| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
ready2go
Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Canada
|
 Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:59 am Post subject: Canadian newbie in Krakow..my experience so far |
 |
|
Greetings!
I am just hours away from being picked up in Krakow and driven to a small city near the Czech border where I will begin my first teaching job. I have been in Poland for 6 weeks. Alls well that ends well??? It was insane!
I was told it would be easy to just come here and look for work. It was not! I hoped to find some kind of local network or info but was totally on my own. Even when I asked the schools where they advertized, they'd just shrug. I could not find one English language paper to find ads. I heard there was one in Warsaw, but I didn't want to work there.
I looked in Krakow and Gdansk area and also got some travelling in since I was very unsure of finding a job. I didn't want to waste more time and money on just a job search if I had to go home S.O.L.
In retrospect I think it would have been better to take a CELTA program in Poland. This seemed expensive at the time but I have had to cover my expenses for the past 6 weeks anyway, without the networking possibilities. Most jobs are asking for EU Passport holders and the CELTA certificate. One school expected me to pay for the visa --$340 and couldn't guarantee me minimum hours.
My best and only responses came from my resume packages I either mailed out or hand delivered. The internet postings have been useless. I'm sure they get a ton of applicants.
I was also told (by my TESOL intructor in Canada, who is Polish and has taught here) that you could come anytime and find work! No! The best times are September and January. Especially in Krakow. I arrived mid Feb due to passport delays. Since I had packed up everything and the momentum was there, I flew here instead of waiting till the fall.
Also the paper work is crazy. All the advice was to come to Poland first but now it seems there is a hitch as you are best served when in Canada and can contact the authorities in person, ONCE you have an employer. I may be able to get around this and my school is willing to try. I have rebooked my flight for when my tourist visa runs out, just in case.
Sorry to sound so bitter but that has been my experience. Polish people are wonderful and patient. I have met some wonderful travellers as well. It's a beautiful place to see. Next job...middle east to recoup my losses. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 1:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for sharing the info. I'm sure people will find it useful.
Good luck with the new teaching job. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:27 am Post subject: Re: Canadian newbie in Krakow..my experience so far |
|
|
| ready2go wrote: |
Greetings!
Most jobs are asking for EU Passport holders and the CELTA certificate. ... I was also told (by my TESOL intructor in Canada, who is Polish and has taught here) that you could come anytime and find work! No! The best times are September and January. |
I think it's pretty common knowledge that EU countries want EU passports, and that the CELTA is the most common pre-service training program in the EU. Poland became an EU member May 1, 2004.
Always keep in mind that your TESOL certificate provider's job is in part to turn away happy customers and that means making them feel like they have made the right decision in purchasing their services. The CELTA has the cache of name recognition and a heavy marketing machine to make sure that employers also know it, universities (and, in Ontario, provincially funded colleges) have the cache of an academic seal of approval  although if you mention actually getting a job some teachers will tell you that it's their job to train you, it's yours to find a job (ie: buyer beware). Less known providers have less to go on, but some offer job placement help (something that universities and colleges should be doing, but aren't, IMO), some offer too-good-to-be-true guarantees (which often don't work out, and they can get out of it in a billion different ways), but most of them sell you on how easy it is to get a job at any time of year at any location worldwide with any education level while pumping you full of tales of how great it is at location X, Y, Z etc. because after all, most of the people are there to get a job that allows them to mainly "travel and see the world", as opposed to mainly "teach English language". |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
paulmanser
Joined: 28 Nov 2005
Posts: 403
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
WHY DIDNT YOU APPLY THROUGH I TO I?
Actually you cant but you can for turkey, china, ect. thailand also.
With I TO I you need a degree in any subject, even if just BA wiht no honours and tefl certificate (not celta) and eu passport plus be a native speaker from usa, uk, canada, new zealand, aussie land ect.
You can get a job in Poland without CELTA as there is great demand. Only snobby private schools plus IH Brit council ask for CELTA/TRINITY. China dont even ask for TEFL just degree. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| What? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
paulmanser
Joined: 28 Nov 2005
Posts: 403
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| What dont you understand? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sallycat
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 303
Location: behind you. BOO!
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
don't you have to pay i-to-i a shi.tload of money to get them to find a job for you? and why would you ask someone WHY THEY DIDN'T APPLY THROUGH I TO I using CAPITAL LETTERS as if they would have to be COMPLETELY INSANE NOT TO APPLY THROUGH I TO I and then go on to say that actually they couldn't have applied through i-to-i anyway?
i second ls650's "what?" and would like to add "the fu.ck?" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ready2go
Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Canada
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 3:11 pm Post subject: first week is over.. |
|
|
Hi ..just coming up for air. Interesting replies. My first week is over, a bit crazy as you shold expect. I'm just looking forward to working with my awesome students and getting to know them. Polish people are wonderful and friendly and anxious to talk about their country. I plan on finishing in June. Love the city I"m in. Just wanted others to know what they might face. I"ve never heard of I to I.
Cheers |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
