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effective communikation

THE POWER OF COMMUNICATION. HOW TO SPEAK SO THAT WE ARE HEARD? – Why is it so important not only while learning the polish language? (Episode I)

How to speak so that we are heard? Why is effective communication so important not only when learning Polish?

The Polish Language School for Foreigners KLUB DIALOGU is a unique place where not only Polish lessons take place, but where we passionately share Polish tradition, culture, and lifestyle. We understand DIALOGUE as effective communication, full acceptance of the diversity of cultures, openness to exchanging thoughts, and the willingness to get to know each other. That’s why we like to talk so much ?.

That’s all (and so much) about KLUB DIALOGU School. What does sociological research say?

Many sociological studies show that the effectiveness of our communication (i.e., whether we are heard and understood) depends largely on our origin (country, region, family, community) and cultural experiences.

Deborah Tannen is a professor of linguistics and author of many publications on interpersonal communication, which proves that competent people are not always listened to. It turns out that HOW something is said more important than WHAT is said.

Language is not only a tool for communicating information, and learning Polish is not only a verbal statement.

Everything we want to say has to be said in the right way. Therefore, depending on the situation, we adjust the tone of the voice, its intensity, and even the speed of speech. Elements such as addressing the other person directly or indirectly, choice of words, a pause, and even the use of questions or apologies are important. These are cultural signals that not only communicate what we mean, but evaluate us as human beings.

For example, a discreet PAUSE. A pause that appears in a dialogue between two people. In each country, and even region of the same country, it is treated as ‘natural’ in a different way. In NY City, the long pause in speech is unbearable, so people keep talking until their interlocutor cuts in. Meanwhile, in Texas – only a longer pause allows the interlocutor to express his opinion. This slight difference in conversation style can have a huge impact on communication and how we will be judged.

When learning Polish (or any other foreign language), make sure that your style of expression is respected. People from all over the world apply for a group Polish language course, which is why it is so important to respect each other’s communication styles. Italians are said to speak loudly and quickly, which is why they dominate the rest of the group. The Japanese are withdrawn and don’t ‘cut people off’; because of this, they can avoid interactions.

Polish is difficult, and learning Polish as a foreign language can be exhausting, so a pleasant atmosphere during Polish lessons will be an advantage when we want to be heard.

‘Me’, ‘mine’, ‘ours’ – how to communicate effectively and emphasize your own value? Take this also into account when learning Polish

You probably heard often how the leader of your team brags about your joint project saying: ‘My project has received the recognition of the CEO!’.

Deborah Tannen’s research on the style of expression shows that it is mostly men who will use the words ‘me’, and ‘mine’, when it comes to teamwork, as opposed to women, who will judge even their own work as ‘our project’, expecting – sometimes unsuccessfully – that someone else will appreciate them. Ultimately, whoever fights for it and communicates loudly gains recognition and is heard.

You probably noticed that women are in majority in KLUB DIALOGU Polish Language School ?. It just so happened, but thanks to this, we are a perfectly harmonious and a strong team, which together builds its values ​​and creates its identity. During Polish language courses, we try to praise our students a lot and encourage them to learn. This is important because although self-motivation is the key to success, the incentive of the teacher is the fuel that drives this motivation. Don’t forget to celebrate even those little successes. Talk about them. This naturally affects fantastic development, and learning Polish becomes an adventure and a pleasure!

Self-confidence gives many benefits in personal life and has a positive effect on learning Polish

Self-confidence is one of the main attributes that determine whether someone wants to listen to you. Especially in large corporations, it is this feature that determines whether the CEO (or another director) will decide on your case to be YES or NO. Your credibility and diligence is hidden precisely in self-confidence.

Research by psychologist Lauren Heatherington and her team shows that women are more likely to downplay their certainty; men are more likely to minimize their doubts. This is important information that is worth working on.

And again, the association with learning Polish comes to mind. If you do not know which grammatical form to use in a sentence, just be confident and the interlocutor will not even notice minor mistakes. They will be delighted that you speak Polish! Acceptance to make mistakes is one of the key values. It opens the mind to ‘learning from one’s own mistakes’, thus accelerating the process of learning Polish as a foreign language.

You can also practice during the Polish language lessons at KLUB DIALOGU School as much as you want. Be confident and learning Polish will bring the desired results! Check your language level, choose a Polish course for yourself and join us today!

Direct speech is an important part of effective communication. It is worth taking this into account when learning Polish

We all know that it is better to be clear about what we mean. Unfortunately, indirect speech is much more often used in communication between people. This is an element that distinguishes the culture of one country from another and can cause great confusion.

In Poland, you have probably encountered a direct form of giving orders, which could be offensive to you. A Polish boss will say: ‘The accountant needs help with the wage slips, help him tomorrow morning’.

On the other hand, the greatest value in Far Eastern culture is the ability to communicate whilst not speaking directly, in order to ‘not lose face’. For example, the Chinese are very sensitive to the so-called ‘loss of face’. It means that even trivial (from the point of view of a European) mishaps can be considered a total embarrassment. So we will not hear from a Chinese person that we are poor employees, that we speak Chinese or English poorly, or that we are doing something wrong. Any comments will always be articulated very politely, indirectly, like ‘maybe you could change the method’, ‘I think if you would do it this way, you would do it even better’.

Another example?

Have you eaten today? – a Chinese person will often ask you. A European might perceive it as an invitation to lunch or dinner. However, it’s just like our ‘how are you today?’. We should not answer this question in the negative, because it is not about whether we have actually already eaten today. The Chinese explain this by the poverty that prevailed in China in the past and in which time this greeting was born. It had a literal meaning at the time, but today it is just a simple greeting.

Conclusion: Both direct and indirect speech can be effective forms of communication as long as the chosen style is understood equally by both parties.

Working in such a diverse environment as the Polish Language School for Foreigners KLUB DIALOGU, we must constantly observe and learn the communication styles presented by our students. This is an extremely important cultural aspect that affects whether students will be willing to learn Polish or not. Learning Polish as a foreign language requires a direct form, especially at lower levels. A student with a limited vocabulary is also forced to use direct phrases, even if they may sound rude (for example in a shop: ‘give milk’). Do not give up. Practice is the most important thing!

The Polish language course guarantees that the student will learn a lot about Polish culture, the communication styles used (e.g. formal and informal), colloquial speech, what is allowed and what is considered rude. Talking to other students is also learning Polish, which broadens your horizons.

Conclusion: How to speak so that we are listened to and why is it so important not only when learning Polish?

So what is the most effective way to communicate in order to be heard and understood (also in a foreign language, for example, in Polish)?

There is no one answer.

Effective communication is not just about saying what we mean. HOW we say it is important. And the style of communication (how we speak and listen) differs significantly between people. It is influenced by many factors, such as: the situation in which we found ourselves, culture (country, work), subordination in an organisation, cultural experiences, or who we talk to. Therefore, we can easily get into trouble when we want to interpret someone else’s statement through our prism.

When learning Polish as a foreign language, many misunderstandings can arise. It is important to talk about them. This is one of the reasons why Polish language lessons at KLUB DIALOGU School are available. The huge variety of students from all over the world (from America to Japan) means that we can learn from each other. It is worth having courage, asking, making mistakes, communicating, looking at your strengths and using them.

Each Polish language course is a unique adventure that we undertake together with our students.

Summer in Warsaw has its charm and it is never boring! Especially since we can choose from many attractions. Be sure to check them out and share your impressions with us.

Attention, a CHALLENGE for YOU!

Visit the recommended places and post about it on your FB and/or Instagram profile, and you will receive a 5% discount on your dream Polish language course at KLUB DIALOGU school.

How to do it?

On FB – 1) like KLUB DIALOGU’s FB FunPage. 2) On your profile, create a post with your report about the visit to the selected place and add photos. 3) in the post, mark the location of KLUB DIALOGU and publish.

On Instagram – 1) follow KLUB DIALOGU’s profile on Instagram @klubdialogu, 2) share a photo from the selected place on your Insta-story and tag @klubdialogu (make sure to make printscreen and send them all to us at the end of the competition).

The discount for individual posts doesn`t sum up, but if you mark us in all 7 places, at the end of summer, among those who do it, we will raffle a special prize – 10% discount!

WARSAW’S SUMMER ATTRACTIONS – 7 recommendations

1. COLOUR FOUNTAIN SHOWS at Podzamcze

On Friday and Saturday evenings at 9.30pm (in July) and 9pm (in August) there are 30-minute “water-light-sound” multimedia shows with the use of LED floodlights and lasers. Each season, a new show is presented in the form of an animated story. It is the perfect place to take Instagram photos in beautiful summer scenery!

Admission: free.

Where: Skwer 1 Dywizji Pancernej WP, 00-221 Warsaw

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2. LEGIA WARSAW MUSEUM

Sports fans can enjoy many exhibits related to Polish sports successes and the most famous coaches: the legendaryKazimierz Deyna and Kazimierz Górski and learn about the team history.

Admission: free (Saturday, Sunday – closed, Mon-Fri: 9am – 6pm)

Where: Łazienkowska 3, 00-449 Warsaw

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3. VIEW OF WARSAW from the 30th floor of the Palace of Culture and Science

There is a Viewing Terrace on the 30th floor of the Palace of Culture and Science. At 114 m you can see the panoramic view of Warsaw. The elevator ride to the Terrace takes only 19 seconds. On the 30th floor there is also a café called ‘Gwiazdy bliżej Gwiazd’ (‘Stars closer to Stars’)

Admission: 25 PLN

Where: Plac Defilad

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4. KAMPINOSKI FOREST or KABACKI FOREST

At the two ends of the M1 metro line, nature is especially spectacular. Puszcza Kampinoska (Kampinoska Forest) and Las Kabacki (Kabacki Forest) are one of the most charming places, where there are walking, running, and cycling routes for the whole family. If you are lucky, you can find elk, roe deer, and wild boar here.

Admission: free

Where: Kampinos Forest – Młociny metro station, Kabacki Forest – Matro Kabaty

5. MILK BAR – Bar Gdański

Bar Gdański – one of the most iconic milk bars in the capital, the history of which dates back to the 1950s. Although the interior of the canteen has been renovated, many old elements have survived: historic floors and mosaics, which give the interior a charming reminiscent atmosphere. The Gdański Bar serves traditional soups, main courses (fish, vegetarian, and meat) and drinks.

Lunch: from 13.13 PLN

Where: ul. Generała Władysława Andersa 33

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6. THE FRYDERYK CHOPIN MUSEUM

This is a unique museum not only for music lovers. Thanks to multimedia installations, you will get acquainted with the music of Fryderyk Chopin and learn about the stages of the life and work of this outstanding Pole.

In front of the museum you will find a fountain with the Golden Duck – the heroine of one of Warsaw’s legends.

Admission: 23 PLN

Where: ul. Okólnik 1

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7. REST BY THE VISTULA RIVER

The Vistula (Wisła) is the last remaining large wild river in Europe. On the right bank of the river (on the Praga side) you will find beautiful natural beaches for sunbathing, sports, and fun. From here you can see perfectly the panorama of the Old Town. The opposite, left bank of the Vistula River is a place for meetings and spending time together. Here, on the picturesque Vistula boulevards, you can relax in cafes and restaurants, or walk or ride a bike.

Admission: free

Where: both banks of the Vistula

Wycieczka do Łodzi

As every year, the summer holidays in KLUB DIALOGU is a time full of attractions, events, meetings, and fun! In addition to intensive, summer Polish language courses, we warmly invite you to special events that take place from June to August.

Summer Holidays in KLUB DIALOGU Polish Language School

Orientarium in Łódź

We started our series of events on 4th June with a trip to the city of Łódź, to the Orientarium. The Orientarium is a very modern zoo, inhabited not only by land animals, but also aquatic animals, such as sharks, rays, as well as corals, anemones, and others. We definitely recommend it! Read the account from the event and see the photos.

Filmowy Piąteczek/Film Friday – watching films in Polish

The next meeting was FILM FRIDAY, which took place in our school. This is already a tradition of KLUB DIALOGU. During this event, we watch Polish films with English subtitles, and after the film we discuss cultural differences and life in different parts of the world. A perfect and attractive way of learning Polish for everyone!

Move well to the beat of the music

We love to dance! And you? If you share this passion or you like to watch others move to the rhythm of the music, we invite you for outdoor SALSA at the La Playa Beach club by the Vistula River or at the Silent Disco at the Studio Bar. We guarantee a great impression! ?

Birthday of the Polish Language School for Foreigners KLUB DIALOGU

As every year, the most important event for us is the birthday of our KLUB DIALOGU School. We always invite you to celebrate with us at the beginning of July! You can expect a lot of fun during this unique meeting! You can even win very attractive prizes! You cannot miss it.

Canoeing trip – go downstream the Wkra River. Relax

On 16th July we will go canoeing. 30km from Warsaw there is a beautiful river, Wkra, and this is the river that we will be able to go down for 2 hours, enjoying basking in nature. We will end the day with a barbecue, beach sports, and a well-deserved rest! If you want, we will speak in Polish. It will be like a little Polish lesson.

Night Breakfast Bar and what else?

The Night Breakfast Bar is a trendy place for real ‘foodies’, with stalls serving local and international street food such as skewers, burgers, tacos, and pizza. Eat, play, and taste after sunset in good company!

What else awaits us? Playing boardgames by the Vistula River, Chopin’s concert in the Łazienki Park, and bowling!

Be sure to check the calendar of events for 2022. Like our fb KLUB DIALOGU page and stay up to date! Bring your family and friends with you and have fun with us!

summer courses 2022

Summer Polish language course at KLUB DIALOGU school

The summer Polish language course for foreigners is an intensive, attractive, and exceptionally effective form of learning. There is no boredom or monotonous exercises here! Each lesson is a new adventure: a lively meeting with the Polish language and interesting people from different parts of the world, and after the Polish lesson – unforgettable integration events.

Intensive summer Polish language courses are very popular, so it is worth planning them today.

Why is it worth planning a summer Polish language course today?

First of all: learning Polish for 3 hours a day every day for 3 weeks will certainly strengthen your language skills ?. You will overcome barriers and start communicating in Polish.

Secondly: the KLUB DIALOGU school in Warsaw organises unique integration events, thanks to which you will get acquainted with the Polish way of life and spend an unforgettable time: canoeing, playing beach volleyball, meetings by the Vistula River, bowling, cinema… Check out how we’ve had fun!

Thirdly: you can immediately continue your summer Polish language course for foreigners at KLUB DIALOGU School on the next level and spend the entire vacation with us ?. Start learning Polish from scratch on the ‘Introduction to Polish’ course, then continue on ‘Beginners’ and polish your Polish on the ‘Intermediate Conversations’ course.

Last but not least: The places on summer Polish language courses for foreigners fill up quickly, so don’t miss this chance!

You’re welcome to join!

gramatyka polskiego

Polish language grammar is largely associated with suffixes – should I be afraid?

For a large group of students, one of the most difficult aspects of Polish grammar is declension, that is – the changing endings of nouns and adjectives. Why does one word have multiple versions? There are languages – for example, the most popular language in the world – English, in which we can use one word in many ways, e.g. ‘coffee’ – I like coffee. I don’t like coffee. I dream about coffee. With a coffee in hand across the world. So in any sentence construction a given word is used in the same form.

In Polish grammar, however, the situation looks different. In Polish the word ‘kawa’ (coffee) – in those same constructions like above in English is like this: ‘Lubię kawę’ (accusative – I like coffee). ‘Nie lubię kawy’ (genitive – I don’t like coffee). ‘Z kawą przez świat’ (instrumental – with a coffee in hand across the world).

This is all the fault of declension, meaning the variation by 7 ‘cases’: Nominative, Genitive, Accusative, Dative, Instrumental, Locative, and Vocative, in Polish: Mianownik, Dopełniacz, Biernik, Celownik, Narzędnik, Miejscownik, and Wołacz.

Polish grammar: Accusative – it isn’t so bad after all!

Today we’ll focus on one of the ‘cases’ – the one we use when saying: I like coffee, I have coffee, coffee please, I drink coffee (lubię kawę, mam kawę, proszę kawę, piję kawę).

We use the accusative form after verbs such as: to have, like, eat, drink, buy, read, know, watch, ask, order, visit, want, prefer, adore (mieć, lubić, jeść, pić, kupować, czytać, znać, oglądać, prosić, zamawiać, zwiedzać, mieć ochotę na, preferować, uwielbiać).

In Polish language grammar, the feminine forms in the accusative take the following forms: Lubię czarną kawę. Mam czerwoną toyotę. Piję zieloną herbatę. Jem zupę pomidorową. (I like black coffee. I have a red Toyota. I drink green tea. I eat tomato soup). So the noun ends in “” and the adjective with “”.

In masculine and neutral form, the noun and adjective remain in their infinitive form. For example: ‘duży dom’ (big house – masculine form) – kupuję duży dom (I’m buying a big house); ‘nowy samochód’ (new car – masculine) –  on ogląda nowy samochód (he’s looking at a new car); ‘zimne piwo’ (cold beer – neutral form) – oni zamawiają zimne piwo (they’re ordering a cold beer); ‘małe radio’ (small radio – neutral) – mam małe radio (I have a small radio). Ah! It’s not complicated!

But in Polish grammar, the exceptions are the most important…

A small problem arises when our friend says: ‘Mam ochotę na hamburgera!’ (I fancy a hamburger), ‘Preferuję pomidora niż ogórka!’ (I prefer tomato over cucumber)’. How?? Wait a moment! Hamburger, tomato, cucumber are all in the masculine form in Polish! So why don’t we say: ‘Mam ochotę na hamburger’, ‘Preferuję pomidor niż ogórek’?!? We’ll explain! ? In Polish grammar, there is a group of inanimate masculine nouns (things, not people) that take the ending “-a” in the accusative. Most of them are borrowings from other languages.

The exceptions are:

  1. Food, e.g.:– hamburger’ – Mam ochotę na hamburgera.
  2. Fruits and vegetables, e.g.: ‘banan’, ananas’, ‘arbuz’ (banana, pineapple, watermelon)– Na śniadanie zawsze jem banana. Uwielbiam ananasa i arbuza. (For breakfast I always eat banana. I adore pineapple and watermelon).
  3. Car brands, e.g.: ‘mercedes’, ford’ – Mój kolega kupił mercedesaMarek ma forda. (My friend bought a Mercedes. Marek has a Ford).
  4. Currencies, e.g.: ‘dolar’, ‘funt’ (dollar, pound)– Mam tylko dolara. Pożycz mi jednego funta. (I only have a dollar. Lend me a pound).
  5. Dances, e.g.: ‘walc’  (Waltz) – Oni pięknie tańczą walca angielskiego. (They dance the English Waltz beautifully).
  6. Games, e.g.: ‘squash’, ‘golf’ – Czy lubisz grać w squasha? Często gram w golfa. (Do you like playing squash? I often play golf).
  7. Substances, e.g. ‘papieros’, ‘szampan’(cigarette, champagne) – Palę papierosa. On pije szampana. (I’m smoking a cigarette. He’s drinking champagne).

Conclusion: Polish language grammar is not that scary, and the Polish language course at KLUB DIALOGU School is a great place to practice.

Accusative isn’t so bad after all ?. Sometimes, we simply have to organise and consolidate our knowledge. The Polish language course at KLUB DIALOGU School is the right place to not only repeat and systematise this knowledge, but also practice and polish the grammatical structures of the Polish language. You can find out more about accusative (biernik) HERE.

konstytucje 3 maja

You probably noticed that the first week of May in Poland was a loooong weekend.

What is the May 3 Constitution Day?

The day of May 3 is ‘Constitution Day’ in Poland, commemorating the adoption of the Constitution on May 3, 1791. It was the first Constitution to be passed in Europe and the second in the world (after the US Constitution passed in 1787). This event is considered to be one of the most important in the history of Poland. It had its further consequences… The adoption of this highest legal act provoked hostility of the Russian Empire, which in 1793 and 1795, together with Austria and Prussia, completely annexed Poland. Poland lost its independence for 123 years, only to regain it after the First World War in 1918.

Why was the Constitution of May 3 created?

The constitution passed on May 3 introduced a number of changes to the Polish system, in particular:

# heredity of the throne, which was to prevent foreign interference in the affairs of the Republic of Poland,

# improved the functioning of the state administration,

# gave new rights to all citizens.

Where is the original May 3 Constitution document?

Three original copies of the Constitution of May 3 are in the Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw.

And what does the Constitution of May 3 mean for us today?

In today’s Poland, May 3 is a day off, and people celebrate by participating in parades, concerts, and public appearances. The Constitution of May 3, although it was only in force for a year at the time, gave Poland an impulse to adopt a modern Constitution on April 2, 1997, which is still in force today.

In KLUB DIALOGU Polish Language School we teach  not only the Polish language, but also share our culture, tradition and lifestyle with students. You too – are very welcome to our School :)!

nauka-polskiego

FROM A0 TO THE B1 CERTIFICATE EXAM IN POLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. HOW IT’S POSSIBLE? An interview with our real Chinese student.

Zeming (he likes it when he is called Zeminek, i.e. using the Polish diminutive form) is the first student from China who started learning Polish from scratch at our KLUB DIALOGU school. After less than 5 years, in March 2022, he took the State Certificate Examination at B1 level. Students, especially from non-Slavic-speaking countries who take up this considerable challenge, know that it is a great achievement! Congratulations! ?

That is why we asked ‘Zeminek’ for a short interview about his way through this ‘silk road’!

Hi Zeminek, thank you for agreeing to talk about your ‘passion’ for the Polish language, all the more that all your Polish as a foreign language learning from A0 to the B1 exam took place at the KLUB DIALOGU School ?. You give hope and faith to our other students that it is possible! So tell me:

Are you a real Chinese guy? How old are you?

Ha, ha – oh yeah! I am a real Chinese guy! I was born in Shanghai, China, and am now 30 years old.

When did you come to Poland and how did your adventure with the Polish language begin?

On the very first day, when I landed in Poland, in October 2017, I thought that it would be worth starting to learn the native language. Different continent, different country, different people, and different letters! Yes, I absolutely had to study it! So I was just surfing the Internet when I found the Polish Language School for Foreigners KLUB DIALOGU. It immediately caught my attention because it stood out among other offers. I thought it was a good choice. I didn’t hesitate for long and came straight to the school office. And here I am! ‘I grew’ with you for 5 years! ?

It’s wonderful that you are with us! So tell me which elements of the Polish language were the most problematic to learn?

Grammar! Horror, massacre! And including: any order of words in the sentence, conjugation and declension, gender: masculine, feminine and neutral and their inflection!, personal pronouns!!, inflection of numerals!!!, oh my God, Vocative?!!!! – nooo – almost everything. And you know how Poles talk quickly …

Even so, Poles speak slower than Italians! ? Well, we have to try harder! How much is Chinese different from Polish?

Very! I don’t even know where to start? Of course, you can see the difference in the alphabet at first glance ?. And then it only gets worse. The Chinese language has practically no grammar, maybe to a small extent, while the grammar of the Polish language is crucial in communication. For example, nouns in Chinese have virtually no inflection. There are no coincidences or even plural – just add a number and you will know what amount you are talking about. Verbs are also not inflected, neither by persons nor by tenses. The appropriate time is indicated in a sentence by time factors such as “yesterday” and “tomorrow”. Also, the counting system in Chinese is slightly different than in Polish. And each part of a sentence has a specific, fixed place in the pattern. Remembering the order guarantees the grammatical correctness of the statement.

Yeah. Chinese seems to be much easier than Polish, although I don’t know if I could remember Chinese characters… And what surprised you the most about Poland and Poles, when you came to our country for the first time?

Many things, but I think the most important are: strong, good beer, generally good looking people, both women and men (ha, ha), that people in Poland are really nice (so far I have not experienced any discrimination), the fact that there are so many beautiful parks here in Warsaw and around it, and of course FLACZKI, which I really like ?

Could you list 5 cultural/lifestyle differences between Poles and the Chinese?

Hard to say. China is changing dynamically, and cultures and lifestyles even differ between regions in China. One thing is obvious – we eat more rice & pasta than bread & potatoes. But seriously, what I noticed is that the Chinese are a collective society, while the Poles are individualists. This can be seen, inter alia, in discussions during which each Pole must have his own separate opinion. In China, too, not everything needs to be said straightforwardly; people interpret the context more, while in Poland rules and principles dominate. For example: ‘No’ means refusing, and guests don’t refuse. That’s why the Chinese will always say yes. If ‘yes’ meant true ‘yes’ then it’s okay. However, if ‘yes’ means ‘no’, the Chinese will simply not answer our phone, or otherwise signal his different opinion.

The intricacies of communication… ? Finally, 2 more questions: Was the State Examination of Polish as a Foreign Language for the B1 Certificate difficult for you? Did something surprise you? Were you very stressed?

Well … I’m not overly happy with the ‘writing’ part. My teacher repeatedly told me to practice writing under time pressure, but I was sure that I would be fine. During the exam, however, it turned out that the time was inexorable and I finished my essay quite awkwardly at the last minute. Luckily, the ‘reading’ and ‘listening’ parts turned out to be easier than I expected. Maybe because my teacher gave me more difficult examples during the Polish language lessons during the B1 exam preparation course. I think that in the end, the Polish as a foreign language exam went better than I expected. It is thanks to my teacher Sandra and the KLUB DIALOGU School, which showed great patience with me and kept my motivation, especially when I was returning to China for a long time.

Yes, of course I was stressing out a lot!

And the last question: Are you going to stay longer in Poland now?

Of course, I intend to stay in Poland. I have no plans neither to leave Poland to another country, nor go back to China. I started my economic studies here at the University of Warsaw, but during the pandemic I had to quit. Now I work in the ‘game & nft’ industry and although it’s still working from home, I like it.

Thank you very much, Zeminek, and good luck! See you at the Polish Language School for Foreigners KLUB DIALOGU, because you still have an exam at the B2 and C1 levels ?
Dorota Maszkiewicz, Managing Director

polish-for-ukrainiens

2 years of the pandemic did not put us in such shock, disorientation, and anger as 2 weeks of the war in Ukraine caused by Putin’s Russia has ….

WE SAY ‘NO’ TO WAR! And we are not passively standing by watching. I am very proud of and thankful for the incredible commitment shown by the entire team of our Polish Language School for Foreigners KLUB DIALOGU. We talk a lot about how to help meaningfully. And our conversations result in action: 

# We have launched a fundraiser that goes directly to a proven foundation run by people from Ukraine. This foundation directs appropriate help at a given moment directly to people in need; 

# We invited Ukrainian families to our homes, providing them with shelter and support; 

# Our teacher of Polish, as a coordinator and translator, travels with truck convoys to the Polish-Ukrainian border to coordinate the reloading of parcels with gifts; 

# Our office coordinator organises collections and transports of military, medical, and humanitarian items. These deliveries have already reached Kharkiv and Suma! 

# We bought food and hygiene products for infants and children from the funds raised by the team of KLUB DIALOGU School – the delivery has already reached the needy; 

# We make food for Ukrainians who come to the Central Station, who are tired and hungry after a very long journey;

# We organised a free Polish language course called ‘Necessary in Poland’ for refugees, led free of charge by our teachers; 

# To show another small gesture of support for people from Ukraine living in Poland, we also made decorations that welcome our students to the school. 

# We go to demonstrations expressing: ‘NO to WAR’. 

I would also like to thank our students who have committed themselves to helping. Contributions to the aid fund for Ukraine have exceeded PLN 7,300! Thank you very much, let’s keep raising more! www.pomagam.pl/klubdialogu 

Dear Students! If you feel able to help – let us know. We will organise it together! For example, we can make food for those waiting at the Central Station together. We also count on your ideas.

Dear Ukrainians! There are no words to describe the tragedy that befell you. The whole world is with you, the whole of Poland is with you, the whole KLUB DIALOGU School is with you! 
 
Слава Украиние! 

Wioletta and Piotr Kajczuk, owners of the KD School 

Dorota Maszkiewicz, Managing Director 

KLUB DIALOGU team 

SOLIDARITY WITH REFUGEES – WHAT HAPPENED?

We, the employees of the KLUB DIALOGU Polish Language School, are not indifferent to the tragedy of people who, due to the difficult situation in their country, come to Poland to start a safe life in their new homeland.

As you know, in November 2021 we participated in the March of Solidarity with Refugees. Walking through the streets of Warsaw, we wanted to show that the fate of suffering people is important. We believe that you should always protest when someone is hurt, when a person has no chance for a normal life just because they were born in a country affected by war or other humanitarian crisis.

In December 2021 KLUB DIALOGU organised the Workshop of Writing Letters to Refugees “Solidarni w Cierpieniu” (‘Solidarity in Suffering’), to symbolically show our care and understanding for those in need.

We thank our students who were with us. It is thanks to you and other students that we can learn tolerance and openness!

Currently, as part of the ‘Solidarni w Edukacji’ (‘Solidarity in Education’) campaign, KLUB DIALOGU school funded a scholarship to learn Polish for a refugee who recently came to our country with his family.

Hear his story. This is just one of many thousands …

‘My name is Javid Khan (the name has been changed for the safety of the person). I’m 36 years old. I come from Afghanistan. I am the father of four children, boys – 14, 12, 8, and 2 years old. We currently live in a Refugee Centre near Warsaw.

After the fall of the previous government in Afghanistan, life in Afghanistan became unbearable after the Taliban took power. The terror affected practically everyone who disagreed with the new policy, especially women and those who had supported NATO and the US government for the past 20 years. I was one of those who worked for the Polish NATO troops. I dealt with logistics and purchases for the army.

The evacuation of people whose lives were particularly at risk from the Taliban lasted from August 15-30 2021. Hundreds of thousands of people and families with children have been evacuated from Afghanistan, but just as many are still waiting to leave the country…

Me and my family managed to contact the Polish government. Our escape route was through Pakistan. Unfortunately, during this trip I had a heart attack. The attack was very severe, so I had a coronary graft implanted in the hospital. After a short recovery, we happily reached Poland. Thanks to the help of wonderful people, we managed to escape the Taliban and receive a second life in peace.

We have been living in Poland for a month. We haven’t seen many places yet, but we’d love to get to know our new homeland. Poland is a beautiful country and we met many friends here and experienced amazing hospitality. Now I am very optimistic about our future. We are happy here, and now I have the opportunity to learn Polish at KLUB DIALOGU. My dream is for my children to receive education and become useful citizens and members of the Polish community.’

There are so many tragedies in the world. Let’s not be afraid to help. If it is possible, the KLUB DIALOGU Polish Language School would like to support a few more people in learning Polish. However, for this action we need you and – our students. For this purpose, we have prepared CEGIEŁKI (bricks) ‘Solidarni w Edukacji’ (Solidarity in Education’). Each of you can buy one for any amount or set up a standing order. Our commitment: The total income from the payments will be allocated to learning Polish for the next Refugee! And we will do the rest!

KLUB DIALOGU recommends. CAN YOU LEARN POLISH ONLINE?

For some time now, online methods have become a very popular way to transfer knowledge in various areas of life. It also turned out to be an effective solution for continuing to learn Polish whilst at the same time guaranteeing safety.

Online learning – what does it actually mean?

Many people think that the Polish language is difficult and learning it would be a miracle. But it doesn’t have to be that hard! The right teaching methods developed by the Polish Language School for Foreigners KLUB DIALOGU guarantee the best results for everyone. The school focuses on individualism and professionalism, which enable our offer to be tailored to each given student. Engaging individual or group classes, extensive additional materials, a well-chosen language level of students, and modern classroom equipment are just some of the elements that contribute to the high standard of the School by our students.

Online learning. Why is it worth choosing this form?

Last year revealed the true potential of distance learning. First of all, learning Polish online is stable – so important in times of pandemic uncertainty. It does not require traveling to classes or direct contact with other course participants. Thus, it is an extremely convenient way to assimilate new topics in the comfort of your own home.

Online learning is completely flexible – students can connect to their online Polish language course from anywhere in the world. In this way, even a short trip for a vacation or in business matters will not interrupt your studies. You can participate in classes while at work, at university, or in any other location.

Contrary to appearances, online Polish lessons are neither boring nor less valuable than classroom classes! While the dynamics are different, both group and individual lessons are smooth and effective, and are somewhat similar to classroom lessons. The teacher and students interact in real time, and perfectly organized materials and easy access to them are a perfect way to consolidate knowledge.

Advantages and Effects

Learning Polish online offered by the Polish Language School for Foreigners KLUB DIALOGU is not only convenient and secure, but above all it yealds in results. They are achieved thanks to the teachers’ great passion and a well-developed course. The original curriculum and the unconventional approach to the classes mean that the entire Polish course is focused on issues that allow not only to acquire the necessary knowledge, but also to get to know Polish culture.

Another important aspect is also worth mentioning: anonymity. For people who are afraid to speak in front of others, being physically ‘alone’ but still part of the classroom provides more comfort and confidence in learning.

What do the teachers of KLUB DIALOGU School say about online learning?

Magda, teacher for 6 years:

‘At first I thought the screen would limit my expression. After all, it is known how important a role non-verbal communication plays in the process of learning Polish as a foreign language. In retrospect, however, I can admit that online work is fully effective and pleasant. Widely available instant messaging and a large number of different applications, specially designed for the education sector, facilitate the transfer of knowledge and are attractive to students. Sometimes it is more fun to play an internet quiz than to fill time with grammar exercises. Regardless of age, the principle of learning through play still applies. Of course, as always, one should exercise moderation and adapt the rhythm of classes to the diverse preferences of students.’

Agata, teacher and school methodologist:

‘Students who have never had contact with this form of learning Polish as a foreign language quickly “get used to” it. I also think that in order to learn the Polish language well, it is very important to maintain continuity of learning, which is why online lessons are a convenient tool for those who travel a lot or often stay “after hours” at work. Of course, this is an invaluable form of learning for those who live abroad, and contact with the Polish language is still very important for them!’

Online learning can be fun and an adventure! What do our students say?

Brian from the USA:

‘Online lessons with KLUB DIALOGU are really effective: it’s a great way to efficiently integrate technology with learning Polish as a foreign language. I plan to continue these lessons until I am fluent. It is a very convenient form of learning for both me and my teacher!’

Alessia from Italy:

‘I’ve had online Polish lessons for some time. I have never had the opportunity to do this before and I thought that only direct contact with the teacher was important for learning. Now I know that thanks to such lessons I have more time for myself, because I don’t have to go to school and I can learn at home. It’s very convenient!’

The Polish language school for foreigners KLUB DIALOGU is a school that is constantly developing and reacting to current situations. That is why we are so welcoming for our students. And because teaching is our passion – nothing is impossible for us!