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Is foreign (second) language required in Polish schools?



KennitzThreads: 8
Posts: 36
Joined: Mar 2, 08 		  Mar 4, 08, 14:29 /  #
I tried searching for this, and have read some posts on language in general, haven't quite got the answer I was searching for. I am also hoping this is the proper section, since I believe it to be Culture.

Is a secondary language REQUIRED in Polish schools or this is just a small program. I've read many posts in which people say they didn't learn much in school, but other sources. Do all pre college schools teach this? Maybe regional? I am under the impression nearly all Poles under 20 can speak English, for example.

If the above is the case (required) and from the cultural aspect, can parents prevent their children from learning a secondary language, do they do that?

I am actively learning Polish, and I wish I had learned more earlier in life.
DaveyThreads: 17
Posts: 436
Joined: Jun 29, 07 		  Mar 4, 08, 14:32 /  #
I think it's required, right now English and German are big second languages to learn in Poland. During communist times, obviously Russian.
James RevanThreads: 1
Posts: 67
Joined: Jan 24, 08 		  Mar 4, 08, 14:33 /  #
Well now in most of schools english is the second language and yes it is required. I don't know if parents can do anything about it.
KasiaGThreads: -
Posts: 52
Joined: Feb 23, 08 		Edited by: KasiaG   Mar 4, 08, 14:38 /  #
Foreign language is part of study programme in elementary schools, junior high schools and high schools.. and to the best of my knowledge, also higher education institutions. Though I also believe, how many hours of the language per semester/year - depends to a degree on the person/board managing the school and financial capacity of the school.
From what I know and if it hasn't changed, this foreign language doesn't have to be English.
And one more comment - kids start learning a foreign language nowadays with their first days at school, in first grade. But if they leave the school with any substantial knowledge depends mostly on their teachers. And I'm sorry to say, there's a lot to be changed for this learning to be successful..

Edit: as to parents, I don't believe they could do anything about it (and why would they want to??). You can negotiate it at college/university, but not earlier..
KrzysztofThreads: 2
Posts: 1,146
Joined: Jul 26, 07 		Edited by: Krzysztof   Mar 5, 08, 19:12 /  #
There has always been some kind of obbligatory foreign language in Polish schools, but before 1989 it was always Russian, starting from your 5th grade (11 years of age), in total 4 years in elementary school, if you continued your education in a "liceum" (4 years of school - starting when you were 15 y.o.) 2 languages were obbligatory (1st = Russian for advanced, the second foreign language was mostly German, sometimes English, some schools had French, even less had Italian or Spanish, I never heard of any other languages being taught at Polish schools before 1989).

Kennitz wrote:
people say they didn't learn much in school

talking generally not about Poland:
I meet/hear of people who can't do some basic (in my opinion) math, and they are even proud of it :)
Yet, they learned math in schools for many years.
Many people can't spell correctly after 12 years of learning their own native language in schools.
And I can't say the difference between a mushroom and a bird (I know the basics: shrooms ain't animals :), because I never liked biology, so I just learned as little as possible to get by.
panienkaThreads: 2
Posts: 215
Joined: Mar 4, 08 		  Mar 9, 08, 09:35 /  #
Of course second language is required at schools in Poland, even third. You have to learn it and can't say that you just don't want to do this, because it's one of the compulsory subjects at every school (or almost every). Your doctor will be able to prevent you from participating in physical education if you have got some problems with health, but who can conceive convincing reason for not learning language?:) (If i had that possibility i would be very happy person who doesn't learn physics;) ). Usually you have to learn two foreign languages at school. Many Polish students attend to private schools where they can develop these languages apart from public school.
I go to high school where i should choose several advanced lessons for me. I could choose class with three foreign languages, but i prefer learning exact science, so i have got English and German now. I don't like German, but i learn and i can't help it... :)
tornado2007Threads: 20
Posts: 3,497
Joined: Jul 11, 07 		  Mar 9, 08, 10:53 /  #
Kennitz wrote:
I don't like German, but i learn and i can't help it... :)

why don't you like it?? and if you don't why did you learn it?? lol
panienkaThreads: 2
Posts: 215
Joined: Mar 4, 08 		  Mar 9, 08, 13:02 /  #
tornado2007 wrote:
why don't you like it?? and if you don't why did you learn it?? lol

because i don't have choice... As i said i can't avoid it. If i want to pass to next class i have to learn two foreign languages.
DzhaklinThreads: 3
Posts: 190
Joined: Dec 3, 07 		  Mar 9, 08, 13:15 /  #
panienka wrote:
I could choose class with three foreign languages, but i prefer learning exact science, so i have got English and German now. I don't like German, but i learn and i can't help it... :)


Sounds like heaven to me. I love learning languages.
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