Job Discussion Forums

[straggler]

Hi all,

I've been offered a place on an Angloville course in Poland and am wondering whether anyone has been on one of these courses? The deal is I get a week in a hotel in Poland and spend the week conversing with Polish businessmen who want to improve their language skills. There's no pay, which doesn't really bother me, but I'm just checking that it's a legitimate offer.

I have a Trinity TESOL Certificate but have never taught (life got in the way) but this course is not a teaching exercise as such. From my point of view, it could be a good exercise in making contacts, seeing if teaching is for me and having a free holiday in Poland!

Any comments?

[mozzar]

I know these things happen in Spain but I feel the people who take part are being ripped off. A week of long days for no pay. Do they pay your airfare at least?

I'd never do one of these (especially with a Trinity or other qual) because I could get paid more by working in a summer camp.

[straggler]

No, airfares are not paid.

[JimJam]

I agree with mozzar, the business men are paying someone for the course so surely that someone should be paying you.

Seems like a good business model though!

[straggler]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm looking at it more as a trip to Poland and a stay in a nice hotel so was just trying to find out if they're a legitimate company.

I understand that the company is probably making a fair bit of money for this but it could be good opportunity to make contacts, experience a new country etc.

[mozzar]

Unless you're trying to make contacts with the Polish businessmen I wouldn't look at is as a way into a TEFL job.

I'd instead work in a British summer camp where your accommodation, food and transport costs are paid. Plus you get a decent wage which you can spend on a longer trip to Poland afterwards.

How much time would you have to leave the hotel and see Poland anyway? I'm guessing you'd be expected to be onsite all day.

[Moonunit]

I've only just stumbled across Angloville myself, and as I'll be in Poland later in the year, I planned on applying to participate. I know its unpaid, but wanted to use it as a way to see a different part of the country.

I have the same initial concern as straggler though. Are they a legitimate company?

Did you end up participating? Has anyone yet? Can you tell me what it was like? If it was professionally run? Any info you've come across would be great.

Cheers

[Teacher in Rome]

I don't understand your concerns about its 'legitimacy'. After all, the conditions sound pretty clear. You pay airfare, they pay hotel, you stay in it for a week and chat to businessmen, but don't get paid. Presumably, your food, laundry etc are covered by them, but check.

But whether or not it fulfills your other requirements is a different question.

Will it give you a feel for teaching? Probably yes, if you don't have the time to experiment by doing a much longer summer course to get the same answer. But it will only be one type of teaching...

Will it be a holiday? Doesn't sound like it. You might be in a hotel, but you probably won't have much free time.

Will you make contacts? Maybe, but in order to impress your students, make sure you prepare. Find out their levels, their interests, their needs; take along some materials, make sure you have internet access, printing facilities, etc. Put your Trinity to practice by structuring the lessons so neither you nor your students ends up drifting, waiting for the hour to be up.

If you have any concerns about the company, why don't you ask to speak to / meet previous teachers? I can't think of any organisations where aspiring "volunteers" don't get an opportunity to meet returning ones, so it would raise alarm bells with me if this company couldn't arrange that for you.

[Moonunit]

I understand all of the conditions. As you said, they are pretty clear, as explained on their website.

All I am interested in personally is whether there is someone who has already participated in this particular program who can give their opinion on the company and the program; whether things were smoothly organised and the program professionally run ect.

I'll certainly ask the company if they can put me in touch with past volunteers, but if possible, I'd much rather hear from someone who has participated and to whom I have not been referred by the company itself, for obvious reasons.

Is there anybody who is a past participant who can talk about their experience of the company and program?

[sparks]

Perhaps I'm just too dull and lazy, but do you really think that you will have the energy to "chat" with people almost non-stop for 13 hours a day. I looked at their timetable and--Holy F***! I think I would pass out before lunch. Have you ever tried to just chat without a break for three hours straight with someone you don't know. Maybe with enough liquour but whew!. I'd end each day babbling incoherently to myself. A vacation it is not.

[riverboat]

I haven't done the programme, but I've got to say I agree with sparks, it looks really really intense. Do they let you stay in the hotel for a couple of extra days after the program finishes or something? Because if not, when on earth are you going to find time to actually see anything of Poland? I've been teaching for a couple of years in Europe and I'm exhausted after a normal 9 - 5 day of conversation class, ie 7 hours. 13 hours straight for five days ina row sounds like a total nightmare to be honest.

[spiral78]

I once interviewed for a similar programme in the Czech Rep (this was more than ten years ago), but it was paid. Rather well, in fact. It was considered a good summer school gig. The organisers acknowledged that it was difficult and intense, but at least the pay went along with it. Further, they only hired qualified teachers as we were expected to teach proper lessons for up to six hours daily linked to English language for the students' professional fields.

I think that, done properly, this can be a great job (for a short, intensive time).

[sparks]