Job Discussion Forums

[jennateacher]

I am interested in furthering my career by getting a masters. This program offers 1200-2000 PLN and full coverage of the masters program fees for 20-30 teaching hours.

What type of living style will this salary allow?

What are typical contract conditions in Poland for a teacher with 7+ years experience and tesol cert?

Thank you for any info.

Jenna

[simon_porter00]

Which city are you studying the masters?
If its Krakow and i'm assuming the salary is the usual government foriegn nationals students payout then the deal is you'll just get cash.

With the cash you'll be offered a place in dorms (shared room which is about 15m2) with shared bathroom and this'll be about 300zl p/m.

If you decide to go private sector, a room will set you back about 500 - 700 a small studio flat will set you back about 1200zl p/m. On top of this you'll have to pay the monthly flat charges also and this can be up to 300 zl p/m or even more (obviously if you're in a room you'll pay a share of this).

Depending on how extravagent you want to be one weeks food at home will set you back about 60zl, if you eat out much higher.

You'll want a mobile phone so budget in about 20zl p/m for medium usage.

Beer is 5-7zl for a pint, cinema 15 zl, monthly tram card about 25 zl (for one tram line). All in all if you get offered 1200zl p/m (as i did when i got accepted for my masters at UJ) make sure you've got some savings or you plan to supplement this as its really not a lot. If you get closer to 2000 p/m life will be more comfortable but you won't live anywhere near extravagently on it.

Assuming your masters will be full time I doubt you'll be able to take up full time hours at a school and most schools have filled their native speakers quotas by now anyhow.

The wage question can only really be answered by knowing which city you are going to and if you use the search function you should be able to find out most of what you need in regards to teaching/wage/conditions etc

[Pollux]

As you know, graduate degrees are expensive, so this program is a good deal, I think. It's curious that you expect a decent standart of living while getting a free MA.

[zippy2k]

Am I right in thinking you are being offered 1200-2000 PLN/mth for a 20-30 hour teaching week? If so then I think you are being sold a pup, as if you are at the upper end of those hours you should expet abt 3500/mth if you weren't having wages taken off for course fees, leaving 1500/mth course fees. I am working in Poland an doing the MA in TESOL, and it costs me 750/mth course fees on the 3-year (standard time) MA...

[jennateacher]

Yes I expect a decent living. I want to be able to afford basic health care, food beyond bread and water and a clean apartment in a reasonably safe area. I did not say delux or luxury lifestyle. I am not looking to buy designer handbags.

The masters is not "free" it is part of the salary package. I am 35 years old, I have 7+ years teaching experience, primary and EFL, and a TESL cert. I am past living like a starving student. I want to be paid a fair wage for the work I do.

[zippy2k]

I'll take it I am right in thinking that then...(!) In Poland it matters little how many years experience you have as a teacher regarding your rate of pay. If you want to work fully legally, via a contract with a language school, the only thing that'll affect your rate is a Masters or DELTA. However, you can of course set your own rates according to what you think is fair when giving private classes. The good news is, if you are a native speaker and outside the tourist traps like Krakow you will most likely get it. The bad news is to be fully legal also with those classes you must set yourself up as a private company and that may not be easy..

[svenhassel]

[Alex Shulgin]

[simon_porter00]

You'll have to excuse my naivity (sp?) here.

How can anyone expect to teach f/t and yet still study what is presumably a f/t masters course?

Am I missing something here?

[Grrrmachine]

the girlfriend manages to fit in her degree and 20 hours of teaching a week, and still has the whole weekend free. I don't think it's much of a challenge - especially if you have enough teaching experience not to worry about lesson planning.

[svenhassel]

the people i know on a masters program have two weeks of intensive course during the two week winter break the rest i assume is distance learning, must admit it sounds fishy to me.

[Pollux]

I think the OP is talking about this program.

http://www.mastersinpoland.com/

Why the mystery? Another poster mentioned a 750zl/month program. Another useful piece of information which another poster picked up as good deal since it's only 15% of your income.

If you have some good info about grad programs, post it.

[BindairDundat GotdaTshirt]

Be aware this is a non-licensure program which means that, back in the real world, or your country of origin (I presume you are a native speaker) that degree is deadwood. So if you want to make teaching a career, I'd advise you to save your money and wait till you are back home. Then you'd better off starting a more marketable Masters program.

[Pollux]

BDGT,

What makes you say that this program is lame? By saying it is 'non-licensure,' do you mean it isn't accredited, or it doesn't allow you to teach English in public schools, say, in Australia? Framigham State is definitely accredited, but maybe you know something I don't.

From FSC's website:
Located in Framingham, Massachusetts, FSC was founded in 1839 as the first public college to offer teacher preparation. FSC is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. and was the first college in the United States to offer degrees in teacher education. It was a pioneer in awarding the first teaching certificates to teachers in 1847.

BTW, can you recommend a good 'licensure' program?

[gregoryfromcali]

To meet the best kung fu masters you need to come to China.