Scottish Independent Media

By Claire Elliot

A YOUNG Polish girl is acting as an English translator at her Scottish school - after becoming fluent in the language in just three months.

Martyna Zielinska, 12, never spoke a word of English until she moved to Aberdeen.

But following special lessons using various aids, including computer games, she is now helping the growing number of Polish pupils at her school, and their families, get to grips with the language.

Martyna, who attends the city’s Kittybrewster Primary, where English is a second language for almost a third of pupils, helps them to fill in forms and translate information for them.

The primary seven pupil has also excelled herself at English writing, to gain a special commendation in a national writing contest.

In recognition of her accomplishments, Martyna has now been nominated for a Special Success award as part of Aberdeen City Council’s Children and Young People’s Service Awards 2009, which will be held on June 12.

The youngster, who was speaking and writing English with ease after just three months of arriving in Aberdeen in December 2006, said: “My friends and teachers helped me with English.

“It is easier for me to write in English than in Polish now. Sometimes I forget the spelling in Polish because I am so used to writing in English at school.”

 Martyna impressed the judges so much with her entry in the Loch of Mey Monster story-writing competition, aimed at children across Scotland, that she won a special commendation for her efforts.

She said: “I am proud and very happy to have achieved what I have.

“If I was in Poland I wouldn’t have been able to do all that because they don’t do story writing there.

 “At school my teachers have been very kind and I enjoy my lessons.”

 The youngster, who will go to St Machar Academy after the summer, grew up in Tychy, a city around 70 miles from the Polish capital Krakow.

But she moved to Scotland with her parents Pawel, 42, and Bozena, 36, and brother Kamil, 17, in search of a better life.

Martyna, who had never even been to the beach until she moved to Scotland, is now one of 25 Polish children at her school, seven of which are in her primary seven class.

She said it made her “happy” to be able to translate for other Polish families, adding: “You get more chance to get a better job here.”

 Her mother Bozena, who is a helper at the school, said: “The teachers have been very good for Martyna.

“She is a fast learner and I am very proud of her.”

 Head teacher Ian Macindoe said Polish children like Martyna had brought a lot to the school, which was recently saved from closure.

“Martyna is an absolute star," he added. "She has a terrific attitude towards her work. She really wants to push herself and do her best.

“She is a nice girl and we will be sorry to see her go when she moves up to the academy.”