Job Discussion Forums

eihpos · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 331

Hi,

Has anyone heard of or participated in the programme run by this company? It is a week long English Immersion course for Polish adults. Native speakers don't get paid but they offer accommodation and board. It sounds intense but I thought it might be a nice break in Poland and a chance to get to know a bit about the culture.

It would be great to hear from anyone who has some experience of this!

Thanks!

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

Think it was discussed earlier on in this forum, but not sure.

Sounds like a strange idea to me:
Polish clients pay lots of money.
Teachers get paid nothing - but get board a lodgings for free.
Teachers have to pay for travel ??

Who wins? The company who organises it, obviously - free workers (who are the main attraction) to speak to paying clients. As a money making concept it's genius. As a teacher I'd avoid it like the plague.

At the best case scenario - you learn something about where your 'students' come from and a about a small cross section of Polish people.

At the worst case scenario - Polish students (who are notoriously demanding) expect a detailed analysis of why what they're saying is wrong, why you're right and a decent explanation of the grammar / culture behind the reasons why - and remember you get paid nothing for this.

eihpos · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 331

Yes - you are probably right, but it might actually suit me at the moment! It was discussed before, but there were no replies from anyone who had done the programme. Never mind, I think I�ll give it a go.

Sgt Bilko · Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 136 Location: POLAND

Nothing to do with Angloville but I did a similar thing years ago in Zakopane. One week of lessons in the morning and walks and touristy things in the afternoon while we chatted in English to the students. With food and accommodation all provided, the only costs were travel and evening drinks.
I enjoyed it. I wouldn't go now because I've been to Zakopane but, at the time, it was a fun, interesting, easy week.

If Angloville is in an interesting place at a nice time of year and it isn't just 8 hours in the classroom every day, go for it.
If it's now and in Radom, avoid. Laughing

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

I'm with Simon on this one.

If it were a course for a non-profit organization for lower-income students or immigrants it might make sense to only get room and board. But for a company expecting to make a profit? That's another story.

Perhaps your situations different, but if I go on vacation for a week I still have to pay rent while I'm gone. At the very least, I'd expect the company to cover this cost in exchange for the 'fantastic opportunity' they're providing me with.

And, yes, if it's in Radom or Katowice, forget about it.

eihpos · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 331

OK, well I did the week with Angloville and I have to say it was a really positive experience. I met alot of interesting people, native speaker and Polish, stayed in a beautiful location and ate alot of nice food. I flew from Ireland so flights were cheap and although I didn't get paid, I would have spent more if I had stayed at home for the week!
The negatives were the hectic schedule - I was tired of talking by the end, and the coordinators were a bit overbearing regarding time keeping. The lack of time to myself also got a bit much, but hey, it was only for a week and I kind of missed the company when I went home!

It's not for everyone, but it suited me for a week. If you want more details on the pros and cons, feel free to pm.

ecocks · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 899 Location: Gdansk, Poland

They made you do a time sheet for unpaid work? And were "overbearing" about it?

Okay.

okedata · Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 23 Location: out in a desert

amisexy · Joined: 24 May 2012 Posts: 78

It's ridiculous what they expect people to do.

A good idea for the owners though. Charge (probably unsuspecting) Poles 3599 zloty (�740) for 6 days of English tuition, and pay the teachers 0zl (�0 for those that don't realise!)

I fully agree with forum members above. Poland isn't a poor country, why work for free?

ecocks · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 899 Location: Gdansk, Poland

So found a summer immersion program paying for qualified or even "highly-qualified" teachers and market your superior product to the non-poor citizens of Poland.

Nothing wrong with the business model and as long as there are people willing to work for free well, that's their prerogative. I know missionaries teaching at churches for free, volunteers in school systems and backpackers who are happy with a pittance to contribute towards their next pint.

Get over it and offer up your product on the market for serious students and parents wanting serious progress towards English acquisition.

Caporetto · Joined: 09 Apr 2012 Posts: 33 Location: Belarus

I did this programme. The 'best case scenario' was significantly better than outlined above, in my experience and in the experience of friends from the course who I'm still in touch with.

If you look at it as unpaid teaching (you are not there as a teacher, nor expected to teach, by the way) then of course it looks like a bum deal. This is not TEFL though, and you are not there as a teacher. No-one asked me for grammar explanations either.

Sauna, pool, ping-pong, bike rides, huge lunch, bar, lying around on the grass in the sun, jacuzzi, pedalo boats, tennis, bar, kayaking, making friends, and so on... It may look like free teaching on paper, but in reality it was more like a big group holiday.

Is it a money-spinner, a good business? I suppose so. It's a risk too, as volunteers paying their own way can tend to no-show and find something else to do, so good on them for taking the risk. It's a week of conversations based around tasks and activities.

I used it as a crash course in learning about Poland, and more than one person I know has had private gigs from it as well as lasting friendships, further free holidays, and this is without delving into the even more exciting outcomes..

Infinite · Joined: 05 Jan 2013 Posts: 235

I took part in something similar in 1992 so the idea is pretty old. It was a skiing camp in Szklarska Poreba with few native speakers. Can't say that it was a bad time. Think of it as a paid vacation where few hours per day you're "forced" to discuss world pop-politics and culture with students who range from pre-int all the way to advanced. If you're a single with not many bills to pay it's not that bad of a deal, especially given the prices of nice holidays these days.