Job Discussion Forums

[not_too_shabby]

I have just got an offer from a school in Bydoszcz and they offer a minimum of 1700 zloty per month. Everything is paid for, that is accommodation, utilities, airfare, visa etc.. so basically this money is for food, entertainment etc. Can you live on that money? Can anybody also tell me something about the town?

[Grrrmachine]

*sprays coffee over screen*

1700 a month? Even after all your expenses you should be getting a lot more than that.
To answer your question though, it's survivable, but once your standard of living will be right down there with university students, I would have thought. Is the idea that they pay your air fare here, and then you cant afford to fly away again until they let you?

[paulmanser]

You should be getting 2400 zloty.

[Grrrmachine]

Paul, I dont mind you mouthing away in the silly "Polish women" threads, but, considering you have no actual teaching experience and have never been in employed in Poland, maybe you're not the best person to be giving out advice.

It's hard to say what your flights, accomodation et al is valued at, but you should be making more than 3000, ideally over 4k. Can anyone suggest what rent prices are in Bydgoszcz?

[paulmanser]

Actually I have......

Only as far as TESOL course though 6 hours.



I leave for Poland 2moro incase your interested. Summer camp for 8 weeks. Teaching English. Goes on the CV so it helps.

2 Americans and 2 British on the camp as far as I'm aware. Should be fun.

[misteradventure]

Comments from Paul aside, I think it is import to clarify if that money is pre- or post- tax (18% if memory serves; I'm not an 'employee' so I don't know offhand what tax applies this month).

What is the rent in that town? Would you have roomies? Are they going to supply a cell phone so they can contact you, or will there be a phone in the flat? Mobiles are virtually a necessity.

According to my sources, that is the salary for a registered nurse in Krakow, more or less.

Also, it depends on the school- if it is a 'big name' like IH (which is notorious for low salaries, but with a reputation for excellent TT), then it is not a surprise.

They are required by law to pay for your visa.

Most importantly, if they provide Polish lessons, then it may be worth it.
Mind you, this is a guaranteed minimum?

So you might get more, esp. if you are paid for transport times to off-school teaching locations and they pay your travel pass. It is easy to rack up 2-3 hours of actual time spent going to and from and teaching, although it is only a 1-hour class.

I would check on this.

I need to remember that the editing window does not open up at the end of the message:

edit- I forgot to add that grrmachine is in Warsaw, the most expensive city in Poland, so his prices are theoretically the highest you could find. It is much cheaper elsewhere. For example, you can find a hotel in Warsaw for 300 zl per night, and stay in a similar place in a smaller city for 80 zl/night. Food prices are similar everywhere. But even here in Krakow, you can pay 7 zl for a beer on the rynek and walk 3 blocks from the rynek and find the same beer for 3,50 zl.

[not_too_shabby]

Thanks for the info. We are indeed talking about IH and the salary is net, that is after taxes. Polish classes are also included and accommodation will be shared, which is good considering I won't know anybody there. I just wanted to know if you can live decently with this kind of money. I don't intend to save much.

[Grrrmachine]

It sounds like, in all, thats a rather good package as long as youre not planning on saving. Yes, MisterAdventure is right, Warsaw prices are much higher (which is why I guessed 3-4k; that's lower than Warsaw wages) but 1700 disposable income should allow you to eat, drink and take a week in Zakopane come February.

[joshsweigart]

Another thing to consider is hours. If you are only teaching 10-15 hours per week then this isn't bad and you should easiliy be able to fill in your schedule with contracts from other schools or privates. If you're teaching around 30 hours then it is definitely way low. I don't know much about IH but from what I hear the "teacher training" sessions aren't very practical or theoretically sound. If it's your first job in Poland though, it sounds like they will take care of you for your first year and you can look around for more money if you decide to stay.

[bennyr81]

that sounds like the deal im getting here in ciechanow, about 100km from warsaw...it's not the greatest but i manage to put aside around 6-700 pln every month though this could have something to do with not going out very often.
But as someone mentioned this si my first year, so come september im moving to the big capital where i should be getting a lot more

[cezarek]

You will be able to live on that, especially if you like a quiet life and 'go native'. You might want to think about picking some private lessons up to pay for the finer things in life.

[not_too_shabby]

Thank you all. If I can make a decent living it is ok. Anyway they also offer me free training which will conclude with a certificate, so it is fine. If any of you works there, can you send me a private message? There are some things that I would like to ask. Thanks in advance.

[philyyy]

I worked for Bydgoszcz I.H. last year. I lived with my girlfriend and we got all the above paid for. We managed to live quite comfortably on that amount. We hate out about -4 times per week and drank most nights. Beer is about 6 zlotys (1 U.K. pound ish) or less per pint. Food comes in at some where around 20 zlotys for a main meal. The school is good, the DOS is decent enough, his side kick has left and there will be a new ADOS next year but your not missing a great deal there. The town itself is nice enough, not too touristy and not exactly the party capital of the world but there\s certainly enough to look at. I know at least three of the teachers there for next year and two of them are decent types, had many a beer with them both. They have quite a large teaching staff, much of which will be new for next year so hard to tell how good that will be. It's quite central as you know doubt know and a very good base for visiting mst of Northern Poland as we did. If you want to know anymore PM me and I'll gladly assist. In case you are wondering we got offered a job in Wroclaw which is a bigger and better city, nothing against the school as to why we won't be there next year.

[biffinbridge]

I worked for IH Byd in 96 and recently returned from an 8 month stint in Poz.1700zl is really not enough.
Beer 6zl,vodka 6zl,mobile phones expensive,a night in a hotel 200zl,restaurants about 30zl with one beer,vegetables cheap,IH's flats old and sparcely furnished,a pair of Adidas 350zl,dvd player 300zl,an English newspaper 20zl,taxis about 15zl av...etc
You will live like a student on this salary.
IH's teacher training is patchy and varies greatly in quality.
Byd is quite a laugh though and there are some quirky bars.
Good luck.

[Will.]

So did I and at the same time as biff, in the same school. thweere are worse places to start out in.
At that time it was 990 a month, I think, basic pay. We survived , well some of us did. some of us managed to maintain a lifestyle that took some nbbeating and spend the wages before the month was out.
As long as you do not rely on taxis to take you home or eat out in restaurants every meal and expect to drink in the clubs every night you will make it ok.
live like a student and you will save some zloty...what you do with th=em remainds a mystery as they are not much use other than in Poland so spend them. any spare cash you have buy amber jewellery or something to send home. Great for pressies later on. See the country stay inhotels etc