» » Polish: is it easy to learn?

Polish belongs to the group Slavic languages, therefore, even without knowing the language, Russian speakers, and especially Ukrainians, can intuitively understand what is being said. It is thanks to the similarity of our languages ​​that learn Polish It won’t be difficult, and besides, you can master spoken Polish in 2-3 months of intensive language study, which cannot be said, for example, about Czech or German, which require at least 6 months to learn.

To study in Polish-language programs, some universities (mostly public) require confirmation of knowledge of the Polish language at a level not lower than B2. In Poland there are 13 centers for teaching Polish language and culture for foreigners, which operate under state higher education institutions. educational institutions Poland. Certificate of completion of a preparatory course in one of these Polish language schools, is recognized in all educational institutions of the Republic of Poland.

If you are going to enroll in a private university in Poland, then almost all non-state higher educational institutions in Poland have Polish language training centers for foreigners.

Centers for preparing foreigners for admission to Polish universities, both private and state universities Poland, they offer different Polish language learning programs. The most common are an intensive course and an academic program for studying the Polish language. The duration of the intensive course is usually from 1 to 3 months. As for the academic program for studying Polish, its duration is usually 1 or 2 semesters.

The cost of teaching Polish at universities is usually lower than similar training programs in private language schools in Poland. However, Polish language schools at universities usually teach Polish to foreigners starting from level A2, so if your level of Polish is insufficient, then a way out of the situation may be to study Polish at a private language school in Poland or at home in your homeland.

Some foreigner training centers at universities offer only academic programs lasting 2 semesters for people with beginner knowledge of Polish. If you want to take an intensive course of learning Polish, then your knowledge should be at level A2-B1.

The best option learning the Polish language - there will be training at Polish home courses, in hometown, even before leaving for Poland. The Addrian company offers in Kyiv, Kharkov, Kherson and Nikolaev. Course duration is 5 months, 2 times a week for 1.5 hours. To register for the group, please contact the offices of the Adrian company.

Hi all! Welcome to my channel!

When we were planning to go to Poland, we did not specifically study Polish. At first I had a small attempt to do something, “Polish for Russians,” I think that’s what it was called. I opened it, as it should be, on the alphabet and when I saw all these letters that were strangely pronounced, which had no analogues in the Russian language, I was horrified, closed it and decided that I’d better leave it, and, having arrived in Poland, I’ll start learning Polish language.

There were a couple of attempts to listen to some Polish speech or some lessons in the Polish language, and for some reason it seemed to me that it was very similar to Ukrainian, and if we came to Poland, we would be able to speak Ukrainian without any problems. But don't be mistaken, please, because the Poles don't understand at all Ukrainian language. We also encountered such a moment, it was like this for us, maybe for someone it was different, but when we were talking with the Poles and literally made a mistake in one letter or made a slightly incorrect emphasis, they absolutely could not understand what you were talking about generally speaking.

You have already subscribed to our YouTube channel about immigration to Canada?

People of an earlier generation learned Russian in schools. This certainly helped us when we arrived, because older people could at least understand us, not talk, but understand. We were lucky that when we arrived, we met a lot of people from Ukraine and Belarus who speak Ukrainian and Russian. For the first few months, they went with us everywhere and translated everything. We are very, very grateful to them for this.

What helped me learn Polish. Of course, this is communication. We communicated with the Poles several times a week. We didn’t complete special courses, didn’t go to special schools, just lively communication with friends, listened to Polish speech, tried to repeat something. This allowed me, within three weeks, to at least understand what was being said. 70%-80% I have already begun to understand what we are talking about. For two months we listened and tried to say something. My advice to you: don’t be afraid to speak Polish! Ask your friends to correct you if you say something wrong, even if you don't know.

Although everyone has their own capabilities, it is very difficult when learning Polish to immediately start speaking correctly. Practice, practice and more practice! Two months later, we asked our friends to study Polish grammar with us. We took several lessons, but in this course we were recommended a wonderful book called “Zaczynam mówić po polsku”. This book has a wonderful overview of all the grammar. This book is only in Polish. The first two months when we arrived, Polish was already heard a little. We saw Polish signs, there was some communication in Polish in shops and with friends. I resorted to such a wonderful course as Polish in 7 lessons: http://speakasap.com/ru/polish-lesson1.html. I think it will be useful to you.

Of course, when you come to Poland and encounter the language, people, and culture here, it was much easier for me to accept this language and start studying it. I do not have the ability to study foreign languages; for me it is something very difficult. For me, mathematics, exact sciences, web design are easier, but by no means languages. This is something very difficult, very difficult for me. As far as I have read different books about learning languages, each person has his own abilities. For some it is easier to perceive by ear, for some it is easier to perceive certain images, for others it is easier to perceive associative thinking. You can read Polish books, watch films in Polish, talk, listen to some dialogues. Find a method that is more optimal and convenient for you. Another very wonderful book on Polish grammar is called “Ten ta to”. Another great course that was recently recommended to us is called “Polish in 4 weeks”. A wonderful book that can be downloaded on the Internet along with audio lessons. The book is based on dialogues on various topics. Dialogues are written that are very easy to understand. Then the grammar is written, and at the end of the word. You listen to the pronunciation, and before your eyes you have it all in written form. You can listen to dialogues on the road by repeating different words, or read on convenient devices.

There is no doubt that knowing the language of the country of residence makes the above-mentioned stay much more comfortable and opens up many opportunities for a person - be it in the labor market or in a supermarket. Poland is no exception in this case.

In public transport, ATMs and municipal bike rental terminals in large Polish cities you can find instructions and menus in Russian. But if this is quite enough for a tourist who comes for a few days, then for those who decide to connect their lives with Poland for a longer period, the best option What remains is language learning. So the question “to learn or not to learn a language” in most cases turns into a question of where to learn the language - at home or already in Poland, and where to start learning.

Where not to start

As for starting training, it’s easier to answer where you shouldn’t start. The scientific works of Baudouin de Courtenay and Sienkiewicz's trilogy in the original are best left to philology students. Learning Polish for everyday communication It's worth starting with the alphabet, listening to Polish radio and reading news sites. It's not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

According to the so-called Swadesh list, the Polish language lexically coincides with Russian and Ukrainian by at least 70%; words borrowed from other European languages ​​are also similar. Of course, in Polish there are also so-called “false friends of the translator” - words that have a completely different meaning from Russian or Ukrainian words but have a very similar sound or spelling. Perhaps the most popular example of this is the Polish word "sklep" - shop. It can also be difficult for beginners to remember that “zapomnieć” means “to forget” in Polish. But lexicon comes with experience.

Where to study: at home or in Poland

Regarding where it is better to start learning a language, at home or already in Poland - each of these approaches has its own advantages. Studying the language at home, before leaving for Poland, allows you to better prepare for meeting with new country and feel more confident in the first days and weeks of your stay there, that is, during the most difficult period. Registration of documents, search for housing, search for work, lack of friends and usual social circle - all these difficulties of life abroad are easier to endure if you speak the language. Most The best way learn Polish in Ukraine - language classes from the Polish Institute, which is official representative Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in the field of culture.

Źródło: screenshot/polinst.kiev.ua

Really high level teaching different levels difficulties, small groups (from 8 to 12 people), the ability to choose the intensity of classes (from 1 to 5 classes per week) and a relatively affordable price (about 3,000 hryvnia).

The only drawback is that classes are held only in Kyiv, so this option may not be available for residents of the rest of Ukraine. Therefore, those who are not ready to learn the language on their own, but do not have the opportunity to attend courses in Kyiv, can use the services of the online foreign language training agency “Inozemna Mova”

Źródło: screenshot/imclasses.com

The agency is accredited by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Poland for the right to conduct exams on knowledge of the Polish language with the issuance of state-issued certificates, therefore, if desired (and subject to successful passing of the exams), you can immediately receive a certificate of the appropriate level and have every right to add it to your resume. Classes are taught by teachers from Polish universities, and the price of an hour-long lesson on a B1 level conversation course is 95 hryvnia. On the one hand, it’s not that cheap, on the other hand, this price will pay off in a maximum of two hours of work in Poland, so it can be considered an investment.

Źródło: screenshot/polskijazyk.pl

As stated on the website, the platform offers free real-time learning of the Polish language from level A1 to level B1, taking into account the requirements of the Polish Language Certification Exam for Foreigners. The goal of the project is to promote the learning of the Polish language through the creation of a comprehensive and free platform for remote learning of the Polish language for young people from Belarus, Ukraine and Russia who are thinking about studying in Poland. The undoubted advantages of the platform, in addition to its free nature, include the ability to choose the language of instruction - lessons are available in both Russian and Ukrainian.

Those who don't part with a smartphone or tablet can try learning Polish with the popular Duolingo app.

Źródło: screenshot/duolingo.com

Learning a language after moving
If the situation is such that you first came to Poland and then decided to learn the language, then you have two trump cards in your hands - firstly, a real incentive to do it as quickly as possible, and secondly, being in a language environment, which is the best way to promote learning. The main thing is to try not to isolate yourself and, perhaps, among your non-Polish-speaking work colleagues. Listen, read, memorize, write down - and whenever possible try to speak Polish. And don’t forget about online lessons and apps; you can use them to learn a language anywhere. If you want to study Polish in Poland with a teacher, the situation may vary greatly depending on the region. Polish language courses for foreigners living in Poland can be paid or free. In the case of paid courses, the price will differ sharply from prices in Ukraine towards higher prices, so this option is not suitable for everyone.

For example, in Warsaw, on courses at the University of Warsaw, the price of a course for the coming fall starts from 1,716 zlotys.

A pleasant exception against this background is the Wroclaw school Polish Street, where the price of a 40-hour course is 860 zlotys.

In the case of private teachers, who are easy to find on advertisement portals, the cost of a lesson will be about 30-35 zlotys. You may be able to agree that the lesson will be taught for two or three students - this will reduce the price for each participant. It is worth keeping in mind that various humanitarian and educational organizations are organized periodically free courses Polish - as a rule, in the capitals of the voivodeships. Therefore, keep an eye out for announcements on specialized websites and on bulletin boards in local offices for foreigners and other similar institutions. Good luck in your studies and integration!

Fountains in a small green and shady quiet park in the very center of Poznan

Oh, how often you hear this question during a trial lesson! And no matter how much I try to evade the answer, this does not remove the question itself. Let's start with the fact that I am sure that it is impossible to learn a language; learning a language is a process in which there may be some (and often very clear) intermediate results, but there cannot be a final result. The more you immerse yourself in the language, the deeper you are sucked into its depths, the more clearly you understand the futility of your efforts. I am wary of maximalists who are able to say something like: “I learned English” (exactly like that with a perfect verb) with the intonation of a person who has turned the last page of a book. No, no, and no again, I cannot agree with such formulations.

There is no person more confident in the imminence of success in a foreign language than young me was after the first quarter in the fifth grade, when in a quarter we learned the basics at school (although then it seemed wow!) in English, it seemed to me that in just a little bit I would be able to conquer English, because I was probably already counting to ten and could say the sacramental I am a pupil, my school is big, and yet London is a capital of Great Britain was still ahead . :))!!!

And there is no person more clearly aware of his helplessness in front of the huge block of the Polish language than, for example, Prof. Jan Miodek is one of the most indisputable authorities in the field of the Polish language on the banks of the Vistula, and therefore the planet as a whole.

But if you don’t see the goal, it’s difficult. For me, at some stage the questions are: “What does it mean to “learn a language”? “Where are the criteria?” became quite sharp and had a practical character. At that time I made a difficult decision for myself to put aside an entire fan the most interesting languages, which I did due to youthful enthusiasm and maximalism, and achieve results in at least one. But what could such a result be? Then, passing an international exam was chosen as the outcome criterion. There are such exams in almost every European language (even in such exotic languages ​​as Luxembourgish or Catalan). After I received, and then not only, in Polish, I understand that the exam, like any assessment, is not the best criterion, but objectively speaking, there is still nothing better, and the six-step scale for assessing language skills, developed once Council of Europe (Common European Framework of Reference, CEFR) are the best landmarks that exist today. By following the link you can read the description of language skills for each level and choose the one that suits your ambitions in Polish.

Life is in full swing (at the Poznan Market)

I will try to tell you how much time it will take you to successfully master the language at one level or another. This is my subjective opinion and by no means the ultimate truth. In addition, it is clear that all people are different and approach learning Polish with different language experience and “skills”, although I do not believe that there are people who are not capable of languages, I only believe in insufficient motivation, in other words, if you cannot learning English/Polish/Portuguese doesn’t mean that your head is somehow wired wrong, it just means that you don’t really need it. If only we should have learned it! Well, not about that now. Everything you read below concerns a conventionally average person with average abilities and the amount of free time. So, how long does it take to master the Polish language at a particular level? Or how long does it take to master Polish at one level or another?

Level A – 1 month.

My thesis, for sure, may seem seditious, but for the Russian-speaking public (and especially the Ukrainian one) talking about level A1 or A2 is not serious. I believe that, contrary to CEFR recommendations, we are capable of reaching this level within a month. The similarity of our languages ​​helps us in this, with sufficiently intensive lessons in the first month we need to become familiar with the basics of Polish grammar and rebuild our hearing in order to begin to understand Polish written text or spoken language at the level required for A levels. General vocabulary related languages ​​will provide a base, and classes will provide additional vocabulary. .

Level B – 1 year.

This is a very serious level that allows you to feel completely confident in the language; for example, these are the levels that are required of foreigners for admission to Polish universities. I believe that even level B2 is an adequate goal for a year of Polish language classes (not visits or simulated classes, but classes). This task is not simple, but certainly achievable, because not one already. Today I’m even ready to say that this is possible with almost any European language - it’s just a matter of sufficient motivation and adequate effort.

Level C – 3-5 years.

So, if with levels A1, A2, B1 or B2 you can speed up and intensify the process, if “really necessary”, then level C1 and C2 are this level of language proficiency, which, in my deep conviction, requires time, time lived in the language and with tongue. The distance between B2 and C1 is significantly greater than between any other pair of levels. For level C, you need the language to get used to it and settle in your head, and you get used to it, so that you read the nth thousand pages of texts, hundreds and thousands of hours of audio or video, communicate with native speakers, etc. In my opinion, these levels require several years of language practice, and not always classes, what is more important here is practice - active or passive - it doesn’t matter, you need personal experience and a sense of language that only comes with time. Unlike levels A and B, there will be little purely technical or mechanical work here, and therefore speeding up the process is extremely difficult, even if you live in Poland.

Poznan. Market. Town Hall.

However, as for the last ambitious task with level C, I do not dare to say that this is impossible in a shorter period of time; moreover, I will tell you that I have a good friend, whom I helped as much as possible at a certain stage, and who received her level C2 (not just a certificate, but, more importantly, a level) in a much shorter time frame, but this is the case when we're talking about about language abilities and performance in language are much above average.

Knowledge of foreign languages ​​is not a luxury, but a necessity that opens almost any door for a person. Knowing a foreign language, we can get a job in a successful company, find new friends in any corner of the globe, go on vacation abroad, without worrying about how to find a common language with the natives. Today, not only English or German, but also Polish are in demand. Therefore, the most frequently asked question on the Internet today is how to learn Polish.

Ways to study

Any foreign language, including Polish, can be learned in several ways.

Sign up for courses. This is the simplest and effective way. Training takes place in groups, and you have the opportunity to communicate not only with the teacher, but also with other students. The main disadvantages of such training are that not all cities have such courses, and if they do, classes are held on a schedule that may not suit you.

Lesson with a tutor. With this kind of training, the teacher prepares all the tasks for you, he also checks the correctness of their completion and points out errors. One minus - such pleasure is not cheap.

Training via the Internet. A fairly popular method in which you can either sign up for special courses and attend webinars, or find a remote teacher. The cost is significantly lower, but again, if you have a slow Internet or pay for the traffic used, the option is not particularly attractive.

Self-study. Today there are a lot of forums and websites on the Internet dedicated to how to learn Polish at home. The main advantages of this method are low training costs and the ability to independently choose the time for classes and the training strategy. The downside is that lack of motivation and laziness can significantly interfere with learning.

Motivation

The main thing in learning a language, no matter what method of learning, is the presence of motivation. It’s not enough to say: “I want to learn Polish.” You need to find at least one reason why you need it. Otherwise, as soon as the first impulse passes and interest in the classes subsides, you will immediately give up studying and after a couple of years you will not remember even basic phrases.

The incentive may be the desire to go abroad for study or permanent residence. By the way, in this case, the Poles are quite willing to meet people who know Polish culture and traditions halfway. Even if you don’t have relatives among the Poles, you can get a Pole’s card if you know the culture and customs of the country and take an active part in activities aimed at promoting Polish culture. A Pole's card provides a lot of advantages - the possibility of obtaining a visa, the right to legal employment and training, and other little things.

Another good motive could be employment in international companies. Knowledge of not only English, but also Polish will be a huge plus in this situation.

Tourism can also be a great reason. Agree, it is much more interesting to travel around the country on your own, choosing your favorite museums and exhibitions. But not all Poles speak a foreign language and may simply not understand your question about how to get to a museum or hotel if it is asked in English.

Perhaps you are interested in learning Polish yourself in order to read interesting book, which has not been translated into Russian, or watch the series. Even such a motive can be an excellent incentive for learning.

Before you start studying, be sure to write down a goal for yourself and, as soon as your desire to study wanes, open your notebook and remember why you started it. Better yet, write your goal on whatman paper in large letters and hang it above your desk. Success guaranteed.

Well, if you really don’t know how to control your laziness, bet with one of your friends that you will learn the language in, say, 6 months. If you are a gambling person, you will probably not give up on your studies and achieve success.

Where to begin?

If you decide to engage in self-study, you must:

1. Decide how many times a week you will exercise. It is best if you sit down to read books at least three times a week.
2. Select educational literature - textbooks, dictionaries, reading materials.
3. Find additional funds training - audio, video.
4. Install language learning apps on your mobile or tablet.
5. Find native speakers on social networks.

How to choose textbooks?

In order to learn the Polish language on your own from scratch, you must first choose the right educational literature. There are many courses and textbooks on the Internet, each of which has its own pros and cons. But e-books are not what you need. If you have the means, purchase the textbook in the store, in paper version. This is a guarantee that during the lesson you will not be distracted by checking email or calling on Skype or Viber.

When choosing a textbook, pay attention to several points:

Buying a dictionary

To learn Polish on your own, you need to additionally purchase a dictionary. At least 35,000-40,000 words. For a start, this will be enough. Ideally, the dictionary should contain at least 150,000 words.

When choosing, it is also important to pay attention to the year of manufacture.

A prerequisite is that the dictionary is two-way, that is, Polish-Russian and Russian-Polish. You understand that you will need to translate not only from Polish into Russian, but also in the opposite direction.

additional literature

When talking about how to learn Polish at home, it is worth remembering that textbooks and a dictionary alone will not be enough for you. Additionally, it is advisable to purchase:

• A separate booklet with rules, tables and diagrams for the Polish language. With their help, you can quickly refresh your memory of previously learned rules and quickly learn new ones.
• Fiction. This could be one or two books of your favorite genre. It is advisable that you have not read these works before. Be sure to pay attention to whether the literature is adapted or not; in the second case, it will be much more difficult to read.

Additional learning tools

You can learn Polish on your own not only with the help of books and textbooks, but also with the help of songs and films, TV series, and games. These learning methods are not the main ones; they can be used to improve your language proficiency during your vacation.

Find songs in Polish on the Internet. You can listen to them periodically and try to translate words, individual phrases and sentences. This method is especially valuable if you commute to and from work.

Watching movies and TV series. Of course, you can watch films and TV series exclusively in the language you are learning, but it is better if they are accompanied by subtitles in Russian. This way you can learn many phrases and expressions from everyday life.

Games and applications. Those who don't know how to learn Polish while relaxing may be interested in learning through games and apps. Today, many applications have been developed for language learning using tablets and smartphones. By installing any of the ones you like on mobile device, you can spend your time usefully while playing exciting educational games.

Communication

Most people are interested in the question of how to learn spoken Polish on their own. The answer is simple - communicate as much as possible. Colloquial That's why it's colloquial, because it functions in oral speech. The best solution for self-study will be communication with native speakers - residents of Poland.

Find in social network friends with similar interests living abroad. They will not only explain to you the rules for using certain words and expressions, the specifics of syntax, but will also tell you a lot of interesting things about their country and culture.

Learning Phonetics

After all the textbooks have been purchased, you need to start studying. Those who are interested in how to learn Polish at home and where to start should remember: you always need to start with the alphabet. You must learn the alphabet - the name of each letter and the pronunciation of sounds. It is important to use special discs on which the sound of each sound is recorded. The issue of phonetics and correct placement of stress should be given Special attention. Incorrect pronunciation is one of the most serious mistakes that are difficult to correct in the future.

Vocabulary

Teachers' opinion foreign language There is often disagreement about whether grammar or vocabulary should be addressed first. Some believe that a large vocabulary more than compensates for ignorance of grammar, others - that an unfamiliar word can always be found in the dictionary, but grammar should be dealt with first.

Be that as it may, vocabulary is important, especially when learning Polish. Those who are wondering how to learn Polish at home have probably heard that some words in Polish and Russian and Ukrainian have similar sounds, but their meaning can be radically different.

To replenish your vocabulary you can:

1. Read previously acquired fiction.
2. Listen to songs and watch movies.
3. Chat with friends online.

• Read and translate news articles from various sites. By reading the media, you not only learn new words, but also remember the correct construction of phrases and sentences.
• Use a dictionary. Enough interesting way learning vocabulary - reading the dictionary and making flashcards. For example, you flip through the dictionary and find 5-10 words that are unfamiliar to you. Cut out small cards from thick paper. On one side you write a word in Polish, on the second - in Russian. Then you go through the cards, trying to translate the word on the card, and look at the translation for self-test.

By the way, this method - word - translation - is often used in mobile applications.

Grammar

The grammar of the Polish language deserves special attention. Those who want to quickly learn Polish at home should prepare themselves for the fact that they will have to pay a lot of attention to studying the case system of the language, studying the endings in words depending on tense and form.

In addition, people learning Polish quite often complain about the special logic of sentence construction and the style of the language.

When studying grammar, you will need a textbook and tables with diagrams. It is advisable to have your own notebook in which you will write down the basic rules and points.

Speaking

Those who want to know how to learn Polish from scratch at home should pay special attention to speaking. the main objective of any training - not only to be able to understand the interlocutor, but also to learn to convey your thoughts to him. When learning a foreign language, a special role is given to this very moment. Remember how in English lessons you were taught to talk about yourself, your family and hobbies, and write letters.

When learning Polish, the same approach is applied. You must learn to talk about yourself, your habits, hobbies, and be able to write letters - personal and business, perhaps a resume.

It is important to be able not only to write, but also to tell it without looking in a notebook or dictionary.

In addition to developing monologue speech, it is important to pay attention to dialogue.

To develop speaking, it is necessary to communicate with native speakers as much as possible, preferably through video calls. This way you can not only learn basic constructions, expressions, and pronunciation, but also, importantly, overcome your fear. It is the fear of saying something wrong or wrong that is the main problem when learning a language.

Listening

Another important point, which is worth paying special attention to is auditory speech perception. It's no secret that the majority language exams consist of tests aimed at checking grammar and vocabulary, writing or speaking and listening.

Songs and films and communication with friends will help you improve your perception skills.

In addition, almost every textbook that comes with a disc contains listening exercises. It is advisable to complete them, then checking the answers and analyzing the mistakes made.

Time

So, how long does it take to learn Polish? The answer to the question depends entirely on you. If you study hard and systematically, within a couple of months you will be able to understand Polish and speak a new language. Even if it’s not ideal, it’s still more than enough for a trip to the country.

If you are lazy and constantly put off studying until later, even a few years will not be enough for you to acquire at least minimal communication skills.

1. Learn the language systematically. Don't miss class unless you have a good reason. And if there is, do the exercises planned for the day as soon as you have a free minute.
2. Don't overdo your studies, don't be a fanatic. Exercising every day for five to six hours a day is a good idea, but useless. One lesson should not last more than one and a half hours.
3. On rest days, watch films and listen to music in Polish.
4. Explore the culture and traditions of Poland. This way you will be able to immerse yourself as much as possible in the language you are studying, understand the meaning of some words and idioms that are not translated literally into Russian.
5. Learn not only individual words, but also proverbs, sayings, and aphorisms. This will make your speech richer and brighter.

We hope we have given a comprehensive answer to the question of how to learn Polish from scratch. Follow our advice, study systematically, and within a few weeks you will notice that you understand individual words and phrases, and after a few months you will be able to speak Polish fluently without putting much effort into it. Good luck to you!