Looking for the best Polish textbooks?
See, some people like learning with courses.
Others want language apps. And some people like learning with textbooks.
And Polish textbooks are a simple way to learn Polish. Why?
Books guide you from page 0, to page 1, to page 3… to page 100. From your first words to your first conversation. You learn tons of words and grammar rules along the way.
So, in this guide, you’ll find some of the best Polish textbooks and phrasebooks.
Notes
- Be careful about getting books on Kindle. The formatting may differ from the print version.
1. Complete Polish Beginner to Intermediate Course
This may be one of the best Polish textbooks out there.
- Pages: 320
- By: Teach Yourself
Like most, you learn dialogues, grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, but that’s not all. The book includes exercises and tests inside the book to force you to practice what you’ve learned.
- Strength: Good, well-rounded textbook with exercises.
Also, you can get audio files for the dialogues to practice your listening skills.
2. Polish For Dummies
Despite the name, Polish for Dummies is a solid textbook and deserves to be on the list of best Polish textbooks. Why?
- Pages: 442
- By: For Dummies
- Strengths: Comprehensive textbook
You learn all the basic grammar, pronunciation, phrases, conversations, and words you’d need as a beginner. The book is very simple to understand and comes with audio to help you master the conversations.
3. Hurra!!! Po Polsku: Student’s Textbook Volume 1
- Pages: 168
- By: Prolog
Classes use this textbook… which means you can rely on it. Or, if classrooms scare you, it will be a miss for you.
- Strength: Good, well-rounded textbook with exercises.
The big challenge with Hurra is that everything is in Polish. They do make it as easy as possible for you to ease into it, so it’s really up to you here – whether you want the challenge of jumping headfirst into Polish or trying another book in English
I’d highly suggest you get this only if you have a tutor or a native that can use this book along with you.
4. First Year Polish
This is another solid, well-rounded Polish textbook.
- Pages: 354
- By Slavica
- Strength: comprehensive textbook
As with most textbooks, it covers all aspects – speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Users do mention that it does do a good job of covering Polish grammar.
The one downside, if it’s a downside at all, is that the book was published in 1983. That doesn’t mean that the language is outdated though.
5. Polish: The Polish Language Learning Guide for Beginners
Despite being called a “guide,” this book definitely earns a spot among textbooks
- Pages: 400
- Independently Published
- Strengths: Exercises
You learn the basics, grammar, conversations, and with all of these — you get plenty of exercises so you can apply what you learn. A lot of textbooks lack exercises which is why this book deserves praise.
6. Polish Tutor: Grammar and Vocabulary Workbook (Learn Polish with Teach Yourself)
Why is a “workbook” on my list of best Polish textbooks?
- Pages: 224
- By Teach Yourself
- Strengths: Good for vocabulary and grammar. Good for practice and making things stick.
Well, it’s one thing to just “read” things and passively take them in. It’s another thing to practice and do exercises. Reading puts information into your head temporarily. Exercises make the information STICK like gum under the table.
Here you get 200 grammar and vocabulary exercises to help you master Polish. And yes, there’s an answer key too, so no worries.
7. Polish: A Comprehensive Grammar
Want to speak Polish and express yourself fluently? Then, you’ll need grammar.
Grammar rules give you all the ways to express yourself. So, that’s where this Polish learning book comes in.
- Pages: 672
- By Routledge
- Strength: lots and lots of grammar
Not a book for absolute beginners, but once you’ve picked up the basics from any of the textbooks here, you’d also want to get this. If you’re looking to get to a high level of Polish, you’ll find yourself referring to this every day… for all the grammar explanations (there are a lot.) Downside: No exercises.
8. CZYTAJ krok po kroku 1
You know what’s another good way to learn Polish?
Through stories.
- Pages: 72
- By polish-courses.com
- Strength: learn through stories
And this book gives you a collection of simple stories (at the A1/Absolute Beginner level) so you can improve your reading skills and boost your vocabulary. You also get audio so you can listen to the stories and read along.
It’s a good companion for whatever textbook you already have.
9. Lonely Planet Polish Phrasebook & Dictionary
If you’re learning Polish, then you’ll want a Polish dictionary…. just to load yourself up on more words.
- Pages: 256
- By Lonely Planet
That’s where this phrasebook/dictionary comes in, with over 3500 words inside. Plus, plenty of phrases for real-life situations. The phrasebook-dictionary hybrid is geared towards travelers but beginners can also make good use of it.
These are some of the best Polish textbooks and books I’ve found so far.
But, if you want something a little more than a “book,” then I recommend PolishPod101.
PolishPod101 is a Polish learning program. You get audio/video lessons made by real teachers. The lessons get you speaking in minutes and are just 3-15 minutes in length. Just press the play button below to check out a lesson.
So, if you want to HEAR real Polish and learn faster with a program, I recommend them.
Click here to get a Free Lifetime Account at PolishPod101.com.
– The Main Junkie