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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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 Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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I keep getting drawn back to jobs I see advertised at IH Bydgoszcz, which have pretty low salaries which they advertise from 1600PLN - 1875PLN per month. Of course, I dont know how low that is compared to everything else.
Its 25 teaching hours a week, 9 month contract with some paid holidays, and includes acccomodation and bills paid. Flights to and from Poland are included too. That is partly where the appeal is for me because I dont want set up costs, and Im not worried about savings etc either.
I dont want to be in the biggest of cities, so Bydgoszcz might suit ... and I just want a job with support that allows for a little professional development. I have worked in conversation schools for sometime, and need to be in a more professional environment for a term or two to improve my long term prospects.
Is it worth me looking into this job more ... or should I seek something elsewhere?? |
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Sgt Bilko
Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 136
Location: POLAND
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:58 am Post subject: |
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Despite the low wages, IH does suit some people and, from the sound of your post, you are one of them. You'll get a lot out of the year (as long as the DoS/Senior staff are helpful/good at training) and, as long as you make the most of the opportunities, you'll end the year a much better teacher than you started it.
IH doesn't suit experienced teachers because they don't get much benefit from the training and they're probably used to better pay. It also doesn't suit people who know their way round Poland because they don't need the help with accommodation etc that IH give. Most (all?) IH schools also insist on 'non-competition' clauses that mean you can't work for anyone else while you work for them.
I used to work for IH (not bydgoszcz) and a lot of people leave broke but happy that they started their career there. |
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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:16 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for that Sgt, its reassuring to hear that rather than the usual stuff heard about IH and the like (low wages, slave labour, drives down EFL wages). Im actually in my 3rd year in EFL, but due to the nature of the work I do, Im not actually developing as a teacher and feel I need to work in that type of environment to learn more about my job.
I have no intention of staying in Poland for longer than the 9 months contract they offer, and so the thought of start up costs and flat hunting seem unappealing. Despite taking 100s of classes, I have never had to file lesson plans or teach grammar points in any detail ... I am viewing this type of job with IH as a stepping stone, and part of my on the job training really. As long as I earn enough to cover my modest living expenses for that time Im happy.
It wont be until 2010 as I have work until then, but I will keep an eye on this forum to keep up to date with Poland |
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justflyingin
Joined: 30 Apr 2009
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:33 am Post subject: |
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| Sgt Bilko wrote: |
IH doesn't suit experienced teachers because they don't get much benefit from the training and they're probably used to better pay. It also doesn't suit people who know their way round Poland because they don't need the help with accommodation etc that IH give. Most (all?) IH schools also insist on 'non-competition' clauses that mean you can't work for anyone else while you work for them.
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Would that include working for yourself?
What kinds of training do they give people?
Why do they pay so low? Do they charge less per class or is their profit margin higher? |
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Sgt Bilko
Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 136
Location: POLAND
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:40 am Post subject: |
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Would that include working for yourself?
What kinds of training do they give people?
Why do they pay so low? Do they charge less per class or is their profit margin higher? |
1 Yes. It was quite strange. When I worked there, they had set up a US company which meant (for some reason) that for the first two years in Poland you/they didn't have to pay tax. After that, you did and they preferred teachers/management to open their own companies. I don't think anyone stayed on as a teacher into a third year as their take home pay was lower than in the second year (not much of an inducement). DoSes, despite having their own company, were expected only to work for IH. I doubt whether it was in any way enforceable by law but they expected it.
2 Ranging from general 'input' to more specific courses. IH Katowice offered the CELTYL (or IHCYL) free (I think). There was also a business course, exam class preparation course (how to teach FCE/CAE), language awareness etc. It depended a lot on the school/DoS and difficult to get a balance of offering a lot but not over burdening teachers with compulsory training. Some DoSes also liked 1-1 lesson planning sessions. Plus three-four observations a year with oral/written feedback. In January, the DoS generally goes to the IH DoS Conference and comes back enthused with new ideas.
There again, some DoSes who had been around for years and were a bit jaded did the least they could get away with - maybe one input session a fortnight and a couple of observations a year.
3 At my old school we were probably the most expensive for students while paying some of the lowest wages. There is quite a high annual IH affiliation fee but I guess a lot was going to the owners. |
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anospi
Joined: 03 Dec 2004
Posts: 152
Location: Perth, Western Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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| I have no intention of staying in Poland for longer than the 9 months contract they offer |
Heh, that's what I said prior to starting my contract with IH....three years ago before I met my girlfriend  |
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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="anospi"]
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Heh, that's what I said prior to starting my contract with IH....three years ago before I met my girlfriend |
Thats always good to hear  Its nice to understand a country and culture by interactions with the fairer sex. EFL is my way of avoiding commitment though ... so many girls, but also so many countries! I have regular work with a long established summer school in the UK, so Im always looking for Sep - June jobs and then head back home again ... new countries (or at least new cities) and new adventures and experiences. Not everyones cup of tea, but it suits me far more than serious relationships do  |
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