For all english teachers in Poland (who work for only $1000 a month)

I have to disagree Michał, the wide scope of the job allows u to branch out and u have a fair bit of leeway. Having to be very precise as some kind of specialist is more taxing on the soul. I agree with u in that, occasionally, the regularity aspect isn't there as students cancel (private schools) but u r usually able to make up your quorum by the end of the month. At the risk of sounding conceited, I often got thanked for my teaching abilities. For me, I just put my head down and get on with it but students like what I do. It's all laid out for me pretty much so how can I take pride in that?

I sometimes wonder though, if teaching the Poles is a good idea. I was in a restaurant today and we had lunch. It was dreadful and everything we ordered was finished and not available. A good looking Polish girl took my card for payment and she came from Bałystok. A cocky big headed girl, not my type at all. They are becoming spoiled and arrogant. Britain giving them leave to remain in England and work without visas was the worst thing we ever did.

^ Only Polish girls in the UK are spoiled and arrogant? You know, many waitresses have bad days, especially when they have to deal with pricks like you. I would know, my girlfriend is a waitress and often has rude customers.

I share ur reservations Michał. I have had a few doubts of my own recently.

Hmmm, i think i'm choosing an interesting time to join this conversation... I've been living in Poland for 4 months now, and been having a really hard time learning the language. Going to one of the local pubs is great though, because all the barladies speak reasonably good english. Me and my Fiance (polish) have both worked in pubs (i've been in management), and sometimes staff do just have a bad day... being able to speak english is not going to affect the level of service you get.
As to the original point of this thread, i work less than 20 hours a week, as an english teacher, and i clear almost 2500 PLN per month. Hour-for-hour, i earn a hell of a lot more than i did while working (in management) in the UK. Teaching can be a rewarding job, but it can also be a really crappy job, depending on the motivation of your students.

Hi Bushman, raking in that amount is quite good. U r right about the motivational aspect but I've found that if u adopt a commanding presence, the students will respond in kind. I'm not an in-your-face teacher by any stretch but I've upped the ante a little as there is a danger that classes can go stale and u r the General in the class, so to speak. U can come out feeling drained but it is as the maxim/adage goes, 'no pain, no gain'.

'lo all.

I'm an English teacher (read native speaker) in two English schools in Warsaw. I started last year with no previous teaching English experience.

What I had going for me was: an American education, friendly personality and a good interview personality.

I work in-house in different companies: banks, power plants, insurance companies. In an average week I do about 20 hours per week (45 minutes each). After adding the time for getting to the companies and prep time it's about 30-35 hours per week. So about 75% FT. This nets me (after taxes, in hand) over 4,000 PLN per month.

I'm thinking of taking on a few more hours, but probably not any more than 30. 5,000-6,000 PLN per month range.

Is this good money? Yes. Very good. In fact, I get paid more than most of my corporate clients (vp's, HR managers, accountants) who make (and are very open about their earnings, apparently the topic of wages isn't a taboo in Poland) between 3,000 and 4,000 on the average.

Is it enough to survive in Warsaw? DEFINITELY.

My living arrangement cost me about 1,200 PLN a month. Granted I will probably never buy a flat here (not spending a million for a ******, dingy place in the concrete jungle), but my living's very comfortable and close to the center (10 minutes by tram). Travel card costs me 70 PLN per month. Bills: about 200 PLN. Groceries: 600-900 PLN.

Do the math: that leaves you 1600-2000 PLN per month for fun, savings (vacation time!) and fun with girls. :)

Hi all,
I'd like to thank all teachers of English in Poland for contributing to this thread. It's quite informative. Is there any possibility for summer employment? I'm a veteran teacher in the U.S. Thanks.

Absolutely, thanks for the offer, Lots of needy Polish children need English training from a obliging well wisher, I'm sure free rent will be enough will cover your services
You Americans are so generous..God Bless

That's quite interesting.


How did you find the job in the first place ?

My experience is similar to bushman's but I teach a little over 20 hours a week and take home just a little less. It's more than enough.

I did my CELTA in August at Bell in Warsaw. While I was there I asked if they had anything available in Gdansk and sure enough, they did. You can also check out www.tefl.com and view the current opportunities in Poland, or you can just go from school to school with yiour CV and see what shakes out.

Hi all, me again :-) nomyth36 mentioned summer work... this interests me too! Unfortunately in my town, the demand for english virtually disappears during the summer (and i'm not the only one with this hassle - the other native language speaker here is having the same issue). So, any idea's about where to get extra work in the summer? Camps, short courses, etc? Advice would be appreciated. - oh, Lady in Red: my fiance works at the same school. she organised me an interview last year already, and as i was the only native speaker in town, at the time, it was gift wrapped :-p i was rather fortunate to get it so easily, i will admit.

There is very very little teaching work in Poland over the summer. A lot of teachers go to the UK and work in language camps there. Standard pay is in the region of £250 to £300 per week and you get board and lodging thrown in.

A friend of mine, Native speaker takes home between 3600 and 4000zl a month after tax. He doesn't work more than 26 hours a week. Nor is he based in a major city, rather a small town. It just depends on your employers really.

My children did Helen Doran courses, they hated it and had much more fun and learnt more on summer camps. The Helen Doran teacher was unproffessional and there were a lot of accidents during lessons.

That's what I'm counting on too in my decision to (probably) move there soon.

oh its terrible here dont come less native speakers more money for me
sorry just joking for a first step out of the country I would say this isnt a bad place a bit different than north america but not shockingly there are surely worse places to go but it isnt going to pay your horrible student loans no the us wants you to be in their system first for me the people are alright here. they dont bother you and the students are high level management and they are quite normal down to earth people one student of mine who enjoys classical music told me he likes emimem! I was shocked to say the least

I have the opportunity to move to Olecko in January 2009 to teach English as a native speaker for 15 hours per week for 40 PLN per hour.

My sweet babe Justyna, who has lived in the U K with me for 18 months taught English in the local schools before coming over here, we are so pissed off with England that we can't wait to get over there now.

So for 2500 Pln a month for 15 hours a week at a language school and probably as much again as a private tutor, I think we are in for a good quality of life. As for teaching in Canada, would anyone in their right mind want to live next door to the U S A? Crazy, noisy, over zealous neighbours. give me Lithuania and Belarus anyday ;)

Aren't they still ruled by a dictator?


Look out for tall people who are too old to still be in education. (Not serious here by the way... or am I?)

Isn't America run by imbeciles? ;)

Olecko is my kinda town osiol. The lake and town square with it's beautiful park. Everytime I visit I can't wait to return again.

You do know that you will lose 19% of this to tax a month and to be honest 5000zl per month is not that much of a big deal, and your quality of life will be okay but not fantastic.
For example if you are going to be here long term, how are you going to settle down and build a house on declarable income of 2500zl per month? (as the other 2500zl from your private lessons is cash unless you declare it)
Please I am not trying to put you off, I just think you need to be a bit more realistic here :)
I have been here eight years now and slowly moved away from teaching (although I still do a little bit) as it is not the most profitable career if you want to settle in Poland long term.

ukpolska. This isn't a problem, my partner has a house over in Olecko ready to move into, also her father is in the US working for a few years and is renting out his apartment to provide extra cash. We have planned this out and for the short term it is perfect, we have time to make longer term plans, but staying in Poland as long as possible/ forever is part of our plan. Thanks for your advice, it's appreciated, but, we are not totally oblivious to the tax situation etc.

But hey, where would you rather live? Rip off Britain, with chavs and soaring teenage gun crimes, or Olecko, population 8000, relaxed, peaceful, scenic and friendly? No brainer...........

Absolutely 100% agree with you and I am happy to hear you are in the picture, if you every need any help pm me :)

pm'd you ukpolska

Do these types of pay apply to a licensed educator in the American system? This obviously lends to the resume and should command at least the ability to work in higher end language schools in my opinion. I will be moving to Poland next July and will need to begin scouting English language schools if I am unable to find employment in the Embassy or with an international school. At 5000pln/month I would easily be able to get by as my significant other owns a flat in Warsaw and has a fairly good job for a younger individual (read under-27). Even at 1pln/minute considering 5 hours of teaching time a day and 3 hours break/prep you are looking at 300pln/day or 6,000 pln/week and most American educators would end up prepping/marking at home in addition to their school-day tasks. Usually you have 3-4 preps which can be more difficult than prepping ESL lessons because you need to structure things in ways to get the attention of youth. In ESL classes you are in a different environment and do not have the behavior/IEP/motivation issues you would find in a language school.

"non-language school" sorry about that.