Learn Polish: Proszę czytać.

When you use proszę to ask someone to do something, you usually follow it with the infinitive (the basic dictionary form) of the verb. You don't need to conjugate it. Proszę followed by czytać is a standard, polite way to give an instruction meaning "Please read."

Is this how you would normally tell a friend to read something?

No, proszę followed by the infinitive is quite formal. It sounds like a polite instruction from someone in a position of authority, like a teacher speaking to a class or an official talking to the public. With a friend, you would use an informal command form instead.

I know proszę means "please", but does it have other meanings?

Yes! While it acts exactly like "please" here, proszę literally means "I am asking" or "I request". You will also hear it used as a polite "You are welcome" (after someone says thank you) or "Here you go" (when handing a physical object to someone).

How do I pronounce the two different "ch" sounds in czytać?

The cz at the beginning is a hard sound, similar to the "ch" in the English word "chalk" but with your tongue curled slightly back. The ć at the end is a very soft sound, closer to the "ch" in "cheek". Paying attention to the difference between hard and soft sounds will really help your Polish accent!