Job Discussion Forums

jstopa · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Vancouver, Canada

Hi there,

I have the opportunity to go to Lublin to teach english. I am very excited to go but I know very little about Poland. I am especially interested to find out if anyone has taught with 'Top English' there and what the conditions were like.

I am also curious about the average cost of living in Lublin, like how much a beer, cup of coffee, busses, etc. cost.

Any info at all would be appreciated.

Thanks a lot for your time.

jstopa

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 7:07 am Post subject:

Lublin is good.

It's a university town. It's in the East so it is also lot more conservative than other Polish towns.

I think the old town with it's cobble stone streets is one of the most beautiful in Poland, but it is relatively small so it's unknown outside of Poland.

Unfortunately unemployment is very high and as a result there isn't necessarily a whole lot happening but it would be an interesting place to spend some time.

Not to mention the cost of living is lower there and it's easy to take a train to Warsaw if you need a change for your weekends.

Also it is close to the Ukraine so you can always see the other half of Poland that Stalin took as well as the Ukraine.

I would take a job in Lublin. In fact I had wanted to move there from Cracow but I couldn't find work there, since there are not a whole lot schools there, so I lost my chance to move to Lublin and a beautiful lady I knew there.

Such is life.

jstopa · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Vancouver, Canada

I've heard a lot of people say that Kracow is the place to be in Poland or even gone so far as to say it is 'the last undiscovered gem,' or something to that effect. What are your thoughts on that?

I would like to go to a place that has some kind of night life. Is Lublin TOO quite?

Thanks,

jstopa

vuloshin · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Buffalo, NY USA

[quote="jstopa"]Hi there,

I have the opportunity to go to Lublin to teach english. I am very excited to go but I know very little about Poland. I am especially interested to find out if anyone has taught with 'Top English' there and what the conditions were like.

I am also curious about the average cost of living in Lublin, like how much a beer, cup of coffee, busses, etc. cost.

Any info at all would be appreciated.

Thanks a lot for your time.

jstopa[/quote]

Lublin is one of the nicest cities in Poland. I loved it there when I taught. The cost of living is a lot less than in Warsaw for example. A beer cost between 3.5 and 5 zloty. Coffee is around 2.50-3.50 zloty. (In restaurant's and bars I assume you mean). Busses are great and cheap. You'll be able to get anywhere from the centre of the city(where Top is located). Apartments are around 800 zloty/month and stancja's are about 400/month (a cheaper and funner way to go than an apartment).

What I know about Top English School is that they're a Callan Method school. They are one of the biggest language schools in Lublin. They are located in the centre of the city close to all the bars and night clubs. They probably are one of the top paying schools in Lublin also becasue they have so many students. I have a friend who once learned English there and another friend who is considering taking a class there in January.

The night-life in Lublin is awesome. Don't listen to what anyone says. My favorite place is this night club called M.C.

I'm just curious how did you get the job at Top? How much are they paying you? Are they paying to get you a work permit and all that stuff or can you work legally in Poland already.

I just got my Polish passport and can't wait to go back to Lublin and teach next year.

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:43 am Post subject:

jstopa · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Vancouver, Canada

Hi again,

Thanks for all of the info on Lublin. It sounds like a very cool city to live in, and not too far from Warsaw and Kracow to visit.

I don't actually have the job yet, but a close friend is already working there and said that he is on very good terms with the director of the school so he said it would be no problem to get me a job as well. I have always hated those people who have 'ins' for jobs, but now that I am one of them I guess I have to re-think my wholw philosophy on life!! How disillusioning... Confused

I haven't spoken to the director myself yet, but he tells me he makes like 2300 zloty/month. Plus any private turoring on the side. Does that seem like a decent wage? Also, what is a stancja? A shared house perhaps?

I hope to hear from you all soon...

jstopa

vuloshin · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Buffalo, NY USA

I think 2300 zl/month would be more than enough. Gosh, I wish I made that much when I was working there. You probably won't find a higher paying school in Lublin. As far as private tutoring on the side, find out how to post an ad in the Anonse newspaper or my favorite newspaper "Fart" (yes, that's what one of the newspaper's names with only classified sections in it). I can help you if you want posting an ad on the anonse.pl website.

A stancja is a shared house. It's cheap and fun becuase you get to interact with university students. You get your own room and share the bathroom/s and kitchen. Apartments could get lonely and are expensive (if your not making 2300 PLN/month).

I would read the stuff about the Callan method before accepting the job. Some love it, some hate it. I never taught it but observed it a few times and it seemed pretty cool and easy to teach (not much time spent preparing!)

Lublin rules!

Krakow is overrated from what my cousin and friends tell me (I've never been there)

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 5:03 am Post subject: