How to Learn the Polish Language Online

Poland has a rich cultural and historical heritage.

The Polish language is spoken by 40 million people worldwide. It is spoken primarily in Poland and is one of the official languages of the European Union, but it is also spoken in many Polish communities around the world in countries like the United States, Canada, Ireland and Brazil. Though Polish is not generally taught in schools outside Poland, you can learn the Polish language online from the comfort of your home.

Instructions

1. Learn the basics of the Polish language online. Use the BBC Languages free "A Guide to Polish" to learn the Polish alphabet and its pronunciation and common Polish words and phrases. Listen to the audio files, read the Polish texts as well as the English translations, and try to mimic the speaker's speech. You can also download the audio files as MP3s and print the Polish guide for later use.

2. Complete online Polish courses. Sign up for Livemocha and their free online Polish courses for beginners and intermediate students. Advance through the courses and learn Polish words and phrases by associating them with illustrative photographs. Then practice your pronunciation by reading texts into your computer's microphone, which will then be graded by your Livemocha peers. Next put the Polish vocabulary you have learned into practice by writing on short prompts, which will then be evaluated by peers so you can review your progress and mistakes. Complete the exercises and quizzes for extra practice and review.

3. Create and review online Polish flashcard sets. Using Livemocha's online flashcard feature, create and save some online flashcards to help you remember the words and phrases you have learned so far. Also, find and review some Polish flashcard sets used by others.

4. Make Polish friends online. Find native Polish speakers on Livemocha using the search function. Once you have searched for native Polish speakers only, the first page of many listing summary profiles will appear. You can see more profile information by clicking on a person's user name. Examine some profiles and find people you think may be interesting. Send them a message in Polish introducing yourself, and add them as a friend.

5. Improve your listening skills and reading skills. Look for online Polish newspapers like Gazeta Wyborcza and Rzeczpospolita and radio stations like Polskie Radio. Read articles and listen to radio segments. Afterwards, try to write summaries of what you heard or read -- in English or Polish -- to enhance your Polish comprehension skills.

References

• BBC Languages: Polish
• Livemocha

Resources

• Gazeta Wyborcza
• Rzeczpospolita
• Polskie Radio