Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Well my feeling is still that in comparison to Scandinavians, Dutch or Germans, Poles are lousy at learning foreign languages ! Not just English.

Pollux · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 224 Location: PL

Scandinavians are some of the best at learning English. Although children start school late, they are surrounded by English all their life and, therefore, learn quickly.

Poles do well also. They learn grammar at school, but they have no chance to practice it. To compare Polish students to students worldwide, I'd say they are some of the best.

Scot, French and German are studied at schools on par with English.

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

I think Polish students do remarkably well at learning English.

Considering how different their language is from English, they dont have as easy a time as Scandinavians.

Polish is one of the hardest languages in the world for native English speakers to learn, so... doesnt this imply that English is hard to learn for Poles as well?

jestert79 · Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 44

I guess I'll add my two cents to this old thread...

I noticed in Poland that while some students were good language learners, the classes as a whole seemed resistant to TEFL methodology. With several classes I had problems with students not watching my flashcard presentations and immediately translating any new words without trying to learn them from context. With pairwork, if I ever did an activity like "Okay, ask your partner about their last holiday," I would get loud sighs and "O Jezu! O Boze!" followed by lackluster, mumbled questions and answers. Then when I met the students for individual tutorials they would all say "I want more speaking."

dynow · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 1080

jestert79,

i have a similar opinion.

most of my polish students have high expectations, will call you out on a bad job, and don't hesitate to march up to the DOS and request a new teacher. But, at the same time, those people generally don't do what is asked of them within the classroom. you tell them to do something, they wine and moan and groan. you can't get them to speak, so as a result, the instructor ends up doing more and more speaking, taking speaking time away from the students, and then they complain "we want more speaking". this makes me crazy. if you want to learn a language, if you want to learn to speak, than SPEAK.

during the last 3 months or so, i have had to experience many classes full of 20 somethings, claiming to be full of piss and vinegar and eager to learn english to propel them further up the corporate ladder, and when they get in class, they sit on their pupy and give you the silent treatment, and every question you ask them results in a roll of the eyes, a sigh, a look of "oh, how lame." yet, when they open their mouth to say something that is "oh so lame", it's in totally incorrect grammar, and after you correct them, they get frustrated.

not to mention the classes that get all bent out of shape if they have to experience some text with 3 or 4 words they aren't familiar with.

sometimes i wonder why some people even register for language classes. i still get paid, but they waste their time and money trying to guard their pride.

Tumteetum · Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 144

Prospect_Ave · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 42

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Well 40 years ago I thought I knew all the answers. Now you think you know them all !

And as for all that tax-free dough I have spent it all.

Tell me, Prospect Ave, why did a perfectly civil question bring such a bitter reply ?

Prospect_Ave · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 42

Stay open-minded. There is no need for you to get defensive but adding prejudice to the table doesn't make you look good.
Poles are excellent learners and they are good people living in a nice country. 40 years ago, and now.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Is it 'prejudice' to state that many Poles have problems in learning foreign languages ? I might add that most anglophones - on both sides of the pond - have similar problems. Does saying that mean I am prejudiced against Anglos ?