The first year of one's own business
A text in Polish at level B1. The translation sits next to it for checking, not for support: at this level the text is read whole, and an unknown word is usually guessed from the sentence. Two years ago I left my office job and became an entrepreneur. I got my first clients thanks to friends; a supplier…
Text
- Dwa lata temu zostawiłem pracę w biurze i zostałem przedsiębiorcą. Pierwszych kontrahentów dostałem dzięki przyjaciołom, dostawcę szukałem jednak trzy miesiące. Pierwszy rok skończył się stratą, bo zbyt dużo zainwestowałem w wyposażenie. Największy konkurent zaczął sprzedawać taniej i na kilka tygodni straciłem połowę klientów. Potem zatrudniłem pomoc i zacząłem pracować także dla sklepu internetowego. W tym roku zysk po raz pierwszy wystarczył, żeby z żoną spokojnie utrzymywać rodzinę.Two years ago I left my office job and became an entrepreneur. I got my first clients thanks to friends; a supplier, however, I looked for three months. The first year ended in a loss, because I invested too much in equipment. The biggest competitor began to sell cheaper, and for a few weeks I lost half of my clients. Then I hired an assistant and began to work for an online shop as well. This year the profit was enough for the first time for my wife and me to support the family calmly.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- What was he before his own business?
- Why did the first year end in a loss?
- What happened when the competitor lowered prices?
- What changed this year?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Polish?
B1. That means: everyday topics are behind you, you know about three thousand words, and an unknown word is more often guessed from the sentence than looked up.
How to read a text in an unfamiliar language usefully?
First all the way through without peeking at the translation — just to catch the familiar words. Then with the translation. Then all the way through again: the second pass brings noticeably more, and that feeling matters more than any rule.