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How do Poles feel about foreigners learning their language?


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tampinThreads: -
Posts: 4
Joined: Jul 28, 11 ♂ 		 Jul 28, 11, 16:33    #31
I never ever had a negative experience in Poland about my , grossly lacking, knowledge of the Polish language.
On the contrary.
Lyzko  Jul 28, 11, 20:39    #32
Die Deutschen aber fand ich doch etwas spaerlich mit ihrem Lob! LOL

It seems that the Germans on the one hand were somewhat surprised if Americans in particular could speak German well. On the other hand, they would then proceed to systematically and unrelentingly correct every mistake in German the other person made, almost as though they were saying "If you really think you can speak our language, it must be perfect! Don't expect superficial praise from us." The Poles by contrast were unabashedly delighted when foreigners could speak their language, even if poorly.

Odd and rather a shame that most Germans didn't apply the same standards to speaking English-:)
Lyzko  Jul 29, 11, 14:16    #33
Obviously, we can't generalize here. All I'm sharing are some elementary observations based solely upon my experiences in both Poland as well as in Germany and Austria. I would add that many German speakers have had more years of English instruction in school on average than most Poles. Having said that, I still maintain that Poles in general show far more open gratitude at foreigners learning their language than the rank-and-file younger German speaker I've encountered meeting an American-born visitor who speaks German.

No offense meant to anyone!

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