Language / iPhone / Android - Smartphone apps for learning Polish [12]

"Byki" can be useful, depending on your level. I use a "Collins" dictionary, which I find very helpful.

sites:

ang.pl - for vocabulary. intended for Polish speakers to learn English, but works both ways.

Livemocha.com - very good! This requires flash, however, so may not work with your iPhone. (I use a Motorola Droid)

Love / Are Polish Women cold and aloof? [249]


Fascinating, and much too true to life. Thanks for the tip; I will check out the series.

thinks . o O ( perhaps it is time to rethink my strategy )

Love / Are Polish Women cold and aloof? [249]


Yes. Just once - so far! You mean it's not just me? good grief....

Love / How to Make (Polish?) Women happy? [96]


This seems to work for me. Good advice, I think.

Language / Site I've been using to learn Polish--what do you people think? [18]

I have done this, too - most recently, with Kosmofski's "Dzień po dniu, od lat" from "Tytułu BRAK." Unfortunately, I could not find the lyrics online, but a friend helped me:

Dzień po dniu od lat, oglądam TV Świat
i dzień po dniu co rok widzę jak dzień zamienia się w noc,
wśród objawionych praw, ku słońcu zwracam twarz
pośród pustych świąt widzę jak dzień zamienia się w noc

Kiedy już nie będzie nas i nie będzie zła
Czy będzie tam ktoś, kto opowie ten świat

Dzień po dniu od lat, gdzie nie wypiera tak
a ogień traci moc widzę jak dzień zamienia się w noc

... I think he did a good job with this (any typos are mine!), and I like the song for several reasons, including that fact that it moves slowly and is clear enough to hear well. It also fits the register of my voice - very low.

I was also cautioned by the same friend that listening to music has limited value for learning Polish, because the constructs are often poetic, and pronunciation may be different than usual speech. I understand this, but still find it useful.

Language / Site I've been using to learn Polish--what do you people think? [18]

Oscar E. Swan - yes, I agree. His writing is quite useful.

This is handy for working on pronunciation. It does fairly well for a computer.


Site maintenance is scheduled for today. It should be back up soon.
I met many very helpful people on LiveMocha. Some of us use Skype, and our interaction there has been very helpful to me, and to them.

Polish In A Nutshell

Freely available book in "pdf" form, the prototype for his printed book: Polish Verbs & Essentials of Grammar Oscar E. Swan.

This is an excellent reference - 138 pages full of useful information

Also, the "Michel Thomas" (sometimes "Michael Thomas") CD courses were helpful to me, and at reasonable cost from Amazon. Also in Barnes & Noble.

"Immersion" is a key concept in my learning plan. I listen to Polish radio, music, watch Polish television (dropped all my American channels for Polish-only on satellite), read newspapers and books. Try crossword and other word games - these can be very challenging!

Some claim "you've arrived" once you can say this well:

Chrząszcz
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrz%C4%85szcz

and have a look at this, too: sciaga.pl/forum/9/watek/712241/zemsta_logopedy/ - Polish tongue twisters

Language / Site I've been using to learn Polish--what do you people think? [18]

I have been studying Polish at livemocha.com for about eight months. The site and the people there have helped me a lot!

Love / How do I make a Polish girl cry? [107]


Married! (note ball-and-chain attached firmly to ankle) ;-)

USA, Canada / REFUSED A HOLIDAY VISA TO THE U.S CAUSE IM POLISH [323]

Oh, lovely - thank you for the information. If this system is "about as effective as the stub system," then I understand it is not very effective, just expensive?

USA, Canada / REFUSED A HOLIDAY VISA TO THE U.S CAUSE IM POLISH [323]


From what I have been reading - they do not keep such records for anyone who overstays their visa. There was a news article recently about trying to keep better track of who comes and goes. The claim was that over 90% of foreign nationals visiting this country are never recorded as leaving, because almost no one "turns in the stub" upon departure. I do not know what this "stub" is about, but it sounds like a simple paper trail that is not enforced.

Unless you are discovered to be an "overstay," then they have no idea if you left or not!

Personally, I hope it stays that way - or they drop the whole visa thing completely. The laws are archaic, discriminatory, and often seem quite arbitrary in their application. I hope it is easier for me to visit Poland than it is for Poles to come here. This is truly a sad state of affairs!