Job Discussion Forums

MrQuack · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Australia

Hi,
I'm considering accepting a position with a school in Katowice/Gliwice called "Felberg". I haven't found any reviews, good or bad, for this school, so if anyone knows anything about them, the advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:53 am Post subject:

Please don't go to Katowice. Because then you will probably be on this board in a few months and complaining.

Katowice is no bed of roses. The Poles call it the armpit. The primary cities you want to find work in are Cracow, Wroclaw, Torun, and Gdansk. After that I would say that Poznan, Warsaw and Lublin may also be worth a try.

On the other hand I suppose you could always take the job and break your contract as soon as you find something better. But I wouldn't recommend that. Instead I would just arrive in September and pass out your CV to every school you see.

Gregory

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

I thought Radom was the armpit

Gowump · Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 70 Location: Poland

Hey, come on now. Radom is the a**hole. Wink

MrQuack · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Australia

Hi,
I know Katowice isn't the most picturesque of Polish cities, but I want to go there because I know a few people there, and a close friend has family there.

So, back to my original question: Has anyone heard of Felberg? I think they have a school in Warsaw as well as Katowice.

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 10:07 am Post subject:

I don't know about Felberg Katowice but there are a few in other cities in which case I've heard various things.

But every school is different depending on the owner and the director. So I recommend that you ask the school for the email addresses of other teachers there so you can ask them about teaching English in Poland.

Then ask them what they think of the school.

I've heard good things about International House Katowice.

But again Katowice is not only unpicturesque it is just ugly. I'm not trying to be a jerk, which I am good at. But you should know what you're in for before you go.

If you come to Cracow you can jump on a train and be in Katowice in an hour. On the other hand if you have someone waiting for you there maybe it won't be so bad.

But I do hear that the bars close early and you should know that unemployment is high there as the coal mines are being closed down.

Goodluck and remember if things don't work out you don't have to stay there forever.

Gregory

Martin P · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 16

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

I have heard good and bad stuff about Katowice. Having a good employer may make the difference.

On a side note, if Katowice is the armpit, that what is Kielce?

tbiehl2000 · Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 87

I'm an American here in Krakow. I'm not legal yet. Working on it. I filled in for a Polish teacher for a 90 min conversation class at the Felberg school here. Can't tell you much. They paid me. Very Happy