Have you started learning Polish at a language school, but you lack more motivation to study? Do you think that books, learning vocabulary by heart, and dabbling in grammar are pointless? And learning Polish is causing you more and more problems?
You need new inspirational learning materials that are not as boring as books.
A language can be learned in different ways. Not just at school or from books. However, you need to know at least the basics of the language in order to reach other possibilities.
Where to begin?
To get a good approach to learning Polish on your own, it is a good idea to start by writing down your interests, hobbies, passions and what is important to you at the moment. It is much easier to assimilate knowledge that is interesting and valuable to you. It will be much easier to assimilate content in Polish if the subject is close to you.
That is why we encourage you to make a list of topics that are of interest to you. The topics can be related to your profession or field of study. Collect everything that is most important to you at the moment.
Explore five ways to learn Polish language through culture!
1. Watch films, series and videos on YouTube. This is a good idea to get used to the language through pronunciation and listening. Ideally, you should watch them with English subtitles. If you live in Warsaw, some cinemas have films with English subtitles. This way you will get to know the Polish dialogues and learn them more easily. Some videos on Youtube also have captions in different languages. Also the Netflix platform, which has a library of Polish films and series, will allow you to learn the language. Nowadays, we can also learn through various channels on Instagram, e.g. our school has a profile on Instagram (adres strony do profilu instagrama) where we publish various materials in Polish with captions in English.
What if this is not enough?
If you want to speak Polish like a native speaker, just learning words and phrases by heart is not enough. Of course, you need to know them, but you should also understand how and when to use them so that they sound natural to Polish speakers. That’s why it’s a good idea to listen to podcasts!
2. Listen to the Polish language a lot. Spotify allows us not only to listen to music, but also to podcasts. This is a very good way of getting to know the Polish language. Spotify has a variety of topics in Polish, so you are sure to find something of interest. Listening to ebooks and reading aloud at the same time will also help you to improve your pronunciation. However, this is an option for people who already have some knowledge and understanding of the Polish language.
3. Start by reading Polish books written in simple language. There are already a lot of bilingual books on the market on a variety of subjects, so you are sure to find something on your favourite topic. You can also read aloud. This helps you to remember words faster and improves your pronunciation. You can also keep notes with new and useful vocabulary while reading. Reading for 20 minutes at a time every day in this way will allow you to assimilate new knowledge faster. You can later discuss the books you have read with your Polish friends. In this way, you will also practise holding a conversation. The best way to break down speech and conversation barriers.
4. If you are interested in theater and art, go to the theater! You’re probably thinking, but how can I go to the theater if I don’t understand anything? Many theaters in Poland have English subtitles which are played during the play. This way, we don’t have to limit our interests only to books and films, but we can also get out of the house and watch an interesting show.
5. Music is something everyone enjoys listening to in their free time. Some people relax with music, others listen to it while working and it helps to motivate themselves. Listening to Polish music is also a great idea for learning! Start by listening to music without pictures and lyrics, then listen to it again with a music video, for example, and finally with Polish subtitles. If the lyrics are still not clear to you, you can find Polish song lyrics on the internet that are translated into English. You can also treat this as a game. For example, try listening to music without Polish lyrics and try to guess what the singer or vocalist is singing about.
As you can see, there are many ways to learn Polish through culture. Learning does not have to be boring or monotonous at all. It can be varied. However, everyone needs their own way. You can try them and see if they help you. You can also join a language course at the Polka Dot School, where you can also deepen your knowledge of politics, everyday topics and events in Poland.
Or if you are interested in learning Polish in an interesting way, we invite you to visit our Instagram.
