With whom is it more effective to learn the basics of Polish? Should I choose a Russian-speaking professional teacher or a native Polish speaker with no pedagogical education? Let's find out together.
It is easy to find a native speaker on social networks who is willing to teach you to speak Polish for a small fee. Often these are people with no specialised education. They have no idea about the methods of teaching Polish as a foreign language. Their main advantage, as it may seem at first glance, is that Polish is their native language. But for a foreigner who is just starting to learn the language, this is a disadvantage rather than a plus.
Let's compare lessons with a native speaker without professional training with lessons taught by a professional teacher.
The native speakers usually talk a lot themselves and do not let the students talk. They correct every mistake in speech. As a result, the student keeps silent more and the language barrier only gets stronger. A professional teacher, on the other hand, knows how to motivate and get the silent learners talking.
The native speaker often uses the method of associations that only he/she understands when explaining the material. At the beginning of the training, students do not understand even half of what he tells them. A teacher, on the other hand, uses well-established teaching methods. He is able to explain and convey important information in an accessible way. A professional knows what to pay close attention to. He always deals with typical mistakes of foreigners. And also in his work the teacher uses special games to remove the language barrier. Understands in what time the student will be able to master a particular programme.
A native speaker only knows how to say it correctly, but cannot explain why the phrase sounds like that. Most likely, in response you will hear: "It is correct to say it this way, remember it." And why, what rule is used here, what are the alternatives, nuances - for you will remain "behind the scenes". In other words, a native speaker speaks without thinking and without knowing how to teach it to others. In contrast, a professional teacher has gone from "zero" to mastering the language perfectly, which means that he or she can teach it to his or her students.
