Job Discussion Forums

delphian-domine · Joined: 11 Mar 2011 Posts: 674

Does anyone know of good places to place advertisements for teachers?

Dave's doesn't really fit with the kind of person that we want, and TES is hideously expensive - money that we would rather spend on equipment.

TwinCentre · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 273 Location: Mokotow

I have some experience of looking for self-employed teachers to work for/with me...and gumtree has been the best bet on my budget...which sounds similar to yours.

simon_porter00 · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 505 Location: Warsaw, Poland

You can put it on my website www.teachingenglishinpoland.com if you wish, free of charge, it's getting quite a large audience at the moment.

ecocks · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 899 Location: Gdansk, Poland

Infinite · Joined: 05 Jan 2013 Posts: 235

This here is a great site with teacher bios, locations etc etc... definitely worth checking out.

http://www.nativespeaker.com.pl/

Good Luck!

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

ecocks · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 899 Location: Gdansk, Poland

I have been surprised at TEFL.com's consistency of late. They are fast-becoming the leading general place to look due to their organization and ability to set news-feeds.

Infinite · Joined: 05 Jan 2013 Posts: 235

I found the nativespeaker site to be extremely helpful. Helped me with two jobs at respectable schools, a voice-over gig and a small part on TV.

delphian-domine · Joined: 11 Mar 2011 Posts: 674

Infinite · Joined: 05 Jan 2013 Posts: 235

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

If you have no qualifications other than being a native and having 'taught' before, you have to accept much less.

On the flip side, anyone who has at least a CELTA and charges 35zl/hr needs to seriously rethink their game plan.

Poles, by and large, have cottoned on to the fact that you have to pay more for quality lessons. But there will always be a few (mostly student types, I think) who just want to shoot the breeze with some dude all the way from Oklahoma on the cheap.

With teachers, as with lawyers, you usually get what you pay for.

Infinite · Joined: 05 Jan 2013 Posts: 235

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

ecocks · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 899 Location: Gdansk, Poland

Strictly anecdotal, but I have met more Brits frustrated at correcting American English than the other way around. Much of the time when it starts I view it as a joke or simple moaning, but lately have noticed an edge to it. I don't think I ever met an American who seriously cared whether you wrote colour or color in a sentence or did something at the weekend instead of on it.

I do remember seeing ads over the years which state, "UK applicants only". And NO, these were non-EU positions. These were p[laces like Thailand, Russia, China, etc.

I met one Brit in Kyiv fired in his first week when they discovered that no students could understand him. He told me three times his name was John and he was happy to meet me but I didn't catch a word he said.

Americans get fired too but I honestly cannot recall one fired for their accent or lack of being understood. It was always technique or poor self-management (punctuality, illnesses, drinking, etc.).

Still having trouble finding teachers?

I wanted to say thanks for those websites posted, hopefully they will be useful. If anyone hears of any camps or summer work I am looking not only in the Gdansk area but in Eastern Europe in general.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It is quite common to meet teachers from Britain who speak very odd varieties of English. Some are beyond comprehension to me !

I remember at school we were ridiculed by our teachers for using American constructions or forms. No exposure to US Literature o History in school !