Job Discussion Forums

dannypoet · Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Posts: 24

Im torn between doing my Celta in Wroclaw, Krakow or possibly in Budapest, Hungary as they are all similar places and places I'd like to work afterwards, I just wondered if anyone had any experiences of these schools or anywhere else that offers Celta's in Poland? Also what is my chances of finding a job pretty soon after I have completed the course? I'd be looking to do it in August so I can be ready for the school term in September.

I've read a few a fair few old threads and it seems I should be looking for a salary of about 2000/2500 ZL + free lodgings, is this about right? I wouldn't mind going to a smaller city do language schools in these places recruit CELTA graduates directly out of IH or would it be a case of writing to every one I can find and just trying to sell myself. I would prefer a regular contract and accomodation sorted out for me, rather then working freeland and struggling with landlords etc.

Also is there any cities or language schools people would advise or warn me off? I've heard Gdansk, Krakow and Wroclaw are lovely and Katowice is one to avoid?

Many Thanks for all your help!

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

I did my CELTA at IH in Krakow and would recommend that program highly. I assume Magda and James are still running the course there--they were both great.

Doing the course in August in order to be fully prepared for September is a very good idea. If you want to stay in Poland (which I'm sure is a better choice than Hungary), then certainly do the course here. You'll have a month to get marginally acquainted with living here, which will make your transition to working easier.

As far as cities go, sure, Krakow, Wroclaw and Gdansk and Poznan are very nice places. However, you must spend hours reseaching this for yourself by reading past posts on Daves, buy a Lonely Planet guide, look at pictures on Google images, search the web, etc.

I suppose it might be easier to have an apartment included in your contract, but I've never had such a stipulation. I've found two great flats in Poznan by myself which never would have been provided by a school. It's not so common for schools to find you a flat anyway, so I wouldn't count on it. Just go to an Agencja Nieruchomosci or whatever it's called (real estate agency), and ask if they speak English...Or better yet, make friends with a Pole and look in the paper (usually on Saturdays is the best, I think). You'll get a much better deal this way, because you'll often be going directly through the landlord (ie. no finder's fee--one month's rent, and no inflated prices).

If you live in a school's flat, you had best not have problems with this school because your living situation will be jeopardized at the same time. Better to keep those things separate in my opinion. I've only met one teacher whose school provided him with a flat, and it was some crummy shared accomodation for students outside of the center.

Good luck, and feel free to PM me with any questions.

rjmacks · Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 19

I did the CELTA at the same place as mr. redsoxfan, at the same time in fact. I can also recommend it highly. I chose it because it was the cheapest 120 hour, 1 month course in Europe (still true?).

PS. Mr. Redsoxfan, Magda is still doing the courses but the aforementioned James is now Dos of the same school.

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

Wroclaw - if you're doing it with IH. That's where their main teacher training centre is. It's also the place where they teach the teachers who teach the teachers Smile

gregoryfromcali · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:06 am Post subject:

By the way keep in mind that in terms of the CELTA course the Polish trainers do tend to give North Americans a hard time at IH Krakow.

It's bunk but what are you going to do?

I had to rewrite my paper on sentence stress because I was speaking in terms of the way I would stress a sentence.

If I had to go through all that again, I don't think I'd be so damn polite this time around. Twisted Evil

Afterall there are over 330 million of us and our English is still from England, but nevermind...

afowles · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 85 Location: USA

IH Krakow was a good deal for me, too. Magda was great. I did get the impression that Declan didn't care for the North Americans, but he was still ok. He also had a saucy little dog.

If you get a pass b or above at the IH Krakow, they might offer you a position there. Just maybe, not for sure.