Speak Polish Live

Season 1 Recap
Back in 2021, I kicked off an experimental little show where I invited Polish learners — many of them my own students — to come chat with me in Polish, live on air. It was raw, spontaneous, and full of unexpected moments.

💬 What was it all about?

Each week, 1–2 guests joined me for a Polish conversation. We talked about their journey with the language, their hometowns (hello Osaka!), their passions — from physics to accordion music — and then we’d jump into a weekly theme like interesting inventions, problem-solving games, or what it’s like to run your own business.
Screenshot from a live Polish-language stream titled 'uczenie starszych obsługi komputera' (teaching older adults to use a computer). Norbert, reacting with an amused, skeptical expression, appears below a viewer comment that reads: 'I don’t know if it’s in the government’s interest to support the elderly—the fewer retirees, the fewer pensions to pay', adding a layer of dark humor to the discussion. Also shown are two smiling guests and a stock photo of a confused elderly woman using a laptop.
Sometimes the chat would take us in totally new directions — and honestly? That was the best part. 😅

🎧 Who was it for?

Mostly intermediate and advanced Polish learners — plus a few curious native speakers who joined in the comments to cheer people on or help out with vocabulary. It was a fun, low-pressure space to listen, learn, and connect.

🌟 What worked

  • Viewers asked great questions and often helped steer the conversation — which made the show feel like a real group hangout.
  • Guests felt proud of their Polish (and rightly so!) — for many, it was their first time speaking so much Polish in front of others.
  • The atmosphere was warm and supportive — no pressure to be perfect, just real conversations with real people.
  • We had plenty of laughter, explored each other’s cultures and hobbies, and sometimes ended up in deeper, unexpected chats.
  • Sergiusz sent in a recording of his accordion performance — we played it during the stream and it was such a nice touch.
  • People connected with the rawness of it — it wasn’t a polished lesson, but a chance to see Polish in action and hear how different learners make it work.

🛠️ What didn’t (because let’s be real)

  • My tech setup was a bit… chaotic — learning to stream live while hosting wasn’t easy.
  • Sound and video quality were inconsistent — some episodes looked and sounded fine, others not so much.
  • I was doing everything solo, which made it hard to stay fully present while juggling the tech and the chat.
  • Scheduling guests was surprisingly stressful — people were busy, shy, or didn’t have the right setup to join.
  • The episodes ran long — sometimes we’d go over 90 minutes, and it was hard to keep the energy up all the way through.
  • There were no transcripts or exercises, and no “next step” after watching — it all lived and died in the livestream.

💡 What I’ve learned

Running Speak Polish Live solo taught me a lot — about pacing, planning, tech… and about what really helps learners feel seen and included.
  • I’ve learned that structure matters, even in a casual show.
  • It’s okay to start messy, but growth means making it smoother next time.
  • People appreciate a space to come back to, not just a one-off livestream.
  • Good conversations in Polish don’t have to be perfect — they just need space to happen.
Season 2 is my chance to build on all of that — and create something that’s just as spontaneous, but a little easier for everyone (including me) to enjoy. 
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Looking back, it wasn’t perfect, but it taught me a lot. And after three years of teaching, experimenting, and creating in other ways, I’m excited to bring it back — with a fresh format and a clearer sense of direction.

🎉 Season 2 is coming! 🚀 

It’s going to be tighter, lighter, and way more interactive.

👉 Curious to see the old episodes?

They’re still up on the Ecolinguist YouTube channel — grab a tea and enjoy some very real Polish conversations.
👇 Or just watch the clip below — it’s a captioned highlight from one of our live shows.
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