Job Discussion Forums

joeuconn · Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 16 Location: Boston, MA

Hello,

It appears that Newsweek magazine gave the International House of Krakow a poor ranking ( 27 out of 28 ) in its 2004 review of English language schools in Krakow.

To read the rankings, which are in Polish, check out this link:
http://newsweek.redakcja.pl/artykuly/dodatek.asp?Artykul=500000002

Questions, thoughts, comments?

misteradventure · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Posts: 246

Joe, you never responded to my offline to you.

I took the course there. It is regulated by the Cambridge folks and they review each other to ensure that their teaching standards are being met.

Having never taught there as an employee, I can only say that the COURSE was acceptable. What Newsweek says about the rest of the school shouldn't matter unless you are also accepting a pre-course job offer (highly unlikely).

You get out of it what you put into it. No need to stress yourself out about some magazine article. The CELTA won't guarantee a job either, but odds are you will get a better job where it is requested, than without it.

Even so it's a gamble. You COULD take the course in the USA, where tuition is about 6x higher. And Krakow is a gorgeous (and fun!) city.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:13 am Post subject:

Yes the Newsweek poll is a joke.

But I still wouldn't want to work for IH.

Although I did take my CELTA there and would take the DELTA.

I'll admit the CELTA wasn't easy for me but looking back on it a lot of it had to do with suddenly hearing nothing but British English, which believe it or not can hurt an American's ears as much as it happens vice versa.

Saying that I do think the CELTA is a great place to start, but you have to learn things like rapport on your own, which I now think it a lot of ways is the most important tool that is once you understand what the communicative method is all about.

Because if your students like you they'll talk to you.