Job Discussion Forums

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

I hear Gdansk is kind of a tourist mecca. I've lived in tourist towns, like Durango Colorado, before and found them too ritzy for my taste. But I have found very little negative press about Gdansk in the forums here, or anywhere else for that matter.

The job pays 2000 zlotys a month with 800+ of that going to rent & bills. I would have to teach only 22 hours a week so I could do some one-to-ones on the side for some extra cash.

With English teachers being out of season now, I know I can't affort to be too picky. Frankly, this sounds like a great opportunity. But I really want to hear others' opinions of this city and Bell English before I book my flight, even if it's a story you heard from a friend's friend's 2nd cousin.

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

2000 is way too low...you'll struggle on that.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

Gdansk is great and not really a tourist mecca. Sopot in the summer can be stuffed with people on holiday but Gdansk isn't. Sure there are tourists but on nothing like the scale of Krakow or Zakopane.

If there were the same work opportunities in Gdansk as there are in Warsaw I'd almost certainly be living in Gdansk.

But that wage sounds like a bit of a joke. Even if we assume that when yu say 22 hours you mean 22 classes (each 45 minutes) and that the figure you give is after taxes it still means that you are getting paid 25 PLN per 45 minute class. That is not good money! If you mean 22 real hours (i.e. 29.3 classes of 45 minutes each per week and that amount is before taxes, you'll be making 13 PLN per 45 minute class. That amount is a disgrace.

redsoxfan · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 178 Location: Dystopia

Let's assume the former: 22 teaching hours (45 minutes each), because this is the standard way to talk about teaching hours.

It's certainly true that 25 sl/hr is very low--normally you'd get about 40. But if you don't have experience teaching, this might be a good foot in the door. Also, it's mid-year and good jobs are scarce.

Besides, it's only for a few months. You could indeed pick up some privates to round out your income, perhaps bringing it up to 3000/month, if we assume 5 private lessons a week at 50 zl/hr=1000 zl/month. In that case, you're fine.

Is the school going to arrange all the work permit stuff for you? That's also a huge bonus, because it's a royal pain in the butt to do this once you're in Poland--basically, it's nearly impossible.

Finally, as far as I know, Bell is a reputable school--it'll look good on your CV when you apply for a job in the fall. My friend works for Bell in Poznan--he makes 40 zl/hr. Maybe you could discuss a wage increase for next year.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

Yes the school is ELS Bell. They are going to arrange all the visa stuff ahead of time and pick me up from the airport. I'm on my way to the copy shop right now to get the documents they need for my work permit.

The 2000zl (I think its actually closer to 2100/month... Cool

) is for 22-23 45 minute lessons a week. I agree that this is low. And this figure is concurrent with what I have heard about Bell trying very hard to cut costs lately. Some teachers have knocked Bell for their stingyness.

But this is mid-year and I am a new brand new teacher right off the CELTA assembly line. The school does offer a 1000zl end of contract bonus which would cover part of my flight back to the states in June.

I suppose I could ask for more. I don't know how far I want to push it. Like redsoxfan wrote, I am looking at this as an opportunity to get my foot in the door, not rake in the zlotys. Hopefully, if I like Poland enough, I will be able to find something much better next fall.

BindairDundat GotdaTshirt · Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 63 Location: DC

Don't take the job just yet. Be honest and tell them that you are reconsidering their offer. You could mention as a bonus (or bluff) that you heard other schools pay more and, before you can entertain their job offer, they should disclose why they can't afford to pay you more.
If you play by the numbers, if you mass send your resume, or wait a little longer, there will be another offer, more lucrative and probably in a more amiable town than the one you already got.

redsoxfan · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 178 Location: Dystopia

Alex is right that having 5 private students doesn't mean that 5 flesh-bearing homo sapiens sapiens will show up at your door with money for you. You'll want ten, as half will cancel. But that's do-able enough.

As far as the work permit stuff goes, I think the jury's still out on that one. We've all read this article which mentions that teachers don't need work permits, but somehow I just have a hard time believing that this has been put into practice. These offices are highly disorganized; case and point:

I'm expecting my residency card (karta pobytu) any week now. I just got a letter from the Urzad Wojewodzki yesterday saying that I must bring them my Polish health care booklet--I already did this and they stamped it. Also, I must show them that I have a promise of work, which is simply WRONG because I own a company. Owning a company is listed as a grounds for getting a karta pobytu; you don't need some other full time job as well! (I'll have fun with this latest round of crap on Monday morning.) But I digress...

Anyway, whether he needs a work permit or not, he's getting one! Also man, having your work permit in hand will make it quite easy for you to get your residency card once you're here. That will make your life here much more pleasant.

As far as salary: 2000 zl/month is certainly low, and if you want to try to talk them up, go for it. But I'd still take the job.

Alex mentioned saving money for the summer: well, you won't. Either bring 4000 USD to cover four months of payless living, look for a summer school job, or fly back home.

You could squeeze by with less than four grand if you had some privates over the summer, and if you were conservative with your money.

The best way to save money is this: go out drinking with Brits, but don't buy any rounds. It's a common trick--we all do it. All the Americans and Canadians then put their money into a communal fund--I believe there's one set up in Gdansk--which pays off a pretty decent interest rate to boot. You'll receive a monthly check over the summer which should at least cover rent. Don't worry about money for going out, of course, because as an American in Poland, you'll never have to spend a single dime on drinks!

Another trick: buy a few beers at the local Zabka, put 'em into your backpack. Hang out at pub airing a cricket match, wait for some unsuspecting bloke to buy you a beer. You then take this beer and SELL IT to another patron of the pub at a slight discount (I recommend watering it down a bit). Finally, get an empty glass and pour your own beer into it--you've just made a cool 3 zl! American ex-pats have been running this scam for decades. Suckers! Wink

simon_porter00 · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 505 Location: Warsaw, Poland

OMFG!!

BindairDundat GotdaTshirt · Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 63 Location: DC

redsoxfan · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 178 Location: Dystopia

bindair wrote:

joshsweigart · Joined: 27 Feb 2005 Posts: 66

With 1200 a month spending money you should be able to survive. You just won't be able to buy any rounds for your British friends or travel. If you really want to come, go for it. It would also be a good idea to look for some extra lessons at other schools as some acquire contracts or different groups throughout the year. If the school has teachers who have full schedules, they may be looking for someone to pick up some classes. As for the work permit--my school still says that I need one. I've told them about the law change but they seem to think it easier to stay on the permit system. It would be interesting to see if anyone has any success getting their papers sorted without the permit.

Oh yeah, I've always found N. Americans to be quite generous with drink buying (sometimes one person will cover the entire tab), that's why it's strange to see so many comments which imply stinginess.

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:17 pm Post subject:

In my experience Americans are not particularly stingy when it comes to buying drinks. It's just a silly argument that has erupted on this forum between a few "Commonwealth" members and a few of the more puritanical members from the States.

You'll find such idiotic comments coming from the mouths and word processors of people of every nationality and I advise you ignore their sorry and misplaced ideas.

beachrunner · Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 4

If they want someone asap you might be able to press for a bit more cash. Remember that 'not the hiring season' doesn't have to work against you - often schools that do need a teacher find it hard to get people during the year.
Bell is a good school, not the highest payer, but a reputable set up.
Take the job, enjoy yourself, Poland is a great country.
You won't be the richest teacher in Gdansk but you can still have a good time. And there is always next year.
Take no notice of some of the rubbish that gets posted here.