Job Discussion Forums

[jasperella]

I've been offered a job at the Cosmopolitan School in Opole.
Does anyone have any information on that school?
Thanks!

[peekay]

Hi they've offered me a job too.

I think their "offers" are probably not quite offers yet somehow!!

Did they send you the link to the school's website? I am trying to get someone to translate it for me and if I get anywhere I'll let you know.

Good luck - let me know what you decide - I'm certainly tempted by the smaller towns rather than Warsaw, Lodz, etc etc

[jasperella]

Yes, it was a very quick response, with no details.
I guess I just want to see if anyone knows anything about the school! Obviously I want more information from the school itself.

I have some Polish friends who I can ask to have a look at the website. I'll let you know!

[Selyer]

I've been working for IH Opole the last 2 years but I've met some of the Cosmo teachers. From what they've told me, they make more money than us at IH but also teach more hours, have split schedules, etc. They've got more business English classes. Cosmo's reputation around town is OK, though IH's reputation is the best--and I'm not just saying that because I work there!

Now, if you want my biased opinion about Cosmo, I'd have to say that I wouldn't work for them. I'd stick with IH Opole any day of the week. Our DOS is the best, our teachers cooler, our students funner, our timetables better...well, you get the idea!

Although, Cosmo does have the distinct advantage of being located directly over Drake's pub...if you consider being that close to Drake's an advantage!

[peekay]

Thanks Selyer, but they seem to have disappeared and haven't contacted me for a fortnight - since I sent them my certificates and photo (and I'm normal looking really!!!!!) So I've been looking elsewhere. V annoying though as they were by far the highest salary!

[Flabs]

Hi, me and my husband have just been offered jobs at Cosmopolitan Opole too..... they sent us quite a bit of info about it and a sample contract and they also gave us the email of a guy who works/worked there, but he hasn't replied yet. It all sounds quite good, but the last place we worked did too, and that turned out to be a NIGHTMARE.....so if you get on their website, or hear anything more, let me know. We've said we're interested but we haven't signed yet. We are a bit curious as to why there are 10 positions offered and they say there are 10 teachers at the school....did they all leave??

[jasperella]

I asked about the 10 teaching positions and 10 jobs available. I was told that the teachers usually stay for 2 years, and most of them have been there two years already, so when the director made the advert she assumed everyone would leave. However, two have decided to stay, so there are only 8 jobs available.

I also said I was interested, and then asked several more questions, and I've heard nothing back....

[peekay]

Well I finally got a reply from them. Apparently they are "still receiving offers and interviewing" so can't let me know their final decision yet. They will contact successful candidates when they have made their decision. Incidentally they haven't interviewed me!

So as I suspected "we would like to offer you a position with Cosmopolitan School" didn't actually mean that!!

[mansikka]

Hi!
Now I'm a bit worried, I've had an offer from Opole too, and sent them all the documents etc they wanted... but when I asked about confirmation that this was a firm offer I heard nothing... all the emails have read as though I've got the job though and I've been working on the assumption that that's where I'll be going! Has anyone else heard anything?

I'm also curious to know anything about Opole itself, what is the town like?? Does anyone have any experiences of Cosmopolitan school itself?

Thanks!

[peekay]

Hi Mansikka

Have they actually interviewed you yet?

I have accepted a job with another school in Opole and they told me that Cosmo is one of the main 3 language schools there.

Opole itself is a town of 130,000. It is a university town which is an hour away from Wroclaw by train. There seem to be all the usual facilities but not too many temptations to spend the salary!

Good luck with your search

PK

[jasperella]

I also accepted a job with anothr language school in Opole. The e-mails from Cosmopolitan just stopped, so I gave up!!

Looks like I'll see you in Opole PK!!

Here's some info on the town that my school sent, Mansikka:

Opole is the provincial capital of one of the less industrialised parts of Silesia. Situated one hour from Wrocław and two hours from Katowice, Opole is not as touristy as the former and quieter than the latter. It is a relaxed friendly city with sprawling modern housing estates built around the old town which runs along the banks of the river Odra. Local attractions include a large park ten minutes walk from the school and a large open-air museum. There is a lively cultural scene with two theatres, a concert hall, and two cinemas which show mainly English and American films, in English subtitled in Polish. There are plenty of bars (including John Bull and Highlander) and places to eat, some close quite early, but there are four or five places open until the small hours if you want a drink and a dance. In summer the lake at Turawa is always popular with sailors and sunbathers alike. Wrocław is within easy reach and has a good range of shops, clubs, bars, and some pubs.
Opole is the patron city of music in Poland and every June there is a week long open-air festival with some of the best Polish bands, the amphitheatre also hosts occasional rock concerts and next door there is an ice rink. There is a lot of fitness clubs and an indoor swimming pool.
Opole has a good range of shops especially for the day to day items and a good food market; it tends to be a little cheaper than Katowice or Wrocław, although the latter has more choice if you want things like clothes.
For those who want to venture further a field, Opole is within a morning's journey of some of the most attractive places in Poland. The Tatra and Beskidy mountains provide skiing in winter and walking and climbing in summer. Krak�w is one of the most beautiful cities in Central Europe and a good place for a souvenir shopping. Also well worth a visit is Zakopane, Poland's winter capital. South of Opole is a large national park with good facilities for walkers. The Czech Republic is only a few hours away and there are regular trains and buses.

[Flabs]

well, now my husband and I are in the same boat as the rest of you - we have faxed our certificates (at great expense from china), and we got a brief confirmation that they were recieved by Cosmopolitan but nothing else since. we're kind of assuming that the job is now sorted and we just have to arrange getting to Opole in September . has anyone else been able to contact any of the teachers working there? we emailed one and have heard nothing, although they are all on holiday. i don't know if it's a bad sign or if i'm being paranoid now!!

[Alex Shulgin]

[peekay]

Flabs - have they interviewed you?

They told me they would let successful candidates know at the end of the month so if they haven't contacted you since you faxed your certificates I would guess that they haven't given you an offer of a position. I would start looking elsewhere if I were you.

To be honest if their recruitment process and admin is a little disorganised, I'd be worried about the rest of the setup!!

[mansikka]

Hi!
Thanks for your responses. Yes, they interviewd me... well it was more of a chat on the phone. They seemed really keen at first and said they needed an answer by the ned of the week as to whether we'd be working there. They said they would send the contract out, but I haven't recieved it yet... and the answers to the questions dried up after we sent the documents etc.

Opole sounds nice though! Maybe I'll still see some of you there.