Learn how to ask and answer the question, "What do you do?"
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Betsey: In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll master a common question for Polish learners, and then learn how to answer it like a native. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations. |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| Betsey: In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question What do you do? In Polish this is |
| Joanna: Czym się zajmujesz? |
| Betsey: The first word in the question is |
| Joanna: czym |
| Betsey: which is the word “what”, in the locative case. |
| Joanna: (Slow, by syllable) czym |
| Betsey: Listen again and repeat. |
| Joanna: czym |
| {Pause} |
| Betsey: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question is |
| Joanna: się |
| Betsey: meaning “oneself.” |
| Joanna: (Slow, by syllable) się |
| Betsey: Now repeat. |
| Joanna: się |
| {Pause} |
| Listen to the the first 2 words of the question and repeat. |
| Joanna: czym się |
| {pause} |
| And after that |
| Joanna: zajmujesz |
| Betsey: meaning “occupy yourself”. |
| Joanna: (Slow, by syllable) zajmujesz |
| Betsey: Now repeat. |
| Joanna: zajmujesz |
| {Pause} |
| Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Joanna: czym się zajmujesz |
| {pause} |
| Betsey: You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies. Master the following pattern and responses to the question “What do you do?” |
| Joanna: Jestem nauczycielem. |
| Betsey: "I'm a teacher.” Again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Joanna: (Slow) Jestem nauczycielem. |
| {pause} |
| Betsey: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word: |
| Joanna: jestem |
| Betsey: meaning “I am. “ |
| Joanna: (Slow, by syllable) jestem |
| Betsey: Now repeat |
| Joanna: jestem |
| {Pause} |
| Betsey: And after that |
| Joanna: nauczycielem |
| meaning “teacher.” |
| Joanna: (Slow, by syllable) nauczycielem |
| Betsey: Now repeat. |
| Joanna: nauczycielem |
| {Pause} |
| Betsey: Listen to the speaker say, I'm a teacher., and then repeat. |
| Joanna: Jestem nauczycielem. |
| {pause} |
| Betsey: To expand on the pattern, replace teacher with doctor. |
| Joanna: lekarzem |
| Betsey: doctor |
| Joanna: (slow) lekarzem (regular) lekarzem |
| Betsey: Listen to the phrase again, this time with doctor |
| Joanna: Jestem lekarzem. |
| Betsey: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace teacher. Say I'm a doctor. |
| {pause} |
| Joanna: Jestem lekarzem. |
| Betsey: To expand on the pattern, replace doctor with student. |
| Joanna: studentem |
| Betsey: student |
| Joanna: (slow) studentem (regular) studentem |
| Betsey: Listen to the phrase again, this time with student |
| Joanna: Jestem studentem. |
| Betsey: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace doctor. Say I'm a student. |
| {pause} |
| Joanna: Jestem studentem. |
| Betsey: To use a different phrase, replace student with businessman. |
| Joanna: biznesmenem |
| Betsey: businessman |
| Joanna: (slow) biznesmenem (regular) biznesmenem |
| Betsey: Listen to the phrase again, this time with businessman |
| Joanna: Jestem biznesmenem. |
| Betsey: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace student. Say I'm a businessman. |
| {pause} |
| Joanna: Jestem biznesmenem. |
| QUIZ |
| Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you are visiting Poland and someone asks what you do. You are a teacher. Respond to the question. |
| Joanna: Czym się zajmujesz? (five seconds) Jestem nauczycielem. |
| Betsey: Imagine you are a doctor Respond to the question. |
| Joanna: Czym się zajmujesz? (five seconds) Jestem lekarzem. |
| Betsey: Imagine you are a student. . Answer the speaker's question. |
| Joanna: Czym się zajmujesz? (five seconds) Jestem studentem. |
| Betsey: Imagine you're businessman. Respond to the question. |
| Joanna: Czym się zajmujesz? (five seconds) Jestem biznesmenem. |
| Betsey: You want to learn what that person does. Ask the question |
| (5 seconds) |
| Joanna: Czym się zajmujesz? |
| {pause} |
| Betsey: Now it's time to answer the question with actual information about yourself. |
Outro |
| Betsey: This is the end of Lesson 4 |
Comments
HidePlease give your answer to the question below! You can check the question in the lesson.
Cześć Anirudh,
Dziękuję za cierpliwość.
Yes, in that case sentence ”Jestem studentem w Indiach“ is correct.
Również dwa kolejne zdania są poprawne.
Cheers!
Hanna,
Team PolishPod101.com
Witaj Pani ,
Since I am a student in India, I would say , " Jestem studentem w Indiach ".
Czy zdania są poprawne ?
Mieszkam obecnie w Ukrainie.
Oni pracują w Francji / Włoszech.
Dziękuję za pomoc !
Witaj Anirudh,
"Jestem studentem w Indiach" means "I am a student in India".
"Jestem studentem z Indii" means "I am a student from India".
Which one is correct if it is about you?
Pozdrowienia,
Hanna
Team PolishPod101.com
Witaj ,
Jestem studentem w Indiach.
Cześć Daniel,
Dzięki za komentarz!
Yes, it is correct to say "Jestem programistą".
You can say "programista" (man), "programistka" (woman) or "twórca oprogramowania" (man).
Cheers! :)
Hanna
Team PolishPod101.com
Cześć!
I am a software developer, is it correct to say
Jestem programistą
Is there a difference between male and female on the professions?
Hi Elaine
'Spanish teacher' in Polish is 'nauczycielka hiszpańskiego' (fem.). If you would like to say: 'I am a Spanish teacher' you would say: 'Jestem nauczycielką hiszpańskiego.'
Cheers,
Basia
Team PolishPod101.com
How do you say "spanish teacher" (female)
Hi Jules
It's always nice to meet fellow teacher:)
The correct female form is: Jestem nauczycielką niemieckiego.
Cheers,
Basia
Team PolishPod101.com
Jestem nauczycielce niemieckiego.
Is this correct for "I'm a German teacher (female)"?
Hi Dave
Jestem kierowcą ciężarówki - is correct for male and female. Verb 'kierowca' doesn't have female version, we use it for both female and male truck drivers (not like: Polak/Polka: has both female and male version)
I hope that helps, but if you have any more questions, please just let me know.
Cheers:sunglasses:
Basia
Team PolishPad101.com
Jestem Dawid.
Jestem Kierowcą ciężarówki - I am a truck driver. Is this correct?
Also, wouldn't these answers change if the person answering was female? The same as the answers do below?
Jestem Polakiem - I'm a Pole (male).
Jestem polką - I'm a Pole (female).