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English speaker with Polish girlfriend looking for job in Warsaw


page 1 of 3:  1  2  3  Next » posts: 63

agapagapooThreads: 1
Joined: Mar 24, 10 ♂ 		 Mar 24, 10, 11:55    #1
Hi All,

My girlfriend is Polish and she is currently looking to be studying a long course at university in Warsaw which she will not finish for another two years, in the meantime I was thinking of moving to Poland to work but I am worried about getting a job.

I have ran customer service departments and done a bit of technical support amongst other things in the UK, and was wondering if anyone could give me any tips on how to find jobs or what I would be best doing.

Unfortunately English is my only language but I do know basic Polish.

Thanks

Nick
HarryThreads: 62
Posts: 8,508
Joined: May 2, 07 ♂ [Suspended] 		 Mar 24, 10, 12:09    #2
agapagapoo:
give me any tips on how to find jobs or what I would be best doing.

Welcome to the wonderful world of teaching English. You need to do a CELTA course (you can do it here in Warsaw but it's cheaper to do it in Krakow or Wroclaw) and you'll then be picking and choosing between job offers. Work about 40 hours a week (i.e. teach 26 hours, spend 9 hours preparing your lessons and an hour a day traveling between lessons) and you'll earn 6,000zl a month after tax. A decent flat in the city centre is going to set you back 2,000zl a month so you're left with plenty of money for beer and lifestyle. Hell, you could even get a mortgage and buy a flat!
EnglishpoznanThreads: 14
Posts: 152
Joined: Apr 21, 09 ♂ 		 Mar 24, 10, 12:16    #3
Welcome to the wonderful world of teaching English

Yep that just about sums it up!
galwaymanThreads: 2
Posts: 15
Joined: Aug 3, 09 ♂ 		 Mar 24, 10, 12:29    #4
Harry:
plenty of money for beer and lifestyle

Well Said !!!
NecramancerThreads: 7
Posts: 24
Joined: Oct 14, 08 ♂ 		Edited by: Necramancer  Mar 25, 10, 22:25    #5
Hello Nick.

You have to realise teaching is not for everyone but I would like to meet with you
just to see if you possess the raw talent.

I am currently looking for a ''Native English Speaker'' but I can only give you
4 hours a week on a Friday evening at the moment in Mokotow, I can pay you 50pln per hour so a total of 800 to 1000 per month. In August I can give you around 20 hours per week and I may have a few extra hours for you before then aswell.

In regards to teaching qualifications I can train you in ''The Callan Method'' and I will pay
for you to do an online grammar course so that you feel more comfortable teaching.

Rgs

Christopher Bradbury - Angol English School
Tel: 668001075
Email: chrisbradbury@hotmail.com
delphiandomineThreads: 42
Posts: 9,954
Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended] 		 Mar 26, 10, 01:24    #6
Necramancer:
You have to realise teaching is not for everyone but I would like to meet with you just to see if you possess the raw talent.

There is no such thing as "raw talent" in teaching. If you don't know what you're doing, you'll crash and burn - and people are very quick to pick up on 'teachers' who simply can't get the job done. Or are you still sticking to that tired old mantra that it's possible to teach grammar using Callan?

Necramancer:
In regards to teaching qualifications I can train you in ''The Callan Method'' and I will pay for you to do an online grammar course so that you feel more comfortable teaching.

Training in Callan? Hahaaaaa. There's no such thing - it's a 'method' for robots. It's also worth noting that most non-Callan schools will regard Callan experience as being bad, as teachers tend to pick up a lot of bad habits as a result of teaching Callan.

Online grammar courses are also worth absolutely nothing. They might explain the language to you, but they'll teach you nothing about the essential classroom management skills. Knowing the material is one thing - but knowing how to teach it effectively is something entirely different.
dnzThreads: 25
Posts: 804
Joined: Dec 2, 07 ♂ 		 Mar 26, 10, 10:49    #7
delphiandomine:
Necramancer:
You have to realise teaching is not for everyone but I would like to meet with you just to see if you possess the raw talent.

There is no such thing as "raw talent" in teaching. If you don't know what you're doing, you'll crash and burn - and people are very quick to pick up on 'teachers' who simply can't get the job done. Or are you still sticking to that tired old mantra that it's possible to teach grammar using Callan?

Necramancer:
In regards to teaching qualifications I can train you in ''The Callan Method'' and I will pay for you to do an online grammar course so that you feel more comfortable teaching.

Training in Callan? Hahaaaaa. There's no such thing - it's a 'method' for robots. It's also worth noting that most non-Callan schools will regard Callan experience as being bad, as teachers tend to pick up a lot of bad habits as a result of teaching Callan.

Online grammar courses are also worth absolutely nothing. They might explain the language to you, but they'll teach you nothing about the essential classroom management skills. Knowing the material is one thing - but knowing how to teach it effectively is something entirely different.

Raw talent? Its not the bloody Xfactor. If someone has people skills and knows the subject with a bit of patience they can become a teacher.

I'm not a teacher and when i've tried teaching I was **** as I have no patience with actually showing people how to do something whatsoever. Having tried teaching using the Callan method I can vouch for the fact its ****. The students get bored, they are unable to think outside the box and can only seem to answer questions when asked in the repetitive, boring Callan way. Its a good way of training call centre workers who want to work for a UK based insurance company from a Jungle clearing somewhere in Africa as their conversations will be limited to asking questions from an auto prompt and answering questions which they have learnt the answers to. To train free thinking people to speak English its a joke. Can you just imagine asking someone what they are doing later only to recieve a response with no relevence to the conversation?

When I worked in a Callan school (for a week before I was actually bored to tears) I was teaching a high level group who in lessons answered the stupidly boring and repetitive questions perfectly but when I asked them something which wasn't in the book or tried to converse with them after the lesson I was shocked to discover they couldn't actually answer simple questions and in reality knew nothing.
chriswilkins  Sep 11, 10, 18:54    #8
hi my name is chris wilkins.... i am currently living in england and i am in the same situationas what this post is about..

my girlfriend is going to be at university for the next 2 years and i am looking to move to poland until she finishes.. i am native english so unfortunetly this is the only language i know..

i was wondering what to do and weather it would be possible to find a job in poland and how easy it would be.
DarrenMThreads: 2
Posts: 126
Joined: Dec 21, 07 ♂ 		 Sep 25, 10, 16:08    #9
Mr Wilkins,

With all due respect, i'd get to grips with the written aspect of the English language before contemplating teaching the oral form.
chriswilkins  Oct 2, 10, 15:10    #10
i'd get to grips with the written aspect of the English language

I would like to apologise for the one word i have spelt incorrectly.

i am native english so i do not have a problem with my english and i have studied english language at college..

so is there any advice you have to give me, or do you think it would be impossible for me to find a english teaching job?
DarrenMThreads: 2
Posts: 126
Joined: Dec 21, 07 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 15:34    #11
Actually you spealt two words wrong.

weather should read whether

Now i'm not trying to be a knob but the Polish are in my experience very thorough and will not think twice about quality assuring your work.

Take a look here and get some qualifications under your belt: http://www.tefl.co.uk
warszawskiThreads: 60
Posts: 2,388
Joined: May 21, 10 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 15:59    #12
chriswilkins:
  Today, 15:10 / #10
i'd get to grips with the written aspect of the English language I would like to apologise for the one word i have spelt incorrectly.


Chris, do not apologize for anything with theses idiots, just a word of warning, Poland is full of English teachers with high opinions of themselves, so take it with a pinch of salt. Here you will find links to the places were expats hang out in Warsaw, there will be people queuing up to advise you on the do's and don'ts:

http://www.jimmybradleys.pl/
http://www.restaurant99.com/
http://www.sensecafe.com.pl/
http://www.warsawtortillafactory.pl/

Good luck, I hope all goes well.
delphiandomineThreads: 42
Posts: 9,954
Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended] 		Edited by: delphiandomine  Oct 2, 10, 18:13    #13
chriswilkins:
i am native english so i do not have a problem with my english and i have studied english language at college..


So why do you use lower case i's? Also, saying "I am native English" sounds very unnatural - like the kind of thing that Nigerians say in Poland to try and find work.

Anyway, I'm sure that you can find a Callan job. It won't pay much and you'll go crazy after a few months, but hey, it's work.
richasisThreads: 5
Posts: 833
Joined: Jul 25, 09 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 19:28    #14
No doubt about it: Harry, delphiandomine, and Seanus certainly know their stuff.
DarrenMThreads: 2
Posts: 126
Joined: Dec 21, 07 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 19:50    #15
warszawski:
Chris, do not apologize for anything with theses idiots, just a word of warning, Poland is full of English teachers with high opinions of themselves,


Don't start dishing out insults. Nobody insulted you. I'm no idiot. Im not an English teacher, nor do I have a high opinion of myself.

I do however know the difference between weather and whether!

I also know that to teach any subject, the teacher needs to be virtually beyond reproach. More so with languages because the students will without doubt buy their own literature to augment their learning and will very quickly identify such basic faults.


Of course, it goes without saying that I wish the lad the best of luck.
dtaylor5632Threads: 49
Posts: 4,459
Joined: May 2, 09  Pictures: 3 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 19:57    #16
Here's some advice when teaching, blablablablablaaaaaaaa.

It's all swings and roundabouts, but good luck to you ;)
MarcinManThreads: -
Posts: 7
Joined: Oct 2, 10 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 20:18    #17
Chris, do not apologize for anything with theses idiots, just a word of warning, Poland is full of English teachers with high opinions of themselves, so take it with a pinch of salt. Here you will find links to the places were expats hang out in Warsaw, there will be people queuing up to advise you on the do's and don'ts:

There just might be some truth to that, however I don't think this forum has them :)

So why do you use lower case i's? Also, saying "I am native English" sounds very unnatural - like the kind of thing that Nigerians say in Poland to try and find work.


agreed.. I would have went with ' I'm straight up English yo'

chriswilkins
i'd get to grips with the written aspect of the English language

I would like to apologise for the one word i have spelt incorrectly

Everyone makes mistakes once in a while :) It's better you make them here and than in the classroom.
delphiandomineThreads: 42
Posts: 9,954
Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended] 		 Oct 2, 10, 20:31    #18
DarrenM:
I also know that to teach any subject, the teacher needs to be virtually beyond reproach. More so with languages because the students will without doubt buy their own literature to augment their learning and will very quickly identify such basic faults


Especially with the cut throat nature of the ESL industry in Poland. There's so many schools, all fighting for students - and there's more and more natives looking for work. Poland is still one of the few places in Europe where ESL teachers can make a decent wage by local standards - and employers can be very fussy about who they hire.

Anyway - it's only an internet forum, people make mistakes, etc etc - BUT - he has made mistakes on a thread where he looks for employment. If I'm a school director - I'm not going to take a risk with someone who can't even use the language correctly, am I?

For instance -

My girlfriend is Polish and she is currently looking to be studying a long course at university in Warsaw which she will not finish for another two years, in the meantime I was thinking of moving to Poland to work but I am worried about getting a job.

Maybe it's just me, but this sentence seems dreadful to me. Anyway, Poland doesn't need any more "teachers" who are here because their girlfriend doesn't want to stay in the UK anymore. Without being brutal, many people move here because of women - and many of them end up going home, skint and with their fingers burnt.
dtaylor5632Threads: 49
Posts: 4,459
Joined: May 2, 09  Pictures: 3 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 20:34    #19
delphiandomine:
Maybe it's just me, but this sentence seems dreadful to me. Anyway, Poland doesn't need any more "teachers" who are here because their girlfriend doesn't want to stay in the UK anymore. Without being brutal, many people move here because of women - and many of them end up going home, skint and with their fingers burnt.

Oh bugger you!!!! ;) That's exactly why I went there! Though I did split up with the lass after 2 weeks in Krk, but at least I can type the letter I!!!!!! :D
SeanusThreads: 22
Posts: 30,158
Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 20:39    #20
Delph has a point. The combination of 'teachers' that don't know their stuff and schools who throw them in at the deep end without any training is catastrophic for the students.
tyrelplThreads: -
Posts: 16
Joined: May 7, 10 ♂ 		Edited by: tyrelpl  Oct 2, 10, 20:46    #21
Harry

Just curious, what schools are those teachers working for? 6000 a month? Seriously? You must be kidding, right? I've seen that most schools are still paying around 60-70 złoty per hour before tax in Warsaw. Is this really the going rate in your area? I'm already preparing for my CELTA exam. Just trying to feel the market out. I'd love to make 5 to 6k per month.
Are there any others? Question to fellow teachers: How much are you making per hour before or after tax? (more or less).

Sorry, Harry, but I've yet to find teachers making that kind of money here. Maybe you were talking to PhD's or University Professors? I am wondering WHERE these teachers are working.

Thanks in advance for the feedback.
dtaylor5632Threads: 49
Posts: 4,459
Joined: May 2, 09  Pictures: 3 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 20:49    #22
tyrelpl:
6000 a month?

It's an achievable amount but it would depend on how good you are at negotiating your contract.
SeanusThreads: 22
Posts: 30,158
Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 20:51    #23
I made that kind of money but it depends on luck in combining your work for 2 schools. Now I have one school and do privates. 5k is attainable if the right things come together.
dtaylor5632Threads: 49
Posts: 4,459
Joined: May 2, 09  Pictures: 3 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 20:53    #24
Exactly, like I've said all along, depends on proven skills and reputation.
Proofreading is where the money is;)
delphiandomineThreads: 42
Posts: 9,954
Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended] 		 Oct 2, 10, 20:54    #25
dtaylor5632:
Oh bugger you!!!! ;) That's exactly why I went there! Though I did split up with the lass after 2 weeks in Krk, but at least I can type the letter I!!!!!! :D


But you were happy to stay, and anyway, I bet you had more fun without her ;)

tyrelpl:
I've seen that most schools are still paying around 60-70 złoty per hour before tax in Warsaw.


60zl * 100 = 6000zl.

That's only assuming a 25 hour week - but anyone with a bit of savvy should be able to get 24 teaching hours Monday-Thursday, plus at least 2 on Fridays and 2 on Saturdays - so 28 hours a week.

Sure, it'll probably mean 2 hours in the morning and 4 in the evenings, but hey - it's achievable. With 9.5% tax, take home should be in the region of 5500zl a month.
tyrelplThreads: -
Posts: 16
Joined: May 7, 10 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 20:56    #26
Thanks guys for the feedback. Is that 5 to 6k attainable with or without the CELTA or other certs? Just curious...... I suppose the CELTA really IS worth it. Are there other certs you recommend or is it a waste in this market??

Thanks again everyone. :-)
SeanusThreads: 22
Posts: 30,158
Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 20:56    #27
Proofreading, spot on. I'm gonna hook up with a uni prof here and he will spread the word. You can do well as you charge less than the, um, 'professionals' here. 10PLN per page gets you a tidy sum. I wanna work my butt off with it so I can increase my credit payments.
dtaylor5632Threads: 49
Posts: 4,459
Joined: May 2, 09  Pictures: 3 ♂ 		Edited by: dtaylor5632  Oct 2, 10, 20:56    #28
delphiandomine:
But you were happy to stay, and anyway, I bet you had more fun without her ;)

Haha, for a while I did, then I stupidly fell in love and got engaged with another lass for too many years:(

Seanus:
10PLN per page gets you a tidy sum

Not a bad price, but I'd still advise on 12pln per page just to make your life a little easier. Though it depends on yourself, whatever works best for you. Though people maybe unhappy at you under-cutting the market, if you can obtain a large amount of that market you will be laughing all the way to the bank. Breaking into the big business sector is key though. Do a job well for one company will bring its benefits;)
tyrelplThreads: -
Posts: 16
Joined: May 7, 10 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 22:19    #29
Ok, but what about the certs?? Are they really required to get that 5 to 6k income?
SeanusThreads: 22
Posts: 30,158
Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂ 		 Oct 2, 10, 22:22    #30
They help for sure. My CELTA and postgrad allow me to teach at universities but I haven't gone down that road yet.

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