How to Learn Polish: 6 Effective Ways to Learn Polish Quickly
Kelsey Wetherbee
Published on December 29, 2022
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Are you trying to find high-quality resources to start your Polish studies?
In this article, I’ll show you the best ways to study Polish and the different tools you can use to build a comprehensive study routine. I included a mix of Polish apps, online courses, textbooks, podcasts, and YouTube channels to help you develop all language skills. If you’re more into traditional learning, I’ve also included online platforms that can help you find a Polish tutor.
The team at Langoly has over 5 decades combined of language-learning experience. To ensure you have access to the best language resources, we’ve personally tested and reviewed over 600 language products. We’re experts at helping our readers reach their language goals. After reading this article, you’ll be on the right track to fluency in Polish!
Table of Contents
How to Learn Polish: Study Polish with These 6 Useful Methods!
Polish is one of the most spoken languages in Europe, but it can be hard to learn for English speakers. Using the right resources can make studying much easier. But, since there isn’t one single resource that can teach you all you need to master Polish, you’ll need to combine them to cover all the skills necessary to speak the language.
Finding high-quality tools that fit your learning style can be time-consuming and frustrating. To save you time, we tested different Polish resources using the same strict methodology we apply to review all products. Then, we created this list of the best 6 Polish resources to tackle all the skills you need to move forward in your studies.
Use the Best Polish Apps
If you want to learn Polish quickly, using Polish apps can help you build a foundation in the language. There’s a wide variety of apps to help you focus on different skills. There are apps for vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, and more. They often have brief lessons, so you can complete as many or as few as you want. Pimsleur, Babbel, and Mondly are three popular language apps you can use to develop the skills you need to communicate and understand Polish.
Commitment: Low
Price: Low-Medium
Convenience: High
Pimsleur
Pimsleur is the best overall app for learning Polish because it can teach you to speak Polish from the first lesson. This app offers a complete audio-based course where you listen to a conversation between two native speakers to learn natural Polish. My favorite Pimsleur feature is that, in each lesson, the speakers explain the use of Polish vocabulary and grammar, and break words down into sounds to help you listen to the correct pronunciation. This way, even complete beginners can understand some Polish by the end of the first lesson! You can try Pimsleur for free for 7 days or read more about it in this Pimsleur review.
Babbel
Babbel is the best comprehensive app because it teaches all parts of the Polish language: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The course follows a logical structure and has grammar notes to show you how to apply the language. This way, you can stay engaged with your studies and continue to make steady progress. Linguists create each Babbel course separately, so the Polish course is unique and not a copy-and-paste of another language course. In my experience, Babbel is a great way to learn Polish through application rather than memorizing it. You can try 1 Babbel lesson for free, or read this complete Babbel review to learn more.
Mondly
Mondly is an excellent choice for beginners because it teaches basic Polish grammar and vocabulary to help you navigate daily scenarios. You can follow the app’s structured lesson plan to start learning the most common Polish words, or study vocabulary that you’re interested in. This way, you can learn vocabulary useful for traveling, handling emergencies, ordering at restaurants, and more. I like that Mondly uses a mix of modern features like a chatbot and AR lessons to ensure you know how to use the language in context. Mondly offers a 7-day free trial so you can test it out, or you can read this Mondly review to learn more about the app.
Take an Online Polish Course
If you prefer structure in your study, signing up for an online Polish course can help you follow a step-by-step plan to continually expand your knowledge. Many Polish learners struggle when deciding what to study next, but with online courses, you can follow a set curriculum to stay on track. Online Polish courses often include additional materials to polish your skills, and some even provide personalized help. Learn Polish From 0 To Hero, Smart Vision School, and Po Polsku Po Polsce are popular online courses you can complete to reach the next level of language effectively.
Commitment: High
Price: Medium-High
Convenience: Medium
Learn Polish From 0 To Hero
Learn Polish From 0 To Hero is a popular course on the Udemy platform you can take to develop basic Polish conversational skills. The goal is to get you communicating in Polish by focusing on vocabulary, common grammar topics, and speaking in everyday situations. The course contains 166 lectures as well as quizzes and downloadable PDFs that help you study the material on your own. If you want to start learning Polish, but don’t know what to study first, I think this is a good introductory resource. You can learn more about it here, or read this overall review of the Udemy platform for more information.
Smart Vision School
With Smart Vision School, you can learn Polish with a qualified teacher. To me, this is the best resource for self-study learners who are used to studying in classroom settings because you take live group classes (4-8 students). You can interact with other students, participate, and receive immediate feedback from your teacher. There are a variety of courses available, including weekend-only classes, classes for children, and individual lessons. To learn more about the courses available or get in contact with a teacher, take a look at the Smart Vision School website.
Po Polsku Po Polsce
Po Polsku Po Polsce is an entirely free course that teaches you the basics of Polish (A1 on the CEFR scale). It’s a collaborative effort between the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Jagiellonian University to promote learning the Polish language and culture. The course contains 16 detailed lessons with interactive practice exercises. If you’re learning Polish to travel to Poland, you can also use this course to learn more about the country, culture, and history while you study the language. It is great for beginner learners, but I think it’s also essential if you’re preparing for a trip. You can check out the course here.
Find an Online Polish Tutor
Taking online classes with a Polish tutor brings all the benefits of an in-person class to the comfort of your home. Finding someone to practice speaking Polish can be hard depending on where you live, but with an online tutor, you can improve your skills and learn how the language is spoken in Poland. Taking classes with a tutor is the most effective way to improve speaking and comprehension skills. You can choose on what skill you want to work and develop it. italki, Preply and E-polish are three reputable platforms that can help you find the best Polish tutor for your learning style and budget.
Commitment: Medium
Price: Medium-High
Convenience: Medium
italki
italki is a platform that lets you take online classes with a native Polish tutor. Currently, there are about 100 tutors available for classes, and you can search their profiles to see their bio, price, and availability. Since teachers set their prices, there’s a wide range of options to fit all budgets. What I like the most about italki is that you can message your teachers to let them know what you’d like to study. All teachers create their own curriculum, and most of them offer a discounted trial class so there’s a lot of flexibility. You can read more about the platform in this italki review.
Preply
Similar to italki, Preply is a secure platform where you connect with Polish tutors to practice all areas of language. You visit teachers’ profiles to see their prices and past student reviews. This way, you make sure they’re the best option for you. Preply offers a satisfaction guarantee, so if you aren’t happy with your first trial class, you can take a class with a different teacher. You can read more about it in this Preply review.
E-polish
E-polish is a language school located in Krakow, Poland. They offer online courses or 1-on-1 lessons with a qualified teacher. You choose your teacher and they create a curriculum based on what you want to learn. What makes this a great place to learn Polish is the options it offers: you can take intensive Polish courses or study the culture. They also have specialized courses like Polish for lawyers and Polish for business. Some teachers offer a free class to see if they’re a good fit, or you can learn more about the school on the E-polish website.
Study with High-Quality Polish Books
Books are a classic way to study the Polish language, and they have proven to be an effective learning method. They include detailed descriptions of grammar topics and practice exercises to check your understanding. If you’re having trouble understanding Polish verb conjugation and sentence structure, books have a mix of thorough explanations and interactive materials to help you tackle your doubts. Polish For Dummies, POLSKI Krok Po Kroku, and Polish Tutor are three options with high-quality lessons to ensure you truly understand how to apply the language.
Commitment: Low
Price: Medium
Convenience: Medium
Polish For Dummies
Polish For Dummies is an excellent overview for beginners of the Polish language. It includes a little bit of everything, including greetings, pronunciation, vocabulary, and facts about Polish culture. It also comes with a CD (or downloadable audio) to help you practice speaking and listening to Polish. I included this book because it provides a comprehensive walkthrough that takes you from basic topics like introductions and greetings to advanced-level lessons for verb conjugation, modal forms, and the conditional mood. You can read more about the book here.
POLSKI Krok Po Kroku
POLSKI Krok Po Kroku is an immersive way to learn because there are very few translations. Therefore, it’s a better choice if you have some experience with the language or are learning with a tutor. Because the goal of this book is to help you reach the level of Polish you need to communicate with fluency, it comes with an online version with audio and interactive exercises to reinforce what you’ve learned. You can hear dialogues, click on words to see translations, and check the answers to the practice questions. Click here to learn more about the book.
Polish Tutor
Polish Tutor is a vocabulary and grammar workbook that has 20 learning units. Each unit has grammar explanations, tutor hints, and extensive practice exercises. I recommend this book for A2-B2 (high beginner-intermediate) learners because its lessons focus on improving your already existing skills. My favorite part of this book is that it comes with writing exercises you can complete to put your skills to the test as well as helpful infographics that provide extra context for vocabulary and grammar use. Find out more about the book here.
Watch Polish YouTube Videos
Watching YouTube videos is an unconventional way to learn Polish, but it can also be one of the most fun! With YouTube channels, you can train your ear to become accustomed to spoken Polish or test your understanding. In addition, there are many channels with Polish lessons for vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and interviews you can watch to discover more about life in Poland. The three YouTube channels listed below all have thousands of subscribers and tons of free videos you can watch to polish your language skills.
Commitment: Low
Price: Low
Convenience: High
Learn Polish With Monika
Monika is a popular YouTuber who makes videos to teach Polish pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Her videos are generally short and include useful topics like how to say your phone number and 100 common phrases in Polish. The videos about confusing words and pronunciation are helpful if you are having trouble understanding the language. Her content is aimed at beginner learners, but I also recommend it to Polish learners looking to dust off their skills. She has 85 videos for you to learn from and posts a new video every week or two. You can check out her YouTube channel here.
Easy Polish
Easy Polish is part of the Easy Languages project that takes language learning to the streets. They interview people from Poland on common language and cultural topics. It’s an excellent way to hear how the language is really spoken and learn some new slang words. They speak completely in Polish, but there are captions to help you follow along. However, I think this channel is better for learners with some previous knowledge of the language because it works best as a way to test your listening skills. There are 124 videos and new videos get uploaded twice a month. You can see their videos on the Easy Polish YouTube channel.
Its Ewelina
The It’s Ewelina YouTube channel is a bit of a mix-bag. She has videos in Polish and English. Her Polish videos focus on teaching the language. You can watch her videos to learn words for holidays, sing the Polish national anthem, and discover popular slang and sayings. If you’re new to the language, I recommend starting with her Learn Polish Language playlist. There are over 360 videos available, and she’s continually uploading new videos. You can check out the Its Ewelina channel here.
Listen to Polish Podcasts
Podcasts are another great way to hear how Polish is spoken, and they are great resources to learn on the go. Since they are audio-based, you can listen to them while you’re doing other activities, like working out, walking the dog, or shopping for groceries. There’s a wide variety, so you can use them to work on your language skills or learn more about the life and culture in Poland. PolishPod101, Real Polish, and Learn Polish Podcast have hundreds of episodes that will help you master listening and pronunciation.
Commitment: Low
Price: Low
Convenience: High
PolishPod101
PolishPod101 is an app and online platform that features hundreds of podcast-style lessons. Each Polish lesson includes a transcript, lesson notes, and practice activities to offer you a comprehensive learning experience. It’s a good choice for all levels because it has content for beginners through advanced learners. Beginner lessons teach the basics of the language and intermediate and advanced lessons move toward Polish culture and total immersion in the language. You can try PolishPod101 for free for 7 days to see if it’s a good choice for you.
Real Polish
Piotr is from Warsaw and started the Real Polish podcast to help people learn how the language is spoken naturally. He has different series of episodes, such as Polish stories, idioms, and news from Poland. What makes this podcast a great option is the fact that it teaches you both colloquial and formal Polish. His podcast is best for intermediate to advanced learners because his episodes are completely in Polish. All the episodes are available for free. You can also join the VIP Club to get access to the transcripts and additional material.
Learn Polish Podcast
Learn Polish Podcast is a completely free resource designed to help Polish language learners by exposing them to the language. The podcast host speaks entirely in Polish, but each episode includes a transcript so you can follow along. The episodes are short and cover a wide variety of topics like Halloween, how to learn a language, and her personal opinions on divisive topics. The goal of this podcast is to help you acquire conversational skills. Still, there are also important cultural notes about Polish customs, history, the job market, and much more. You can listen to all the episodes for free on your favorite podcast player like Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
How to Learn Polish: Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this guide has given you inspiration and ideas on how you can start/continue your Polish language learning journey. Whatever method you prefer to study with, dedication and practice are key to seeing improvement. Continual practice every day is preferable to random study sessions when you have the time. If you set aside time in your busy schedule to study, you’ll see continual progress in your learning.
Want to learn more? Check out our Polish resource page.
How to Learn Polish: FAQ
According to the US Department of State, it takes 1,100 class hours to learn Polish. This number is only an estimate and depends on other factors such as your natural capability to attain languages and if you speak a similar language.
To see how long it will take you to learn Polish, check out this Fluency Calculator.
The best way to learn Polish quickly is to use a variety of learning methods and immerse yourself in the language as much as possible. For example, you can use a language app or take online classes to learn the basics of Polish. But it’s also useful to find authentic material in Polish, such as shows, newspapers, or online forums to be exposed to how Polish is spoken in a natural context.
There are many ways to learn Polish at home, such as using a language app or taking online classes with a Polish tutor. To find an effective way for you to study, you should consider how you prefer learning. For example, a textbook includes detailed explanations, but a language app is more interactive. It’s best to use a variety of resources to practice all skills and improve in all language skills.
Polish is considered a difficult language for English speakers to learn because the two languages have significant differences. Polish is a Slavic language that has different letters than English, which uses the Latin alphabet. There are also significant differences in grammar, such as the use of gender in nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. But it’s not impossible to learn Polish! With the help of some effective learning tools, you can reach a conversational level of Polish quickly.
To learn Polish, there are many ways to get to a basic level, such as using a language app or taking an online course. But if you want to become fluent in Polish, eventually you’ll need to practice with someone who speaks the language fluently. You can take a class at a local language academy, take classes with an online tutor, or even find a language exchange partner with an app like Tandem or HelloTalk. Speaking and conversation are often the most difficult language skills to improve, but are necessary if you want to reach a fluent level of Polish.
The number of free resources to learn Polish is constantly growing. You can use an app, such as Duolingo, which offers it’s entire Polish course for free. Other apps, such as PolishPod101 and Memrise have free content available. If you’re a beginner, the Po Polsku Po Polsce course is available for free thanks to a collaboration with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Jagiellonian University.
