Lesson 4 – Self Intro

Welcome back! By now, you’ve learned some essential Polish phrases for introducing yourself, including your age, where you live, and what you do. In this lesson, we’ll revise what you’ve learned so far and take a closer look at the grammar behind these sentences. Don’t worry—we’ll keep it simple and practical!

Revising Self-Introductions

Let’s start by revisiting the key phrases from the previous lessons. Practice saying these out loud, and try mixing and matching them to create your own unique introduction:

1. Mam 25 lat. – I am 25 years old.
   (Replace “25” with your age!)
2. Mieszkam w Warszawie. – I live in Warsaw.
   (Swap “Warsaw” for your city or town.)
3. Jestem studentem / studentką. – I am a student.
   (Use studentem if you’re male, studentką if you’re female.)
4. Pracuję jako inżynier. – I work as an engineer.
   (Change “inżynier” to your profession, e.g., nauczyciel – teacher, lekarz – doctor.)

📌 Practice Tip: Record yourself saying these sentences. Listen back and compare your pronunciation to native speakers (you can find examples on YouTube or language apps like Forvo).

Going Deeper: The Grammar Behind the Sentences

Now, let’s break down the grammar in these sentences. Understanding the basics will help you build your own sentences more confidently.

1. Mam 25 lat. – I am 25 years old.
   • Mam means “I have.” In Polish, you “have” years instead of “being” a certain age.
   • Lat is the genitive plural form of rok (year). After numbers, Polish uses the genitive case.
   • Example: Mam 30 lat. (I am 30 years old.)
2. Mieszkam w Warszawie. – I live in Warsaw.
   • Mieszkam means “I live.” It’s a verb in the present tense.
   • W means “in.” It’s a preposition that requires the locative case.
   • Warszawie is the locative form of Warszawa (Warsaw). Cities and towns often change their endings in the locative case.
   • Example: Mieszkam w Krakowie. (I live in Krakow.)
3. Jestem studentem / studentką. – I am a student.
   • Jestem means “I am.” It’s the first-person singular form of the verb być (to be).
   • Studentem is the instrumental case for males, and studentką is the instrumental case for females. The instrumental case is used after jestem to describe what or who you are.
   • Example: Jestem nauczycielem. (I am a teacher – male.) / Jestem nauczycielką. (I am a teacher – female.)
4. Pracuję jako inżynier. – I work as an engineer.
   • Pracuję means “I work.” It’s the first-person singular form of the verb pracować (to work).
   • Jako means “as.” It doesn’t change, so you can use it with any profession.
   • Example: Pracuję jako lekarz. (I work as a doctor.)

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the sentences with your own information:
   • Mam ___ lat.
   • Mieszkam w ___.
   • Jestem ___ (use studentem or studentką if you’re a student, or your profession).
   • Pracuję jako ___.
2. Mix and Match:
   Create 3 different self-introductions using the phrases you’ve learned. For example:
   • Cześć! Mam 28 lat. Mieszkam w Poznaniu. Jestem nauczycielką.
   • Hej! Mam 22 lata. Mieszkam w Gdańsku. Jestem studentem.
   • Dzień dobry! Mam 35 lat. Mieszkam w Krakowie. Pracuję jako lekarz.
3. Grammar Challenge:
   Change the following sentences to match your details. Pay attention to the cases:
   • Ona mieszka w Warszawie. (She lives in Warsaw.) → Change “Warsaw” to your city.
   • On jest inżynierem. (He is an engineer.) → Change “engineer” to your profession.
   • Ona ma 30 lat. (She is 30 years old.) → Change the age to your age.

Cultural Tip: Formal vs. Informal Introductions

In Polish, the way you introduce yourself can change depending on the situation. For example:

• Formal: Use Dzień dobry (Good day) and Nazywam się… (My name is…) when meeting someone in a professional setting.
• Informal: Use Cześć (Hi) or Hej (Hey) with friends or people your age.

Example:

• Formal: Dzień dobry, nazywam się Anna Kowalska. Mam 28 lat. Mieszkam w Warszawie.
• Informal: Cześć, jestem Anna. Mam 28 lat. Mieszkam w Warszawie.

Homework

1. Write a short paragraph introducing yourself in Polish. Include your age, where you live, and what you do.
2. Practice saying your introduction out loud until it feels natural.
3. Bonus: Look up how to say your profession in Polish if you haven’t learned it yet.

That’s it for Lesson 4! You’re doing great—keep practicing, and soon you’ll be introducing yourself in Polish like a pro. Do zobaczenia! (See you soon!)