually quite normal :) ) So it means I can talk to them in their native tongue, a great way of practice! Also, it means I can talk to my polish friends in their own language!!

The other great thing is that we have a group of polish JW's every saturday night in Rotherham. Which has been brilliant for me - met lots of new polish friends, and learned so much from it!! We're studying a book that explains the book of Revelation.

My msn is darranmc@hotmail, we should give each other tips :)

Bardzo milo mi. Do widzenia!

you are indeed :) some i know live there Lukasz W, Asia (Joanna) both work wincanton different shifts, others i know are more town way.


the book has exercises and tests in to help with learning so i think its a good one to begin with Dazza, the phrasebook whenever i tell people about it they go and get it from waterstones and say it is a very helpful book contains a lot of phonics in it which helps to prounce the words loads.

An area i am lacking in .. i can understand it written and reading it though loads better than i could before November last year which is a bonus plus i am working at getting polish tv channels via satellite installed here at my house :)


i wont run off i am an open minded individual (im roman catholic) Marta Renska is JW she lives in Intake did live in Bentley - maybe you know her?


i have a number of reasons really one was to be able to converse with the polish people here in doncaster and use with a working environment :D also hertiage wise which i am still researching alot into at the minute :)

plus im heading to poland for three weeks in 8 weeks time with my daughter who is 9 for a much needed break and quality time with my daughter :D

have added you to msn hun :D


indeed :)
i would like to socialise more within a polish group to assist and improve my learning :)
if you would like to ask any of your friends if they wish to assist be fabtoosh :D

speak soon
do zobaczenia papa

Tak! Znasz Marta! She goes to the polish group, and the place I'm living at the minute (I'm housesitting in intake) is just around the corner! She's a nice girl. She came round friday night actually. I will ask her about you, can I ask your name??


I am SO jealous!! I can't get onto msn on this crappy computer at my friend's house, but I do believe she has skype. No idea how to use it, though :s


Well you should come to our polish meeting then :) There are 20 + every week. Some speak english, some very little.

It's a small world after all!!

I will try and work out skype :)

mam na imie tara (my name is tara) she will i think remember me :) not sure lost contact.

im originally from intake my home terrioratory :D

skype is not too bad my id is taralady on there :)

it is a small world indeed :D

This computer won't let me sign into skype or msn or anything! It's ridiculous.

I will ask Marta about you.

Kolorowych snow (sweet dreams, marta taught me that! ha.)

Darran

lol

i know it as miłych snow (sweet dreams - my english friend Tom taught me that)

have to let me know what marta says .. :) speak to you again and its been great to meet you darran well type anyways :D

lol on pc not letting you sign into anything :D

of to unpack a few more boxes (just moved house)

do zobaczenia i dobranoc ;)

Yeah, I think marta said at one point it is better to use milych.

Will ask her and let you know :)

Darran

no worries darran
i forgot to add the czesc jak sie masz book also comes with a cd to go with some of the exercises in the book and is spoken by native polish people :D

just getting the thread back to its originally state lmao :D

If you want to buy a very good course in this country for learning Polish, then the Linguaphone Polish Language Course was very good-I even have a photocpied set of course work plus the tapes. You may be able to borrow it from a library or buy one on e-bay, though I am not sure. The Linguaphone Polish Course is not something I have seen very often and may now be out of print.

will try and look for the lingaphone one michal (free coping at college) so if i found one in a library i would copy the material for sure for reference.

I think that it is something that you are very unlikely to find in a college library. The public libraries used to stock Linguaphone courses but not any more. You maybe able to order a new one though-a computer disk I think that they are called Liguaphone 3.0 through Amazon. I have seen the Arabic one in W.H. Smiths but if a Polish one exists...who knows...

someone is selling one on ebay noticed it whilst browsing last night :)

try mingle.com I teach Polish there- just starting!

Can I recommend Colloquial Polish by my former teacher Boleslaw Mazur? I used it for my Polish degree at SSEES and have since become fluent when I lived in Poland for 4 years, taught Polish and worked as a translator, so it can't be bad!

Wandzia

I suppose you can. Isn't this one from a large range of language books? The word colloquial suggests that it should start teaching Polish from the k-word onwards.

Dec 18, 09, 21:49 - Thread attached on merging:
Internetowa księgarnia

What's the best place to look for Polish books on-line? I need a rather specific book that would deal with Leśmian's poetry.