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Polish for Dummies
The ultimate quick and easy guide to learning Polish Polish can be a difficult language to master. It is pronounced phonetically and has several unique characters in its alphabet, but with Polish For Dummies in hand, you'll find yourself speaking like a local in no time. Packed with practical lessons, handy cultural facts, and essential references (including a Polish-English mini-dictionary and lists of common verbs), this guide is specially designed to get you speaking Polish with confidence. With advice on speaking Polish within the construction, teaching, and public sector industries, this book is a truly practical tool for anyone wanting to speak the language either professionally or socially. With easy-to-follow instruction and exercises that give you the language to communicate during day-to-day experiences, readers of Polish For Dummies will learn the words and verbal constructions they need to communicate with friends and colleagues at home, find directions on holiday, and more. Note - CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of the e-book file, but are available for download after purchase.
432 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2012
130 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 6, 2023
Polish for Dummies is a pretty good book as language books go. It is more travel-oriented than perhaps I would prefer, but the advice and tips for travelers about culture can be really amusing - if you read language books for entertainment as well as study, that is. The sections about grammar were maybe a little unnecessarily confusing, especially as Polish grammar can be difficult.
One thing absent that I was not keen on was that it did not get you started on creating simple sentences, which can then make you feel uncertain about speaking it. However, the conversations are very helpful and natural for practicing and studying the use of every-day words. In the back, there is a mini Polish-English dictionary as well as some interesting sections on easy everyday expressions and phrases that are very valuable.
For every word there is pronunciation for it, and seeing that Polish for Dummies was one of the few, if not the only Polish language book around with pronunciation, I heartily applaud this addition since pronunciation was a crucial addition to my progress. The CD, which came along with the book, was very, very good, and we have spent many hours listening to it, and frankly, enjoying it!
All in all, it is a decent and informative language book that's not bad to have around.
One thing absent that I was not keen on was that it did not get you started on creating simple sentences, which can then make you feel uncertain about speaking it. However, the conversations are very helpful and natural for practicing and studying the use of every-day words. In the back, there is a mini Polish-English dictionary as well as some interesting sections on easy everyday expressions and phrases that are very valuable.
For every word there is pronunciation for it, and seeing that Polish for Dummies was one of the few, if not the only Polish language book around with pronunciation, I heartily applaud this addition since pronunciation was a crucial addition to my progress. The CD, which came along with the book, was very, very good, and we have spent many hours listening to it, and frankly, enjoying it!
All in all, it is a decent and informative language book that's not bad to have around.
October 7, 2017
I was disappointed in how un-useful this book turned out to be.
I have been taking Polish lessons for several months, and I have struggled at all levels—vocabulary, conjugation, pronunciation, etc. I was hoping this book would serve as a self-study guide to augment the lessons.
There are some useful reference resources, including a limited dictionary, but the bulk of the book just consists of situational phrases to be memorized. Some are meaningful, such as asking directions or introducing yourself. Some are laughably irrelevant—it is doubtful I will ever need to say “You are being arrested for suspicion of a crime” or “I want to build a 6-meter extension on my house.”
Reading this book will certainly not have you speaking Polish in a matter of a few weeks.
I have been taking Polish lessons for several months, and I have struggled at all levels—vocabulary, conjugation, pronunciation, etc. I was hoping this book would serve as a self-study guide to augment the lessons.
There are some useful reference resources, including a limited dictionary, but the bulk of the book just consists of situational phrases to be memorized. Some are meaningful, such as asking directions or introducing yourself. Some are laughably irrelevant—it is doubtful I will ever need to say “You are being arrested for suspicion of a crime” or “I want to build a 6-meter extension on my house.”
Reading this book will certainly not have you speaking Polish in a matter of a few weeks.
December 16, 2018
Great introduction to the Polish language!!!
May 30, 2013
Really good book, really informative.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews