Job Discussion Forums

wojbrian · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 178

Does anyone know anything about the Lang Schools?

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Im also keen to hear some feedback on them as I have just sent an initial application via email

sparks · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 632

I'm not sure if it's the same school, but I have one class with a school called "Lang" here in Warsaw. I'm not aware if they have more than one location in the country though.

All of the classes are in-company, they pay on time and fairly decent for language schools. They have a computerized reporting system so you don't really ever have to go to the office more than once a month to hand in time sheets, they have a pretty good library.

sparks · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 632

I would guess you're both talking about the school with the "blue" webpage. Sorry, no experience. I actually work for Lang LTC.

Best

wojbrian · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 178

Maybe we will be working together Nick.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Maybe. I quite look the look of things there....it would appear to suit me quite well...location etc.

Will have to see how we both get on, but would love to hear some feedback from the board!

wojbrian · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 178

I get along with most people, except, those crazy Brits! Laughing

I really enjoyed teaching in Poland. I found the people to be very enjoyable, helpful and friendly.

I kept hearing that I would have culture shock coming from the US but it's not really all that different except for all the holidays.

I was told that people don't smile in Poland. That was so untrue.

KatyaGooner · Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 7

Hi,
I worked for Lang in Kedzierzyn-Kozle last year. The school is fine. A pretty generic language school really. They teach a broad range of students from Helen Doron classes to one-to-ones with rich CEOs and there's a fairly decent amount of supplementary teaching materials available. I had a lot of one-to-ones and very small groups who wanted mostly speaking. The students were nice. I had one difficult class of about 20 teenagers. The owners are OK. They're a married couple and will help you out if they can but I guess a good word for them would be flakey. The admin staff are really great. The ADOS is great. There are a couple of cars that you can take for in-company classes or if you don't drive, someone will take you. In terms of the teaching, I don't really have anything negative to say.

Kedzierzyn-Kozle is two towns. Kedzierzyn is the new, industrial part and Kozle is the older, nicer part. Unfortunately, the main school and all the flats are in Kedzierzyn. Now I spent a year in a Siberian oil town and Kedzierzyn makes Siberian oil towns look stunning in comparison. Kedzierzyn is a dump. Kozle is a bit better. Luckily, you're close enough to Wroclaw and Krakow to escape for the weekend. The flat I was in was also pretty terrible but I saw the flat of another teacher and it was OK. I was just unlucky with mine.

On the whole, I would describe my time there as 'meh'. Not brilliant, not terrible. Then again, I was doing the classic TEFLer trick of running away from a personal drama at the time so you could argue that I didn't make the effort to have a brilliant time. I do believe though that to get much above 'meh' in KK would need superhuman effort. Feel free to ask me anything else you want to know.

hrvatski · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 270

Dude, Kedzierzyn-Kozle, wtf were you thinking?

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Im 99% sure Im going to take a position there. Im probably unusual but the thought of being in Warsaw or a major city is horrendous...Im a small town kinda guy so this place sounds like a good fit to me!

My last three jobs overseas have been in a Kenyan village, pop of less than 10,000...and two small Chinese towns, both miles from big cities. Im just not into city life!

hrvatski · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 270

Krakow is awesome, just get a job in Krakow and have a wow time instead of a meh time.

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

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Teaching is 95% of my motivation...and the feedback posted above is good for that. Ex-pat bars and the club scene isnt my thing at all. Im probably not the typical travelling teacher type.

I thought I read on some website there was a cinema and health club. That is two things I dont have access to (unless I travel for two hours) in China, so I reckon Ill be OK.

hrvatski · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 270

Well, the ladies are more interested in foreigners in small towns so that's a plus.

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