Job Discussion Forums

peder · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 45

Anyone have any infromation on dates for the CETLA courses after the new year. I'm in Lithuania right now and am here until January, would like to go directly to a course instead of going back home. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Peder

misteradventure · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Posts: 246

Have you considered emailing Magda directly at IH Krakow?

Silence frequently results from not saying anything!

debora · Joined: 03 Jan 2005 Posts: 10 Location: States

There are course dates posted on the website.

I was thinking about applying for this course this spring, but am concered about a lack of jobs post graduation from the course if taken during this off season time. I have spent time in Poland and it would be my ideal place to work. I am of Polish decent, am trying to get back into the culture, and dying to be able to have a real conversation in Polish someday. Does anyone have any suggestions for applying during the off season? I also had an idea of taking a class in another country where they guarantee teaching jobs after the course is completed and returning to work in Poland once I have more experience. It sounds like this is more realistic.

I am a recent undergraduate with no formal teaching experience and hold a US passport. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated:)

debora

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Actually, the job market in Poland is pretty open. They need numbers of teachers, most of the year. It's a bit different from the Czech Republic. You've probably got a realistic chance of landing a job in Poland regardless of time of year, barring the summer July/August holiday months. You might not necessarily be able to pick and choose exact locations, but it's not hard to find a job. As a US citizen, you should check the Polish Embassy (Washington, DC) website for current information on working visas for Americans. If your Polish ancestry is not too far back, maybe you will even want to apply for citizenship. That can simplify things considerably in the long term!

debora · Joined: 03 Jan 2005 Posts: 10 Location: States

unfortunatly my relatives with the Polish lineage have passed. My grandfather held a US passport even though he was born in PL. He never filed for his citzenship and I doubt I could prove anything. Don't worry, I've already checked, and due to the Americanization of the time, my Polish is bardzo nie dobrze... very poor. Gaining Polish citizenship through naturalization someday is not out of my mind...

Are you currently teaching in PL? If so, do you have any advice on the IH Krakow course? I love Krakow... working there or Warsaw is certainly my main goal.

however I have already been accepted to the EBC TEFL course in Madrid for Fed, so I might just take that one instead....

misteradventure · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Posts: 246

It is worth actually reading the laws.

http://www.polishembassy.ca

has better material in English than the US websites.

You may still be a Polish citizen and not know it.

Keep in mind that you must return to your country of residence to obtain a work visa.
(according to Marciek @ the Polish consulate in Chicago, Illinois USA in Sept. 2003)

peder · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 45

Well, I figured out the dates and am currently in my second week of the CELTA course here at IH in Krakow. I think it is a good course and I would recomend it. As for getting jobs here during the off season, I don't think its a problem. I have ran into a number of people who finished this course a couple of months ago and they all landed jobs. Some had jobs lined up before the course was finished. I have also talked with some north americans who are working with out a visa, just taking visa runs every 3 months I think. This might be a bit risky but they seem happy with it. From what I see jobs are really easy to come by here.

Katlo · Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Shandong, China

Hi...

My grandfather was Polish and even though he became a naturalised South African I was able to obtain Polish citizenship. The process was long.... but it's worth it now that Poland is in the EU.

I can't wait to get to Poland. I'm currently in China, which I love - initially I planned to be here only 6 months and now I'll be here at least 2 years Razz

Khrystene · Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 271 Location: WAW, PL/SYD, AU

Looter · Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Bialystok, Poland

Khrystene · Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 271 Location: WAW, PL/SYD, AU

Well in some good news, I just got my papers to say I'm now OFFICIALLY a citizen of Polska!!

Happy? You betcha! Makes going back a LOT easier. Smile

As for the last comment regarding lack of work. I too found that there was plenty of work up until the Summer break. So I'm not sure if you're in a quite town, or if maybe it's because of the Winter break. Persevere. Get yourself a network. It's how I survived and did well.

[I don't think your US flag will do any good though.] Twisted Evil

Looter · Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Bialystok, Poland

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 6:24 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately I don't think it is as easy to find work here as people say especially in the summer.

I don't want to discourage anyone but you should try to plan on going a couple of months without work after you've completed your CELTA.

But if you're here in September/October and you're willing to work anywhere in the country you shouldn't have any problems.

Just my 2 cents.

CROGO · Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Krakow

I am looking to take the IH CELTA in Krakow over the summer. It appears that after applying, IH wants to interview me over the phone for about half an hour.

Can anyone fill me in as to what kind of things they ask in this interview?