Five Commandments for Polish Language Learners

Taken from page five of the Cześć Jak się masz A1 Introduction to Polish book by Władysław Miodunka for all of us trying us best and hardest to learn this beautiful language here are some points to bear in mind -

1. Speak Polish! A successful conversation is a great satisfaction!

2. Errare humanum est! Accept yourself as imperfect; you will make mistakes.

3. Find your own style of learning a language. It will give you a chance to get to know yourself better.

4. Ask for everything you would like to say in Polish.

5. Remember: Poland in Polish is more authentic than Poland in English!

I have personally been learning since November 2006 as many of you know and i have learnt more than i did know i can at least read Polish with my ever faithful słownik at my side and i attempt to write Polish grant you grammar and tense errors. My speaking is poor but at least i attempt it!

But good luck to everyone of learning Polish :)

Thanks for that telefonitika. My Polish friend laughs at me when i make mistakes he says it's 'cute'.
i'd been trying so hard to learn this 'nazywam się' now according to my work sheet that ment 'my name is' but no he informs me with a giggle that i should be saying 'mam na imię'

Oh do wonder sometimes if i'm doing the right thing but then other times i really enjoy it.
:-)

nazywam sie is only said hunnie if you give your full name ie first and surname

if only saying your first name its mam na imie or jestem

:)

yer they didn't say that in my cousre work they said it was my name is well at least i'v learnt 2 ways now lol

you are welcome as i say i will gladly send you anything i have or i could scan it and send it all as a pdf file it would be fairly large though

all what i have learnt at college
well been given if you wish? or tell me what you have so far from your course work?

Hi telefonitka :)

You know what is the most frustrating thing about learning Polish for me? It is not being able to find a word in the dictionary. I need a big, fat dictionary that has every little word in it. It is making me crazy trying to "guess" at word stems.

Also, trying to remember the difference (in English) for words infinitive, dative, genitive, accusative (I was asleep in class that day, obviously)! (insert intense pain smiley here)

Those of you lucky enough to grow up knowing two languages....you have no idea how blessed you are! Be thankful!

I have to stop with the lesson today before my skull splits open.
:(

Oh shopgirl please, you trying to put me off. lol
I've only just started and that scared me (confused face) hint hint admin lol

I couldn't agree more!! Growing up with 2 languages is the best foundation for learning a new language; everything is easier to start with cos you've already experienced it all (even if you can't remember because you were a little child)... I'm up to my 4th language.

That's the great suggestion but how I can do it if I know nobody from Poland and I live not in Poland.

you could form a group of learners (students you study with) and get together weekly just to practise...making it an outing, like a cafe or restaurant gives everyone a social occasion as well...

Hi telefonitka

Just wondered how much private time you spend on Polish, You mentioned that you study for two hours a week.Do you work much by yourself?

I have to learn as I am moving there later this year - just worried that my poor old brain is too past it to learn?

A clue for every1:
ling.pl - online dictionary - i'm using it for english - polish translations but obviously it's working "backwards" as well. Very good, better than Collins dictionary, but unfortunatelly today it's crashed or whatever :(


telefonikitka ...just ask me if you want to know anything... you know i'm living just around the corner :)

thats right i have trouble finding words as well in dictionary :S


yeah alot of time is spent going over my coursework at home plus get given homework by the tutor each week to do for the following week .. but on average i spend a few hours each day doing the reading and written and i tend to listen to language cd's when i am laid in bed at night or listen to polish music during day to have key words stick in my mind.

practise in person i try to do with someone on the course but would love to do it more with a native polish person as its more helpful i think


i know you are hunnie and i am definitely sure i will ping you on GG quite frequently in upcoming weeks as i am off to Poland for three weeks in July/August for a holiday so will need some help :)

That's what I do for pronunciation. I print out lyrics, then match them to the singer's pronunciation. I am very grateful to Artur Rojek of Myslovitz for his excellent enunciation of syllables! :)

If you need some practice in speaking in Polish with a native Polish person maybe I would be helpful?:) Meetings via skype or MSN from time to time. Half time speaking Polish and the other half English and correcting ourselves:) Just an offer:)

i have albums by Kasia Kowalska (7 albums) and Edyta Gorniak (5 albums plus dvd) as i like their style of music anyways i also like Bajm and Anita Lipnicka also.

But it is a good way to learn though :)


:) on the offer skype my id is taralady my learning is still very basic though and i mean basic

I meant when you had time. I'm busy at the moment too:) If we both have time for that then we'll talk:)

I never make mistakes and got an A grade in G.C.S.E. and ditinction in the institute of Linguists grade 3 examination, distinction in both the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry NVQ 3 and N.V.Q. level 4 examinations in Business Polish-all with distinction. I have never had any problem with learning Polish and speak it all the time with my Polish wife at home.

then, accept yourself as perfect :)

To be honest, I always found learning the Polish language a 'sinch'.

well, you must posses exceptional abilities for it then...
have you had any background before you started learning Polish?

BTW. interesting expression. why sinch?

learn arabic its a very sweet language, actually so is urdu,, very poetic and intelligent a most of all very ecent. ukindia.co, byki.com, syrianarabic.com.. pa pa

maybe true, but WTF does it have to do with the topic?

You must have swotted hard then!


it means that basically he thinks everything comes easy to him without a problem!!

but he doesnt possess the attributes of modesty.. which means he cant be perfect

Nobody is perfect, I am certainly not perfect and nobody in Poland is and that is for sure-their manners are simply dreadful.

Funnily it's just the exact impression you give here on this form... And as for your Polish, its definitely communicative, but sounds like a robot talk, it’s very artificial. There’s one thing to learn a language on a communicative level, and another thing to be fluent in it.

Please do not talk about me anymore and you have never even met me so my Polish is not your concern.

You were dishing it out earlier. Seems you can't take your own medicine.

But you are fluent Mr M