Day 66 of 135

Day 66: Your Humble Servant Overslept

In a student hall in Kraków, a first-year Polish studies student (A) who has slept through a test asks Konstanty (B), an older student from his floor on the same course and a lover of Old Polish, to help him write an email to Professor Zawadzka.

How to study this lesson 3 steps
  1. Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. A

    Konstanty, sprawa życia i śmierci. Zaspałem na kolokwium i muszę napisać do profesor Zawadzkiej. Mam już początek: „Witam, piszę, bo zaspałem”.

    Konstanty, it's a matter of life and death. I overslept and missed a test, and now I have to email Professor Zawadzka. I've already got the opening: 'Greetings, I'm writing because I overslept.'

  2. B

    „Witam” do pani profesor? Nieszczęśniku, „witam” mówi gospodarz, co gości przyjmuje, a nie student, co kolokwium przespał.

    'Greetings' to a professor? You poor wretch, 'greetings' is what a host says when he receives his guests, not a student who slept through a test.

  3. A

    To jak mam zacząć? „Dzień dobry” brzmi, jakbym dzwonił do kablówki.

    So how am I supposed to start? 'Good morning' makes it sound like I'm ringing the cable company.

  4. B

    Pisz: „Jaśnie Wielmożna Pani Profesor, racz wybaczyć słudze uniżonemu, iż zaspał, albowiem sen zmorzył go nad księgami”.

    Write this: 'Most Illustrious Professor, deign to forgive your humble servant for oversleeping, for slumber overcame him over his books.'

  5. A

    Nad księgami? Grałem na konsoli do czwartej. Pomyśli, że się z niej nabijam.

    Over his books? I was on the console till four. She'll think I'm taking the mickey.

  6. B

    Nabijać się to napisać „witam”. Tedy dopisz: „Przeto upraszam o poprawę, o ile Pani Profesor zechce łaskawym okiem spojrzeć na grzesznika”.

    Taking the mickey is writing 'greetings'. So add: 'Wherefore I humbly request a resit, should the Professor deign to look with a kindly eye upon a sinner.'

  7. A

    Dobra, na razie wkleję to do wersji roboczej i... Nie, nie, nie. Kliknąłem „Wyślij”.

    OK, for now I'll paste it into a draft and... No, no, no. I've clicked 'Send'.

  8. B

    Zaiste, poległeś jak rycerz. Ale nim spiszesz testament, spójrz: pani profesor już odpisała.

    Verily, you have fallen like a knight. But before you draw up your will, look: the professor has already replied.

  9. A

    „Mości studencie, list waszmości ubawił mnie przednio. Poprawa w czwartek o ósmej, jeno proszę nie zasypiać nad księgami”.

    'Worthy student, your honour's letter amused me mightily. The resit is on Thursday at eight, only pray do not fall asleep over your books.'

  10. B

    A nie mówiłem? Staropolszczyzna działa na profesorów jak balsam, albowiem nikt im tak nie pisze.

    Didn't I tell you? Old Polish works on professors like balm, for nobody writes to them like that.

  11. A

    Poza tobą. Jest dopisek: „Pozdrowienia dla pana Konstantego, którego styl rozpoznaję od razu. Na jego magisterkę czekam od dwóch lat”.

    Except you. There's a PS: 'Regards to Mr Konstanty, whose style I recognise at once. I have been waiting two years for his master's thesis.'

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 67: No Cap from Hrubieszów 


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