Job Discussion Forums

[jdriso]

Other than International House, I haven't heard anything on the other language schools in Torun. Does anyone have any info on these schools and how reputable they are? Has anyone worked for International House?

[peepertice]

i worked at IH in Torun.

if you're up for great resources & support then it's great, you can really develop as a teacher. i would certainly recommend it for newly-qualified teachers as they very much take you under their wing & want you to do things the IH way. (which i think is a very good way should you wish to make a career out of ESL)

Torun is also a cool place to live, imo. teacher accommodation is good.

the downside for me was the expecancy to turn up every day (mon-fri) at around 9am and to spend the whole day at the school (classes were from late afternoon into the evening). this often meant spending several hours a day in the cramped teachers rooms.

low pay was also a problem, certainly haven't worked anywhere else before or since where money was so bad.

hope this helps.

sorry, but i don't know the details of any other schols there but i remember one or two in the old part of town

[isanity]

I also worked at IH Torun, and I'd strongly recommend it - the training is excellent. The pay is enough if you don't plan on saving anything, and I never saw many teachers in there before 11 or 12. I gather that this coming year there are going to be far fewer teachers, so it shouldn't be so crowded.

What can make your day longer is having to travel to the satellite schools in nearby towns - an hour or so each day.

There are lots of other language schools in town, but as far as I know none with a comparable level of professionalism.

[jdriso]

Thanks a lot for the info!

[Khrystene]

[peepertice]

[jdriso]

Thanks for the info, everyone.

[Khrystene]

[biffinbridge]

IH is a joke everywhere.The brand preys on inexperienced teachers,pays them well below the market rate and claims to have an 'IH way'.
In the Gulf we used to laugh at the 'I've got 5 years experience WITH IH ' brigade.
A year repeated 5 times is only really one year.

[Sgt Bilko]

I think I should stick up (a little) for IH here. Depending on the DoS, the training can be excellent, especially, but not exclusively, for first year teachers. A bigger school should offer basic input (sort of CELTA continuation) for the first years and some kind of 'advanced input' for others (methodology/Language awareness) which is sort of Pre-DELTA. As I say, that's up to the DoS and the input may be poor, as in any school but I think most IH Poland schools try to use input as a way of attracting teachers (who may be put off by the poor salaries). If you come back for a third year you may be treading water, experience wise, but, with turnover as it is, you may well be in a position of responsibility by then.

Most IH Poland schools also look after their teachers - flats, bills, visas, residence, doctors etc all sorted for them.

It may be true that IH over emphasises its 'quality language teaching' when 60%+ of its teachers every year are fresh off a CELTA and I doubt whether anyone with experience elsewhere would get much out of working for them (except in a ADoS/DoS role). IH teachers may also have a bit of a superiority complex, as part of a recognised name brand. However, 'joke' is a bit strong.

One big problem is outlined on the tax thread by Anopsi. Some (at least) of the IH Poland schools employ teachers through an American company which means that EU teachers don't pay tax for two years. No idea why not. But, what this means is that either the teacher or the school has to pay that tax if they come back for a third year. No sane teacher would take a pay cut in their third year and the schools prefer cheap labour so I think it is becoming rarer for anyone to stay on for more than two years making them even more of a 'post Celta' training school.

Anyway, I know almost nothing about IH Torun so would love to know in what way they are seen as a joke.

[biffinbridge]

When I worked for IH,they paid us through an English company.We paid no tax in Poland, but what they did was pay us just below the taxable threshold for UK taxes...ie we paid no tax.That is all fine as long as you don't work summer school in the UK as then you will get a UK tax bill.IH will have therefore shafted you as the tax is payable over a 12 month period ie 1 financial year.Simple really.

[Sgt Bilko]

Being paid through an English company came to an end when Poland joined the EU. Then it was panic stations to try to avoid paying tax some other way, hence the hastily set up American companies. Judging by people on other threads saying they pay no tax for the first two years, I guess it isn't only IH schools who have worked this loophole out.

[biffinbridge]

Yep, you are right Sgt Bilko.Schools like Profi-lingua have a whole host of tricks to deceive you out of money.Personally I liked the fine for resigning, whch is far greater than anything you could possibly earn in a year with them.
When I walked during the winter break last year I simply told them to 'stick it'.