Erie, PA USA - Polish/English lessons

Hi,

I live in Erie, PA USA. I'm looking for a person who can teach me Polish. I have a very basic knowledge of words, sounds, and grammer.

Thanks,
Stephan

Hi Stephan,

hmm - PA is close to NY so I'd try to look for local "Polonia people" in this area. You may check http://www.polish-dictionary.com for basic words; regarding grammar -- it's too complicated ;).

hi Stephan, let's start from the basics:

"Stephan" is "Stefan" in Polish

One thing I detest (and it is obviously personal) is people changing their 1st name to suit a country.

If your name is Stephen at home, then it should be Stephen everywhere.

Well, I slightly disagree with Russ -- it's just easier to be accepted if you try to accept your current country's social norms.

I have used the Rosetta Stone program which I like very much. There is a demo at this site:
http://www2.rosettastone.com/en/individuals/languages/polish

I don't know how it differs from the ones you already have, but the speakers (native Poles) speak slowly and clearly and I actually found their voices a bit hypnotic (i.e., loved to listen to them!)

Rosetta offers only Level 1 in Polish, but it is a good start. Early lessons have pictures and words, then build up to sentences, then more complicated sentences.


also buy a Langensheidt's Polish/English dictionary and 301 Polish Verbs(Klara Janecki), and you will have some good tools to not only learn the phrases you hear, but be able to expand on them.

I am 1st generation polish and whenever I talk to my family in polish or anyone that speaks polish around me, they say my name in polish. What an obnoxious comment let ppl do whatever they want with their name.

I'm Polish and live in the US and whenever I try to speak, 90% people ask: "Oh, where are you from?" -- it's sort of annoying.. I sometimes reply " I'm from the same continent your ancestors are

Consider yourselves very lucky, I am third generation Polish/German, I didn't hear ANY Polish until I dated one!!!! So much for family heritage in th US! Keep the family history alive and speak your language! and be proud if it. Oh, BTW rosetta stone is a good product to buy but you should use various sources since you have few people to converse with. Just like English there are variations in dialect and formalites when you are speaking with certian people from different areas. First get used to hearing what the language sounds like. second, practice it out loud and get used to hearing yourself make those different sounds. Polish is difficult for a native english speaker to learn, especially without a partner. The sounds that we make in english are very different due to the tounge position in your mouth in relation to your teeth. I know it sounds wierd but it is true. Also remember, English does not translate over to polish as it would in Spanish or German. Focus on important words and learn how they convey a feeling or notion. and ALWAYS, ALWAYS be respectful; especially to the older generation. Good luck with it.

czesc mam na imie mahmou z egyptu uczesie polskiego jest to bardzo trudny ale ciekawk jezyk jezli tu ktos po angielisku i chce poagac mi na tlumaczenie prosze bardzo to jest moj email adres ang_mahmoud77@hotmail.com
z wyrazamy szacunku

Please tell me how to say "How are you?" and "I'm fine" in polish

could someone please help me out with a phonetical spelling of a couple words. They are friend (to a female) - przyjaciolka, friends - przyjaciolki

thank you

pshe-yah-CHOOW-kah
pshe-yah-CHOOW-kee

"choow" should read like CHEW with a W sound added at the end

Hi, sorry, this line of discussion died a few comments ago but I wanted to add my two pennies worth... Russ said a while back about people changing their first names, I don't think he was trying to be obnoxious... I sometimes think I'm being rude calling someone by their 'English' name, why should people change their names to suit us? I think it's more polite calling someone by their birthname... but that's just my opinion ....aaaand, on with the thread

Erie, Pa has quite a large number of people of Polish descent. I am sure if you would check with some of the catholic churches in the area they could set you up with someone. My cousin from Erie is traveling to Poland to help teach English this spring through his church.

How are you? - Jak się masz?
I'm fine - dobrze

Hi Stephen,
What kind of help do you need? I am a teacher of polish language and I live in PA, approx. one hour away from Erie.