Job Discussion Forums

[zbduk]

When I embarked on my first year as a newly qualified EFL teacher, I was offered (and subsequently took) a job at Oxford School in the central Polish 'city' of Wloclawek. I hit the internet before I accepted the position but couldn't find any info except for the school's website itself but basing it on a lack of adverse comments about the school, I decided to take the job.

I am leaving for Slovakia in a couple of months so it's likely that my position at Oxford School will be advertised so for anyone who wants to know about this employer, I am happy to 'spill the beans'.

Basically, it's a great place to work!
The boss is a genuinely nice guy who will do his utmost to help you out in whatever situations might arise. For example, he took me along to the local doctor when I was ill without complaining about my being off work for a few days, he knows how to thank people for good work and is open and approachable. The school has some resources and decent classrooms, oh, and the photocopier is there for the using aslong as it's not abused

My position involves teaching small groups of teenagers in the afternoons (one group per day), individuals and plenty of business classes, mainly one-to-one but also 2 groups.
I am never short of work and have had to turn down extra classes as I think 34 hours a week is more than enough, this again was not a big issue so hats off to Mr M!
The town itself is not the most exciting in Poland but it's pleasant and the people are friendly. The school organised a choice of 2 flats for me to see and my current 'chez moi' is 66sq.m. on the 4th floor of a 10 floor block, not that i have to walk up the stairs, the lift is reliable!
The pay is plenty to live on, even if the price of energy has gone up considerably in the past couple of months

Ok, I've waffled enough. If you want to know any more, feel free to ask!

[redsoxfan]

[scot47]

Looks like a thinly-disguised job ad to me.
Is the school too mean to pay for an ad on the site ?

[redsoxfan]

It seems so. Do a search for wroclawek and you'll find a post from a couple years back...they were offering 850 zl/month (that's minimum wage) plus housing. Good thing the DOS drives you to the hospital, on that kind of wage you'll surely be dying of malnourishment come Christmas. Hats off to Mr M...

[zbduk]

No, it's not a job ad, my position hasn't even been advertised yet. It is a genuine post. Maybe asking rather than assuming would have been more appropriate.
My pay is more than enough to live well on, I have a car that I brought with me from the UK. As for the 850zl a month, I don't know when that was advertised or which school it was for but I take home about 2500 - 3500 a month.
I was trying to do people a favour as, like I said, when I applied, I couldn't find any info on the net.
I am NOT trying to advertise a job and if you want to know if I'm a 'real' person or not, you could always have a look at my husband's blog (www.zoehaywood.com/blog/).
I've seen so many posts warning of bad schools, I thought I would try to do something positive but it seems that cynicism is alive and kicking on here. Such a shame.

[sharter]

Cynicism on this forum...? From Scott 47.....? Never!

BTW Scott may know a lot about Saudi but that can't be said for his knowledge when it comes to Poland...probably hasn't been there for 30 years.

Congrats for the positive post. It's good to hear that there is a good school in Poland...I thought most of them couldn't care less about their native speakers anymore.

Ain't exactly the best town to go and live in though. Probably a lot easier with the hubby.

[zbduk]

You're right about Wloclawek not being the centre of the universe LOL. I'm not into drinking and clubbing so for me it's fine and of course, as you mentioned, having hubby here makes life easier.

I am really glad I chose this school as my first fulltime teaching job, they honestly have been nice to me. I do some work for a company through school although the bosses sister runs that contract and we all went out for a meal last week and tomorrow I'm going to hit the town with my upper-int marketing group - they're a fantastic bunch. So it's not all that bad

Anyone looking for nightlife galore and going out on the p*ss every night should go to Krakow, Warsaw, Wroclaw etc but there again, my rent is only 400zl a month.
You been here Sharter?

[elblagskich]

ever had any contact with the Greenwich bunch on Ul Reja.

They have it hard I understand

[zbduk]

I've never met anyone from there even though it's only round the corner. I know that Greenwich and Oxford are the two biggest schools in the town although there are some others.
I'm not sure who the Callan school is in the area but I teach a fair number of students who tried that, got the T-shirt and then decided they needed to learn a more traditional way

I've seen the ad for Greenwich and I find it a little off-putting that they would seemingly prefer someone with no experience and an archeology degree than someone with classroom time teaching teenagers without a degree (like me ). Not that I have applied there and for us, the next stop on our 'working tour of Europe' is a small town in Slovakia.

But seriously, I haven't heard any wild rumours flying about so I can't really comment on them.

[sharter]

Have only passed through the place but worked in Bydgoszcz in 95 and trained teachers in Torun in 99. Looked a bit provincial to me. Bydgoszcz was a laugh though, despite IH's awful wages. 'Mosg' was just great in those days That said, 9 months was enough.

I've spent most of my Polish time in Poznan although I've trained people and taught in Krakow, Bialyostok and Warsaw.

Must say, I much preferred Poland in the 90s. I was in Poznan a few weeks ago and the place disgusts me now in many ways. Gone are all the quirky Polish places, except 'Dragon'. They've been replaced by minimalistic, airport lounge type bars charging Scandinavian prices. Gone too are many of the non teaching expats, who were always a much better laugh. It's simply not as much fun as it used to be. I've got loads of mates there and everyone is on the breadline, getting mucked about by schools which don't pay on time etc etc.

I find Poles pretty superficial and extremely self-obsessed...the women are just nuts and complete schemers. Before the usual 'experts' respond to that, I'd like to point out that few of my expat friends in Poznan, (all of whom have been there years), have more than a handful of Polish friends....so it's not just me.

This might all sound a bit negative but my perspective comes from many years in the country.

[maniak]

Sharter do you speak Polish?

[sharter]

Tak

[ratsareeatingmybrain]

Aye places do change and the specific situation in Poznan has been discussed here not that long ago. Biffinbridge for example will be happy to chit chat with you about it I'm sure.

I dare say 90s Poland had a particular charm, especially for those who weren't Polish, and now its 'growing up' its losing some of that. It had to though, didn't it? Maybe some people coming to the UK are disappointed people don't wear top hats, and have tea at five o'clock and what-have-yer, who knows? But hopefully Poland's slowly gaining something else more tangible at the same time.

As for 'the people', everyone has their perspective and all. All i can say is that I've found very many of those Poles I've got to know in my time there to be warm, sincere, supportive and genuine real friends. Most of my non-Polish mates who have spent time there, or are still there, would I think say pretty much the same thing.

I'm not trying to out-expert you, just pointing out that you and your mates' experience and opinion of Poland and the Polish is not in any way typical, standard, the norm or anything like that.

You've obviously got plenty of Polish experience, which is why it's a shame to hear you so down on the place and Polish people.

[zbduk]

I personally find that the Poles seem to fall into two distict categories;
1) the Western wannabes who are taking on more and more of the bad habits and attitudes of the US and UK
2) the warm, friendly people who will stop and help if you have a problem and do their utmost to make you feel welcome.

As for provincial, well I'm from a small village so that characteristic is nothing new to me! Yes, Wloclawek is a small city (they call it a city cos it has a cathedral lol) and although it has the ubiquitous McDonalds 'restaurant', most of the places are still distinctly Polish.

I'm not claiming to be any sort of expert as I have only been here for a year but I find that most of the kids here to have less of a chip on their shoulder than those in the UK and as for the adults, see above.