For the fourteenth time, students from Polish schools in Scotland faced the challenge of the complex Polish spelling rules during the "Golden Pen" Dictation competition organized by the Consulate of the Republic of Poland.
How to spell "gżegżółka" and what it means?
The Polish word "gżegżółka" (referring to a species of cuckoo) is one of the most complicated words, in which many spelling mistakes can be made. This is why the word has become a central challenge in spelling competitions for young people trying to master the tricky aspects of the Polish language.
The goal of the 14th edition of the competition is to foster respect for the Polish language among Poles, as well as to promote Polish education and Polish diaspora organizations.
The struggle with Polish spelling for bilingual students
As Joanna Ulatowska, the head of the Wojtek Bear Polish School in Scotland, mentioned in an interview with Polish Radio, the competition is a significant challenge for the participants, for whom Polish is often a second language, with English being their first.
Although the organizers emphasize that the spelling competition is primarily aimed at children attending Polish Saturday schools, there is no shortage of adults who eagerly participate in the event every year.
Keeping the Polish language alive abroad
Joanna Ulatowska, the author of all the dictation texts, notes that the competitions are now easier compared to the past, as many of the children have grown up in Scotland, with their language shaped by Polish schools abroad.
She adds that a strong knowledge of Polish, including grammar and spelling, makes it easier for these children to decide whether to return to Poland later in life.
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Source: Polish Radio/X/@EDUSwSzkocji/@RadioZagranica/@PLinEdinburgh