Job Discussion Forums

[scotv]

I am an American married to a Pole from Suchy Las (just outside Poznan). We are weighing the option of living in the Poznan area. I am a settled-down family man NOT looking for an exciting life of bars, girls, and hanging out at the rynek (although buying a crate of lech and zywiec is to be added into the budget).

My questions are what are the prospects of making a sustainable living in Poznan as an EFL teacher? Is it probable or improbable that one can venture away from the established schools in a year or two and make liveable earnings by taking on one's own students and building an EFL biz in Poznan? I've noticed some posts addressing the costs in Poland and Polish EFL wages, but much of it appears to be from the vacationing/party animal slant. I'm looking for more of an objectively mundane point-of-view.

I should add that housing is not an issue (at least not within the immediate future) being that the wife's parents have a place we can stay at, so such an expense will be minimal. And, my wife will also be working making between 2.5k and 3k a month.

Thanks for any feedback given.

[simon_porter00]

I've just started a company as a one man band in Warsaw, so although Poznan is smaller, all cities in Poland are pretty much comparable. There's a large market that is waiting to be exploited in virtually all cities in Poland, how successful you are really depends on how much you want to be a success.

First and foremost, you don't say anything about your qualifications. you'd need a minimum of a recognised teaching certificate. Plenty of information on here about that. Without that, you won't be able to command market price for your services. If you have specific business, technological, etc experience then if you target your market you'll be able to charge more. You'll want to aiming at a zlot a minute to start with. Schools will charge 45zl to 200 odd zl per 45/60 minutes depending on how niaf the client is, or if the client can't be bothered to shop around. So if you get yourself set up as a business (all companies, well, most companies will want an invoice) you can sell yourself at whatever you think you can get.

Lets assume therefore, for the first year you work for a school, to 'get a feel for the situation'. You, with the qualification and experience, shouldn't accept anything less than 40zl per 45min net. Better still 1zl a min net. Come at the right time of year (search for posts i've written - i've done a kind of guide) and you'll be able to pick and choose which school you work for. If you want to sell yourself to businesses, then just get yourself a whole load of cards set up and market yourself to death until the phone starts ringing. Starting at a school, definately would be worth considering however.

So, money earned whilst teaching at school. let's assume you get 20 hours and these are academic hours 45min, so in effect 10 x 90 minute lessons (an easy workload)
20 x 40 = 800zl p/w, 800 x 4 = 3200 p/m net.
30 hours a week - 15 lessons
30 x 40 = 1200zl p/w, 1200 x 4 = 4800 p/m net

These sums are really looking at the lower end of earnings. 4800 net, with no accomodation costs will allow you to have a comfortable life, especially with the mrs contributing.

[scotv]

Simon, thanks for the reply.

When you say "net" are talking about the earnings after taxes?

As far as my qualifications: a Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts (concentrated in English and Biology), a year of graduate work in law. I work in the tax field here in the states.

If I decide to go the EFL route, I plan on getting a CELTA.

How easy is it to set up a business in Poland for non-EU citizens? My mother-in-law and brother-in-law have their own and claim it's easy, but they're polish citizens.

[simon_porter00]

by net, yes after taxes.

With experience in law and taxes, you should be able to line yourself up some plush jobs. Of course before all that you'll need the CELTA.

Setting up a business wasn't too challenging.
First of all you'll have to register yourself where you plan on living (this involves a bit of effort being from out of the EU, I'm English, so i'm guessing it's going to be easier for me than for you. The other Yanks on here will be able to advise you about this).
Then apply for a NIP number at the tax office (takes up to 4 weeks)
You fill out a simple form to get registered as a business, in Warsaw this was in the town offices (5 min to fill out the form, 3 days to get the registration document)
Then you have to run around getting your REGON number (30 min)
Then with all these details you have to go to ZUS to sort out payments that you'll make every month.
You then have to go to the tax office again to 'upgrade' your NIP or some such telling them you're a business concern, write a letter to them if you want to pay a flat tax rate of 19% and that if you wish you want to pay tax quaterly.

Some of this, however, may be in the wrong order - i did it a few months ago. It involves a bit of queueing, running around town and some patience but isn't too challenging. Or, you can sit down with one of your in-laws and get them to run through it all with you.

We're in the process of going through our own tax stuff now, it's a pain in the backside doing it yourself and its well worth coughing up 200 odd zlots a month to let an accountant do it for you.

[wildphelps]

scotv-

You might have a few more problems setting yourself up as a business being a non-European. Back in the day it was against the law for foreigners to own a business outright. Obviously that has changed since Poland joined the EU, but not being a citizen of an EU country might cause a few more hassles. Your wife might need to be the owner of your firm.

You mentioned that you are a "family man". I assume that means children...I hestitate to bring this up, but if it has been awhile since your wife has lived in Poland, you both might want to inquire among relatives and friends here in Poland about the schooling options available for your kids (if you have them and if they are school-aged). The last ten years have not been kind to Poland's public school system (too many reforms, too many policy changes, classes too big, etc.). Extra-curricular activites are virtually non-existent. If the children's literacy skills in Polish are not that good, you might have problems from teachers of Polish who have little experience with Polish as a Second/Other Language (especially for children). Of course if you don't have children, all of this is irrelevant.

[wildphelps]

Some of this misght be a bit dated; nonetheless, it might be helpful.

http://www.expats-in-poland.com/?mod=services_legal_business

It does appear that as a non-European you will need a Polish partner until you get permanent residence in Poland. Or your wife could be the owner and you her employee...

Good luck.

[scotv]

Wild...many thanks for your response. No need to hesitate bringing anything up, I'm looking for the bare knuckles facts about teaching in Poland. Children, well, a 2 y.o. now but hopefully more soon, are (is)(will) be involved, so I'm happy to become privy to such information. My wife is three years removed from living in Poland, however all she can really attest to concerning the major educational reforms is from the end of her high school years into university studies--which she reports was woefully under-funded. However, I've been impressed by the learnedness (if such a word exists) of her younger relatives. They seem to be on par or slightly more so than their typical American counterparts. In your opinion, if you have any experience with such, are private schools better than public nowadays? My wife says that when she was younger the few private schools that existed were much worse than the public ones. Has this changed?

[sparks]

If you have experience in accounting you should check gumtree.pl or even do a google search--there are tons of listings for people in such fields. You could, perhaps get a job in Warsaw working at some international corporation for loads of GBP's. Just skip Poznan altogether and rent a flat in the capital.