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Native English looking for a teaching job in Poland [135]
Hi Matlinka. Yes, I saw your other posts re translation etc and didn't feel qualified to comment on the career direction you should take. But.........if you're just talking about TEFL, then I'm a bit better informed about that but not anywhere as up to date on the nitty gritty as Jon would be. However I can offer a bit of insight from my own previous experience and my current knowledge of the Warsaw market, couldn't really comment on the region of Poland you'll be going to - and that's significant. It differs from region to region and city to city.
In your opinion would i be looked at more as a professional
Yes. You have very good qualifications that demonstrate your knowledge and interest in the English language plus you have teaching experience. However, having said that, Polish employers don't have the best reputation for valuing their workers and their main concern will be how cheap they can get you, rather than how good you are. If they can hire somebody else with a basic CELTA for less, then they'll take them. So your CV will get you an interview but it doesn't guarantee you a job offer over less qualified and experienced candidates.
The most I was ever offered was 110 zl per hour working for a private language school, visiting the offices of executives to give one-to-one tuition at advanced level. That was about eleven years ago, so yes, you can get the higher rate of pay. In that case I was approached by the school, I didn't actually apply for a job. The fact that I had years of mainstream teaching experience, not just TEFL, definitely made a difference and also, I was 'well presented'. That's very important for the old executive scene. You don't have to wear a business suit or anything but you need to look as if you wouldn't be removed by security when you visit the office for the first time :D I think that as a woman (which I was last time I looked in the mirror!) it's particularly true that the old lipstick, earrings and a dress makes a big difference.
I'm actually a Montessori primary school teacher by profession and just drifted into TEFL because people kept asking me for lessons. I said yes to a few neighbours and acquaintances just to be polite and it mushroomed. I wasn't really looking for full time employment so I deliberately kept a limit on it and I didn't take that job with the language school, but if I'd wanted to expand I could have. I used to charge 60zl per hour for a private lesson btw and I either taught at home or locally so I never even had to travel one tram stop to a lesson. You have to watch that, because if you're getting paid for the hour you teach, you have to factor in the time it takes to get to and from the lesson. If you're not careful you can end up on 30zl an hour!!
i assume best to worst jobs would be private tutoring - state schools - private language centres ?
Actually state schools, as in primary and secondary pay very badly and they rarely hire English language teachers as far as I know. Other than that, yes if you can build up a portfolio of private clients, then it's ideal as you can charge 60 per hour and manage your appointments to suit yourself up to a point. With a language school you'll have to work when they tell you to.
how do i look for these unadvertised jobs.
You can't! They come to you. Just as the language school came to me. It takes time. You have to get known in the area where you live and word spreads. It's actually a good idea to set up a simple website as language schools sometimes scour the internet looking for native speakers and a nicely put together website shows that you're a professional worth their while contacting.
The final piece of advice I would give you is to consider getting the Cambridge Young Learners qualification. You could possibly do that before you get to Poland and it wouldn't take long but it would be a great extra on your CV. There is definitely a shortage of people suitably qualified to teach children under the age of 12 and pre-schoolers in particular and there would be a pool of possible work for you both with private kindergartens and home tutition. However, you should really only go for it if you actually like the company of children! Might sound obvious but young children en masse in a classroom can be the undoing of many a sane adult :)) I knew one very competent secondary school teacher in her thirties who took a temporary position in a primary school and ended up on blood pressure medication - mind you, that was in Ireland where children tend to be lively, not naughty exactly, but very high spirited and chatty. Polish kids in my experience are much more sedate in class and the tinies are so sweet, you could eat them up with a spoon :))
