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    Do Polish people appreciate when Americans learn their language?
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    Do Polish people appreciate when Americans learn their language?

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    30 Comments

    1. kaj_00ta on

      Considering that the source for this map is Instytut Danych z Dupy (i.e. stereotypes), pretty much anyone will appreciate someone trying to learn their language, even if they will communicate in English with you for convenience.

    2. Herbata_Mietowa on

      It doesn’t matter whether it’s American, French, Martian or whatever – we know that Polish is hard and no one expects you to get it instantly. But:

      1. It’s a good sign if someone at least spends some time for basic sentences (please, thank you, good morning) – I think it applies to all languages. It just shows that guest wanted to know more about the host.
      2. If you’re going to live here for a longer period of time, you will have a hard time if you won’t try to start learning Polish. Don’t expect that everyone will speak English in like grocery shops, city services etc. Again, it applies to other languages as well – I don’t expect to get far with only English if I’d like to live in France for couple of months or years.

    5. CrownJM on

      To be honest when I hear a foreigner speak Polish I’m typically impressed for the first 5 seconds then try to see if they speak english because it’s likely easier to communicate especially people from English speaking countries.

    6. chinkalichaczapuri on

      I live in my own country so I expect people to speak polish at least at the basic level.

    7. smashingkilljoy on

      What’s your definition of learn Polish?

      1.Kurwa, PIEROGIES, dzień dobry, bober?

      or is it

      2.Jestem John, uczę się Polskiego, miło mi poznać.

      The former will just piss people off. The latter is appreciated.

    8. According-Buyer6688 on

      Depends. On easy topics, polish is welcomed. But If I have to take complex conversation with someone lacking skill to speak Polish I will insist to switch to English

    9. kajtekbee on

      Polish people are quite happy when other nations learn polish and they are chill when people make mistakes. Only when it comes to ukrainians they expect only the perfect polish

    10. ihaverabiesandbite on

      I always switch to English with foreigners asking for directions or whatever because I don’t have time to struggle through decoding their attempts. Sometimes they will straight up tell me it’s rude because they’re “trying to practice” and that’s great and all but I don’t care and am not a teacher

    11. growthinstinct on

      From personal experience reaction to a foreigner speaking Polish goes like that:

      Zabka level – WOW OH MY GOD 😍

      Intermediate – Well actually… 🤓

      Upper intermediate – No one kurwa talks like this, it’s 21st century 😐

      C2 certificate obtained – Spierdalaj na front 😡

    14. TomSki2 on

      This map is sooo incorrect.

      Every time I tried to speak in Russian to a Russian person (I used to be pretty fluent), the first reaction was almost panic, like ‘what did he hear when we were talking and didn’t realize he understood’?

    15. Diligent-Property491 on

      I usually applaud them for having enough willpower to commit time to it. I know I wouldn’t.

    16. Natt42 on

      Bullshit. I always appreciate it. Polish is ridiculously complicated to learn so I’m always impressed (unless someone screams “kurwa” in my face and thinks I’ll clap).

    17. Mr_Jarex on

      Yeah, here in Poland is kinda like that, ngl haha. I barely speak the language (it’s so freaking hard) but I do speak english and my first language, spanish. Just by speaking english fluently automatically makes you much more interesting, speak by phone on the streets and everyone will stare at you lol

    18. Shel_Zahav on

      Map is wrong for Latvia. Latvian reaction is contradictory often schizophrenic, between “he can speak Latvian, he is smart and deserves respect” and “just switch to Russian or English” and then complaining that our nation and language is going extinct.

    22. Magmatt7 on

      Germany isn’t like that. My mom worked there and people generaly didn’t wanted to speak English much in rural west germany even when knew how to.

      Also in Poland I find people impressed when someone speaks Polish even if they are speaking in broken Polish.

    23. Little_Challenge6904 on

      I am usually impressed but would dive deeper into conversation if their skills are great

    24. tei187 on

      Sure, it’s a huge commitment because the language is hard to learn and not exactly useful outside of Poland.

    25. stefanobahia on

      I partially disagree with France. If you speak Catalan, Occitan, Corsican, Breton… you’ll activate friendship!

    26. space_doughnut69 on

      If they want to live in Poland, I expect foreigners to learn polish, as a part of assimilation. It’s a normal thing to learn the language of the place where you live, nothing to be impressed about.

    28. Altimman on

      Colfalting Polish and Russian together is wrong, green is a reaction to Polish, Russian is way more widely spread.