Job Discussion Forums

Wild Bill · Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 37

Getting back on track, I shared an apartment with a Pole my first year there. It was a blast, and we are still very close. His english got much better and my knowlege of Poland was greatly increased.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Also hopefully back on track: it's really not the norm anywhere in Europe to get even a promise of a job interview from abroad. You're right - anyone who will hire you from long-distance may very likely be desperate for teachers for some reason that won't be to your benefit. To look for decent positions, you need to be here on the ground, CV in hand, looking and acting like a professional. But most newcomers can find acceptable employment fairly quickly.
Schools don't usually hire from abroad because people don't show up, or when they do, they have sometimes misrepresented themselves in some way. There is just not the shortage of teachers in Europe as there is in Asia, so good schools don't need to take the chance.

Also, be careful if you are coming on a financial shoestring. The reality is that (however much you pay!) landlords usually want one month's rent as a deposit and the first month's rent in advance. Language schools typically pay monthly, at the END of the month worked. You've really got to have enough 'thousands' to get by for two or three months at least. If you haven't - stay where you are and save up. Sorry to be negative, but I have been working with TEFL teachers for the past eight years and I have seen people get into pretty serious financial trouble with just a little bit of bad luck.

freudling1000 · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 50

This Alex Shulgin guy.

There is no way you can prove that I am a liar. But just the mention of that makes me raise an eyebrow at you. It is true, I never said I had a house for 450 PLN per month, I had a large room in a house with full use of the house for 450 PLN per month. How did I get a deal like that? It is in the burbs for one. Two, I got connected through a friend. None of this stuff is advertised.

My place in the old town is 800 PLN per month. You are right, they go for way more but mine does not. Sorry if that makes you angry or whatever else you feel from it. I am also not necessarily proud of my connections, since I drink and go out way too much. Basically, destroy myself. It doesn't take long to get to know people if you are constantly out, like 5 days/nights a week.

BUT, when I first got to Warsaw, I had to pay 1100 PLN for a downtown flat like everyone else. I also got scammed, etc.

joshsweigart · Joined: 27 Feb 2005 Posts: 66

So the point of all the bickering seems to be that there are lots of places to live in Poland and that these places come at different prices...

I've lived with some Polish friends and they treated me as such. Of course it's risky to live with people you don't know. If you're coming from the States for your first time you should probably take what the school offers and then just start making some friends and see if they want to move in with you somewhere. It really isn't any different than if you want to live with someone in any country.

freudling1000 · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 50

Right on Sweig. Thanks for chiming in biatch. I do know you have some good experience out here in Poland, land of boobs and beer.

Take it easy stars and stripes.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

[quot