History / Surveillance in Poland during communism [29]

Hello.

bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19344978

I have heard about the East German files and that were kept and the figures around the number of spies per person, but I haven't heard much about what was it was like in Poland (assuming it was similar).

Can anyone inform as to the estimated number of spies there were, what happened to the files in Poland etc. It would be also interesting to here of any anecdotes people have about such activity that went on and the people involved.

Thanks, Kieron.

sorry, should have put in history section, can it be moved please?

Language / żeby był [3]

Hello.

Can someone provide a few example sentances using the various possibilities i.e. żeby, żebym, żebys with this word and then translate into English.

Also could you explain when it's best to use it?

Dzieki! Kieron.

Travel / Wroclaw to Lwow - travel options? [4]

Hello.

Does anyone know what travel options the are to Lwow from Wroclaw and where I can find further info?

i.e. which train or bus - how long does it take (ages by the looks of it), Tour company or flight?

I see that Eurolot are starting flights, but not sure if that's just for Euro 2012. Not sure if Wroclaw's new airport will open up new flights?

How long would it take by car and is the border crossing a pain?

Thanks, Kieron.

Language / Intermediate / Advanced Learners of Polish. How do you improve your language? [14]

Hello.

How do those of you who are intermediate/advanced learners of Polish continue to improve your language? Obviously once you have got past the basic/intermediate books that are available I find there is less material to keep you interested.

Annoyingly, I am not in a position to have private lessons at the moment so how are those of you who are self studying keeping yourself going? I try to watch Polish TV/films when I can, speak with Poles who live here (England-luckily there are loads around) and read polish news websites everyday, but I cannot measure my progress as I'm not doing any course and therefore don't feel I am getting anywhere.

I just tend to end up doing vocabulary lists (but this gets boring and ineffective) and only when I'm in Polska for holiday or so do I really start learning again.

Any ideas or inspiration would be great. Thanks.

Polonia / Belarus in comparison to Polska? [5]

Anyone ever been and if so, how was it? How does it compare to Polska in terms of culture, geography etc.

I'd love to go out of curiosity, although I gather it could be a bit dodgy i.e. foreigners have to report to the local police station when visiting.

Also, did anyone see those ukrainian activists Femen who got their tits out in Minsk yesterday? I do wonder whether they are simply bulls*iting about how badly they were treated (I mean anyone can cut their own hair and chuck pain on themselves), but they did look a bit shaken.

Language / Use of swoj [23]

Hello.

I have never quite understood when to use swoj. I know it means 'one's own', but I can't see the difference between twoj so tend to use this all the time.

Could someone explain the difference and also give as many sentences as possible when swoj would be used.

Thanks, Kieron.