SIMPLE POLISH GRAMMAR. Excuse me, how do I get to KLUB DIALOGU?

‘I learned about it in the kitchen’, meaning why is it worth learning Polish?

Warsaw is a dynamic, multicultural city. Global corporations operate here, which means that both Poles and foreigners alike work in Warsaw. Very often people speak English at work because it is the official language in the office. It is interesting that in such a situation the Polish language becomes an informal language: Poles like to talk to their colleagues about private matters in Polish. This also means that the Polish language helps in integrating with other people from work who speak Polish. If you work near Rondo Daszyńskiego, you can easily reach us.

‘Excuse me, how do I get to KLUB DIALOGU?’. Learn the meaning of selected ‘motion verbs’

Żeby dojechać do Szkoły KLUB DIALOGU, proszę wsiąść do tramwaju 22 lub 24 na Rondzie Daszyńskiego, przejechać 4 przystanki, wysiąść na przystanku Dworzec Centralny, przejść przez ulicę, dojść do bramy wejściowej, wybrać kod, wejść schodami na pierwsze piętro i przejść przez próg lokalu numer 4. Dzieli nas zaledwie 15 minut!

Czasowniki ruchu w języku polskim są bardzo interesujące. O tym, w którym kierunku będziemy się poruszać, informuje prefiks (mała cząstka, która jest na początku). Najpopularniejsze czasowniki to czasowniki ruchu, na przykład: iść (pieszo/na piechotę), jechać (np. tramwajem) oraz wsiąść (do jakiegoś środka transportu).

The grammar of the Polish language is very logical, and the teachers at the KLUB DIALOGU School are great at explaining it during Polish language courses. Learning Polish is enjoyable, and using the acquired skills is very satisfying, for example when we understand what is gossiped about in work kitchens and canteens ;).
Our school’s offer can be found HERE.

Dorota Maszkiewicz3 February 2023 in Polish, Klub Dialogu, Klub Dialogu school, learn polish, motion verbs, Polish grammar, Polish language, Polish language school NEWS & SALE Leave a comment

M for Metro.

M for Metro. Works of Wojciech Fangor in Warsaw

Have you seen the M-shaped entrances to the Metro in Warsaw? Or maybe you noticed the names of the stations: Świętokrzyska, Uniwersytet or Rondo ONZ? These are things that reveal Wojciech Fangor’s character.

Wojciech Fangor

Wojciech Fangor (1922 – 2015) – a well-known Polish painter, draftsman, sculptor and poster artist. He is considered one of the last “great masters” of the 20th century. In the early 1960s, he became famous for his ‘pulsating’ painting – abstract paintings that gave the impression of movement. His painting experiments were groundbreaking not only in Poland, but likewise in art around the globe.

The works of this famous Varsovian can be found in various places in the city. Only 300 meters from KLUB DIALOGU Polish Language School there are other, often ignored by passers-by, Fangor accents that decorate our surroundings. An ordinary subway journey to a Polish language course can be a time to encounter colourful mosaics. What are we talking about here?

It’s worth looking around!

The mosaics that decorate the Warsaw Śródmieście Railway Station were entered into the national register of monuments last year. In total, there are 52 ceiling mosaics – it’s worth looking up sometimes! – as well as 27 mosaics that are in the halls and in the former waiting rooms along the side platforms. The tiles were made in the Faience Works in Włocławek, and some of the necessary dyes were even imported from Italy.

Meet Wojciech Fangor at exhibitions!

For fans of Fangor and art lovers, the Polish Language School KLUB DIALOGU has good news! Until March 2023, you can see two exhibitions celebrating the 100th anniversary of the artist’s birth: ‘Fangor. Poza Obraz‘ in Gdańsk https://www.mng.gda.pl/wystawy/fangor-poza-obraz/ and ‘Fangor. Wielowymiarowy’ at the Centre of Contemporary Art in Warsaw https://u-jazdowski.pl/program/wystawy/fangor-wielodimensional

Images courtesy of Wikimedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=fangor+metro&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image

Dorota Maszkiewicz2 January 2023 Fangor, Klub Dialogu, M2 line, Polish language, Polish language school, Warsaw EVENTS RECOMMENDED BY KLUB DIALOGU Leave a comment

POLISH CHRISTMAS AND FUN AT THE END OF THE YEAR – Do you know them all?

From reverie to celebration. Have you already experienced Polish holidays and parties celebrated in November and December?

November is behind us, which is considered by many Poles to be the bluest month. While it begins with reflection and memories (Day of the Dead), it ends mysteriously, magically, and joyfully.

‘Andrzejki’ – Polish fun for unmarried women

Andrzejki is a very popular holiday among Poles. In the past, on the night of November 29-30, on the eve of Saint Andrew the Apostle, unmarried girls did fortune-telling in the hope of finding or winning their beloved man. Today, anyone can do fortune-telling, and thanks to good fun, the tradition remains very much alive. Fortune telling can be made from cast wax into a bowl through a keyhole, shoes, cards, or everyday objects placed in a row.

The KLUB DIALOGU Polish School for Foreigners hosted a fantastic St. Andrew’s Day event for our students. The teachers in the role of fairies were just as great as during Polish language lessons. And some of the predictions came true 100%.

‘Barbórka’ – Polish feast of miners and steelworkers

Another important day in the Polish calendar is December 4. It is the day of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners. Barbórka is the feast of Saint Barbara, very grandly celebrated primarily in Silesia, where the largest number of mines are located.

Do you know the animated Polish fairy tale for children ‘Bolek and Lolek among the miners’? It’s a cult fairy tale, so it’s worth watching, although it doesn’t use Polish. We can deduce from it how important mining was to the Polish economy in the 1950s – 1980s, and the term “black gold” for coal remains to this day.

Motorsports enthusiasts probably know the ‘Barbórka Rally’, which ends the rally season. This year, the rally will be held for the 60th time! The schedule of the Warsaw races can be found HERE.

‘Mikołajki’ – this Polish holiday is awaited by both the young and old

Throughout the year, both the young and old wait for the arrival of Santa Claus during Christmas. In Poland, we have great news for all impatient people! On December 6th, we celebrate ‘mikołajki’! The custom itself has been known on Polish lands for a long time, and until the 19th century, December 6 was even a day off from work. Now, ‘mikołajki’ is most often celebrated in schools for children, community centres, but also in the KLUB DIALOGU Polish School for Foreigners. We give each other small gifts. This is great Polish fun, bringing a lot of joy.

New Year’s Eve (‘Sylwester’) is the inevitable end of the year

The year ends with ‘sylwester’! The last night of December took its name from the name day of New Year’s Eve and the liturgical memory of Pope Sylwester I. On this holiday in Poland, we want to close the calendar year without disputes and debts. How else can we bring happiness to the coming year? One way is not cleaning on December 31st. The reason is very simple – by sweeping dust, we can also sweep happiness! Air bubbles in a glass of champagne can also have a symbolic meaning – large, irregular, and chaotic ones mean many changes, small bubbles mean balance in personal life and good health. Certainly, each bubble is a representation of success in learning Polish 😊!

Language trivia – check if you know

Did you know that the names of Polish games, customs, and rituals are written with a small letter: andrzejki, mikołajki, sylwester (even if they come from the name – Andrzej, Mikołaj or Sylwester). Barbórka is a Polish holiday, which is why we write it with a capital letter.

Dorota Maszkiewicz30 November 2022 Barbórka, fun, holidays, Klub Dialogu, mikołajki, New Year's Eve, Poland, Poles, polish for foreigners, Polish games, Polish holidays, Polish language, Polish language school, St. Andrew's Day what's going on, WHAT'S GOING ON Leave a comment

EVENTS FROM 2022. Report from KLUB DIALOGU and the world

Sad events in the world took over the beginning of 2022. KLUB DIALOGU report

The year 2022 was full of many events that, from a global point of view, have had tragic consequences. Of course, we are talking about Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine and the cruel war being waged against the country’s civilians. We also remember the huge wave of refugees on the border, terrorised by the Belarusian authorities and treated in no less cruel way by the Polish authorities. Read the KLUB DIALOGU report and learn more.

Action taken by KLUB DIALOGU School

The KLUB DIALOGU school categorically opposes all these tragic events, not only in word but also in deed. When the first protests began under the slogan: ‘Stop torture at the border!’ – we couldn’t miss it. Walking through the streets of Warsaw, we wanted to express that we show solidarity with people who are hurt, whose chance for a normal life is taken away just because they were born in a country affected by war or a humanitarian crisis.

The war in Ukraine mobilised us to: initiate the collection of things and money for its inhabitants, organise free Polish language courses, participate in humanitarian convoys, take home refugees, and many, many other activities. See our blog post.

Obrazek posiada pusty atrybut alt; plik o nazwie Uchodzcy-3-2-1024x1024.jpg

KLUB DIALOGU manifesto

KLUB DIALOGU’s manifesto is simple and unambiguous. We, as employees of the KLUB DIALOGU Polish School for Foreigners, which is not only an educational institution, but also a meeting place for people from different continents and cultures, cannot accept a situation where the law and international conventions are broken.

We would also like to thank OUR STUDENTS who supported and continue to support our initiatives – it is thanks to you that we can learn tolerance and openness. Thank you for your lessons for us and for being you!

We are constantly working for you and organising new Polish language courses

Despite these sad events, the KLUB DIALOGU Polish Language School for Foreigners was constantly working, organising Polish courses at all levels from A0 (for beginners) to B2 (advanced). During the year, classes were held on a regular basis (mainly in the evenings, 2-3 times a week).

The summer holiday period (June, July, August) turned this structure upside down as usual 😊. Intensive courses prevailed (3 hours a day, every day), and students could additionally learn Polish, have fun, and chat during unique integration events. This year we invited our students to: KLUB DIALOGU’s birthday party, a trip to the Zoo in Łódź, bowling, silent disco dances and salsa, and canoeing on the Wkra River. See the summer holiday movie.

Polish as a foreign language exam at B1 level

In 2022, we managed to conduct 4 exams for the State Certificate in Polish as a Foreign Language at B1 level. 190 people took part in four examination sessions appointed by the State Commission (in February, March, June, and November), and 179 passed the test and received the Certificate. Congratulations!

You too can take the exam and get the Certificate. Check the dates of the B1 exams in 2023 and the courses preparing for this exam. terminy egzaminów na B1 w 2023 roku oraz kursy przygotowujące do tego egzaminu. Check out.

The presentation of Polish films during Film Evenings has become a tradition

Throughout the year, we invited the school to Film Evenings, during which Polish films with English subtitles were presented. It is a great opportunity to learn about the culture and lifestyle of Poles, as well as to understand their mentality.

And as of December, we have the pleasure of inviting everyone to see Polish films at the Wisła Cinema. PFFF: ‘Polish Films For Foreigners’ is a series of Polish films prepared in cooperation with the Wisła Cinema, Polonicum, and the School of Polish Language for Foreigners KLUB DIALOGU.

Thank you for being with us!

– Polish? We make it possible –

Dorota Maszkiewicz28 November 2022 2022 at Klub Dialogu, b1 exam, film evenings, invasion of Ukraine, Klub Dialogu, Klub Dialogu manifesto, Klub Dialogu school, Polish courses, Polish films, Polish language, Polish language courses, Polish language exam, Polish language for foreigners, Polish language school, refugees, war in Ukraine NEWS & SALE Leave a comment

MARCH OF SOLIDARITY WITH REFUGEES

We could not miss the Sunday (17.10) march – protest: Stop torture at the border! A march of solidarity with refugees, which started at 2pm from the Charles de Gaulle roundabout, commonly known as the palm tree roundabout. It isn’t a coincidence that this was the place chosen by the organisers of the march. This exotic tree standing on the ‘Royal Route’ (Trakt Królewski) came about in December 2002 as an artistic project by Joanna Rajkowska, who wanted to commemorate the Jewish population, once inhabiting much of Warsaw, and from whom the name of Aleje Jerozolimskie Street (Jerusalem Avenues) was derived. The palm was also, according to the artist, a symbol of openness towards others.

We, employees of KLUB DIALOGU, which is not only an educational institution, the Polish language school for foreigners, but also a place for meetings, conversations, and exchange of experiences between people from different continents and cultures, cannot accept violations of the law and international conventions and situations where medical aid for refugees is refused, risking their health and even death.

Walking along the streets of Warsaw (ROUTE: Rondo de Gaulle’a, Plac Trzech Krzyży, Sejm, Plac Konstytucji, Metro Centrum), in a walk lasting over two hours, we wanted to show that we are in solidarity with the fate of people suffering at the borders and we believe that you should always protest when someone is hurt, or deprived of a chance for a normal life just because they were born in a country affected by war or other humanitarian crisis.

We also want to thank OUR STUDENTS who were with us at the protest. Thanks to them, we can learn tolerance and openness. Thank you for the lessons you teach us and for being there! When matters are important to us, let’s be together!

Dorota Maszkiewicz20 October 2021 Klub Dialogu, marchofsolidarity, Polish language school, polish language school for foreigners, polishlanguage, refugees EVENTS ORGANISED BY KLUB DIALOGU Leave a comment

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US!

Saying goodbye to summer is never easy, and summer 2021 is already behind us. Luckily, after a one-year break, we managed to organise a summer calendar full of KLUB DIALOGU events. Despite the worldwide pandemic, many difficulties and limitations, we spent this time very intensively and effectively, and the return of our side events sweetened us even more than usual! So what’s so special about this summer?

At the end of June, our intensive Polish language courses began, which are liked and sought after by students who need a faster pace of learning. These courses are very demanding and oblige you to work independently from home, but they give you really great results! However, learning Polish every day does not have to be difficult, boring or tiring! The pleasant summer weather allowed us to go outside the classroom as part of the lesson. We were at the park, at the market, at the cafe, and at Hala Mirowska to buy ingredients for the rest of the lesson where we cooked in Polish! After all, the goal of learning Polish is to use it every day, in various situations, not only with a course book in hand!

During the summer holidays, there were also regular group Polish language courses, as well as individual lessons, the nature and frequency of which depend entirely on the student’s needs.

We love to see our school full of students with happy faces, filled with the desire to learn Polish! We have also become experts in conducting online classes, offering online group Polish language courses and individual online lessons to meet the needs of all our students. We have introduced hybrid courses that allow lessons to continue even when a student was absent due to going on vacation. The beauty of online and hybrid classes is that they can be joined from anywhere!

Traditionally, the Polish Language School for Foreigners KLUB DIALOGU invited its students with their family and friends to additional summer events aimed at integrating and sharing everyday life in Poland. The interest in the events exceeded our wildest expectations! As every year, together with students and friends, we celebrated another birthday of KLUB DIALOGU. More than 40 people came to share this special date with us! Thank you very much! The following Saturday, there was a canoeing trip on the Pilica River near Warsaw. Beautiful, sunny weather, playing volleyball on the beach and a barbecue gave everyone a lot of needed energy for the next week. In addition, we visited the Night Market to enjoy street food and card games, had a lovely evening at a Silent Disco, had a great time in an intense phonetics workshop and exercised our bodies in a cheerful atmosphere while playing bowling. What’s more, we hosted our regular meetings: ‘Film Piąteczek’, during which we watch Polish films with English subtitles and discuss Polish culture, tradition and mentality of Poles. We love these events because they give the opportunity not only to show our life, but also learn a lot of interesting things about other cultures, and our students come here from all over the world!

This summer we welcomed many new students who came to us from the USA, Argentina, Israel, Iran, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uruguay, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Germany and Great Britain! Moreover, we also enjoyed the time we spent on our own vacations. This summer, our employees visited, among others, Italy and Sicily, Ukraine, the Netherlands and Slovenia, and of course they had a great time in Poland and in Warsaw itself.

Summer will be over soon. But life at KLUB DIALOGU school goes on! 🙂 We are fully ready, full of energy and new passion to teach our Polish language!

Dorota Maszkiewicz2 September 2021 Klub Dialogu, klubdialogu, polish for foreigners, Polish language, Polish language school, polishlanguage EVENTS ORGANISED BY KLUB DIALOGU Leave a comment

HOW WE CHANGE FOR YOU!

The arrival of the 2020 pandemic was a shock for many of us. In March 2020, our school closed for what we all thought would be only a little while. However, the following days showed that the situation was not improving, and it was in fact getting worse. And although we were very worried, we managed to switch to online lessons within a week. It was not an easy task for us at all. The lack of more appropriate equipment and materials turned out to be a big challenge, and we soon found out that this was just the beginning of our complicated adventure with remote learning…

The new teaching conditions required new investments. Purchasing computers, video cameras and microphones, adjusting our program and new internet applications required time, special commitment and intensive work of the entire KLUB DIALOGU team. We asked our students questions about the quality of online learning and, thanks to their creative and constructive responses, we decided to make further investments.

Currently, Polish language courses at KLUB DIALOGU school, as well as group and individual online lessons are conducted at the highest level, which is greatly appreciated by our students. The purchase of interactive boards for each classroom and the acoustic soundproofing of the rooms has adjusted our school to allow for hybrid classes. It is convenient for those students who, due to business trips or illness, cannot attend their course in person and do not want to miss their lessons.

Additionally, modern interactive boards make learning Polish at school and online faster and more attractive. On these boards you can not only write, but also use it to display multimedia presentations, movies, websites, or exercises and interactive applications. After the lesson is over, the teacher can send the lesson notes online to all students. Interactive boards are an excellent teaching aid, thanks to which students are more interested in the lesson and can focus on a specific topic.

Come and see for yourself how the Polish Language School for Foreigners KLUB DIALOGU has changed for the better, for you!

Dorota Maszkiewicz31 August 2021 group courses, individual course, Klub Dialogu, online lessons, onlinelesson, Polish language school WHAT'S GOING ON, what's going on Leave a comment

READ AND LEARN WHEN YOU WANT

Our passion at KLUB DIALOGU Polish Language School for Foreigners is and always has been sharing the Polish language, as well as our special traditions and everyday life in Poland. That is why we have prepared an information-filled BLOG for you to enjoy – READ AND LEARN WHEN YOU WANT.

On our blog you will find many articles, exercises, audio recordings and interesting links on various topics and suited to different levels of Polish advancement (from A1 to B2) for self-study. Some of our articles contain short questions to check correct understanding of the text. We encourage you to leave a comment or ‘like’ the article you enjoyed. It will give us inspiration and motivation to continue working for you!

The internet is full of blogs – what makes ours different? What kind of articles do we write? We write about Warsaw, about our country in general and interesting facts that may not be so widely known! You can find anything that could interest you on the blog, and as a foreigner learning Polish, which is, as we know, not always the easiest task, having these articles, short and long, available to you for free 24 hours a day, it is one of the best ways to learn alone. As mentioned, there are some questions below articles to practise even more. The best part is that you can leave comments and ask your own questions, too! The questions can be about the topic of the article itself, or about the Polish language, like grammar questions, or a question about a specific structure or sentence. We will always be happy to respond and be in touch with you.

So, what are you waiting for? Read and learn when you want!

GO TO BLOG

Dorota Maszkiewicz1 June 2021 BLOG, Polish, Polish language school CO W TRAWIE PISZCZY, WHAT'S GOING ON, what's going on Leave a comment

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