My connection with Poland and the Polish language is a tale of affection, a narrative I’m eager to share with you today.
Specifically, I’ll delve into my personal journey of Learning Polish, the profound impact this language has had on my life, and provide a roadmap for you to embark on your own adventure of learning this captivating language!
My initial encounter with Poland was in 2007 during a European tour with two companions. Our first stop was the enchanting city of Prague. After a five-day stay, we proceeded to Krakow, with Budapest as our subsequent destination.
Frankly, I had no preconceived notions about Poland. However, I certainly didn’t anticipate Krakow being such a stunning and vibrant city.
Regrettably, my friends and I only had time to explore the city center, followed by visits to Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Our two-day itinerary was packed. Despite the brevity of our visit, it left a lasting impression, and I knew I would return.
And return I did!
My Polish Homecoming
Four years later, in 2011, the renowned polyglot and friend Richard Simcott invited me to spend a few days with him in Poznań, a city in western Poland. I was thrilled at the prospect of joining him and spending more time in Poland. Just days prior, Richard had befriended Michał, a Polish polyglot who recognized Richard from his YouTube videos.
The three of us spent considerable time together during those few short days. We had a lot of fun, and I was delighted to have an extended stay in Poland, enjoying the company of Richard and several new Polish acquaintances.
During my time in Poznań, I gained a deeper appreciation for the language and the country. I was fascinated by observing Richard’s interactions with the Polish people he met. So much so that upon my return to Rome, learning Polish became a high priority on my language learning agenda.
Leveraging Russian to Learn Polish: A Slavic Language Strategy?
Consequently, I acquired an ASSIMIL course book—a resource I typically use to establish a firm foundation in a language, complemented by my Bidirectional Translation method. However, for this particular language endeavor, in addition to using ASSIMIL, I aimed to start speaking from the outset.
I was confident in this approach because, by the time I commenced learning Polish, I was already proficient in Russian. Did my Russian knowledge prove beneficial? The answer is nuanced.
Let me elaborate.
Familiarity with a language within a language family can significantly enhance comprehension of another language within the same family. Polish and Russian share a substantial amount of vocabulary, similar syntactic structures, and a comparable case system. In these areas, my prior Russian knowledge was invaluable.
However, it’s crucial to understand that knowing Russian does not automatically translate to fluency in Polish. Far from it!
The reality is that Russian and Polish remain distinct languages. During my first visit to Krakow in 2007, I attempted to use Russian as a substitute for Polish, particularly in brief interactions in shops. Or at least, I tried!
I vividly recall an instance when I tried to use Russian to make a purchase at a bakery near Auschwitz. The server was initially taken aback, but soon a broad smile illuminated her face when she discerned a key word from my Russian: “chleb,” or bread, which is nearly identical in Polish!
Therefore, learning one Slavic language before tackling another presents both advantages and disadvantages. In this context, strategic timing is essential: I recommend achieving a robust command of one language before leveraging that skill to learn another, otherwise, you risk linguistic confusion.
Navigating the Challenges of Polish Pronunciation
One aspect of Polish that consistently intrigued me was its pronunciation. Upon first hearing the language, it struck me as a blend of Slavic sounds interwoven with the nasal qualities of French.
As I embarked on learning Polish, my prior experience with French nasals proved advantageous, making them easier for me to master than for many others. However, my real challenge lay in the consonant sounds.
Polish is notorious for its complex consonant clusters—sequences of multiple consonants. English also has these, as in words like “split,” “street,” and “bests.”
Polish consonant clusters are even more formidable. Consider words like:
Szczęście – Happiness
Następstwo – Consequence
Bezwzględny – Ruthless
These clusters are challenging to decipher, let alone pronounce, and it took me considerable time to become comfortable with them. In fact, even now, I occasionally encounter tricky words that test my pronunciation skills.
The encouraging news is that despite the seemingly chaotic consonants, Polish pronunciation is largely phonetic. Once you grasp the Polish sound system and learn to read written Polish, spelling becomes quite straightforward.
Embracing Polish Conversation: From Skype to Television
Let’s transition to my favorite aspect of learning Polish:
Speaking it!
In 2012, I initiated Skype-based language exchanges with Joanna, a Polish woman I met through the language learning community. She assisted me with my Polish, and I reciprocated by helping her with her Spanish.
We maintained this routine weekly. It wasn’t intensive study, but I could sense my Polish gradually and steadily improving.
My subsequent breakthrough occurred in 2014. I returned to Poznań to attend a workshop organized by my Polish friend Michał when I unexpectedly received an invitation to be interviewed on a Polish TV program called “Pytanie na Śniadanie.”
It was a live broadcast, and I vividly recall feeling quite nervous. However, I managed to maintain composure, and ultimately, the experience provided a significant boost to my confidence. If I could navigate a live interview in Polish, I felt I could handle any linguistic challenge the language presented.
And I believe this is a crucial point, not just for me, but for any language learner. There are numerous instances in the language learning journey when fear might discourage us from progressing, urging us to retreat into our comfort zones. In such situations, perseverance and embracing new challenges are paramount.
You cannot become a confident Polish speaker (or speaker of any language) without extensive speaking practice, so don’t allow fear to hinder your progress.
2016 marked my next milestone in Polish speaking.
This time, I was in Warsaw, collaborating with Konrad Jerzak vel Dobosz, a renowned Polish polyglot. We were co-authoring a book titled Jak uczyć się języków (How to Learn Languages), which was published the following year.
Upon arriving in Warsaw, I was in excruciating pain—I had developed a severe toothache!
I had no choice but to find the nearest dentist.
Fortunately, the dentist effectively resolved my toothache relatively quickly. Even better, I was so impressed with the quality of treatment that I spontaneously decided this Polish dentist would become my primary dentist, despite living over a thousand kilometers away in Rome, Italy!
The most advantageous aspect of this decision was that it necessitated regular visits to Poland—if only for routine dental treatments!
Ironically, that’s precisely what has transpired!
Of course, I don’t visit Poland solely for its exceptional dentistry, but scheduling regular dental appointments there has meant I’ve had the good fortune to visit Poland twenty times in the last five years. And during this time, I’ve also explored many other regions of Poland!
Overall, Poland has become one of my most cherished places in the world. Regardless of location, weather, or season, every experience in Poland has ultimately brought a smile to my face.
And spending so much time in Poland has made me realize the profound significance of the Polish language in my life.
This is not a language I want to merely dabble in. I aspire to fully immerse myself in the Polish language and culture, to utilize it throughout my life. I want to experience all that Poland, its people, its traditions, and its essence have to offer. The way Poland and Polish people make me feel has cultivated a deep-seated, genuine, and fervent desire to explore the language, culture, and people, a desire that only intensifies with time.
And it is this ardent desire that forges a true connection with a language.
This is what fuels my perseverance when challenges arise.
This is what motivates me to keep moving forward, step by step. Even when the summit of the “Polish mountain” seems distant, shrouded in clouds on the horizon, there’s no turning back.
When you possess a compelling “why” for learning, no obstacle is insurmountable.
In Conclusion: Your Polish Language Journey Awaits
So, there you have it. My story of falling in love with Poland and the Polish language.
I sincerely hope that, in some small measure, my narrative has conveyed the beauty and enchantment of not only the Polish language but also the transformative experience of acquainting oneself with a new language and culture.
If you haven’t considered learning Polish, I wholeheartedly recommend it. If you have, I’d love to hear about your story:
What has been YOUR experience learning Polish? And if you are Polish, how do you feel about foreigners learning Polish and experiencing Polish culture?
