My visit to Poland - Likes & Dislikes.

so who am I?
sub-basic?! Don't be ridiculous! I'm not advanced but certainly I am basic level at least!

upper intermediate in my books

Absolutely. I noticed that too, in all the countries that subtitle, the level of English is amazing. Probably the best tool to learn for the masses. Regarding the stupid comment, that was the case in the past, it'd be a difficult sell to say that people don't have access to learn it now.


You went the wrong way, your English is great.

Voiceover is because ppl are doing many things while "watching" tv... actually they do everything besides warching tv. TV is for listening!
How can you imagine me eating my schabowy when I have to stare all the time on tv to read the subtitles, huh?! ;)

In these times most ppl watch movies on their PCs and they are subbed.

TV is not for entertainment! It's a learning tool... Throw on some Alternatywy and enjoy your meal :)

We just don't care. Why should we adapt to others when we can expect others to adapt to us? :)

Tall order indeed; It’s common knowledge that’s impossible to teach basic math skills to American kids at any age let alone Spanish in H.S, with few exceptions of course.

As tourists we are all mimes at times, our body parts do the talking for us, and how many of you actually studied that? LOL Part of the experience I suppose. To expect otherwise is just foolish or a sign of one being conceited. If that was my perception of some tourist on the street, I would have probably turned into New Yorker myself and simply ignore them.


Point being she came across as a stuck up B****. There’s a lot to criticize about Poland and normally I wouldn’t have a problem with it, just like any other place on earth there are good and bad aspects. Take graffiti for instance, I find it repulsive myself but considering where she’s from it’s not like it’s a totally alien concept to her or like she never sees it on a daily basis where she’s from, talking of the pot calling the kettle black, however lack of English is not one of those things. Like they say in US; this is Poland, now speak Polish.


I did. You stereotype too much. I did travel to US and seen it for myself, mind you not just one isolated city but cost to cost.


You hit the nail on the head, that’s exactly the expectation of your average Yank.

And the neat thing is, based on current demographics, Americans will soon start asking "hablas espanol?" when going on vacation.

Way above basic. Mid-intermediate at least, probably upper.

That explains why the US is so underrepresented when they hand out Abel prizes.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_Prize#Laureates


What did I stereotype? It was an honest question and a humorous remark. So did you learn English in the countryside? Is it a problem to find teachers?

When I hear Stalone and cowboys speaking german I am delighted.

In my village not really but you have to keep in mind that half of the people living here have relatives abroad, most in US so it’s in their interest to learn English. Sooner or later they will all travel there.

My thoughts too, not only relatives living abroad, but also people working abroad. My friend lives close to Kielce, out in a little tiny village. The kids speak English and German because their parents work abroad and picked it up and passed it to their children.

nope, cant have relatives that live in the states because they are only wannabes.
apparently..

but I am glad you pointed this out, because several people think that those polish
immigrants living in the states dont have any family in poland or they are so far
gone they wave around keilbasas and say you bet your bootie Im polish.

Zeti writes better than most upper-intermediate students I have read.

There seems to be a tiredness in people here. They may be adversely affected by the weather or grossly cynical of what life can bring them. It comes primarily from older people. Battered and bruised. However, if you had communism imposed on you then you'd change your tune too. OK, many Poles can't enjoy the good life in Poland but it's positive that they can enjoy some good food&drink and also clothe themselves quite well.

yep!
her English is great...
how about me? how about me?!! how about meeee??!!


yes... i am tired and cynical...

i've never seen such brilliance.

Well, I can see that you have lived abroad for quite a while given some of your turns of phrase. You write as well as the CAE students I had, easily. I had a strong group too :)

I can't write anything without feeling I should have written 'some' or 'many'. Quite a few Poles appear to be downtrodden but I love the passion of youth. I will make an appearance in a gimnazjum class as a native speaker to answer any questions they may have. I've taught this level in different places but it will be in a different capacity this time round. Not so much their teacher but their guest.

What I'd dislike would be teaching stubborn old biddies. I say hello to them as they enter the class and it tends to be the old ones that either ignore me or turn their nose up to me, LOL. Many are nice, that's for sure. However, they just need to warm to me. The time before that is sth I dislike but turning them around becomes sth I like. We are all just people and there is no time for pretense. It just strikes me as strange why they do it, esp as I am used to people reacting very positively to me wherever I go. They soon see that I am not so culturally different and I mean culture in its broadest context/meaning.

That's the best part of Warsaw in my opinion!

Best part of Warsaw, how? You are a fan of highrise buildings and rundown tips? We must remember that Warsaw was rebuilt after the war not under the full exercise of the Polish will by any means. I'm not a fan of Warsaw but we must remember how badly it was damaged before criticising it so openly. It is as it is and it could be worse. I've heard Bratislava is fully worse.

It pains me to agree, but credit where credit's due: she's very good.


I often forget that you're actually from Poland! ;)


I bet Bratislava is like Florence or Paris compared to some of the places we've got over here!

I might have second thoughts about eating at a restaurant reviewed(positively) by you;)

or you just have a bad meal- not a big deal really;)

to a foodie like me that would be sacrilegious (read: having a chopped off foot for holy communion) ! :)

You mean England, NMP? Ruda Chebrze has to be one of the most diabolical of areas here in Upper Silesia. All Poles are in agreement on that one. Swiętochłowice too.

THANK YOU! i'm working on a verbal statement right now, in which I'll describe my gratitude for such kind words!

you mean a speech? Just watch Sarah, or Obama;)


I am a foodie too, but when I am hungry, I am hungry lol

simply put, yes... :)


O'Reilly style... ;)

yuck! lol

Of course :) I won't offend anyone by mentioning any of the places I've got in mind, in case they like where they live, even though it's a dump.

I'll mention Bradford though :D


Those familoki look like prison blocks! :0


Where is this?

This keyboard is tricky thats why some words come out wrong. they listen to music from America and are tought English in school. so I thought they would speak some.I was in Poland for six weeks.I spoke Polish as much as I know while there. And seanus some Poles are boring as hell.and teffle I agree with you in Englsih for tourism is the language and people should know it.there was good and bad there.I dont know why especially in warsaw and Mazowiekie provence they are so miserable.but like I said southern and the weastern parts are beautiful.I loved Greece it was beautiful.