Teaching English in Krakow - where to start looking and the process?

kaliza	Jan 24, 12, 20:20 #1
I am looking for a job teaching english in krakow, anywhere from 6 months to a year. I have a teaching certificate from the state of Illinois, have worked as a private tutor, an english native speaker and fluent in Polish. Not sure where to begin looking and how the whole process works, any advice?

WroclawThreads: 77 Posts: 7,404 Joined: Apr 1, 06 ♂ [Moderator]	Jan 24, 12, 20:37 #2
kaliza: Not sure where to begin looking and how the whole process works, any advice? check all the similar threads. some will give hope, some not. however, most of them show the reality of teaching in Poland.

delphiandomineThreads: 42 Posts: 9,954 Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended]	Jan 24, 12, 20:54 #3
kaliza: I am looking for a job teaching english in krakow, anywhere from 6 months to a year. You and ten million others are also looking. If you want to work in Poland, go elsewhere. If you want to want to work in Krakow because "it's pretty" - then prepare for a life of unemployment. kaliza: any advice? Go to the small towns where they'll treat you like a princess. Seriously.

Angel-eyes	Jan 25, 12, 03:43 #4
It's English not english.

RichfilthThreads: 8 Posts: 327 Joined: Mar 8, 09 ♂	Jan 25, 12, 07:02 #5
And "It's English, not english", not "It's English not english". Don't initiate Muphry's Law.

HarryThreads: 62 Posts: 8,508 Joined: May 2, 07 ♂ [Suspended]	Jan 25, 12, 07:26 #6
" any advice?" Yes: forget about teaching in Krakow. You'll earn more money and see it go much further in other places. Plus you may even get a boss who treats you well (you won't in Krakow, you're to replaceable there). I'd suggest Lublin: it's an utterly cracking place.

milkyThreads: 10 Posts: 1,229 Joined: Oct 26, 09 ♀	Jan 25, 12, 07:34 #7
Harry: I'd suggest Lublin: it's an utterly cracking place. but a very dull place to live with a pretty sh1t nightlife and crap pubs.

HarryThreads: 62 Posts: 8,508 Joined: May 2, 07 ♂ [Suspended]	Jan 25, 12, 08:45 #8
" pretty sh1t nightlife and crap pubs." Are you insane? Grodzka 15 is very possibly the best bar in Poland!!! And there are numerous places with Perla on tap. As for nightlife, it's admittedly a bit studenty but still very decent.

ukpolskaThreads: 51 Posts: 2,238 Joined: Oct 23, 06 MEMBER ♂	Jan 25, 12, 10:33 #9
milky: but a very dull place to live with a pretty sh1t nightlife and crap pubs. You have to be joking - with nearly 100,000 students there it is hardly a dull place to live and I should know as I lived there for seven years.

delphiandomineThreads: 42 Posts: 9,954 Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended]	Jan 25, 12, 10:35 #10
ukpolska: You have to be joking - with nearly 100,000 students there it is hardly a dull place to live and I should know as I lived there for seven years. It certainly doesn't look dull - I spotted several good bars when I was there! And Lublin isn't exactly far from Warsaw as well.

HarryThreads: 62 Posts: 8,508 Joined: May 2, 07 ♂ [Suspended]	Jan 25, 12, 11:01 #11
" And Lublin isn't exactly far from Warsaw as well." Two hours by train. And I'm told it can be only 20zl by bus (personally, as it's TLK, I pay the 50 zl for a first class train ticket).

♀

Jan 25, 12, 11:18 #12

I was chatting to a Canadian guy last night, who's looking for work in Krakow. He's got some kind of TEFL, no teaching experience, but has had three interviews. I don't think he's been here very long. So there is work out there, but I wonder when or if he'll actually be taken on by a school.

From what I've read it seems to be a tough market here. There are loads of schools, so I do wonder how much quality is compromised with the vast quantity we have here.

If you can go somewhere else, do.

There have been some real horror stories about this place on the internet (whether it's true or now, who knows, we teachers LOVE to complain, but then - no smoke without fire), and I'm slightly worried about having to find work here. I'm going to start doing that this week and let you all know how I get on.

I'm sure the attitude here is pretty similar to that in London where CELTA qualified people are two a penny, and where most have teachers been doing it for years, so I'm kind of prepared for the massive let down.

I'm in the position that I have to teach in Krakow, but if I could have the same set up elsewhere I'd take it in an instance. There are too many teachers here but too few good ones. "Native" doesn't mean sh1te any more; you have to be good too.

POLAND . The Unofficial Guide	Unanswered \| Archives
POLAND . The Unofficial Guide	Meet Polish People at PF!	Witamy, Guest \| PF Members \| Gold Members

Home \| Unanswered \| Archives \| Random \| Statistics	Time in Poland: 04:53 / May 27
About Us \| Contact Us \| Rules, Privacy \| Poland Advertising	© 2005-12 PolishForums.com