Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]

Ha ha, I don't think even Polish could beat this below beauty:

Take the incorrect sentence:
James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher

Adding commas, make this valid English.

James, while John had had "had", had had "had had"; "had had" had had a better effect on the teacher. which means "It was the case that while John used 'had,' James used 'had had.' The teacher preferred 'had had.'"

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_while_John_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_a_better_effect_on_the_teacher

Life / What can citizens do to make Poland a better place to live? [125]

One thing I really miss about England is that people actually smile. How hard would it be when you are at a checkout in a supermarket for the person to smile and say "Dzień Dobry". When I ask for something in a shop I feel like I'm imposing on the person and they want to punch me. You have a job because we are shopping there, learn to appreciate that fact!!

Some other minor things:

- I hate being refused service in a shop because I don't have the correct change. Or being snarled at because I hand the cashier a 50zl note.

- If I let you in front of me at the checkout or I hold the door open for you, just say "Dziękuję".

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]

I know a few Poles who would completely disagree with this statement. English is difficult because of the many different tenses, amongst other things. Things we take for granted. I'm sure it's exactly the same case with Polish.

At first, I was surprised how Polish people could speak so fast and get all the cases correct, but whenever I ask a Pole a question about "Why did you say that?", they don't know. It's exactly the same case with most English people, who can't answer grammar questions.

I only know one person who could speak English perfectly and he was a highly qualified English teacher.

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]

Although I think Polish is difficult, I would argue it is the "HARDEST LANGUAGE" in the world. As a native English speaker, when I started learning Polish, I discovered just how strange some of the things are in English, and I take it for granted that I just know what to say. Think of all the tenses and helper verbs :P.

I've spent far too much time studying Polish grammar, and although I understand it, I can't think fast enough when I'm speaking. I'm guessing that I need to just be happy that I can get my point across in Polish without being grammatically perfect. After all, I only want to communicate, not write a novel.

I'm fairly sure if I said "piec uszy" I would be understood, even if it is grammatically incorrect. When I need to think about grammar all the time, my speech becomes so slow and full of long pauses and "errrrrrrrrrmmm", that it isn't worth it, until I get more practice and start to get used to what sounds right. But on the plus side, things I used to have to think hard about are starting to come naturally.

Language / Polish Short Stories \\ Polish Language Exam (writing-reading-listening) [4]

Gah bloody Rapidshare is doing its best to make me pay to download. Anyone have any idea how I can actually download these files, it keeps claiming there are no slots and some other rubbish.

Language / Polish Language test using the European Language Frameworks [9]

Thanks for the links everyone.

I realised doing some of the tests that I have a long way to go :(

Language / Does anyone know where I can learn Polish for free? [35]

Get yourself a Polish partner, you can get it for free then ;-))

Language / Problems remembering Polish vocabulary [20]

I use a flashcard system:

After each lesson, I put all the new words into a lesson, and go through this. It helps you learn the words really quickly, but getting them to stick is another story.

I found simply the best way (for me!!) to make words stick is to learn it with a phrase, e.g. If you wanted to remember kupić, you would learn: Chciałbym kupić książkę. I often combine a few words in a phrase, and this greatly helps me, as I associate a word with a situation.

Life / Picking up BBC television in Poland [41]


I have a shared server with rapidswitch. It's a Linux box with root access. I've setup an SSH tunnel and it works nearly as quick as being in the UK :-)

You get 200GB of bandwidth a month for the basic price.

Life / Picking up BBC television in Poland [41]

I pay £9 a month for a server in London which I can use to get BBC iPlayer. Works a treat :-).

Work / Advice on Polish courses in Krakow [8]

I'd recommend these guys: prolog.edu.pl

I have used their course materials and they come highly recommended

Language / I need some encouragement from Polish language speakers! [30]

I started out by just reading grammar books and trying to learn lists of rules and vocabulary. I can say that I regretted it after moving to Poland because although I could read some stuff, I was completely lost when I had to speak, and understanding people speaking was only slightly better. When I tried to speak, I found myself looking up tables in my head and often getting it wrong because I felt pressured.

Now, I'm concentrating completely on speaking and listening. I have a tutor and I am working through the Hurra Po Polsku books, which still covers grammar but covers it in a context which helps you remember it. You learn phrases and situations in which specific grammar is used.

As an example, I consider the locative case the most difficult to get to grasps with, but if you learn phrases that use the locative case you start to get a feel for what should happen, and most of the time you can start forming your own sentences and just know what feels right, e.g. Once you know how a few of the words decline, you can guess how new ones will by the endings. It really does work, and you start to get used it. Also, don't be discouraged, I found that even when I make grammatical (Some serious) errors, I'm still understood and people are happy to correct me.

Language / WHY THE HELL CANT I LEARN POLISH?? [64]

I've been learning for over a year, and I move to Poland next month. I can say short sentences, but I can understand much more than I can say. I recently got a tutor who will only speak to me in Polish (Trust me this helps), she says that I've spent too much time just concentrating on grammar and not enough just speaking and listening. I've picked up lots of phrases and short sentences just listening to my girlfriend speaking to her friends.

It will happen, just lots and lots of practice and being forced to speak Polish. I know that once I've moved to Poland, I will have no choice but to speak ;-).