2018 : My Polish and Italian Journey

[DarrenDaka]

Hi guys , I have decided to get my Polish and Italian to a B2 level. I have had experience with both these languages and I hope to visit both Poland and Italy in the near future.

*B2 is classed as "advanced" in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and is used as the bench mark by many countries in the European Union as the fundamental level needed for university study.

The definition of B2 I will be using is as follows :

Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics,including technical discussion in his/her field of specialisation.
Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
Can produce clear , detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various opinions.

Background:

I have studied both Italian and Polish in a school setting and have a basic grasp and understanding of the languages to a GCSE level (Secondary school - Usually believed to be A2 if the higher tier exam paper was taken , which I did for both).
Both of these language I have not used for a number of years and at best I only had a rudimentary grasp and therefore I will be starting as a "false beginner".

Plan :

I will study Italian Monday to Friday and Polish Saturday and Sunday. I have chosen to study the languages in this way because my Polish is stronger than my Italian and I only have so much time to dedicate to language learning as I work full time.
I will assess my progress though the depth of my understanding and my abilities to actively use the language. I will also assess myself against the CEFR key indicators for B2 stated above.

Method:

Phase 1 (Fundamentals and Core building)- Teach yourself Polish and Italian : The idea here is to solidify the fundamentals and strengthen the areas I need to improve such as the cases in Polish. This will allow be to have a strong basis on which to build my language abilities in both Polish and Italian. Whilst doing this I will also be reading the Easy Italian Reader and completing the exercises inside. I will be using the Polish bilingual reader for my Polish work at the weekend - in essence reading a story for each lesson of teach yourself I complete.

Phase 2 (Extending and Expanding) - This phase is based on extending and expanding on the fundamentals of the languages I am studying. In this phase I will be using Italian Tutor for the vocabulary , grammar and reading elements of the learning process. This resource is all encompassing and is more in tuned with "A-level" languages at college (roughly equivalent to B1-B2). At the same time as I will be working with this resource I will also be using the Assimil course for Italian to develop and further my speaking and communication ability. In terms of Polish I will also be using Polish Tutor to develop in the same areas as with my Italian. Further to the texts described above I will be reading the concise history of both Poland and Italy to get a deeper understanding of the history of the people . I find history a very interesting subject and I feel by knowing the history of the people and the countries you can learn more about the language and how it is used / has developed.

Hopefully you will follow my journey , and come along for the ride.

Ciao for now !

[jeff_lindqvist]

Welcome to the forum!

Your strategy looks good. What's your time plan?

If you ever run out of study material, check out these topics:
Italian resources
Polish resources

[DarrenDaka]

Hi

I appreciate the posts. I certainly want to get to B2 by 2019 if not earlier .

[DarrenDaka]

Hi guys

I think the key to language learning is routine and persistence. I am finding that whilst I am working I can easily lose track and fall of the wagon , but by persevering and completing my mini goals each day I am taking one step forward towards my larger goal of attaining the B2 level.

If you guys have any pragmatic advice on building effective routines or habits I would be eternally grateful for your input into my journey. So far I can keeping up with my studies but only with active effort and not just routine alone.

Ciao for now

[DarrenDaka]

Hi guys

As per my post I am learning Polish. I have always had difficulty learning the cases despite trying many different methods and resources. I understand the "theory" of the cases including when to use them , but I am unable to actually use the cases correctly most of the time. I understand cases are difficult and I would like to know particularly how other English natives have gone about learning cases. Is there one particular strategy you use?

I have "known" Polish for many years now and I really have never got the grasp of cases. I can explain what they are and when to use them etc but actually applying them to speaking , writing etc is difficult. I know its sounds strange that I understand the cases but can't use them but just humour me on this.

I have tried everything including speaking , watching films , reading including trying every single resource available. I really want to be able to use cases properly as this is one area of my Polish I am just unable to master despite in Sir Winston Churchill's words " I keep buggering on "

Any advice , strategies or methods would be welcome.

Until next time...

[Mooby]

I think learning cases for me has become a mixture of intensive study drills and extensive exposure via reading and listening.

1. The intensive approach consciously focusses on accuracy and the anatomy of the language.
2. I use Anki to highlight exceptions, irregularities and verb governances.
3. The extensive approach provides confirmation and reinforcement of grammar, as well as strengthening intuition so that I can detect when something 'doesn't sound right'.
4. I have a number of touchstones. These are short phrases that I know by heart, which illustrate particular case endings, and to which I can refer to when I'm struggling to remember.
5. Some people, like Anthony Lauder ('Splog'), use a mnemonic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPL68rYAgTw

I still get thrown by complex sentences that use multiple cases, or where case selection is not immediately obvious. Masculine animate nouns and adjectives take a bit more getting used to. Polish numbers are still a bit of a nightmare
My main extensive activity at the moment is listening; I try to listen to an hour a day, mainly radio podcasts and youtube interviews.
My intensive activity is pretty low-resolution Duolingo drills and a bit of textbook exercises, but sooner or later I will have another crack at writing (slow and tortuous at the moment, and with no place to hide)!
Good luck.

[DarrenDaka]

Hi guys

It looks like little and often is exactly right. The key is to keep going even if you want to stop , even if it is only for a short while each day. ATM I have just finished a shift and the last thing I want to be doing is "studying" but actually I can feel myself improving in my ability as also personally my pushing myself through the psychological barriers and following the little and often mantra. I am working on my Polish for the next few days I must say some of the jigsaw pieces actually are starting to fit to form the bigger picture.

Take home message : Keep persevering even if it is only a little because a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step .

Until next time ...

[DarrenDaka]

Hi guys

I'm plodding on with my language study a little bit each day. It nice to see some progress. I'm interested in weather a foreign language can truly become second nature or is it all just an illusion and only your native language will feel comfortable. Languages are a strange phenomenon born I think out of the need to work together for survival - have become tools which can change the person themselves.

So my question is this with constant perseverance and studying little and often will I be able to feel comfortable in the languages I am studying in the same way I am in English or will I always be at a loss and never use the languages as natives do. I feel B2 is a core base level to aim for as C1/C2 personally I feel are difficult to attain and I assume without consistent exposure and incorporation into my micro and macro environments are not a plausible option.

Until Next Time ...

[DarrenDaka]

Hi guys

So far so good I am sticking to my plan of action ( quite an achievement that I haven't fallen off the wagon). I am currently just finishing chapter 10 of Teach yourself Italian and I am on Chapter 7 of teach yourself Polish. So far so good. I intend to keep going with this routine as it appears to be a routine I can stick too.

Until Next Time.....

[DarrenDaka]

Hi guys

Routine is an effective medium for learning. I think the killer of motivation is trying to do too much all at once. By doing a little bit each day and then keeping my learning fresh by changing languages at the weekend I can quench my language thirst and also progress in my language abilities something which I haven't been able to do for a very long time.

Until next time ...