Saying goodbye to Russian
Research shows that 55 percent of adult Poles claim that they are able to understand an article, radio or a TV program in a foreign language. The study by the TNS OBOP research center indicates that Russian remains the most widely understood language among Poles, with 28 percent declaring understanding of a media information provided in that language.
English followed with 23 percent understanding an article or a program in that language and German earned third place as the most widely understood tongue with 14 percent. Only two percent declared a knowledge of French, with one percent claiming they are able to understand Czech, Ukrainian or Italian.
Another study, carried out in June 2004 by CBOS, shows that although Russian is still the most widely understood language, English is the most popular one among the younger generation.
Fifty four percent of young people (aged 18-24) declared a knowledge of English, 22 percent speak German and only 13 percent claim they can understand Russian. Among those aged 25-34 the difference is not so large, with 21 percent understanding English and 19 percent declaring a working knowledge of Russian.
Russians begins to dominate the findings in age groups over 35 years-old. This can be easily explained by the fact that Russian was mandatory during the communist period and was then neglected in the 1990s when English took over as the preferred foreign language.
Unfortunately, Poles aren't exactly polyglots with 39 percent declaring they understand information passed in one foreign language. Only 14 percent say would have no problems understanding two languages and just two percent declared that they are trilingual. Forty five percent of Poles admit that they do not understand any foreign language.
Knowledge of foreign languages is heavily dependent on age, education, material status and geographical position. The general trends show that the younger people surveyed had a better understanding of foreign languages. Eighty two percent of university graduates declared knowledge of a foreign language compared to 66 percent of those with a high-school education. Only 39 percent of those with vocational school background said they had knowledge of a foreign language.
Fifty three percent of those inhabiting rural areas declared that they wouldn't understand information presented in a foreign language, while in the cities 59 percent felt comfortable with reading articles or listening to programs that are not in Polish.
English followed with 23 percent understanding an article or a program in that language and German earned third place as the most widely understood tongue with 14 percent. Only two percent declared a knowledge of French, with one percent claiming they are able to understand Czech, Ukrainian or Italian.
Another study, carried out in June 2004 by CBOS, shows that although Russian is still the most widely understood language, English is the most popular one among the younger generation.
Fifty four percent of young people (aged 18-24) declared a knowledge of English, 22 percent speak German and only 13 percent claim they can understand Russian. Among those aged 25-34 the difference is not so large, with 21 percent understanding English and 19 percent declaring a working knowledge of Russian.
Russians begins to dominate the findings in age groups over 35 years-old. This can be easily explained by the fact that Russian was mandatory during the communist period and was then neglected in the 1990s when English took over as the preferred foreign language.
Unfortunately, Poles aren't exactly polyglots with 39 percent declaring they understand information passed in one foreign language. Only 14 percent say would have no problems understanding two languages and just two percent declared that they are trilingual. Forty five percent of Poles admit that they do not understand any foreign language.
Knowledge of foreign languages is heavily dependent on age, education, material status and geographical position. The general trends show that the younger people surveyed had a better understanding of foreign languages. Eighty two percent of university graduates declared knowledge of a foreign language compared to 66 percent of those with a high-school education. Only 39 percent of those with vocational school background said they had knowledge of a foreign language.
Fifty three percent of those inhabiting rural areas declared that they wouldn't understand information presented in a foreign language, while in the cities 59 percent felt comfortable with reading articles or listening to programs that are not in Polish.
