Job Discussion Forums

ramef1 · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Warsaw

Hello,

I have been reading the posts on Poland for some time while a friend of mine and I explore the feasibility of coming over there. I have a few remaining questions for which I cannot seem to find answers. Any suggestions anyone could make would be most appreciated.

Background: I have recently graduated with a Master's degree in a completely unrelated field to teaching English. I do have a fair amount of teaching and tutoring experience, including time in front of a classroom, but nothing specifically in teaching EFL. My friend and I are considering moving to Warsaw, as he will probably be attending med. school there in the coming semester. I do not have a TEFL certificate as of yet, although from all of my research, I think my options seem to be limited as far as earning one in Warsaw. Now for my questions:

1) Certification: I know of Bell for the CELTA, but with my current job, it seems that I will not be able to make their final 4 week certification course offered at the end of August. Does anyone know of any other CELTA or Trinity certification programs in Warsaw? If not, are there any reputable TEFL certification programs there?

An alternate possibility I have been exploring is the combined distance/onsite course offered by Intesol at their Prague and Crete locations. This essentially allows me to perform 70 hours worth of work on my own through online tutoring and grading, while two weeks are spent onsite getting teaching practice and the benefits of working with other TEFL students. This appeals to me b/c it would allow me to work on it while I am still in the states (I am from the US), and then allow me to get the teaching practice that I feel is essential. Does anyone know about this program? Is it reputable? Would such a certification be accepted in Poland and allow me to find work?

3) Visa questions: I have called the embassy, e-mailed, and read lots of confusing statements on visas for Poland. And still, no answers...So here's my question. I, of course, won't be beginning teaching right away, as I will want to get my certificate while abroad first. Will I need to obtain a work visa before going over, even if I don't have a job yet? How do you go about this when you do not have a prospective employer yet? Or is it possible to get a long term residence visa, and then add a work visa or obtain a work permit while over there?

Also, if I must obtain a work permit before going over there, the Washington Polish consulate asks for your place of residence, as well as the letter allowing you to legally work. If we do not have a place of residence as of yet, nor a job, will my visa application be denied? Is there any way around these requirements (as they are only for those seeking work in Poland)? There seems to be a slight difference made between seeking work and teaching English, but it is not clear, and I was wondering if anyone could clarify. Also, any clue on the authentication necessary and types of documents they are requiring (such as the letter of intent for requesting the visa)?

3) Warsaw itself-Any suggestions on the city, good/bad places to live, good schools to work for, things to watch out for? I have been able to find information in abundance on Krakow, but Warsaw seems to be a relative desert as far as information on the city and teaching English there goes (at least as far as I've found; I may be looking in entirely the wrong places!). Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions, my friend and I would be most appreciative.

Again, any answers or constructive comments to these questions would be helpful. Thanks for your help! Very Happy

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

ramef1 · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Warsaw

Alex, thanks very much for your replies. I realize all the schools conform to the standards set forth by Cambridge, but do you know if any one of the IH schools has a better reputation than the others? I have looked at the IH Krakow website, but none of the others.

Also, as far as working in Warsaw, do you know of any particular "chain" schools to watch out for? What about the British school?

Also, what about Polish men? I happen to be female. Wink

Thanks again!
~Emily

ramef1 · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Warsaw

Also, how impossible is it to find a job after the start of October? I'm afraid with the way things are looking, I wouldn't be able to complete any TEFL training before then (particularly if I do a CELTA course in Poland). Are the prospects of finding a job thereafter impossible?

CROGO · Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Krakow

What is the typical Christmas holiday for an English teacher in Poland?
From December ?? until January ??

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

ramef1 · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Warsaw

Thanks for all the previous replies. As for right now, I am still in much of the same quandry as I was before, as I am primarily waiting on my friend to hear from his medical school to see if the move will even commence. I say this to pose the following question--Timing is not seeming to be kind to me at all. Given the fact that I may not arrive until early or mid-September now (as there seems no way that I will be able to make it to Poland in late August nor make the CELTA courses offered either at Bell in Warsaw or IH in Krakow or Wroclaw), which would generally be the better of the two options: 1) Arrive with a non-CELTA part-distance TEFL certification that I would hopefully have by the end of September and have a chance of finding a job, or 2) Go on and take the October CELTA in Krakow and plead for a job in November?

Also, does anyone have any information on the Intesol Combined Distance/Online certification? Are they a generally reputable company? I realize their "accreditations" are not necessarily an assurance that they are a quality institution. But the option of 2 weeks online and only 2 weeks onsite might work better with my timing problem. Is the main problem with distance TEFL certificates mainly the lack of teaching practice, and do you think such a program might allay some of the hiring schools' worries?

One final question for the moment: As far as applying for jobs is concerned, what sort of references/letters of recommendation might be helpful as credentials? Are there any helpful things anyone can recommend as far as applying for a job? I would like to get such things together while I still have time.

Thanks for everyone's comments. Without the advice of the experienced, we novices would have a much harder way to go.

Grrrmachine · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 265 Location: Warsaw, Poland

I sent my CVs out in May when my last contract was coming to an end, and Im now getting plenty of calls from schools hiring for the September/October period, which I suppose means that, come September, most positions will be filled. However, depending on the quality of your references, some may be willing to offer you in-house training and experience without a CELTA, as it gives them the opportunity to pay you less. That's just a matter of collecting a mass of email addresses and seeing if you can negotiate some kind of deal with one of the schools here