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how many people really know english in Poland?



limimc   Oct 22, 06, 22:58 /  #
I am considering studying abroad at University of Wroclaw, I do not know the polish language. I would take classes mostly in english..how many people really know english in Poland?? I want to learn polish and study abroad but I am afraid I will not be able to communicate with others. I know learning the language is essential but it will also take a lot of time!..( There are no classes in Polish at my home university)I dont want to go if I'm out on a limb by myself!!
krysiaThreads: 26
Posts: 3,604
Joined: Aug 10, 06 		  Oct 23, 06, 00:53 /  #
I don't know the percentage, but people do speak English in Poland. There are always courses offered and it is taught in grade schools. I would say about 50%. The older people most likely don't know it. But English is very popular in Poland and many people want to learn it. Some are more advanced than others.
You can learn some Polish online.www.byki.com offers some free downloads. it might be a good start.
Look at plg here in this forum. He is learning Polish and always asks questions why this and why that. That's one guy who is dedicated on learning the Polish language.
MatyjaszThreads: 2
Posts: 1,786
Joined: Jul 20, 06 		  Oct 23, 06, 05:40 /  #
Polish people generally are not that fluent in English like lets say Swedes or Dutch people but you shouldn't have any problems communicating with them, as a lot of Poles know at least the basics of English.

Oh, and just like krysia said, prepare that people in their 40's and above are very likely not to speak English at all, as it started to be taught in schools after the fall of the communism.
glowaThreads: 1
Posts: 305
Joined: Apr 6, 06 		Edited by: glowa   Oct 23, 06, 05:52 /  #
You shouldn't have much od a problem in a city like Wroc³aw.

I've got a friend who did exchange in Kraków. He said it was fun. The universities provide a course that's called "Survival Polish". It's a way to quickly learn the essetnial stuff to be able to painlessly survive.

Wroc³aw is a westernised city, I think you'll be fine there.

Matyjasz's remark about people above 40 is very true. You can count on students though.
tommylouThreads: -
Posts: 3
Joined: Apr 4, 09 		  Apr 4, 09, 01:42 /  #
i would say most young people do speak some english. with older generations it depends
EurolaThreads: 6
Posts: 2,647
Joined: Dec 2, 06 		  Apr 4, 09, 06:11 /  #
glowa:
Matyjasz's remark about people above 40 is very true.

Well..they were only around 20 when Poland officially was no longer under the commie rule, why didn't they start learn then?

I would not expect anybody over 50 or 60 to know another language, but most people under the age group had a chance already. Yes, many young people are pretty good at English now, but still not enough.
KowalskiThreads: 12
Posts: 619
Joined: Sep 13, 06 		  Apr 5, 09, 16:35 /  #
English was taught in schools before 1989 but only students 15 yrs old and older - not in primary school like now. As for the age group I'd put it 50 and older had probably no schooling with english language at all.
TrevekThreads: 33
Posts: 2,155
Joined: May 21, 08 		Edited by: Trevek   Apr 5, 09, 17:27 /  #
I think most of the older generations learned Russian, German and French as foreign languages. That said, I have a number of adult students (over 40's a small percentage) for things like business and pleasure (including a group from the local law courts, interestingly enough). The rise of English speaking companies in Poland (like Phillips Electrical) has increased the need for English.

As to today's students, I think you just have to look at the number of private language schools to see that the business is booming. I have 5 groups of around 14 students at intermediate and above. There are over 20 teachers doing more just in the school where I work.

Add to that the fact that the Matura exam used to give a waiver to those kids with FCE. Now it doesn't, suggests that the Polish education authorities felt that the FCE was a threat to the Matura in some way. Now more kids opt not to do FCE but go onto Advanced instead... the level is definitely pretty good.
MrBubblesThreads: 13
Posts: 768
Joined: Nov 13, 07 		  Apr 5, 09, 17:46 /  #
Trevek:
most of the older generations learned Russian, German and French as foreign languages.

.. and a lot of them now are interested in learning English. Some HE institutions do an EU programme called the Uniwersytet Trzeciego Wieku ("the university of the third reich" or something) for pensioners and the English programmes are very popular.

Then again, if you count words like Hello and hamburger as English, I doubt there's anyone in Poland who would be an absolute beginner these days.
berni23Threads: 2
Posts: 46
Joined: Mar 26, 09 		  Apr 6, 09, 16:34 /  #
MrBubbles:
Uniwersytet Trzeciego Wieku ("the university of the third reich" or something)

Easy there, i think you are mixing something. In this context it means university of the third generation.
MrBubblesThreads: 13
Posts: 768
Joined: Nov 13, 07 		  Apr 6, 09, 16:59 /  #
berni23:
In this context it means university of the third generation.

Oh you could have a point there. I'd better stop wearing those swastikas to the lesson!
mafketisThreads: 17
Posts: 1,880
Joined: Mar 31, 08 		  Apr 6, 09, 17:41 /  #
MrBubbles:
Uniwersytet Trzeciego Wieku ("the university of the third reich" or something)

Literally, that would be "University of the Third Age".
Eliza95Threads: -
Posts: 2
Joined: Apr 12, 09 		  Apr 12, 09, 23:39 /  #
in poland at almost every school children are learning the English. all the way to the completion lceum:) you have much ³atwejszy and cooler tongue than other:) but the learning at school isn't enough to it to know entire language great
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