Work / Tips of English Teacher interviews [6]


In all honesty, I wouldn't work for someone that wanted to interview me over Skype. Fair enough, if you can't be in the country for the interview - but a telephone call would make far more sense (and would show that the school has the money to afford such calls!).

Be very wary of anyone who seems desperate to get you to agree to work there and who deflects any questions that you have - the best schools don't need to beg people to work.

And don't be afraid to negotiate on salary :) In fact, don't be afraid to ask awkward questions about your potential contract and conditions - bad schools will always operate under dubious arrangements, whereas good schools will have nothing to hide.

Where are you planning to work?

Life / Driving License - B1 that allows 16 year old to drive light vehicles? [27]


Definitely 550kg, the driving categories are harmonised across the EU now.


I'm not completely certain on this, but I think local driving ages override the licence - so you have to be 18 to drive in Poland irrespective of being licenced in the UK. I know France for instance won't allow UK drivers at 17 to drive there.

Life / Driving License - B1 that allows 16 year old to drive light vehicles? [27]


I found a reference somewhere, but it was anecdotal, so I think you're right.


The problem as far as I can tell is that you'll need a sworn translator for the practical part of the exam. Given that it'll be nearly impossible to find something big enough to accomodate the translator, the examiner and you, I'm really struggling to think of how you could do this.


I don't see why not, but he'll have to overcome the driving test problem first. If I remeber correctly, the actual regulation says that the translator has to be present during the exam - so he couldn't even get away with having a CB radio link to the translator

It's only 30kg to get rid of, so technically possible - but again, it raises issues over whether or not they'd actually licence it.

Life / Driving License - B1 that allows 16 year old to drive light vehicles? [27]

Before trying to find out about the licence, why not think about the car that you would be allowed to drive on such a licence?

550kg is nothing - you'll be looking at riding quad bikes, or getting one of the very very very few cars which come under 550kg. Even the Fiat 126 is too heavy for this restriction - which gives you an idea of just what actually does come under 550kg.

Apparently there's also an engine size restriction of 125cc. Bearing in mind that any quad suitable for the public road will need to be at least 250cc, you really don't have much choice in that matter.

Why bother, when you can ride a moped without much fuss?

Life / Thunderstorms in Poland [44]

Three weeks of thunderstorms...when will it end? :(

Travel / Berlin to Poznan where to buy rail or train tickets and how much do they cost? [6]


I think the Berlin-Warszawa-Express has gone back to Berlin Hauptbahnhof now, but I haven't checked in a while. I know that they were renewing the Oderbrucke, so who knows..

The Kostrzyn connection is absolutely dreadful from Poznan now :(


There are some, but finding out information about them is next to impossible! I have absolutely no idea where they might depart from in Berlin...Poznan is easy, everything departs from the PKS station. But Berlin? blaaah.

The best bet is the Berlin-Warszawa-Express, and all details can be found on http//www.bahn.de . You might even be able to buy tickets online there :)

Work / Culinary jobs and places to learn Polish?? [18]


It's not about 'not needed', it's about 'why hire a foreigner for an entry-level job when you can hire a Polish speaker?'. It simply doesn't make sense to hire a foreigner unless the wages are cheaper or you want something that's in short supply. Hence why native speakers do well as teachers in Poland.


Depends what you can do.


Depends again on what you expect. People live in Poland on very low pensions. But their standard of living more than likely wouldn't be suitable for you.

Ultimately, you won't manage to maintain the standard of living you expect on an entry level chef position in Poland. I've got a higher standard of living than in the UK - but not having to pay rent factors highly into this.

Work / Do you think I could manage on a salary of 1,500 zł - 2,000 zł a month? [14]


Oh yes. A salary of 2000zl a month will come in at around 1400zl after taxes.


Not a clue, but I'd imagine that it relies on the employer proving that he has to hire you because he can't find someone to do the job in the European Union. Maybe so if you're a chef of international renown - but if you want to go in at the bottom (or near the bottom), then you'll find it very tough to obtain one. I'm not even convinced that many employers in your average restaurant or hotel would want to go to the hassle of getting you a work permit.


An average salary, to live alone, in a reasonably good area? You'd be looking at needing 2500zl a month just to be able to live somewhat normally without any extras. Sharing a flat might cut that down to around 1500zl a month, maybe even less.

Bear in mind that a net salary of 2500zl will work out to be around 3500zl gross, or so. The average wage in Warsaw is around 3000zl a month. As you can see, it's not going to be easy to secure a job that can provide you with the lifestyle that you'll expect.

Life / Why do a lot of Polish people stare and why is good personal hygeine shunned? [108]


Mind you, Polish universities seem to like giving students absolutely mental timetables, even for degrees that really don't demand it. It seems to be normal for people to land up with 7am classes one day and 7pm classes the next, which is just nonsense.

Work / Do you think I could manage on a salary of 1,500 zł - 2,000 zł a month? [14]


Would you even manage to make this kind of money as a chef in Poland, assuming that you won't be working anywhere that pays well?

Your best bet in Warsaw would be to share a flat with some people.

I assume you're American...if so, will you even be able to get the required work permit?

Life / How to take the driving test in Poland? [20]


Technically speaking, yes. The reality is that you'll probably need to be resident in Poland for quite a bit longer, because the issuing of the 5 year permit takes time, and includes a check by the police. You also have to have other things, such as proof of your employment in Poland.


Nope, the sworn translator is a requirement, possibly due to the technical language required. It's annoying, I know - especially when it costs more than the test!

Work / Move to Warsaw and will teach English (advice needed) [23]


Yep. This is basically it - because we can read aloud easily, it's an absolute doddle for any native speaker. It's worth investigating if you want an 'easy' introduction to teaching, and I think it's fair to say that a good school will let you supplement the classes as you need to with traditional teaching. I started doing Callan for an easy path in, but I'm now teaching teenagers as well as teaching traditionally. It certainly gives you a feel for classrooms and so on, and allows you to hide behind the structure of the 'method' if you get out of your depth.

But avoid any school that sticks rigidly to THE METHOD (indeed, avoid any school that puts a bar on creativity) - they are the ones that are solely after money and aren't about teaching at all. Some cynical people would say that private language schools are definitely about the money, but the better ones will have teachers who actually care.

Life / How to take the driving test in Poland? [20]

Chrisgunner - alas, the route to driving in Poland is much more complicated than in the UK.

First of all, you have to complete several mandatory phases of training -

1) Visit a doctor and be medically cleared to drive, including obtaining any paperwork needed from specialists. For instance, if you need glasses - then you must obtain clearance from an optician. This is valid for x amount of years - which depends on what the specialist thinks of your condition.

2) Complete 30 hours of mandatory theory training.

3) Take part in a first aid course lasting for a few hours over one day.

4) Complete 30 hours of mandatory driving practice.

5) Obtain a PESEL number in order to sign up for the driving test. This is only obtainable after acquiring permanent residence in Poland - which involves getting the 3 months temporary local registration, then putting together the paperwork needed for the certificate to allow you to stay in Poland for 5 years.

6) Complete the theory and practical tests. The theory test is available in English in many places, including Poznan. The practical test requires a sworn translator at your cost (currently, about 150PLN an hour).

There's absolutely no other way to do it - you need the PESEL number to obtain the licence and it's absolutely non-negotiable. Even if you could bribe a driving school to give you the relavant papers showing that you completed the training, you still need the PESEL number to obtain the licence.

The other thing to consider is that your UK driving record will still have 9 points on it. That won't change - the Polish licence itself may be clean, but the all important record at the DVLA will say "that chap has 9 points".

Travel / Over stay in Poland, will I be charged a fine at the airport? [8]


Do you mind a ban from Schengen? If not, then it's very unlikely that you'll be fined - the worst case scenario is that you'll simply have a stamp in your passport banning you from Schengen for a time (5 years is the figure thrown around, but I doubt they'll be so draconian).

I doubt they'll bother to fine you, especially if you don't have the means to pay the fine.

Of course, this all assumes that they'll even notice. Schengen is terribly hit or miss for conducting proper entry/exit checks...

News / Libertas - what chances does the new party have in Poland? In Europe? [23]

Will Ireland be brave enough to veto Lisbon a second time? They blew it with Nice (which also needed a second referendum, if anyone remebers) - and this time, the stakes are going to be even higher than ever.

I wouldn't be surprised if Irish anger at the economy spills over into another No vote - and if it happens, then Lisbon is almost certainly dead. Kaczynski's signature isn't assured either - if PiS do badly in the European elections, then he might very well take it out on the Treaty and refuse his signature.

But Walesa's pursuit of the cash is nothing short of disgusting. The Irish guy laying the flowers at the Solidarity Priest's grave was enough to turn me firmly against Walesa - and his comments recently are showing him to be more and more out of touch.

Work / Move to Warsaw and will teach English (advice needed) [23]


Actually, the experience in my school is suggesting the exact opposite - companies are now signing up for classes in order to compete. It's got to the point where the summer shutdown now isn't happening - the groups want to carry on and companies keep signing up for more. It's odd, but...

It was explained to me that having English is almost becoming a de facto requirement for some people in their jobs, even for jobs that don't directly need it.

Travel / Wizzair cancelling flights [23]


Aberdeen's landing fees are quite pricey, then add in the fact that the runway is too short in terms of MTOW (maximum take-off weight) for the average Boeing 737/A320 and voila, no Polish flights.

Ryanair quite publicly came out a while ago and told Aberdeen to get lost as long as the runway remains as short as it is. :(

Law / The differences in business cultures between the west and Poland [11]


When you're asking someone a question about the availability of a book in Polish, you don't expect someone to stand there chewing gum in your face with an expression that says 'I'm not interested' - you expect them to give you their full undivided attention. It's simply not professional to stand there going 'chomp chomp chomp'.


Being scowled at is a sure fire bet to irritate me. I don't expect much, just some professionalism - answer my questions and be visible. I don't ask for much more.


Good morning, please and thank you is quite often missed here. If I walk in and you scowl, chew gum and look like something's bit you in a very uncomfortable place - then I don't want to do business with you.


This is exactly where a personal touch comes in - people that are honest and cheerful will always win my business over the miserable fool who gets offended because you ask her for something that isn't normal according to their perceptions.

You can be perfectly happy and genuine :)

Law / The differences in business cultures between the west and Poland [11]

The one very notable difference is in customer service. I've lost count of the amount of people that will chew gum openly in front of you (such as in Empik!) - which to me is a complete no-no. There's other examples - quite a few places have lost my business through sheer sulkiness on the part of the people working there.

Very often, there seems to be precious little in the way of common sense concerning 'how to keep your customer happy'. Of course, sometimes Poles absolutely excel - the ones that realise that a personal touch makes all the difference often go way beyond the call of duty.

Life / Are there any expat Neighbourhoods in Poznan? [16]

Nope, no such thing here. Why would you want to stay in such a place anyway?

There's not exactly a huge swathe of expats living in Poznan anyway :)

Life / Can a non-EU student studying in Poland apply for the EHIC card? [5]

Nope, unless you're paying for the NFZ through ZUS.

Life / Questions about IKEA in Poznan [20]

Thought I should answer properly...


Yup, shouldn't be an issue. Polish stores are very good with accepting non-Polish cards, unlike some other countries. The UK for instance is dreadful for accepting Polish cards :/


Should be nice and cheap to get someone from Poland to drive to Berlin with the stuff.


It's just had a huge extension built, so I'd imagine it has everything you could want/need.


Exactly the same, except the food prices are stupidly low. 1zl hotdogs?

Life / Questions about IKEA in Poznan [20]

Last time I was in IKEA Poznań, I used my card. Chip and pin is available, all card types (except the more exotic ones!) available to use. Credit cards are widely used, so no issue there.

I'm surprised IKEA is much cheaper in Poland than in Germany though...

Law / Looking for info regarding registering a business in UK but operating in Poland [10]

There's something else to consider - Poland will expect you to pay taxes if you're declared resident. The 'personal allowances' are drastically lower in Poland than in the UK - and I would be very surprised if Poland has anything similar to the UK 'non-domicile' rules that you could exploit.

Nothing would stop you running a UK limited company while resident here, but you'll have to go through all the channels such as registering with ZUS and so on regardless. You may also find that many of the rules and regulations apply regardless as you'll be doing business in Poland.

Life / So it's hit me too, isolation in Poland [46]


Oh yes. Especially the idiots who enjoy Nordic Walking around your average commie Osiedle.

Idiots :/

Travel / Poznan-Berlin train fare [8]

You'll need to go through the PKP Intercity site - intercity.pl

You won't be able to use the Regional site to buy international tickets.

Law / Polish business invoices: do they still need to be stamped and signed? [10]


You mean this nonsense of everything being stamped in triplicate and signed was the result of law and not tradition?!

Life / Banks in Poland - Any good recommendations [30]


No issues whatsoever. They always rustle up an English speaker when I call, and are generally friendly and efficient. They might not be so great outside of Wielkapolska though, due to the fact that only certain machines are free to use.

Travel / The best way to travel from Warsaw to Katowice [5]


You've never been there, I guess...

It's Warszawa Centralna.

Law / Banking in Poland, as a foreigner. [26]


mBank couldn't care less, as they need to come to you to sign the forms anyway. If you don't have proof of your stay in Poland, then they accept a written declaration that you're resident anyway.