How to Use the Polish Language

Closely related to Sorbian, Czech and Slovak, Polish is a western Slavonic language with about 40 million speakers in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus. Polish uses the same alphabet as English, with the addition of several accented characters to represent distinct sounds. Due to the historical influence of other European languages on Polish, speakers of English and German are likely to recognize some words. However, the vast majority of Polish vocabulary will be new to those who have not already learned another Slavic language.

Instructions

    • 1

      Complete a course in the Polish language. Use websites such as Polish Grammar and the University of Pittsburgh to master the basics of Polish pronunciation and grammar. Study the information in the lessons carefully and work through the exercises provided in detail to reinforce what you have learned.

    • 2

      Learn Polish vocabulary. The more words you know in Polish, the easier you will find it to use the language in real life situations. Set aside a certain amount of time every day to study new Polish words. Begin each session by reviewing the words you learned the day before to reinforce them in your memory.

    • 3

      Practice speaking Polish online. The Internet provides learners with many opportunities to use Polish. Websites such as Livemocha allow learners to practice their Polish online for free. Register for an account with Livemocha, selecting Polish as the language you are interested in learning. Use a microphone to record spoken assignments which can be submitted to native Polish speakers for correction. Connect with other Polish speakers via Livemocha and arrange to practice speaking Polish via Skype.

    • 4

      Meet up with Polish speakers in your area. Communicating with native speakers is one of the most rewarding ways to use Polish. Search on social networking sites such as Facebook for Polish speakers in your hometown. If your town has an immigrant Polish community, visit the community center and shops to get to know other Polish speakers and practice your language skills.

    • 5

      Watch films and television programs in Polish. This is a great way to test your understanding of spoken Polish. Look at the DVDs you already have in your collection and see whether there is an option to select Polish as the spoken language. Listen to Polish radio stations via the Internet when you are working on your computer, to expose yourself to as much Polish as possible.

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