Job Discussion Forums

Grrrmachine · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 265 Location: Warsaw, Poland

I'm going to make a synopsis of the FACTUAL elements of this post, in the hope that it will remove room for this incessant bickering.

For prospective teachers reading this thread who are contemplating Poland as a financial move - then YES, you CAN earn a decent amount of cash (relative) compared to other EUROPEAN countries. However, if you want that cash, you're going to have to work for it, and hunt it down, as there are plenty of a) gruding employees who will give you a low wage b) decent employees who will pay you for your time, but won't give you that much time, because of the holiday periods. Bear in mind, too, that life in Poland isn't massively cheap - yes, everything's half price compared to Engalnd, but then the wages are half price too.

If you're in the job for the cash, go to the Far or Middle Eastern countries. However, if you DONT want massive class sizes or skin-blistering heat, and still want to earn something, you could do a lot worse than Poland.

And from now on, PLEASE try not to make any more personal attacks (that applies to EVERYONE here) because it detracts waaaaay too much from the point of the forum

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

Well said Grrrr!
Poland's great, you'll have a real laugh there and Alex is right in you earn as much as you are prepared to work.
What gets me on the Polish forum is the large number of self-important posters who take all this far too seriously. Kymero certainly wasn't speaking on my behalf ,(or my friends') ,when he expounded the views of the 'ex-pat teaching community of Poland'.Who the hell does he think he is?While I've been away has there been some sort of EFL election in Poland?Has Kymero become the president of EFL Poland?
Of course ,it's silly.Most of the teachers I know or have met in Poland are not here for the teaching so this self-importance is really nothing more than a veneer and a battle of egos,which have been inflated by years of getting chicks who are way out of our leagues back home.Viva Polska.
C'mon we're all here for the women and booze?Lighten up!

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

XXX · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:43 pm Post subject:

Now boys, play nice.

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 5:32 am Post subject:

Back to the original topic.

I voted that Poland is a good place to live. Simply because in the long run it isn't the easiest place to save lots of money. As someone said in Poland we generally work 30 weeks a year, which is great for travelling but it also makes it difficult to save up.

Then again what more could you ask for?

The food's good, the beer is good, the women are beautiful and you can travel in any direction and find something interesting to see.

I also hear that Americans no longer need visas for the Ukraine!

Poland is definately a place worth teaching English in.

patrykt · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 51

All this talk of buying property in Poland begs me to ask the question: Is it a good time to buy in Poland or not? I already own one flat in Poznan and my wife and I would like to buy a second and rent out the first. I've been told to borrow as much as possible in Swiss Francs and go from there. What do you guys think? BTW, I don't believe all this talk of buying a place in Poland for $250K on a teacher's salary.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

patrykt · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 51

No wlasnie Alex!

Tumteetum · Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 144

patrykt · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 51

Tum,

I understand where you're coming from, but I doubt that there are courses or books about buying property in Poland. I'm just trolling for local info. I like to hear what people have to say and they I can sift through what I hear.

I'm not interested in buying a second property to rent, but rather to live in. I already own a flat just off the Rynek in Poznan and know that renting that unit wouldn't be too difficult. Now the joy of being a landlord IS something I am wondering about. Alex had some advice, which is I was glad to get.

What is your take on it Tum?

Tumteetum · Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 144

Tumteetum · Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 144

Just to add - most UK lenders will also lend for buying in Europe now.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

patrykt · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 51

One problem with getting a loan in the UK Tum, I'm American. That means that I have to wait until I get the karta stalego pobytu, and only then can I get a loan from a Polish bank. BPH had the best in Poznan last time I checked. I only hope that the money I clear from rent in flat A will cover most of the mortgage payment for flat B. I reallly like the idea of somebody else making my mortgage payment, I am not so jazzed about being a landlord. Nevertheless, I think it is a good time to buy the right property in Poland.

By the way, when you said to get an agent, did you mean for buying and selling or for renting purposes? I know that here in the States there are agencies that handle property management and it may be worth having them deal with the headaches, but then again this is Poland we are talking about.

Tumteetum · Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 144