Job Discussion Forums

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

I can tell you now that although you think your employer is Profi-lingua Chorzow, you will actually be employed by a translation agency in Katowice.They tax you at 20% at Profi...I know, I worked there.I think it's a scam as translators pay less tax but they tax you at a higher rate.You'd have to check it out though.
I resigned during the winter break and was threatened with a lawsuit.I can't remember the exact details of the penalty but it's something like;
2xyour hourly ratexthe number of students you havexthe remaining hours on your contract.In my case that worked out at about 120x200x60ZL.I told them to go swing and to come find me in the Middle East.
Profi is a teaching factory were money and nothing else matters.They strong arm the students and teachers alike.You will be fired if students complain about you.Your students will be told that they can't stay in the same class if they don't sign up early for the second semester etc etc.Because they don't hire enough natives they shaft you on the timetable and number of groups you have.The admin is the worst I've ever seen.
The students complain as soon as they realize that they've been fooled by the advertising.Complaints are then made against the first line- ie the teacher and the marketing guys do everything they can to cover their arses.Afterall,they're in the office and in constant contact with Katowice, with whom you'll find it difficult to contact ie,you cannot easily contact the decision makers,(your employers),in Katowice.
All in all a dreadful organization and one that really confirmed that I would never work in Poland again.
I just go there to visit my son,get drunk and meet beautifully temperamental women for shallow liaisons.

the new guy · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 127

dynow · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 1080

hahaha.........you guys GOTTA be brits.

and yes, profi-lingua is a disaster.

postpran · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 22 Location: Ankara, Turkey

I just moved to Katowice last week. I almost worked for Porfi Lingua, but thanks to this forum I decided against it. Instead I am working for Empik. I know it is also a big school, but it is much different than Profi Lingua. I have a copyright contract (so I don't have to open my own business). I just have to turn in a small packet of English teaching material each month in case control comes. And they leave me alone to teach but offer help if I need it. For example, they will buy a any textbook for my CAE and FCE friday conversation classes. They pay 60ZL per hour. I will work about 25 hours a week. So over 6000zl gross at 19% taxes. The tax office in Katowice said they minus 20% for expenses and then tax the remaining amount. So they will tax 4800 zl (if I make about 6000zl). So that will leave me about 5088 net. I have a nice flat near the centre (1200 zl) and fast speed internet (69zl) plus about 150zl for gas electricity and water. So I should have around 3668 zl after expenses.

Even if my calculations are a little high, I should have at least 3000zl after all expenses per month.

I worked at a small school last year in Zory. I earned 1200zl per month plus a free shared flat with a 63 year old Polish lady . The Polish lady did not like it when I brought my girlfriend to my room. One night she opened the door right as I was having a great orgasm and said "Nein nein nein." I moved into a hotel after that and used all my savings for the rest of the school year.

After I finished my contract with that small school, I was hired for a three month contract for a school in Bielsko. The school offered me the position of DOS for the coming school year. But one week before I was supposed to start the crazy director decided to cancel my contract. She found my poetics blog. On my blog I said I wasn't sure about a long future teaching ESL/EFL and the director said if I student found my blog and read it they might not come to the school anymore. I never mentioned the name of the school or said anything bad about it. I only expressed concern about a long career in teaching EFL.

She said I must be a good example as a teacher and my blog was "gross misconduct." Quite a shock to say the least.

I barely survived September in an old communist hotel in Rybnik.

I want to give Poland another year. I am hoping with more money, my own flat, and more things to do in the city (such as the Rawa blues festival today) and a decent school, I will have a good year in Poland. I don't like to give up.

Anyway. Thanks for all the info on Profi Lingua. The contract was insane compared to the Empik contract. The Empik contract was half a page. No penalties for anything. Really basic and "normal." One teacher has been teaching at this Empik in Katowice for six years. He also almost worked for Profi Liingua.

onward!

anospi · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:22 pm Post subject:

I was offered a job by Profi Lingua in Wroclaw. They asked me to come in and bring my bank account details before they even showed me the contract! I told them I'd like some time to read over the contract before I signed anything, for obvious reasons, given I'd heard so many things.

Before I left I asked some pretty normal questions, like "How many native speakers are employed here" and "Can you assure me I won't be teaching 7 days a week" The answer I got was "I'm afraid I can't answer your questions until after you're employed with us".

The only reason I didn't tear the contract up after reading it was because I wanted to keep it as a souvenir as the most dodgy contract I've read in my life!

And on another note, Empik offered me employment on 'Umowa o dzielo' with 16% tax, however three other schools have told me umowa o dzielo is actually illegal.

I'm currently in the process of starting my own business, and I've accepted a position with a small private school in Wroclaw.

MilesFerdinand · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 21

Lots of useful and also very misleading info here.

Biffin and the rest of you guys do get a lot right but other info seems to be blown out of proportion a little.

Profi ALWAYS pay on time - as long as youre invoice is handed in on time. If not they will, understandably, make you wait. Someone mentioned that teachers lose their jobs if students dont turn up for your class - total rubbish. However, Profi do judge you at the end of the semester on how many returning students you get. If your numbers are low thias will have an effect on your "statistics" which are measured using different elements such as observations, student feedback and the secretaries judment of your organisational skills!!! As far as I know, no-one has been instantly sacked because of lower figures and the whole process is just annoying and seems to be more worrying for the Polish teachers.

The PL schools Ive worked for were not the best places for resources, thats true. Also true that teachers are in the firing at the first sign of a complaint - again, I never saw anyone sacked for a complaint rather teachers being able to explain themselves.

The whole business of the contract is actually quite "dodgy". Its a lengthy document full of threats and there probably is some kind of tax dodging going on on the part of Profi. However, as far as I know, we werent paying more tax than people at other schools.

If you just get on with the job yore paid to do and do it well (shouldnt be a problem if youre a decent teacher) then thecomments on here will not necessarily affect you. Because its so big, lots of people have bad things to say. Theres an awful lot of bad small schools out there too...

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

Profi don't fire you if your students don't turn up, but they do pay you less if the class 'shrinks'.
I had no complaints and no problems.Every other native speaker there had complaints and got observed a lot.Observations at Profi are more about evaluating teachers than developing them.Our training workshops were done in Polish.
I've been teaching for 12 years.Most of the teachers there were quite inexperienced.They like younger people they can threaten and bully a bit.Of course, all the Poles are terrified of unemployment.Just look at the clauses and fines in the contract.
When you teach 8 lessons on a Saturday life starts to suck...you'll see.

phantombedwetter · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: PROF-LINGUA SCHOOL

obcykraj · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 6

hmmm profi pays on time unless the payment sheet is late. I worry about the place as it seems the support staff are becoming more and more important than the teaching staff. There is also very, very little in way of developing their teachers. Once you're on that's it, there's no teacher development (in my experience) and it's up to you how you develop yourself in the classroom.

It can also be difficult as students don't take an oral exam before being placed at the start of a semester so if you have a very mixed level class you're in a bind. If you move them to a new class, then that means your class size shrinks and you get less money if the number drops below 8. As well, the other teachers are very unlikely to move their students into another class room. I do move my students but i know the polish teachers think i'm an idiot for moving "money" into other levels.

The sad thing is that language schools in this country are increasingly the about money at the expense of delivering a service.

I'm almost convinced I want to leave next year but I need to find a school that pays well and has a good reputation if i'm going to leave.

TeflTom · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 3

Got to this discussion a bit late unfortunately.

I worked for Profi-Lingua, Wroclaw for 4 years so I can say with experience that all the bad things written about them above are TRUE.

It is a hateful school. Inertia and convenience kept me there for so long. Leaving was like getting out of prison.

Oh, and they do pay consistently late, a couple of days one month, a few days another. When you have to pay your bills and ZUS on time it matters.