Job Discussion Forums

[micchan]

I need some help and advice regarding my chances in Krakow.

I have just completed my Bachelor of Business, and I'm still in the process of getting my TESOL cert. The course is scheduled to end on the 27th of September. From what I've gathered, most schools want teachers to be in Poland by late September. My course schedule is really cutting it close. Nevertheless, I've been sending out CVs to some schools. I've sent four so far and haven't gotten a reply from any of them. My plan is to send my CV to as many schools as I can.
Any recommendations on which schools in Krakow? I know this profession is not a babysitting service, but I'd be really grateful if the school would provide some sort of newbie teacher support.

Coming from Singapore, I don't have the 'magical EU/UK passport' and I don't have a white face either. My boyfriend is Polish, so I think I won't have any problems settling in... but I do wonder how my racial background and nationality will hurt my chances of getting a job.
I have e-mailed a few schools that offer the Chinese language in hopes of clinching a job teaching either English or Chinese. I am a native speaker of both languages. Two American friends and a British friend have said that I have a slight British accent.
Do any of you know of schools that are actively looking for Chinese teachers in Krakow, or would hire a Chinese person to teach English?

Thank you all for reading
Any comments and advice will be very much appreciated.

[hrvatski]

Not finishing your TEFL certification nor being in Krakow until late September puts you in a very difficult position. You'd be extremely lucky to get a job before arriving, having no experience or even certainty that you'll pass the TEFL course. What you might end up with is a lesson here and there in different schools, having to run around town and teaching private students to make ends meet. There are other threads outlining the best employment strategies which you should have a look at, I'm afraid your current plan doesn't resemble them too closely.

I doubt that your race would be a factor, but some Polish language school bosses may not know too much about native speakers from Singapore, and whether they have a heavy accent or different grammar. If you were actually walking into schools applying for jobs then that would dispel their doubts, but seeing you're applying from overseas and they can't hear you, that could pose a problem. It might be worth uploading a video to YouTube introducing yourself and briefly saying how you approach teaching.

[PierogiMonster]

Good advice.

I've been living and teaching in Krakow for five years and I don't think your ethnic background will be a problem at all.

Excuse my ignorance (it's too late at night to start googling) but if - coming from Singapore - you're a native speaker, then that's the main thing: you should be fine on that score.

True, a lot of the jobs will be wrapped up by late September but there should still be plenty of work going. As always, the advice is to turn up, CV in hand, as soon as you can, make a good impression and maybe offer to do a demo. lesson (for free, of course).

I'm afraid I can't offer any particular advice about schools but Callan schools may be a good start: they have their own distinctive way of 'teaching' and will probably be more open to newbies. There are plenty of Callan schools in Krakow.

With regards to teaching Chinese, you may get a few hours at the Jagiellonian University, rather than through language schools. And there's always privates, of course.

PM me if you like. Good luck.

[micchan]

Thank you both =)

I'm looking into other jobs as well. I really want to get to Krakow...
I'm also looking to do translation work from CH-EN or EN-CH. I have three years of experience doing amateur translations, and the end customers were all pretty much satisfied with my work. The works in question were translations of manga though... So I'm not too sure if that is accepted.

Well... I'll keep you guys posted?

[hrvatski]

Please do, I'd be interested.

I'd never come across the word żołtek before this thread, though upon further investigation it seems to be a pejorative word for Asian. Probably a good sign that I never came across it during 5 years in Poland.

[micchan]

Updated plan of action...

1) Send CV to all schools I can find. Video CV to be added later after I get feedback from my trainer. Maybe I can record his comments on my class performance and evaluation of my skills... hmm

2) Send application to translation companies.

3) Go to Krakow with CV in hand and knock on doors.

Should all three actions listed above prove futile...

EITHER

Get a local job and save some money for my next foray into the Polish job market.

OR

Sign up as a volunteer in Georgia (I've seen the job ad on the job board and it is rather enticing.) This allows me "free" travel, and lets me put something teacher-related on my CV.

Yay, go me!

[wojbrian]

I sent out 800-900 resumes.

Of this I heard back from about 80.

40 of these wanted to interview me.

I have a job in Nowy Sacz. However, in the past week or so I have heard from 10 schools that want to interview me as soon as I get there.

If you know a bit of Polish it helps, otherwise, use google translate.

ang.pl has a list of many schools in Poland.

[PierogiMonster]

Do a net search for this:

szkola jezykow obcych krakow

It means 'school of foreign languages krakow'.

BTW, I wouldn't include any trainer comments on your video - but that's just my opinion.

Also, maybe offer to do a short free translation (just a page or two) forthe trans. companies.

[micchan]

Hey guys =)

My plan got derailed. I got to Krakow just before the New Year. I've been in Poland for a month and a half now and still no job. From what an owner has told me, it is now the 'in-between' time, and most schools have already hired their teachers. Furthermore, I am not from an EU country =(

I have a job interview in Krakow and a Callan/Direct Method observation in a village 30km from Krakow in.... a few hours.

Dang, I have to get to sleep!!

I'm considering starting a Limited Partnership to make myself more employable. It also helps me out of the icky visa situation. (I'm on a 90-day Schengen visa)
Any non-EU national out there who has been through the process and can recommend some accountant or notary?

[micchan]

Will update when I get back.

[micchan]

Things are looking up!

I've got a class once a fortnight in the evenings teaching Matura students near Nowa Huta.
Full-day classes once or twice a week with the Callan method in a village 30km from Krakow. (I get free training and mountain air, at least.)
Conversation lessons with children and teens in kindergartens and some schools all over Krakow.

Got to set up my partnership quick >.< Don't want to be illegal.

It's all worth it - the knocking on doors till my knuckles turn bloody.

[lundjstuart]

[PierogiMonster]

Get yourself registered here:

http://old.nativespeaker.com.pl/

I can't tell you how many private students I've had (more than I have time for!) from this site.

J.