Job Discussion Forums

tendrils · Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 2

Hi
I was hoping someone could give me some advice on CELTA courses in Poland.
My partner and I are currently teaching in Korea and hope to move to Poland next year. We would like to upskill with a CELTA course and then continue teaching.
I know you can do CELTA virtually anywhere but we figured it would be easiest to train in Poland and then teach there.
Does anyone know a good college there?
Any suggestions?

Thanks

madison01 · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 40

International House in Wroclaw run a course, a Bell in Warsaw.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

The CELTA at Bell Warsaw is the most expensive: 4900PLN = �815
http://www.bellschools.pl/det_celta.html
The job market in Warsaw is probably better than in any other city in Poland but I'm less than convinced that it is wise to spend 20% more just to be trained in Warsaw. Accommodation will also cost more in Warsaw than at any other centre. Two of the people I know who took the course were quite impressed and three were less than impressed. That said, the unimpressed people took the course five years ago and the impressed people took it much more recently.

The CELTA at IH Krakow is the cheapest: �645 = 3870PLN.
http://www.ih.pl/teachers_t.php?s=2
IH Krakow is the only centre in Poland which runs intensive courses all year round. As such they have more experience than any of the other centres. The three people I know who trained there were fairly happy with the course.

The CELTA at IH Wroclaw is �655 = 3930PLN.
http://www.ttcentre.ih.com.pl/index.php?page=celta
Slightly more than Krakow but the city is cheaper so you will end up spending less in total. The four people I know who did their CELTA there were all impressed, as was the person who did his DELTA there.

There used to be a CELTA course in Poznan at Lektor International House but they seem to have disappeared, website is down. Lektor International House, ul Fredry 2, 61-701 Poznan, Tel: 4861 516171 are the details I have for them.

YakTamer · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 86 Location: Warszawa, Polska

I can vouch for the quality of the course at IH Wroclaw, I did it a couple of years ago and it was very good. The teacher training centre at Wroclaw has a very good reputation. I wouldn't worry about the extra 10 pounds: as Alex says, Wroclaw is a bit cheaper. You'll probably see Krakow anyway so doing the Wroclaw course is a good opportunity to experience somewhere different when you come into Poland.

philyyy · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 93 Location: Wroclaw

I did my CELTA there last year and enjoyed it (in a masochistic kind of way) so much that I'm going back there this year to teach. It is one of the cheapest courses I could find in Europe but also has one of the best reputations. Wroclaw is a nice city, with plenty going on. I've little experience of other CELTA courses but I'm all for Wroclaw.

tendrils · Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 2

Thankyou so much for the comprehensive replies. That helps enormously.
Also what are the job prospects like for non-EU citizens? We are Australians and I know there are a few Aussies already in Poland but is it hard to get work for non-EU's?

Once the CELTA course is completed (we are hoping to complete it in Feb or Mar 2007) what are the job prospects like? Are we likely to find work at that time of the year? Should we line up work before we do the course or will the school help us find work?

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 4:13 am Post subject:

I've heard that the best price is in Lviv (Lvov), Ukraine.

philyyy · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 93 Location: Wroclaw

In my limited experience I'm not sure how many schools run celta courses all year round. 'm certain Wroclaw don't for example, it's usually a June-September thing. I know Prague I.H. does which is just a shortish hop pver the border. I'd personally try and get yourselves a celta course and a job lined up as soon as possible. I think most schools would prefer EU nationals given the choice but Poland isn't the number one destination for teachers in the world so many schools have to take what they can get and if that means a bit of faffing to get a visa (if you still need one, with the change to the laws for teachers, see another post someowhere on here) then they'll be more than happy to.

Khrystene · Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 271 Location: WAW, PL/SYD, AU

I don't know much about CELTA courses here, because I haven't done one.

As for work... Jan/Feb is the 2nd semester intake time, but you might want to sort out a job well in advance, because otherwise you will be stuck without anything. Plus as Australian citizens, not EU, you need a visa [which you're supposed to get in your HOME country] and sponsorship to work here. More and more schools are unwilling to get them for you. [I'm lucky in that I have not only Australian citizenship, but also Polish.] Occasionally you can get a job paid 'under the table', but it's often dodgy.

Also, if you start work here in Feb, you only have a few months before the OH GODS THERE'S NO WORK Summer starts. And then you will find there's bugger all work around.

So perhaps going to one of the other local countries like Lithuania/Latvia/Russia/Hungary etc, might be a better option.

I'd definitely suggest putting your resume and info around as much as possible.

If you have experience, why are you being bothered with CELTA right now? Also why are you coming MID YEAR?

I hope this, in some way, helps.