Job Discussion Forums

Ian78 · Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Ipswich, UK

Hi,

I am currently considering a position at English Unlimited in Gdansk. Any feedback about this company from current or former teachers would be much appreciated.

Ian.

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

I got completely dicked around by them 2 years ago.

elblagskich · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 27

I haven't worked for them but heard similar.

Another conveyor belt?? Question

zippy2k · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 42 Location: Riyadh

I walked in off the street in Gdansk with my CELTA and they signed me up on the spot, even after the induction week was over, saying I could "hit the ground running". I was given a max. 28 hr week for 2100 zloty, plus 600 zloty housing allowance( I found my own flat). This is not a bad deal, however:

I would sum up the problem now with EU as their reputation exceeds their capabilties. Although on a 9-mth contract, I was never able to please classes of 14 adults doing FCE, expecting miracles because they'd paid so much and it was "Newsweek's #1-English Unlimited". They set up 15 years ago under the guidance of an all-female group of lecturers from Gdansk Uni. My pay was always at least a week late. I got at least 60% satisfaction feedback from all my classes (over 80% from the teens) yet they terminated my contract after 4 months to replace me with a Polish native and most issues I tried to raise with them during my employement was met with being ignored or "go somewhere else"...The Biz english dept. never replied once to issues I raised during taking their classes. Locals I spoke to there were happy to do only biz classes with them(which became my situation aftter 4 months). "Teacher training" was made up of photocopied exercises regurgitated by a local in small groups, or practise lessons for Polish English teachers on "natives".

They do have some very talented local Polish teachers working for them who were helpful with teaching ideas - mangement were not unfortunately.

gus64 · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 5

I disagree with almost everything the previous poster has said. I worked for EU for several years and experienced none of the problems he mentions. I was always paid on time and what I was owed. Yes Polish exam level students are demanding but is that the fault of the school? That is a case of the Polish mentality; expecting a lot for anything you have to pay for.

In the time I was there I never saw a native terminated and replaced with a Polish teacher. The 2 teachers I saw who were let go were total nutters who had no business teaching and were replace with suitable native speakers. (This was before your time zippy so I'm not referring to you)
Teacher trainings were very productive and did not consist of merely handing out photocopies as you imply. The teachers who ran them were very good frieds of mine and I know how much work they put into preparing for them. In no way were they "practice lessons."

Yes EU management does like to pat itself on the back and that part of the system did annoy me. However, it is a very professional organization and I found it to be a great place to work. Unless things have drastically changed since I left (I still keep in contact with many of the people there so I highly doubt it.) I can not help but feel that the above post is more of a case of personal sour grapes than an accurate reflection of the situation.

zippy2k · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 42 Location: Riyadh

gus64 · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 5

Zippy,

So does EU now guarantee people that they will pass the FCE or CAE? If not, then how are they making people's expectations too high? I'm married to a Pole so I know the Polish mentality pretty well. When Poles have to pay hard earned money for something, and yes EU is expensive, they expect near perfection. They can be very demanding students.

Evidently teacher trainings have changed. When I was there, the trainings, especially the exam level trainings, were quite productive. I rarely came out of them without any new ideas.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

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

there was an interesting article in the current Economist about cheating in Poland, but I don`t know how a student could cheat on a Cambridge test.

zippy2k · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 42 Location: Riyadh

gus64 · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 5

zippy2k · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 42 Location: Riyadh

I beg your pardon, Gus, I should have written the word "exercises" as just exercises. That is to say exercises=activities...