Some details about Teaching in Poland

m,

I agree.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL !!!!!1111 :):):)

I heard a lot of Polish spoken when I was in Australia-I have travelled the world. True, I was a student in Moscow a long time ago so things do change-maybe my memory is too good and I tend to think back twenty years and think of it as if it was yesterday. I was also a student in Krakow as I attended Jagiellonski but true, even that was in 1985 and time does flie. I am not bitter about Poland. I used to have some good times there but a long time ago. I have grown out of these small European countries and prefer places like Australia-there is nothing for me in a small country with the strange country mentality. I like Sydney and the city lights. I could never live in a place like Czestochowa again-is'nt there a Polish expression 'tam gdzie psy dupa szczegaja?' But, no I am very happy. I have a lovely wife from Czestochowa and a son with whom I travel the world and that would not have been possible otherwise and I learnt so much Polish, 'O' level, A' level and post A level Polish and it all fell in to place after four years of russian at university so it gave me a third language under my belt but it was then time to move on...life is too short to wast it on a dump like Wroclaw!

Damn You! Now everyone knows ! I must report back to Herr Bush for instuctions you have won this round comrade but someone will take my place. we will not rest until Every Pole drives an S.U.V. McDonalds Uber Alles!

You really know how to hurt a guy.

And how very American to want a Higher status job simply so people will view you in a higher light instead of following your heart or wanting to help people. To me there is no higher status than helping someone towards a better life. Small european counties? do you mean area? as Poland has almost twice the population of Australia

No that is not true, most of the young are leaving Poland very quickly. When I said that I wanted a higher status job I just said that in response to you, an English speaking American in Poland who tells me that I do not qualify to work in your language school. In that case, as I am not good enough, I would work somewhere better and do a better job. After all, anyone can teach English in Poland. Being for instance a simulataneus interpretor-that takes real skill! As for why you have chosen to work in Poland-I have no idea, I imagine that a lot of westerners want work in Poland as it brings them in to closer contact with young Polish women looking for committment of some sort. I do not think that anybody does something for nothing in this world.

Michal I never said that you probably do I took offense to you saying most native speakers don't care about their jobs which is only partly true. I first came here for a change of pace I had never been to Europe and my family were all from Poland and I had a friend who owned a lanuage school. The women came later, now I'm married to a Polish women and have a Polish American baby. Believe it or not some people love Poland like TheKruk sure I hate it some days but mostly I love it. Especially my Polish in-laws really man its true. I agree translating is harder I just take offense also to your air of superiority and will continue to attack it as it is Thekruks nature thank god your not Bratwurst Boy I would love to fix his wagon.

I have taught in Poland for two years now and have heard the point raised regarding the cultural transmission aspect of language learning.

Now, it certainly seems unavoidable that some degree of 'hidden currciculum' must be transferred during classes - especially during advanced language classes when debate and discussion is used as a tool for language acquisition.

However, the truth is that these classes are private and actively sought out by students. So if they are inheriting any 'Western propaganda', it may well be because they actually desire it.

The point is that these new language abilities usually have financial benefits for the students and they are enabled to communicate with people from other cultures and to travel and work more freely.

If Poland is to enter the modern world, then it would be better that it left such sensitivity and xenophobia in the past where it belongs.

I don't believe expressing my opinions to be propaganda and all my students know my opinions are simply that. They often want to know my point of view and I theirs its great conversation and we share our knowledge of culture so I learn as much as they do perhaps its Central-European propaganda
Exactly and therefore I take my job very seriously

You have probably done it the right way around. As you went to Poland and started your life there and now have a family, it is easier to assimilate to the Polish way of life. We nearly or at least thought about it and even came to Poland once or twice but only after we had already started a family and were living in England. Property prices were cheap then too. When I go to Poland now I find it a dump though there obviously was a time, fifteen odd years ago, when I had an urge to go and do something different with my life. I suppose that I have somehow outgrown it all now though I have fond memories of Polish summers and the good strong cheap Polish beer, which I used to drink when I was younger. Sometimes when I think about it, I regret it all now but it is hard to know what to do in the long run. Maybe your 'Polish side' has good connections and can therefore make a real go of it-something which we sometimes lack here in England. My wife's family are all in Czestochowa and I have nobody close here which makes it difficult to babysit or when we have problems ect. Once your family starts to grow and they go to school and you age it is harder and harder to make the change wherever you may be. Had I stayed in Poland fifteen years ago I would speak Polish like a native now and maybe I would be doing something else, more interesting but it is not really worth reflecting on all those 'maybies' in life. Had I stayed in Poland I might well have been dead by now, you never know what might have been.

I think I have a better understanding of you now Michal I apologize for the insults sometimes my passion gets the best of me my comments stand but the name calling I am ashamed of.