Job Discussion Forums

jonney · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 28

So what does anyone know about this place? Sounds good from a professional development point of view. Polish students seem to have a good rep. Is this deserved? I've taught a few Bulgarians and I swear it was like teaching a class full of the undead - the adult students behaved like teenagers - the only saving grace was that the teenagers behaved like adults and made my week at least bearable.
Anyway, I don't want to be put off Eastern Europe and hear that IH in Poland is among the best.
What's the real story for someone very early in their teaching career? Is the teaching rewarding for someone prepared to put in the effort? Is the city worth living in? Is the beer as cold as they say and the nightlife a good laugh?

Cheers,

jonney

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

Katowice: debateably the shittest city in Poland. I'd say that Radom is worse myself but most people disagree with me.

IH: great professional development, loads of seminars, good mentor system. Pay well below average.

You pays your money and takes your choice!

Chris · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 4:16 pm Post subject:

Hi Jonney...

I don't know if you will believe me, but honestly, it's not that bad down here in Katowice. Well, I'm in Sosnowiec, but it's only 15 minutes by bus, so it's close enough.

Alex has never lived here. I have for 6 years now. IH is quite good, and the pay isn't all that below average down here. I don't know what their compensation package is like, but it's not bad for the area. Private lessons are also abundant.

Alex mentioned in a different post that this has won the "worst place to go for a weekend" in Poland. Well, yeah, maybe.. It's not that great on the weekends. But you're so close to other great places that it makes it very worthwhile to live here. Do you like skiing? Within 1 1/2 hours you're in ski country. Do you like history? Krakow is just down the road--again, 1 1/2 hours east.

Students here are absolutely wonderful for the most part. Sure, you might have some crappy students, but that's everywhere. Poles understand that, especially now, knowing English is extremely important, particularily in the job market. So, generally speaking they are quite motivated to learn.

Many of the teachers at IH Katowice return for a 2nd, even 3rd or 4th year, so turnover isn't very high compared to other schools. Once you're in, you have priority in getting a job within the IH community worldwide.

I've never been to Radom, much less lived there, so I won't comment about something that I know nothing about..

Any other questions, just let me know... I know this area VERY well..

Chris

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

^ I did actually say that other people say Katowice is the worst place in Poland and I disagree with them. I have to give that title to Radom, even the girl who used to work at the tourist information office said that the city was a toilet.

The senior staff member from IH Katowice that my partner was talking to at IATEFL last weekend was pretty clear that they pay below the going rate but make up for it with training.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I am curious about Joney's comments about Bulgarians. I have lived and worked in that country and found the level of English to be exceptionally high. Admittedly,since the counter-revolution of 1989 things have deteriorated.

Jonney where did you experince this ? Tell us more !

jonney · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 28

hey, scott,

i worked in sofia at a bell affiliated school. my first day consisted of a 2 hour 1-2-1, a 3 hour 1-2-1 immediatlely afterwards, and finally a 2 hour class for 10-13 year olds. not the easiest of starts for a new teacher but in the end i guess there are advantages - by the end of the first week i had so much classroom time behind me i was able to hold my own in a seminar of far more experienced teachers.
i was warned early on that the students could be 'a little quiet'. jesus, sometimes they just couldn't be bothered. i sat in on some other classes to observe and found that i was not alone in my suffering. eventually i began to take the adult students out of the classroom and into a cafe or pub as at last there they would attempt to speak english. not sure this method was approved of but i had already decided to leave and i felt that the students might as well use english in the pub as sit silently in a classroom lookng like they were only there because their boss had told them to go.
on deciding to leave i was made aware by the school that i was the latest in a line of probationary teachers who had decided to leave very quickly. i think my 3 weeks were something of a record - 1 or 2 weeks being the usual. i think this is down to 2 factors - firstly, the classes are very difficult to teach unless you are lucky enough to teach children. the kids were very responsive and respectful and showed a determination to learn and have fun. however, there are only a limited number of younger classes to teach. secondly, the tefl job market does not seem to have penetrated bulgaria in the way it has the rest of eastern europe. consequently i was the only native speaker and so had no-one to discuss problems and share experiences with.
i will point out that the school were extrememly fair with me when i decided to leave. they paid me in full and did not ask for any contribution for the money they had spent aquiring a work permit or for the apartment they had provided. also, sofia is a damn fine place and, once out of the classroom, the students became very concerned that i was enjoying my time in their country and offered all sorts of advice about where to go a what to do.

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

IH Poland is a franchise and has very little to do with IH London.I once worked for IH and I can tell you that they do pay well below the average.All the bosses meet up and fix the salaries once a year.IH Poznan is going under right now.Development doesn't pay your bills.Learning about neuro-linguistic programming,the silent method,teaching rods,action research and the like might be interesting but is of little practical use,unless you are doing your DELTA that is.Personally I was at IH Bydgoszcz ,which was extremely well run and the owner was great.I did leave skint though.....

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

Got no idea who you are but me and 'ole Maurice certainly used to sink a few.What else are u gonna do in Bydgoszcz on a winter's eve?900 Zl/month was not a king's ransome though was it?One month my phone bill was 650zl.I think IH pays about 1500/month for a new teacher now.By the way where is Maurice?Still in Warsaw?

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

I think he was last heard of heading towards Italy. Someone told me that he got a job in Sicily where his girlfriend's father is a judge but that could well not be true.

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

A judge in Sicily.......I wouldn't rate his life expectancy too highly....

jonney · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 28

i've had a look at some pics of Katowice on the net and it doesn't look too bad. the pics will be the best spots in the city of course and the rest may be an open sewer for all i know - but really - any city that's got it's fair share of bars can't be all that bad.
has anyone taught for IH in Katowice - any insights into working there would be appreciated.

mike10 · Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 28

sugar061 · Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Posts: 17

Worked there last year 2003-2004. It's a great school, you learn a lot, the kids as a whole are nice. The winter is horrid but the school is nice and the take really good care of you. Very Happy

Wild thing · Joined: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 6

Hi,
I have a friend who lived in Katowice for a year. Sure the city is ugly, but the night life is great. She said it's also well connected to everywhere, so easy to go and visit other places.
In the summer, the pollution is kinda nasty, but so is any major city!