Foreigners in Poland and what they think of us

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Oct 21, 10, 20:17 #31

sledz:

Outside of Poland is there a reason to learn Polish,,probably not??

Well here in Norway people tend to choose learning German, French and Spanish. But I learn Polish and I think this is more useful than learning the other mentioned languages. In Norway there are lot of workers coming from Poland, and some Germans as for the French and Spanish people I never meet them. I am a driver for a living and when I deliver to building sites Polish can be very useful. For me I can say that to learn Polish is a better option and more usefull than learning Spanish or French.

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Edited by: guesswho Oct 21, 10, 20:18 #32

pgtx:

out of curiosity, do you, guesswho, speak any Polish?

answer here #26 (above)

Kenneth78:

But I learn Polish and I think this is more useful than learning the other mentioned languages. In Norway there are lot of workers coming from Poland, and some Germans as for the French and Spanish people I never meet them.

In your situation it might make more sense because you're working with Poles. Other than that I don't see any reason to learn Polish unless one lives in Poland for a longer period of time.

I personally like languages and learn it whenever I can but it doesn't mean that someone who feels different is an ignorant.

A JThreads: 19 Posts: 4,639 Joined: May 21, 10 ♂	Edited by: A J Oct 21, 10, 20:45 #33
Bzibzioh: Why should we care? Because other EU countries are paying additional taxes for Poland, and there are many foreign investors who happen to make profitable deals with the Polish. I wouldn't underestimate foreign relationships. But what the average guy and girl might, or might not think of your country wouldn't be too much of a concern to me either. :)

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Oct 21, 10, 21:13 #34

A J:

there are many foreign investors who happen to make profitable deals with the Polish. I wouldn't underestimate foreign relationships.

Foreign investors would invest wherever they see potential for profit, not out of goodness of their heart so I don't see the connection.

A J:

But what the average guy and girl might, or might not think of your country wouldn't be too much of a concern to me either.

So we finally agree on something. Cool.

dtaylor5632Threads: 49 Posts: 4,459 Joined: May 2, 09 ♂	Oct 21, 10, 21:22 #35
Bzibzioh: Foreign investors would invest wherever they see potential for profit, not out of goodness of their heart so I don't see the connection. Wouldn't that be the goal of any investor? foreign or not?

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Oct 22, 10, 20:43 #36

sledz:

Outside of Poland is there a reason to learn Polish,,probably not??
In Chicago it could be helpful, not anywhere else in the US or the rest of the world for that matter. Why would anybody want to learn a language that you will never use unless you move to Poland? If I were to do that, I would be studying for months beforehand out of respect.

Are you referring to people who aren't from Poland, but are of Polish origin (like me), or people who aren't?

If it's the former, I totally disagree - there's plenty of places (in Europe, at least) where Polish is useful. I've found it an incredibly useful language, and if I had children, there is absolutely no doubt that they would be taught to speak Polish, whether my partner was Polish or not (hopefully not, lol :D ).

If, however, you meant the latter, then I totally agree - particularly if you're planning on moving there or to go on holiday there, and like to do as I do when going abroad (learn a language out of respect/curiosity, etc).

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Edited by: guesswho Oct 22, 10, 20:53 #37

NorthMancPolak:

there's plenty of places (in Europe, at least) where Polish is useful

Other then Poland? Where?
I visited most of the European countries, I haven't heard anyone speaking Polish other than in Poland.

NorthMancPolak:

and if I had children, there is absolutely no doubt that they would be taught to speak Polish

Of course, you are Polish and/or you have a Polish background but why would a foreigner do it unless he plans to live in Poland for a long period of time?

♂

Oct 22, 10, 20:55 #38

guesswho:

I visited most of the European countries, I haven't heard anyone speaking Polish other than in Poland.

Lots in Germany, heh, and the UK for that matter. It's also nice for basic communication in the Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic. In Siberia, there were a couple of Polish speakers as well. It's not the most useful language, but it doesn't hurt.

Quite a few foreigners don't bother, especially if they don't need to. I'm guilty of that to an extent.

southernThreads: 116 Posts: 10,959 Joined: May 17, 07 ♂	Oct 22, 10, 21:05 #39
And Germans when in the mood start speaking polish.

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Edited by: guesswho Oct 22, 10, 21:06 #40

convex:

Lots in Germany, heh, and the UK for that matter

We're talking about two different things. Sorry, about confusing you. I'm talking about the necessity of knowing Polish in those countries and you're talking about a possibility of coming across a Pole in one of these countries. Huge difference !
Besides, I don't know how it is in UK but in Germany, unless you really look for a Pole, you won't necessarily find him. With Turks, that's another story.

convex:

t's also nice for basic communication in the Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic. In Siberia, there were a couple of Polish speakers as well

Never been to Siberia (thank God), I associate it with Gulags and it's not a place to be ;-)

southern:

And Germans when in the mood start speaking polish.

lol

BzibziohThreads: 6 Posts: 3,657 Joined: Oct 15, 08 ♀ [Suspended]	Oct 22, 10, 21:10 #41
guesswho: I visited most of the European countries, I haven't heard anyone speaking Polish other than in Poland. Maybe because they were trying to speak to yo their local language? Poles are everywhere, even when you don't expect them to be. I've experienced couple of funny stories with that.

guesswhoThreads: 23 Posts: 3,326 Joined: Mar 17, 10 ♀	Edited by: guesswho Oct 22, 10, 21:14 #42
Bzibzioh: Maybe because they were trying to speak to yo their local language? Maybe I just didn't know if they were Poles or not, when they spoke to me, it was either English or German. No one ever offered Polish (unless in Poland of course). Bzibzioh: Poles are everywhere, even when you don't expect them to be. Agree but most of them (once live abroad) know one of the popular languages.

PennBoyThreads: 157 Posts: 3,443 Joined: Dec 7, 08 ♂	Nov 16, 10, 18:38 #43

MEMBER ♂

Edited by: Havok Nov 16, 10, 19:12 #44

Raj_ryder:

the time of the day, temperature, humidity and a smile

LMAO, are you stoned all the time over there? that's a good one.

a smile... :D

Something about Polish Hi and a smile...

When you smile in the streets people automatically assume that you're laughing at someone. It’s not nice to laugh at people, you know…. , “why and who is he laughing at? damn as$hole”

just ignore all people that you don't know and that may be looking at you for some reason. You say hi to someone you don’t know and they're going to assume that you're messing with them.

HavokThreads: 14 Posts: 1,508 Joined: Mar 12, 10 MEMBER ♂	Nov 16, 10, 19:39 #45
I like that Israeli kid. Although i didn't like his comment about sandals and socks.

PennBoyThreads: 157 Posts: 3,443 Joined: Dec 7, 08 ♂	Nov 16, 10, 19:44 #46
Havok: I like that Israeli kid. Although i didn't like his comment about sandals and socks. Yea he seamed ok, not one of them Israelis who's parents or grandparents came from Poland and have some hatred for us because of what happened to his people in our country, he actually identifies himself as Polish u hear him talk about his Polish mother.

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Nov 16, 10, 21:09 #47

I'm learning Polish i have been for three years, i cannot write Polish but I can read it a bit and my Polish is communicative and getting better. I have found that when i do speak Polish it is well received the Poles are pleased that I am trying to use their lingo, it boils down to being respectful towards the people, culture and country. (Which despite my rants I am).
Clearly I speak God's own language English and the Devil's, French and both fluently. ;)
I love languages, I wish I could speak more. Once I have reached a proficient Polish level, I would like to focus on Slovakian and Czech and eventually try Russian.
I had a teacher at school who spoke seven languages, brilliant what a mind.

malgoThreads: 1 Posts: 3 Joined: Nov 16, 10 ♀	Nov 16, 10, 22:30 #48
Hi, I`m looking for a person who wants to learn, improve her/his Polish language. I`m learning English and I have to pass my english exam and I really need help. Maybe we can help each other?:) I will be grateful for any help and conversation:)

George8600Threads: 20 Posts: 1,114 Joined: Feb 19, 09 ♂	Nov 16, 10, 22:38 #49
That guy looked more like an Arab pennboy...no offense.

jwojcieThreads: 3 Posts: 816 Joined: Jan 3, 09 ♂	Edited by: jwojcie Nov 16, 10, 23:24 #50
George8600: That guy looked more like an Arab pennboy...no offense. No wonder, both Arabs and Israelis originate from the same region more or less... : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitic

guesswhoThreads: 23 Posts: 3,326 Joined: Mar 17, 10 ♀	Nov 16, 10, 23:49 #51
Havok: Although i didn't like his comment about sandals and socks but he's right about it, we don't wear socks to sandals too. Actually, I haven't seen anyone else doing it other than in Poland.

PennBoyThreads: 157 Posts: 3,443 Joined: Dec 7, 08 ♂	Nov 17, 10, 00:14 #52
George8600: That guy looked more like an Arab pennboy...no offense. That's how real Jews look like, they're Semitic people, they are related to Arabs just different religions, get your facts straight. European Jews mixed with indigenous Europeans that's why they look more white.

George8600Threads: 20 Posts: 1,114 Joined: Feb 19, 09 ♂	Nov 17, 10, 00:22 #53
PennBoy: get your facts straight I'd like to, but not get beat up when I go to Israel.

PennBoyThreads: 157 Posts: 3,443 Joined: Dec 7, 08 ♂	Nov 17, 10, 00:26 #54
George8600: I'd like to, but not get beat up when I go to Israel. Well if they wont admit it they're simply lying to themselves.

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Nov 17, 10, 20:39 #55

When some Pole was going abroad without knowing any language and not trying to learn one I said he was stupid and that's what I think of any person in this kind of situation. However I have to admit that with English it's a little bit different-it's true that's international language and ppl take shortcut.I have to admit I also do that- I know Russian but I immediately speak English-it's just easier that way.

LenkaThreads: - Posts: 241 Joined: Nov 17, 09 ♀	Edited by: Lenka Nov 17, 10, 22:00 #56
If you're interested in more videos like that from PennBoy you can find them here: http://polandia.wp.tv/en/index.html

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