The Best Online Resources to Learn Polish

Are you a language enthusiast looking for a new language to learn? Have you already tried Spanish and Italian and find yourself looking for a bigger challenge? Then you might want to learn Polish. Unlike Russian, which is written in a different system, Polish uses the Latin alphabet, and so it is a great introduction to the Slavic languages.

Spoken by 37 million people in Poland, this language will also allow you to communicate with millions of Polish émmigrés all over the world, especially in Europe and South America. What is more, mastery of the Polish language offers you access to the world of Polish literature, which has garnered four Nobel Prizes and boasts some of the most prestigious authors of all time.

For all these reasons, we have compiled a list of the best online resources to help you learn Polish.

Learn Polish Feel Good – Grammar and Vocabulary

Do you want to learn Polish words and tenses, or revise what you already know? Then this is the best website for you, as it features lots of free grammar and vocabulary activities divided into different topics. This allows you to focus on the kind of structures or lexical items that you want to practice. For example, you can find vocabulary exercises on the following topics:

• Animals
• Shopping
• The weather
• Cooking

As regards grammar, the website offers activities to revise content such as:

• Verb tenses
• Adjectives/adverbs
• Pronouns
• Prepositions

In addition, Learn Polish is also useful for travelers, as it contains a “Travel Polish” section which teaches you the survival phrases every tourist in Poland should know before traveling.

Forvo – A Pronunciation Dictionary

On this platform, you can search for any word in Polish and hear how it is pronounced. Since Forvo is an international community supported by language lovers from all around the world, you can usually hear the same word pronounced by many different speakers from different regions in Poland, as well as from foreign countries. This is a great resource if you are a thorough learner who likes to compare different accents, but the advantages do not end there.

Forvo also brings a “useful content” section that contains the essentials of the Polish language, i.e., basic vocabulary areas that every starter will need to master, such as:

• Greetings and apologies
• Fashion and accessories
• Means of transport
• Days, months, and seasons
• Professions

In addition, you will find a section devoted to Polish for travelers where you can learn how to spell and pronounce phrases and expressions related to the following topics:

• Receiving care
• Flirting
• Asking for directions
• Eating out

So, if you are going on vacation to Poland, check out this website and make sure you learn the pronunciation of essential vocabulary before you travel!

Readinga – Polish Leveled Readers

Reading books is one of the most meaningful ways of building your confidence in the target language while enhancing your vocabulary. Readinga contains a huge collection of engaging books and reading materials in a wide range of levels, from absolute beginner to very advanced.

This is an invaluable resource for Polish learners, as a graduated approach to reading helps students improve their comprehension and build their linguistic skills in a way that is challenging but not overwhelming.

What is more, Readinga allows users to filter their search according to their needs and preferences. For example, you can choose from the following options:

• Fictional stories
• Non-fiction / Informational
• Illustrated books

For those who don’t feel confident even with starter books, the website also contains dual-language books that come both in English and in Polish.

What will you read first?

Tune In – Polish Radio Stations

Learning a language is not just about memorizing words and grammatical rules. Nowadays, there are many different ways in which we can strengthen our linguistic skills.

Watching foreign movies with subtitles, cooking international recipes, and chatting with people from other countries are all ways in which you can practice a language while having fun. With Tune In, you can listen to the best Polish radio stations and be exposed to hours of real language in use.

The best part is that, in Tune In, it will be easy to find what you are looking for, as contents are divided into sections such as:

• Sports
• Music
• News
• Podcasts

Because these stations are originally aimed at native audiences, this resource will be most useful for advanced learners. If you want to gauge your current ability, don’t hesitate to try our free level tests.

Which of these websites will you try first? Feel free to share your experience in the comments section.

If you want to delve into this fascinating language in greater depth, join our virtual Open Group Polish Classes. This social approach to language learning is a great opportunity to interact with other learners who are at the same level and who share your passion for languages. Contact us now and find the best group for you.