Polish is the state language of the Polish Republic. It is a member, with Czech, Slovak and Sorbian, of the western sub-group of the Slavonic languages, a family which includes Bulgarian, Russian, Ukrainian and other languages. As well as nearly forty million speakers in Poland itself, Polish is spoken by an estimated ten million Poles abroad.

If you want to progress quickly from the basics to understanding, speaking and writing Polish with confidence, then Teach Yourself Polish is the book/CD course for you. Although aimed at those with no previous knowledge, it is equally suitable for anyone wishing to brush up existing knowledge for a holiday or business trip. Key structures and vocabulary are introduced in 20 thematic units progressing from introducing yourself and dealing with everyday situations to talking about the past and making plans. You will become familiar with many aspects of life in Poland as well as the language. The emphasis is on communication throughout with important language structures introduced through dialogues in each unit. These build up to give you a command of the essential phrases that you will need on a trip to Poland. There are plenty of exercises to practise the language as it is introduced and tips throughout to help with grammar.

The new edition retains the tried-and-tested structure of the lessons but has been updated. The new page design makes the book more attractive and user-friendly for the self-access learner. New features in this edition include:

- an English-Polish vocabulary,

- headings in English to make it easier to find your way around the book,

- a taking it further section directing you to further sources of Polish.

The accompanying CD provides approximately 70 minutes of listening material. The CD (0 340 87090 7) and book (0 340 87088 5) can also be purchased separately.