Job Discussion Forums

[Brooks]

Dzien dobry,
I would like to know what it is like to work and live in Krakow.
Any thoughts?

thanks

Brooks

[XXX]

I guess it would depend on who you worked for. As for living, the place is (or at least the older parts are) pretty cool. The old city is a really neat place to hang out, as are the bars in the Jewish Quarter. And you are only two hours and 8 zlts away from skiing in Zakopane.

[Brooks]

well here are a few places:

Bell, Profi-Lingua, and Stairway.
I have heard/read good things about them.
What do you think?

Brooks

[Chris]

Hey there,

I've got several friends who are working in Krakow at Profi-Lingua, and I believe they will all still be there next year. The pay is quite good, but not as good as it is here in Sosnowiec (it's the same amount per hour, but it's cheaper here). Everybody has complaints about their employers, but on the positive side of Profi--they ALWAYS pay on time, they pay bonuses based on how many students return each semester, and most of the teachers (both Polish and native speaker) and students are great to work with.

Good luck!

Chris

[Brooks]

thanks.
Tell me about the bonus. Is it only once a year, and how much does it end up being annually? Roughly.

Brooks

[Brooks]

and also at Profi-, when and how long are the vacations? Unpaid, I would guess. And is there work available in the summer?

Brooks

[Chris]

Hi..

Bonus depends on how many groups you have and how many of them return from semester to semester. Max per group is 100pln. I have 11 groups and I figured I'll probably get about 50 for each group. This will be my first bonus since it's my first year.

At least here in the Katowice area, there are summer courses being offered throughout the summer--July, Aug and Sept. I'm hoping to do the Sept ones. They are offered, but will only run if there are enough students interested.

Gotta go, but keep the ???s coming if you like!

Chris

From the land of pines--Sosnowiec

[Brooks]

ok I will.
What is your schedule like? What days and how many hours a week do you teach?
Do you have to teach business English before eight in the morning?
Our all your classes at the school?
What books, computers, materials, etc do you have access to at work?

thanks

Brooks

[Chris]

Just got back from Krakow... Gorgeous city, and beautiful, but HOT sunny day!

Anyway, hmmm.. See, I have a special situation, so I can't answer some of your questions from first-hand experience. See, I also work at a local university in the mornings, so I only work in the eves at Profi.

One of my Polish teacher friends does teach some classes before 8, but I don't know of any native speakers who are. Krakow's hours are a bit different than here, but I believe it's Mon-Fri from 3:30 til 9 or so, I'm not exactly sure. Here it's from 4-8:20, with some starting at 2:30. There are also Saturday classes from 8:30-2:30.

All of my classes are at the school, and most are. We have quite a few books to use (games, grammar, etc). Computers though are not for teacher use at all. I have a laptop, but there are tons of internet cafes that are quite cheap.

Are you in contact with Profi right now? I just heard that they have hired all of the native speakers there for next year. The 3 I met there this weekend are all staying, and they I guess needed 3 more.

Anyway, catch you later!

Chris

[Brooks]

no I haven`t contacted Profi-Lingua. I was just curious.
I work in Japan and make good money, but at some point I will want to move on and come back to Poland. I get two bonuses a year.
At least pay in Krakow is better than it used to be, like in 1999 for example.
I am American, so I need to find out what happens when Poland joins the EU and what that means to foreign workers.

I used to work in Warsaw but I think I would rather work in Krakow.

Brooks