Day 35: One and a Half Norwid Readers
During office hours at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Szymon (A), a Polish studies student, brings his rewritten essay to Professor Grażyna Sobieraj (B), an expert on the poet Cyprian Norwid.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
- Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a Polish word to see what it means.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Polish, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning
-
A
Dzień dobry, pani profesor. Przyniosłem esej o Norwidzie, poprawiony zgodnie z pani uwagami, czyli krótszy o dwie trzecie.
Good morning, Professor. I've brought my essay on Norwid, revised in line with your comments, which means it's two thirds shorter.
-
B
Znakomicie. Po przeczytaniu pierwszej wersji odniosłam wrażenie, że Norwid służy panu jedynie za pretekst do popisów.
Excellent. Having read the first version, I was left with the impression that Norwid served you merely as a pretext for showing off.
-
A
Popisy zostawiam innym. Czy to przypadkiem nie panią widziałem wczoraj na slamie poetyckim w „Od Nowie”?
I leave showing off to others. Wasn't it you, by any chance, that I saw at the poetry slam at the Od Nowa club last night?
-
B
Nie przypominam sobie udziału w imprezie tego rodzaju. Czwartkowe wieczory poświęcam na przygotowywanie wykładów.
I have no recollection of taking part in an event of that kind. I devote my Thursday evenings to preparing lectures.
-
A
Szkoda, bo wygrała niejaka Ciotka Cypriana, która zdobyła trzy czwarte głosów wierszem o pisaniu wniosków grantowych.
Pity, because the winner was someone called Cyprian's Auntie, who took three quarters of the votes with a poem about writing grant applications.
-
B
Zbieżność imion jest zupełnie przypadkowa. Zresztą Norwida czyta dziś w Polsce najwyżej półtora człowieka.
Any resemblance of names is purely coincidental. Besides, Norwid is read in Poland today by one and a half people at most.
-
A
Otóż to: jeden cały siedzi przede mną, a tą połówką jestem ja, bo z „Vade-mecum” przeczytałem dopiero połowę.
Precisely: the whole one is sitting in front of me, and I'm the half, because I've only read half of Vade-mecum so far.
-
B
No dobrze, byłam tam. Wyłącznie w celu przeprowadzenia badań terenowych nad współczesną recepcją Norwida.
All right, I was there. Solely for the purpose of conducting field research into the contemporary reception of Norwid.
-
A
W cekinowej kamizelce i z rymem „habilitacja, frustracja”? Imponująca metodologia, pani profesor.
In a sequinned waistcoat, and with the rhyme 'habilitation, frustration'? Impressive methodology, Professor.
-
B
Metodologie bywają różne, panie Szymonie. W sobotę jest finał regionalny, a Ciotce Cypriana przydałby się siostrzeniec.
Methodologies vary, Szymon. The regional final is on Saturday, and Cyprian's Auntie could do with a nephew.
Your progress is saved in this browser only, with no sign-up. The course page and the menu show where you left off. Well done! Next up: Day 36: The Bear Grows Every Year
If this free course has helped you in your Polish journey, please consider supporting the project. It's a one-person effort, and even small contributions help keep it running and free for everyone.