CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SNOW IN POLISH

EXPANDING POLISH VOCABULARY
The time has come when apart from carnival parties, keeping New Year’s resolutions (such as taking a course of Polish as a foreign language – you can find more information about the courses here), conversations about … snow begin to take place.
Frequently, during Polish lessons, the students seeing whirling, white flakes outside the window ask: How do you say it in Polish? Today we would like to present a handful of practical phrases so that you can be prepared for the winter season also in terms of language.

WHEN IT SNOWS, OR HOW TO SAY IT IN POLISH
Śnieg pada. However, the Polish language is very precise in terms of the white fluff. Pada śnieg indicates that the precipitation is neither too heavy nor too light. When the snow falling from the clouds on the ground is fine grained and there is not too much of it, we say prószy śnieg. And when the flakes become large and it starts to snow heavily, we will say that śnieg sypie.
After all those weak and heavy precipitations, we have to odśnieżyć, that is to remove the snow from steps, doormats, pavements, streets, cars, etc.
All this is fine as long as there is mróz, that is the temperature is below zero. It’s worse when it turns warmer. Next the white fluff starts melting, and odwilż comes. Then, on the streets and pavements, appears an even and smooth layer of ice. We call this phenomenon gołoledź. If you happen to go to your Polish class in such weather, make sure to check whether the pavement is posypany with sand. And when you finally reach the place safely, you will be able to boast that you know what gołoledź 
means.

                              You can find more of the Polish language trivia on our FB profile .

CHARMS OF POLISH WINTER 
Luckily, low temperature has its charms as well. After a frosty night szron appears on the windowpanes, bus stops and trees, which can be seen in the beautiful images created by nature from needle ice.
It is best, from point of view of safety, to zeskrobać szron that settled on our car’s windshield. The well prepared for this situation car drivers use a special skrobaczka. Those who don’t have them often reach for anything they happen to have at hand, e.g.: for … credit cards:)
Anther winter phenomenon is szadź, which picturesquely wraps tree branches with ice crystals. How do you tell the difference between szadź and szron? The best thing to do is to go outside on the streets and listen to the words the Polish use.

We hope that after reading this text you have enriched your winter-related vocabulary.

WHAT DOES THE POLISH GOLDEN AUTUMN HAVE TO DO WITH APPLES?

WHAT IS ‘BABIE LATO’ ACTUALLY?
The summer is gone, the hot days have passed. The time of Indian summer or babie lato and Polish golden autumn has come, but still, the sun keeps reminding us of the summer holidays. The days are still warm, the sky is blue and the foliage of the trees is slowly turning golden, red, and brown. This is also the moment when many foreigners decide to attend a course of Polish . Rested after the summer holidays, encouraged by the language progress made during the intensive summer lessons, they enroll on regular courses and over the next few months, regularly, two or three times a week, they are going to explore the secrets of the Polish language (more information on that you can find on our FB profile).

SWEET SECRET
This is also a period when the most popular Polish pie – apple pie or szarlotka - tastes perhaps the best. Why best? Because it is made with apples that are very juicy and sweet at the beginning of autumn, and therefore ideal for making a szarlotka. And you really don’t need to be a master chef to be able to make it. A good recipe will suffice. How many recipes are there? As many as there are cookery books or perhaps even more, since everybody who cooks and bakes from time to time has their own sweet secret.
The most important thing, however, is to use high quality flour, butter, eggs and only a small amount of sugar, and of course, lots and lots of apples (preferably the Polish ones). Often, at this time of year, this popular pie is made with fresh and not roasted apples. The deliciously sweet smell of apples, cut or grated, sprinkled with sugar, vanilla or cinnamon will waft across the house.

                      Nothing will give you as much energy to learn Polish as a piece of sweet szarlotka :)

POLISH RECIPE FOR HOW TO PRESERVE A PIECE OF SUMMER FOR THE WINTER
Many provident fans of szarlotka prepare the supplies of sweet, roasted apples for the wintertime, so during cold winter evenings, while doing their Polish language homework, they can nibble on their favourite pie and recall the sunny summertime for at least a moment.

Enjoy :)

POLISH ACCENT AT THE END OF THE WORLD

SCHOOLS ABROAD NAMED AFTER POLISH PEOPLE
More and more frequently we choose to spend our holiday at distant destinations. We are not only driven by the fashion for trips to exotic, isolated islands or unexplored lands, but also by the desire to get to know other cultures, languages and people. As the Polish saying goes podróże kształcą, i.e. travel broadens the mind (and you can enrol on a course of Polish during the holiday )
Distant, unknown countries may surprise us in many ways. It might turn out that while being a few thousand kilometres away we will come across some streets named after Polish people, or monuments erected to commemorate them by the inhabitans of those distant countries, or even species of animals and plants having the names of the Poles who discovered them.

POLISH BOTANIST IN THE CAUCASUS
If you go to Georgia and visit Lagodekhi National Park, right at the entrance you’ll see a plaque commemorating Ludwik Młokosiewicz. He was a Polish botanist known for exploring the fauna and flora of the Caucasus, who found himself in the region of today’s Kakheti. He was the first one to notice that many species inhabiting the area were unique, indigentous to that particular region. He spared no effort and as a result it was decided that those species would be protected and a national park was created. If you tell the museum employees that you come from Poland, they will definitely treat you with great respect and encourage you to visit the local Polish community. While there you should also try to spot the Caucasian grouse (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) and Caucasian peony (Paeonia mlokosewitschii).

In Lagodekhi National Park there is also a stone commemorating Ludwik Młokosiewicz (check out FB profile for more interesting facts about well-known Polish people)


A CHILEAN CITIZEN SPEAKING POLISH
If one day you are in the streets of a Chilean city, walking and speaking Polish, don’t be surprised when smiling Chileans approach to speak to you. Why? We owe it to Ignacy Domeyko. In almost every city you can find a street, square or school named after him. He was a Polish engineer and geologist, born in the early 19th century. Not only did he discover rich deposits of copper in Chile and teach the people of Chile how to benefit from that, but also reformed the local education system. Moreover, Domeyko started the struggle against illiteracy and thanks to him the University of Santiago became one of the leading universities in the country. Ignacy was granted Chilean citizenship for his contribution. He lived there until he died, but he never forgot his mother tongue.


HEADING FOR THE MOUNTAINS
While staying in Peru you’ll find out that a Pole, Enrest Malinowski, is one of their national heroes. He was the one who brought sailors…to work in the mountains. Sounds ridiculous? Only at first. He was an engineer who designed Ferrocarril Central del Perú (one of the Trans-Andean Railways) and oversaw the construction process. The railway linked the two parts of Peru that had been separated before. The sailors could climb ropes easily, which was an invaluable skill under the circumstances, since the tracks were put high in the mountains. Malinowski personally helped the workmen, he worked with them all the time and endured the same hardships as they did, despite the fact that he had a fancy apartment in the capital city and could have stayed there.
Thanks to him, the highest railway in the world was built (the highest bridge is as high as 80m!), and it’s used to transport goods and raw materials.

As you can see, even very far from Poland, a Pole does not necessarily need to feel like a foreigner at all:)

SUMMER POLISH COURSES – HOLIDAY ADVENTURE :)

SUMMER COURSE OF POLISH OR LYING ON THE BEACH?

Holiday time. Wherever we look, we see advertisements of travel agencies, golden sand on the seashore and exotic places, so it’s no surprise that many people are tempted to spend their holiday in those places. Foreigners are faced with a dilemma, too: sunny beach holiday or a course of Polish? If you decide to attend a summer intensive course of Polish (for more information on courses at Po Polsku check here), you definitely won’t regret it.

                            Summer Polish courses (at Po Polsku) are a real language adventure for foreigners:)

LEARN AND PRACTICE
Why is it a good idea to spend part of your holiday learning Polish in Poland?
First of all, you’re learning the language, its conjugations and declension, and at the same time you can use the learnt expressions and phrases on the spot. After a class on ordering a meal at a restaurant you can take a sit in one of the numerous restaurant or cafe gardens, in Nowy Świat in Warsaw, for instance, and test your knowledge of Polish. It’s much better than any homework, however interesting it would be :)
Secondly, the courses are usually run in the morning. After that you have time to go to a museum, cinema, concert or see the city, e.g. Warsaw, together with your teacher, classmates or on your own, as you wish.

WEEKEND TRIPS IN POLAND
Thirdly, you can spend a weekend in one of the Polish regions famous for their tourist attractions. Your teacher will definitely recommend some interesting places to you if you ask for advice. Should you want to learn more about the Baltic seaside or Warmia and Masuria, here is where you can find more information on those.
Fourthly, nowhere else will you be able to try such delicious Polish cuisine, rich in original dishes, both simple and more sophisticated ones.
Fifthly, Poland and Polish people are known for their hospitality and cordiality. You will be able to find out for yourself whether it is true, or just a nice stereotype. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.

We hope we have managed to encourage you to enrol on a summer Polish course.

MAJOR TOURISM SPOT ON THE MAP OF POLAND

COURSE OF POLISH OF A WEEKEND ESCAPE?
With days getting longer and warmer we are more and more tempted to take some rest in the bosom of nature or go away and leave the city rather than learn, although there should always be time and energy for an interesting Polish course ;-)
If you ask your Polish friends or the foreigners living in Poland where to spend the weekend of part of your holidays, Warmia i Mazury (Warmia and Masuria) will definitely be among the proposed destinations.
Many cities and regions have been trying to win the title of the Summer Capital of Poland, and this competition will probably never end. However, Warmia and Masuria has always been a major tourism spot on the map of Poland.
This region is called the Land of a Thousand Lakes and takes its name after the enormous number of lakes (it boasts over 2000 of them!), which made it a perfect place to spend free time.

POLISH TOURIST PARADISE
Water sports enthusiasts definitely won’t get bored in Warmia and Masuria. They can sail across the largest lakes, go kayaking, diving, go on a short cruise by boat or take a slow paddle boat ride.
If you like cycling, this region offers a range of routes of varying levels of difficulty, from short trips to multi-day tours across the land of Warmia and Masuria.
Those who dream of doing nothing can enjoy the beaches at the warm and clean lakes.
And if someone is craving for international sports experience, they should go to Stare Jabłonki and see the beach valeyball tournament.

                                  More pictures of Warmia and Masuria on our FB profile

WARMIA AND MASURIA’S CASTLE TRAIL
Warmia and Masuria, however, is not only all water and sports, but it’s also turbulent history expressed in its architecture.
This is where the most impressive system of medieval castles in Europe is located. Their condition varies, some of them have been restored and turned into museums or hotels, and thanks to that they have been restored to their former glory, others have fallen into ruin.
They are all worh visiting, both the castles and the ruins. You can spend the night with the ghosts that haunt them (the castle in Morąg offers such an attraction, for instance), and learn about their history. It’s a good idea to learn the history of the town nearby, which may now be tiny and unimportant, but several centuries ago it was an important political, defensive and cultural centre. The castles of Olsztyn, Frombork and Lidzbark Warmiński definitely deserve a mention. Obviously, the Malbork Castle is the most famous of them, but it is located in a completely different geographical region .
At the end of the trip you should go to one of the local restaurants and try some local specialties, among which the most popular are freshwater fish.
So, should you have no idea how to spend your next weekend, go to Warmia and Masuria, it will also be a great opportunity for you to use the expressions you’ve learned in your Polish courses.

TRAVELLING TO THE NORTH OF POLAND

WHICH REGION OF POLAND TO CHOOSE FOR A WEEKEND TRIP?
After the first majówka (we mentioned it in our post here), when it starts to get warmer and warmer and days are getting longer, staying at home for the weekend is a waste of time. Therefore, many foreigners ask their teachers in Polish classes where to go away for the weekend and what to see in Poland. Obviously, the first answer that springs to mind is „Everything!“, since Poland is a country that boasts beautiful cities,  forests, lakes, mountains and the sea...

LETS SPEAK POLISH IN TRÓJMIASTO (TRICITY)
It’s a good idea to visit Tricity in warm weather. The old city of Gdańsk is a must for every tourist, with its over a thousand years of history, which is closely connected with the fate of Poland. It is reflected in the architecture of the city. You definitely need to visit the Old Town, see St Mary’s Church (Bazylika Mariacka), Artus‘ Court, which reminds us about the wealth and might of Gdańsk. Another must-see is Żuraw (medieval port crane), and you should take a picture of the statue of Neptune. And in the summer you can do the shopping at St Dominic’s Fair (Jarmark Dominikański), sit in one of the cafe or restaurant gardens and order something to eat and drink in Polish (you can learn how to do that in the courses of Polish at Po Polsku).

WALKING AROUND GDYNIA
In Gdańsk take the SKM (Szybką Kolej Miejską, suburban train, which is the best means of transport in Tricity) and go to Gdynia. You’ll be delightd by the fountain in the very centre of the city. And after you’ve taken a photo there, definitely go to Akwarium, where you can see the inhabitants of waters from all over the world. Later, you should go for a walk along the beach and Bulwar Nadmorski (Seaside Boulevard), where you will enjoy a wonderful view of the sea and can feed the swans.

        Marina in Gdynia. If you want to get to know other beautiful places in Poland, check out our FB profile

SUNSET IN SOPOT
Finally, take the SKM again and go to Sopot to see the sunset, admire the beautiful yachts moored alonside the Sopot Marina. And those who like sea travel can take the evening cruise.
And after that you can share your impressions with your colleagues or the classmates from the course of Polish, speaking in Polish, of course.

PODOBA MI SIĘ JĘZYK POLSKI or LUBIĘ JĘZYK POLSKI?

TWO IMPORTANT POLISH VERBS

Many students find it annoying that there are two verbs in the Polish language that can be used to express one’s likes, admiration or compliments. Today we’re going to focus on LUBIĆ and PODOBAĆ SIĘ.

WHEN DO WE USE  "LUBIĆ" AND WHEN "PODOBAĆ SIĘ"?

When translated into English, they both mean LIKE. Why then do we sometimes say „Podoba mi się Polska“, and sometimes „Lubię Polskę?“. Why is it quite risky to confess that „Podoba mi się Adam“, whereas „Lubię Adama“ sounds absolutely harmless? Why is it wrong to say: „Podoba mi się pływać.“? These are the questions frequently asked in lessons of Polish.
The verb LUBIĆ is used to talk about your interests as well as your liking of someone or something. It emphasises the engagement of the speaker and a good knowledge of the subject. PODOBAĆ SIĘ we usually use to say that we like something or someone’s physical appearance, they way they look. At the same time, the person we’re talking to gets the impression that we do not know the subject or the person too well. So, we can say:

• Lubię Ryana Goslinga (he’s a brilliant actor, I love his films I watch each and every one of them)

• Podoba mi się Ryan Gosling (he’s handsome)

• Lubię Polskę (I live here, I know the customs, I have friends here; if I don’t live there, I often go  there to visit)

• Podoba mi się Polska (I know Poland as a tourist, it seems to be an interesting country, but I’m not knowledgeable about it)

Now, let’s return to the question asked at the very beginning. If you know Polish, you are able to control it, you use it and you keep discovering its various aspects, you can say: LUBIĘ JĘZYK POLSKI. However, if you don’t speak Polish yet, but you are going to sign up for a course of Polish, because you have already read about it and you know it’s an interesting language with fascinating grammar and sophisticated vocabulary as well as beautiful melody... then you can say: PODOBA MI SIĘ JĘZYK POLSKI.

DIFFICULTIES IN THE USE OF „PODOBA MI SIĘ“ AND „LUBIĘ“

Naturally, all sorts of traps and catches are an integral part of the Polish language. There are cases when these verbs are not interchangeable with each other. For instance, we never use the verb PODOBAĆ SIĘ when we’re talking about food! When talking about our food preferences we have to use the verb LUBIĆ ("Lubię pizzę, kawę, mięso"), unless we wish to comment on the way the dish looks ("Podoba mi się dekoracja na tym torcie").
Let’s not forget the grammar (another trap!). The verb  LUBIĆ is followed by either another verb (in infinitive form), or a noun (in Accusative case). The verb PODOBAĆ SIĘ can ONLY be followed by a noun (in Nominative case!). If you want to practise the conjugation of both verbs, please check out ...

                                                                  PODOBA Wam się Wrocław? LUBICIE podróżować?