Job Discussion Forums

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

Not being flippant, but if Poland is so cheap, why is there an exodus of teachers every July to UK summer schools? Can�t they save a bit for the slack months?
I visited TwinCenter in Warsaw during an arctic winter. His teaching mates apologised for the weather, rightly so, and said I should visit again in the summer, because it will blow my mind.
I did.
They had all left for summer schools. As I downed overpriced Tyskie in the Old Town, I realised that these teachers never venture out in Poland without their Eskimo gear. What�s all that about? Life is too short for summer school.

maniak · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 194

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

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

Good to hear.

I only really know Warsaw, which ranges from grim (winter) to great (summer). If any Warsaw-based teachers can defend your yearly sun dances back to UK summer schools, please do.

All this bullish talk of EFL Entrepreneurship and the ease of making 8000 Zl a month on here, what happened?

Spain has this bad reputation, but is Poland not financially viable for teachers? Come on, UK summer schools are for newly-qualified CELTA types. If you�re still summer schooling after two or three year�s experience, you're doing something wrong.

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

steviok85 · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 87

I know of a summer school company based in Devon that hires/exploits many Poles.
My close friend is working for 225 quid a week as a house parent and goodness knows how many hours she is doing. I bet 50 a week. Even with free accommodation and meals - still shocking. It is the lowest I have ever seen advertsised on tefl.com in the three years I have been following newly advertised jobs. Good money for her though.
Most of the teachers I have come across at these summer schools had not long left their pushchairs. I have too much self-pride to mix with kiddies. It is a reflection on their behaviour, nothing else.

dynow · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 1080

for me to go to somewhere like the UK for summer school, or anywhere for that matter for summer school, they'd have to pay me a hell of a lot. what good is "free room and board" if you still have to pay for your apt. back home in Poland? my mortgage payments don't magically stop when i'm not in Wroclaw, and landlords expect to get paid regardless......

this has always been my response to school owners trying to convince me to do a summer program. they come at me with "free place to live while you're there", which is hardly a perk, considering my apt. will be more comfortable, and I still need to pay for my place in Wroclaw.

scottie1113 · Joined: 25 Oct 2004 Posts: 375 Location: Gdansk

dynow, good point. I was at the same camp as MasterShake and also had to pay for my flat while I was away, but I didn't have to buy food for two weeks. It was my second summer camp, and I don't do them for the money. I do it because of the kids. They're great. But I wouldn't go to the UK, and two weeks is enough.

simon_porter00 · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 505 Location: Warsaw, Poland

Most people do summer schools because of the lack of work. This year in Warsaw I'm actually pretty busy (not that I'd be allowed to jet off to England for a month on my own anyhow) which is nice because last year the summer period was totally disasterous.

In favour of the summer schools argument, it's better to have a guaranteed wage rather then decidedly unreliable wage by staying in Poland, so rather then not profiting, maybe it should be looked at in the way that you're not losing.