Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]


) Yes, cramming is a Polish tradition but your opinion it doesn`t work for languages is wrong. I can show you pictures of my 4 English high school textbooks with vocabulary banks at the end of each one and words highlight by me for better memorising purpose. I had to cram them in order to be able to pass the English philology entrance exam which was extremely difficult. Later, we had practical English exams throughout the school year in which we had to explain words with their synonyms. That was a challenge. High school learning proved useless. So, I learnt vocabulary from library books - first I used to keep a few copybooks where I put the words down, later I wrote the translations in the stuff I owned.

I remember it as if it was yesterday and I apply the same methods onto my students today and see good results of it. 35% of points at each test I set comes from bare vocabulary translation. Those motivated and ambitious students DO learn it to have a higher mark. Later they remember it better and better because each chapter repeats some words over and over again.

Nobody will ever convince me it is not beneficial for students. Sorry for being so stubborn but those things are so obvious to me.:)


Sorry, let`s stick to reality, leaving daydreaming aside. :):) Currently, Polish schools can`t provide each student with individual classes. Do any schools in the world act like that with all their students?


Remember: what doesn`t kill you, strengthens you. :)

History / What do Poles owe to Germans? [451]

"" Keep to the topic of the thread please""

Yes, sir/ma`m. I am sorry, I can be so forgetful at times. :):)

Samuel Linde was of Swedish- German origin. His great contribution was the Polish language dictionary.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Linde

Samuel Linde (1771 - 8 August 1847) was a linguist, librarian, and lexicographer of the Polish language. Linde's major work was Słownik języka polskiego (Dictionary of the Polish Language), a six-volume monolingual dictionary, of lasting importance for Slavic lexicography, published in Warsaw in 1807-14. It was the first major dictionary of the Polish language.

News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [870]

What exactly? Do you know more that the PiS inquiry commission? :)

History / What do Poles owe to Germans? [451]


:) I see. Let me teach you these two sayings then:
Polish saying: Bad ballerina is disturbed by the hem on her dress.
English one: Bad workman blames his tools. :)

There are a few similar ones in Polish. Do you know other in English?:)

Keep to the topic of the thread please

History / What do Poles owe to Germans? [451]

I tried to explain it as clearly as possible. Sorry, I have been working hard all week, now it is my relaxation time, I can`t teach you more than I already did because I will go crazy. :):)

History / What do Poles owe to Germans? [451]


Thanks, There are so many interesting things to learn, I would need a second life to grasp them all. :)


I am at your service right now. What question goes like "What do Poles owe to Germans? " and implies that there IS sth which Poles owe and we are trying to figure out what it is exactly, providing well or less known historical facts.

While the if question sounds "Do Poles owe anything to Germans?" and we just reply yes or no without going into details. That`s not the case here.

History / What do Poles owe to Germans? [451]

""Poles owe Germans nothing""

Milo, you mistook the investigations. This thread is not if but what. :)

News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [870]


It seems the whole Smoleńsk business has been hushed up by PiS government. Despite foreign aid, they haven`t found any evidence for explosion on board the plane. The inquiry commission set up by PiS a few years ago is practically out of work now, although they still get high salaries.

One funny thing. PiS, when in opposition, furiously attacked the former government for their procrastination with retrieving the plane wreckage from Russian authorities. PiS promised they would deal with it successfully, After 4 years, the situation hasn`t changed. Liars, aren`t they? :)

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Partly, because it primarily involves catching up with sb. E..g, He was the most successful businessman in town but others were treading on his heels. The police are treading on robbers` heels.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]

But exams are also in other countries. E.g., British GCSE, A levels. What`s wrong with them? :):)

Of course exams don`t ensure that most students study hard for them. But at least those gifted and ambitious ones do, for various reasons - because they care about their marks/grades or care about their parents` reaction- doesn`t really matter. Whatever they learn to the exam, it is beneficial for them.

Sorry, maf, nobody will ever convince me exams are counter-productive. They aren`t and I have learnt it after 30 years of teaching in various schools. Besides, if I hadn`t been forced at my own schools or uni to study hard, I wouldn`t have been able to become a teacher.

I sometimes meet my former students and they thank me for giving them "hard time" at school.

Sayings like "I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest." do not really pertain to school and education. I would prefer to propagate this one: "What doesn`t kill you, it makes you stronger."

History / What do Poles owe to Germans? [451]


Oh, yes! I forgot about it. Or not? As far as I remember, his chronicle wasn`t too positive for the Polish state - he was a bit biased.


I prefer to be a peasant like most true Poles are than to be dumb narrow-minded Pollack like you. Stop claiming you have any connection with Polishness because you bring shame to Poland and true Poles. Tfu, Du canalia. :)

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]


Tp put a pin into sb means to say sth sarcastic or even malicious about them.

To tread on sb`s heels.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]

We say here: Life is dangerous and full of zasadzkas.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]

Guys, I find it so fascinating that we disagree at last. :) Better late than never. :)

Well, I am a great fan of testing and examining. Polish students need to feel pressed to do some schoolwork at home. If not, they will do nothing. Just like everywhere in the world, I suppose. I strongly believe relying only on school classes to teach kids sth isn`t a good idea, they still need to revise the material at home and a test or exam are a perfect opportunity. I can see it on my students - if I didn`t set a test after each chapter (10 per year on average) they would laze around throughout the whole year. It also applies to brilliant ones. What about final exams then? Besides, the imminent test has a beneficial influence on students in class. When I tell them to pay attention because they need to have exercises correctly done for good revision, they stop all pranks and get down to work.


I had to think a little to guess what you mean. :):) So unPolish, I must say. :):)


So true but remember, let`s not be discriminatory, it can also be a female. :)

Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]


Yes, so true. I am not young but fortunately, still can handle many things on my own. But I already wonder how it is going to be when I am senile.


I can`t agree more. Good things in life are hardly ever free. Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth.


Thanks, I have been doing it for 5 years now. The first years were the time of total absorption and fascination with new opportunities that the estate opened for me/us. It seems that today I got used to it a little. No, I can`t say I treat it as just another life duty which must be carried out. No. But the initial fascination has gone. That`s typical , I suppose.

History / What do Poles owe to Germans? [451]


Wasn`t it a beneficial event after all? Prussia grew stronger and stronger, eventually emerging as the most powerful German state which later accomplished the unification of all other states into one.


Yes, we talked about it a few years ago. It was around 1830s that the modern German flag came into being, right?


Isn`t it so already? :) Or, it isn`t yet, if you mean the full unification.... :):)


My last contribution was about the highest Polish medal. You think Poles needn`t feel grateful to Germans for it? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_White_Eagle_(Poland)

Then you are an ungrateful dj23hfnvcs. :):)

Life / Mishmash facts about Poland and Poles [187]

Prima Aprilis, April Fool`s Day, is approaching. Similarly to many countries, there is also a tradition in the Polish media to provide one piece of fake info for viewers/reades/listeners to guess as a sort of a contest. On the next day, journalists reveal what it was. Sometimes they make up incredible things and gullible guys fall for them.


No, simply impossible. You must have mistaken me for somebody else. :):)

History / What do Poles owe to Germans? [451]

I just recalled Poland had two German kings. One of them was Augustus the Strong, the ruler of Saxony in 18th century.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus_II_the_Strong

Unfortunately, his rule is considered negative as Poland`s position in Europe deteriorated steadily. But he contributed with sth which is still appreciated today - namely

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_White_Eagle_(Poland)

The Order of the White Eagle (Polish: Order Orła Białego) is Poland's highest order awarded to both civilians and the military for their merits. It was officially instituted on 1 November 1705 by Augustus II the Strong and bestowed on eight of his closest diplomatic and political supporters.[1] It is awarded to the most distinguished Poles and the highest-ranking representatives of foreign countries.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

To put/insert a pin into sb.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]


Oops, you are strict! :) When I discover they are trying to use smartphones to translate words, I tell them to put them away. But it happens quite seldom as I walk around the classroom all the time. :):)


A few years ago there were three of us, today 2, including one teacher from another school.


Not really. Most books are fully in English, only vocabulary banks allow Polish translations. Sometimes books have exercises with Polish instructions. Poland is a part of the global market, these books are sold everywhere, so serious publishers won`t bother with making a book exclusively in Polish.

Look at this Revision Book, one of my fav.
eshop.egis.com.pl/matura-repetytorium-p-rozszerzony-podr-niewieloletni-kod-digibook-id-1574

eshop.egis.com.pl/dane/full/e/e06139ee30dd4427823b31fbb0c6d518.jpg

Life / Mishmash facts about Poland and Poles [187]


Actually, it is wagarowicza: Truant Boy`s Day.

Life / Mishmash facts about Poland and Poles [187]

Did you know that the first day of spring is also called the Truant Day by Polish students? Some students decided to skip school today, most with parental blessing. When I was a student, we used to play truant too.

Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]

The story of purchasing the cottage (or the farm) is a bit unusual, I still can`t believe it happened that way, probably God`s finger was involved. Can you imagine that the cottage was the first ad I ran into after googling Houses for Sale/ up to 50 kilometres from the big city/Price limit... When I saw the pictures of the house, read about the location and saw the price, I knew it had to be mine. :) Cheeky me but I found the house`s exact location in Google maps and went there to have a closer look, after which I liked it even more. Do you know what convinced me? A dead bird of prey which was lying next to the fence. Wow, do they also have real birds of prey there? That was the last straw that broke doubting pawian`s mind.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]


E.g., how can they evaluate performance when oral exam is concerned? I mean foreign language one, of course. It appears for the first time during a high school final exam. What benchmark can be used for students who have never needed to speak English before because junior high school put main stress on written tasks? I sometimes deal with first year students who can`t properly introduce themselves. And I am expected to teach them fluent communication within 3 years? Good luck.

BTW, look how an oral English exam looks like. Students take it when they are 19.

First, two minute warm up conversation with banal questions like :What do you usually eat for breakfast? What is your fav TV programme? etc

Next, 3 minute dialogue about a set situation: See the photos below

E.g.,
You are talking to a Norwegian mate who is considering a trip to Poland. Refer to the following: Accommodation, Possible Dangers, Places worth seeing, The best Time for a visit

Next, 4 minute picture based task: Describe the picture and answer 3 questions: Why does the person have to stay in bed? Would you like to be a nurse or a doctor? Describe a time when you had to stay in bed because of an illness or injury.

The last task lasts 5 minutes. Choose one picture and reject the other two, providing arguments. E..g, you are looking for a summer job. Which one would you choose?

Then students are asked two questions out of four:

E.g,
What are the disadvantages of getting a summer job?
Would you prefer to find a summer job in your country or abroad?

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Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]


Yes. And from another barrel is a seperate idiom, it means: let`s start a new topic.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]

Johnny, anything is possible. Psychopaths can work everywhere, from kindergarten to universities. But judging by my school, they don`t exceed 5% of overall teachers` population. :)



Out of your two opposing views, most people who deal with the issue here would opt for Iwonka`s opinion. Bad teachers won`t leave schools because it is their last and only chance to make a living. Those talented ones will leave or simply won`t decide to become teachers.

Performance pay
Be careful what you wish for! Performance related pay has been standard in the UK since 2014, and it's not popular

It's a minefield. Especially without proper weighting for the type of school, the particular conditions of the area it's in and a few other factors.

It's nearly impossible to do properly,

Yes, performance pay, mentioned first by Ironside, is a tricky subject. I said I am ready to accept but provided it will fairly take into account all nuances and differences between schools, students, background etc. E.g., it has been proved many times that students in the urban areas are more capable than those in the countryside. If performance pay is construed to deal with such factors efficiently, then I am for.

But I doubt they will ever be able to make it so fair. That is why you are right, it is a stupid idea and I am sceptical. Let me repeat - Easier said than done.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]


Actually, this has been a rule in Poland since 1982 when Teacher`s Charter was introduced. According to it, a teacher can be dismissed only after being convicted for an intentional transgression of law.

I have always considered it a harmful regulation because it does protect lousy teachers from being fired for complete incompetence. Therefore, many people believe that teachers are a special caste that enjoys priviliges unknown to other employees.


Agreed. I am ready to take it. The problem is who and how is going to measure the quality of teaching? Students? Parents? Head teachers? Local councils? Local education boards? All of them? Easier said than done.

Currently, the promotion system for teachers is that starting from the freshman level you will need about 15 years to reach the best paid level of a certified teacher.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]


Actually, we have 2.5 big city apartments. Is it illegal? :)



Yes, but remember it is not only 18 classes per week. Teachers have to prepare and mark tests and do other paperwork like reports etc, During breaks they monitor corridors,

they also take part in conferences, go on school trips which may even last for days. In summer months they help their head teachers to prepare school for the next school year.


How many of them get such salaries? 10% or less? PiS Minister of Education also claims that an average teacher earns so much. But enraged teachers started the "show your slip to the Minister" campaign, Their earnings are much lower, in fact.

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Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]


Yes, I realise some members might have a problem. But I couldn`t make it shorter, the situation has to be explained thoroughly. Yes, let`s be honest, it was designed for people really interested in the issue.


Actually, being an old and experienced teacher of English, I don`t complain about my own earnings. I wrote about teachers in general, especially those who begin their career.


That`s interesting. Do you know many ciivilised democratic countries where such unions are prohibited ?