can't understand the difference between ź, ż and rz. also the difference between ś and sz, ć and cz, dź and dż
There are 2 different oral positions (for want of a better term):
Ż and RZ are the same - you know roughly what the sound should be. Put your tongue in about the position as for the English R sound - curled back and pointing at the roof of the mouth.
SZ is the unvoiced version of the same thing, and CZ has the same position.
- and ZI (followed by a vowel) - similar sound, but with the tongue sort of level and pointing forwards to just behind and above the front teeth.
Likewise, Ś and SI (with vowel following) is the same but unvoiced. Ć and CI (followed by a vowel) - again, same position.
And no, I find distinguishing the two different positions in speech difficult too.