Today you get a very special treat – a guest post by one of our favorite commenters – Barbara from Canada.
About a year ago, I decided to make a commitment to “re-learn” Polish…it was the language I had spoken at home as a child. Like many children in the neighbourhood, I also attended Polish school. Unfortunately, the fluency I had acquired as a child fell into disuse when I moved away from home.
Fast forward about 25 years. My Polish language skills had deteriorated “a little” but nothing that a quick browse through a 500-page Polish grammar book (Swan) couldn’t fix. I needed to polish (szlifować) my language skills. I certainly didn’t need to actually learn anything anew. I’m sure you can imagine the humbling blow to the ego that followed. I think all bets were off by the middle of Swan’s second lesson (lekcja).
So, I have been slogging through various grammar books ever since. Repeatedly reading over chapters and doing exercises (I admit to having the retention of a flea). Being the compulsive-obsessive person that I am, I realized that I had to broaden the scope of my efforts to include reading, writing and listening.
Since listening seemed like the least painful place to start, I phoned up our local cable provider and subscribed to TVP Polonia. I imagined myself absorbing Polish dialogues (by osmosis) in the comfort of my living room. Brilliant. When the magic moment finally came, I tuned into a weekly talk show (Śniadanie na Podwieczorek) and prepared for the transformation.
The hostess greeted the viewers warmly and then launched into something that sounded like this:
“No właśnie, … (a jumble of sounds spoken at breakneck speed)… co nie?”
Repeat.
I blinked twice, cleared my throat and glanced over at my husband, trying hard not to show my total lack of comprehension. He casually asked if I thought people were speaking a tad quickly. “A little”, I conceded. My superiority vanished like a puff of smoke.
Over the next few weeks I experimented with various programs until I struck the mother lode: polskie seriale. Hmmm, does the term daytime television help? Okay, what I really mean is “soap operas”. The shows are excellent for people learning the language because the dialogues are simple, reflect current situations and have subtitles! (napisy dialogowe). I tried to pretend that my interest was purely academic, but I soon became a fan of two long running shows: “Klan” (z napisami) and “Barwy Szczęścia“ (bez napisów). I believe Anna has a similar confession to make btw.*
The exposure to TVP has helped a lot. I can now tune into almost any program and follow what is being said. I have slowly developed an “ear” for the language – all thanks to polskie seriale.
Polecam.
*) Since Barbara has outed me here, yes, I confess that I am a huge fan of “Plebania” (and please, no laughing at me, OK?)
Comments:
Kuba:
Barb,
Looks like you found what works for you. I know most Polish programs talk at a rapid fire pace and it is difficult to keep up. I might just try the soaps in Polish.
Slogging through grammar is boring but necessary.
expateek:
Soap operas are the best places on television to add to your language skills! Whilst living in South Africa, I was working on learning Afrikaans. The serial, “7de Laan” was my favorite. And it had subtitles too, which was extra helpful.
These things should be required watching for new language learners. You’d think kiddie cartoons would be good too, but because you can’t lip-read on cartoon characters, it doesn’t work nearly as well!
basia:
wow! I have comments. How cool is that? Thanks everyone (I can say that when there are 2 comments right?). On my “blind date” with Anna, I was a little nervous about telling her about my secret obsession (seriale). Imagine my surprise when she ‘fessed up about Plebanie. 🙂
Kuba:
Nie śmiejemy na pani.
I had the same experience, Grew up with Polish only speaking parents. Grammar school taught by nuns (Polish), Church was Polish, well Latin Mass. I have a few years on you.
But I am trying to improve my grammar.
Pozdrawiam
John:
Your experiences with Polish programs is correct and they do speak fast don’t they? I can’t understand most of them because they don’t speak the words that I know, ha, ha. I will try the soap opera classes when I return to Poland.
michael:
You should watch Londyńczycy, it is a good TV series I think, you can buy the first two series on DVD.
P.S. What is the plural for DVD in Polish! 🙂
pinolona:
I also quite liked Barwy Szczęścia when I had a TV. I think in my next place I might have to add TVP Polonia…
bemused hubby:
What about that program with the snotty professor that deals with the arcane nuances of the Polish language? I think you must be ready for a phone-in to that one. I can get the web cam set up in a jiffy, Dear.
daniel:
Hi,
I live in Perth, Western Australia. My native Poland is so remote. I would love to watch any Polish serial if I knew how to find it. Can anyone send me a link or two?
I’m down with grypa(byc moze swinska) and stuck at home. Perfect time to drift into Polishness.
If I can assist anyone struggling with Polish language, be my guest, I used to be very good at it.
lala:
M jak Milosc is a great show, Ranczo is fabulous
paweł:
well… polish mainstream television isn’t certainly the place to look for anything challanging or innovative.
I hate Polish television, the is hardly ever anything interesting to watch. And it’s really hard for me to say, because I love television. Its all badly written commercial carp.
Polish Television has dumped seeking new talents and being creative.
I invested in some internet-magic, and now I can pretend to be browsing from the UK and I can indulge in 4oD from Channel 4 and BBC iPlayer:) Yum!
The only inteteresting things on tv in the last few years were the political drama series “Ekipa”, “Kasia i Tomek” – a Polish version of Québécois dramedy about a boyfriend and girlfriend, and… I think that’s it. Oh and two films produced for tv (which actually did go to cinema): “To nie tak jak myślisz” and maybe “Kochaj i tańcz” – but these not for innovation but rather for good standards as for commercial productions.
sila:
for one week already i’m having tv polonia on my pc to watch! i’m loving it! i just had to pay 6.99 for one month!
http://www.tvpolonia.com
Meg:
Hi,
go to ipla.pl this is Polish TV for free. They have new cinema movies and series. I almost stopped watching tvpolonia.
bests
M
irena:
I’m looking for a Polish prayer ( text/written version inPolish language) I grew up speaking Polish but it is now a very slang version! Still speak it with my mother. I don.tknow how to write properly in Polish. The prayer was I believe a child’s prayer that we prayed before bed time. Would like to write it in caligraphy for my mom for Christmas. Here it is written part Polish & phonetically:
Anejelje strudze muj
Zawzche pshi mje stuj
Rano Vjedzruj Vjednu Noci
Boncsh mje zwachje pzchi po moci
Pzchi serce mojego i nje
Vihozch Jego
If anyone knows it pls forward to me or post it. Thank you
Irena
Kasia:
@irena Here you go Irena:
Aniele Boży stróżu mój,
Ty zawsze przy mnie stój!
Rano, wieczór, we dnie, w nocy,
bądż mi zawsze ku pomocy!
Strzeż duszy i ciała mego
i zaprowadż mnie do żywota wiecznego.
Amen.
caly film:
i like that you brought up how the authoritarian regimes focused on suppressing the artist because those were the ones who could spread messages to the public. today we need more artists and people who present these controversial topics and allow the people to see that the government is not as clean as some people think, not so much here in california because i feel like most people here have been exposed to all sides, but in other states where people are a bit behind, they could really use some people who aren’t afraid to question and challenge the government in their art.