Job Discussion Forums

babaoreiley · Joined: 24 Apr 2005 Posts: 39 Location: Chaska, MN

I was wondering if you Poland-vets could help me to locate a few reputable schools, especially in Krakow, Gdynia, and Gdansk.

I have a BA in History (graduated Magna *beep* Laude) and am finishing a TEFL certification course at Hamline University, at the moment. I want to put myself in the best position possible for my first overseas job. I'm hoping to find a school that's focus is on educating students (not the almighty dollar-or zloty, rather), and one that treats their teachers fairly. I love to teach, and I want to find a place where I can further develop my skills.

Of course, pay is important, and I want to make enough to get by, with hopefully a little extra left over at the end of the month. But I am willing to accept less in order to be in a positive, learning-focused environment. I want to experience both Poland and a positive jump-start to my career.

Any help or suggestions that could be offered, would be greatly appreciated.

Also, since Poland is now an EU member-state, are work visas difficult to come by for non-EU citizens?

Thanks

Selyer · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 62 Location: Poland

Hi. I've been working in Poland the last 2 years, though not the cities you mentioned. However, I've got friends who work in Krakow at the moment. One works for York School of English and for the most part he seems to have had a positive experience there. He's got a decent timetable, even has double-ups so he can spend more time having fun and less time planning millions of different lessons and he makes enough to live comfortably. My other friend works for IH Krakow and has been less than impressed. She enjoys her students and, again, has a fairly decent timetable, etc. However, she has constantly had to fight with the school to honor the terms of her contract and the DOS there seems to be less than ideal.

As for any EU hiring restrictions, that depends a lot on where you try to go. My school, for example, will not be hiring me back next year (I'm American, by the way) because it's "too expensive." My kiwi friend who works for Bell Warsaw has said that Bell is quite willing to hire non-EU native English speakers. An American teacher I met recently in Krakow made the same comment about York School of English.

Hope that's helpful. Smile

babaoreiley · Joined: 24 Apr 2005 Posts: 39 Location: Chaska, MN

That was very helpful. Thanks for the information. It gives me a starting point, and some "on the ground" info.

Anymore feedback to this inquiry would be most welcomed.

Thanks again!

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 3:20 pm Post subject:

I also work in Cracow.

There are a lot of Americans working here.

You will find work, but you will encounter a few more obstacles as a result of not being an EU citizen.

It depends on the school.

But I would not let that stop you.

You may want to get here in September this is when it is easiest to find work as the new academic year starts in October.

XXX · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 10:09 pm Post subject:

You might have a better time in a smaller town. Try the "Word" School in Tarnobrzeg. Good people! And you would only be a couple of hours out of Krakow by bus.

babaoreiley · Joined: 24 Apr 2005 Posts: 39 Location: Chaska, MN

Thanks so much for the information to date. It has been very helpful in this whole process. I should clarify that I am definitely open to being placed in a smaller town outside of one of the aforementioned cities. I would like to be in the neighborhood of one of them, but I would not be opposed to being a little out in the boonies. So any further posts like the one submitted by XXX would be welcomed.

Thanks again for the help, and keep feeding me info!

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Tue May 03, 2005 8:30 am Post subject:

tbiehl2000 · Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 87

Living and working in Krakow is not a problem. There are 72 language schools here. Plenty of work. I'm American and am currently working illegally. I've only been here a couple months. I had no problem finding work. A few of the schools have expressed interest in hiring me for next the next school year. I'm kind of sitting on the fence right now. It's either Japan or Poland. But enough about me.
Send me a pm and I can give you some skinny on a few of the schools I've dealt with here.

babaoreiley · Joined: 24 Apr 2005 Posts: 39 Location: Chaska, MN

Thanks for all the great advise on Krakow. Its difficult from this vantage point (the American Mid-West) for a newbie to get a good gauge on the TEFL scene in a city that he has never been to before. So the "on the ground" info is a real plus. I appreciate it, and anymore pointers would be welcomed.

Thanks again!

dang4hire · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 3

tbiehl2000 · Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 87

Welcome to Krakow! Beautiful time of the year but probably not the best time of year to go job hunting but I'm sure you already know that. There is a published list of the different schools. I would say that you can't walk to all of them but there are so many around the city center. HOnestly, I don't know where you can get the list. I think it's published in one of the newspapers or esl periodicals or somethin. Wish I had something more definitive. PM me and I can let you know where I got my list.

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 11:47 pm Post subject:

I basically made my own list.

From phone books, google.pl, etc...

In Polish its szkola jezykow obcych.

I Emailed all the schools my resume (CV) every weekend so that they got it on Monday morning, called all the schools and dropped off my resume to all the schools asking to speak with the director.

Sooner of later you'll get a few hours and eventually find a full time school.

But you can skip the Callan schools there method is best avoided.