Job Discussion Forums

[sbranigan]

Hi,

I am thinking of going to find work in Poland in the near future. I don't have a degree or experience in teaching, but I completed a good, comprehensive TESOL course last year and I have 10yrs experience in business, as well as extensive travel. I have visited Poland a few times on holiday and I'm half way through a beginner's course in Polish. Opole is the city I'm thinking of going to as I have friends there. My questions are as follows:

Would I get a teaching job in Poland with these qualifications?
Assuming I did would it pay enough to live?
Should I start looking before or after I arrive there?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Stephen Branigan.

[XXX]

I do believe that in order to be legal, you have to have a degree. I would not work at any fly by night school that didn't require one. You would just be asking for trouble.

[Michael Gaylord]

Stephen,
You may be able to get a job teaching without experience, and, if you are a native speaker, of course, without even having a degree- but you'll have to do so in a smaller city (I think Opole fits the bill, here).
I easily landed a job in Kalisz, with a contract that, for the most part, is honored (20 hrs./week at 35PLN plus my OWN FLAT) , and I HAD VERY LITTLE FORMAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE. (only 2 mos. at a summer camp). However, I do have a university degree- but it's not in English, which may have helped. Nevertheless, a have an American friend in Piła who has a 40 PLN/hr job at a decent school there, and he has no degree and even NO WORK PERMIT. If you are a native speaker in a smallish city, it seems, you are a big fish in a small pond. You're success in landing a decent job without a degree or direct experience may depend largely upon your ability to sell yourself and your skills, which you should be able to do considering your business background.

I make enough to live on (35 PLN/hour), but not to save much money. I found the job after I got here (had the interview after, that is), but had applied and set it up before I came to Poland. I would think that, at this time of year, (middle of the school year) you would want to at least do the same (set up an interview and have some solid leads before you come).

Never been to Opole, but looks like an interesting place: being close to the mountains and having some pretty nice architecture. Good luck!

Michael

[sbranigan]

Thanks Michael. This is useful information. I have an Eu passport, so a work permit should'nt be a problem. I don't intend to make the trip until the summer, which I understand is an awkward time to find work. I have already sent e-mails to a few schools in the area, so we'll see what happens.

Is it easy to study for a degree while in Poland, on a part time basis?
If I start going down that road I would like to become "legal and proper"