Work / Female Juris Doctor/Native American Speaker/Jobs in Warsaw [59]


Doesn't mean particularly much in Poland, particularly as many people have doctorate-level qualifications while working in normal jobs.


Public presence is everything. I can't imagine there are many Polish-Americans living in Warsaw with a doctorate in Law who had studied abroad in Warsaw for a while - yet this forum is rather well known (for various reasons...) in Poland.


And this is what I've been getting at - your opinion of your value versus what employers think you are worth are likely to be extremely different. You don't need a doctorate in law to teach English, but you do need a solid pedagogical background in order to get a good job.


It's not what I require, it's what the vast majority of reasonable and well paying employers will expect. Sure, there are plenty of fly by night schools out there - but they will also pay buttons and behave neurotically.


Why not? There are people on here who are fearsomely well connected in Warsaw - people who are in a position to help you.

If you understand Polish culture as well as you say you do, then you'll understand the heavy reliance on personal networks.

Study / Top Warsaw university recommends remedial classes to new students [20]


Well, the problem is that the people applying to do Maths are quite crap at Maths in general - a score of 30 is utterly pathetic by any standards. For me, it's complete madness that a tough course such as physics/mathematics can be entered by almost anyone - not least because it leads to many people dropping out. It was also pointed out to me that people are re-taking the Matura and dropping out as a consequence of getting into a better course.

I cannot understand for the life of me why public universities don't have a minimum score requirement for entry into university. Allowing Pawel who barely scraped through mathematics at Matura into a course that is about Mathematics is nothing but insanity. Looking now at the rankings - someone who nailed Polish and a foreign language combined with basic level Mathematics at Matura should have enough points to get into the course. Utter nonsense, I'm sure you'll agree.


I think the subject as a whole needs to be looked at, as well as the culture. It seems that in recent times, there has been a heavy push for people to go into 'humanities' subjects at the expense of science - and I think it doesn't help that mathematics was treated very badly for the last few years in high schools. It's also worth pointing out that many mathematics teachers are graduates of mathematics that couldn't find a job afterwards - so they went into teaching because they had nothing else to do.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


Highly unlikely. Also, as Jon says - people are on holiday, which skews the results even further towards those who aren't likely to be on holiday (PiS voters).


Because as I keep telling you, the PSL aren't "socially conservative" and aren't really "rural". They're centrist, but middle class. You'll notice that their power base is in medium sized towns in relatively wealthy areas - which is why their electorate would never agree to a coalition that allowed Kaczynski's welfare party into power.


Very rare in Europe. An example can be seen in Belgium with Vlaams Belang (or however it's spelt). Despite them being a viable coalition partner in the attempt to form a government, parties in Belgium refused to consider them.


What are you talking about? The SDP are a party very similar to PiS in terms of economics (and socially, they're centrist at the most) - and the FDP are closest to Gowin.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

This poll is possibly the worst thing that could happen for PiS. Without the PSL, they've got a mere three choices of coalition partners - PO, SLD and Palikot. All three parties are sworn ideological enemies of Kaczynski - which makes it even easier to agree on a confidence/supply agreement to return Tusk to power.


Still impossible under the electoral system. It's widely acknowledged that the Polish electoral system requires around 45-47% of the vote to win a majority in the Sejm - which would be absolutely unprecedented.


Except Gowin's views on the economy are far, far away from what Kaczynski supports. How could a libertarian like Gowin ever go into a coalition with a party that relies on trade union support?

This poll is actually great news for PO - it shows that they've only lost around 7% of the vote after 6 years in Government. Not bad going!

It's also worth pointing out that this poll shows a clear win for an PO/SLD coalition.

Work / Female Juris Doctor/Native American Speaker/Jobs in Warsaw [59]


It's a discussion forum. Then again, how do you think that potential employers will perceive you on here?


It's often said that Poland is a village.


Indeed. But let's not discount the fact that many schools also want the easy life - they don't want to deal with an American who has advanced qualifications (but nothing relevant to English teaching) when they can just hire that British guy straight off the plane with a CELTA and BA. Who will work for less, and who is likely to be less of a headache?


Long winded and tedious. Even getting into a position where you need it nostrificated is likely to be very difficult for someone new in Poland.

To the original poster : have you considered that people on here perhaps have seen it all in their time in Poland? I know one guy who has an MA in English and who can't find anything meaningful - sure, there's plenty of work, but not much decent work out there.

Study / Top Warsaw university recommends remedial classes to new students [20]

Oh yes. At least where I am, the votes go like this :

3 votes from the council
3 votes from the local education authority
1 vote from the teachers council
1 vote from the parents council

You don't need to be a genius to figure out who wins...

Study / Top Warsaw university recommends remedial classes to new students [20]

Oooh, my favourite subject!


This is caused by the universities refusing to change with the times. The Polish education system since the reform has been getting better and better - but the universities are still stuck in an outdated system that rewards rote learning and punishes those who are taught to think for themselves (which the new system in school does). Therefore, universities - instead of changing - are whining about the level of students. Yes, the level in terms of pure rote learning is lower - but the students are better. But the dinosaurs stuck in our public university system refuse to accept this.

It would be nice if you explained that in Poland, universities work on a points-based system. Anyone with a Matura can apply, and the top x candidates who applied are given a place regardless of their actual score. This means that subjects such as mathematics and physics have low entry scores - as can be seen here - amuland.pl/Portal/Progi-punktowe/DL-FizO-2012 (physics from UAM) 33 points is incredibly poor - which reflects the quality of the candidates applying to physics.

So the huge drop-out rates are entirely understandable - you've got poor quality candidates applying to difficult courses. No-one really wants to do mathematics and physics, so you end up with a situation where the university is refusing to adapt the courses to reflect the strength of students. Hence - high drop out rates.


No, that structure actually works very well. If you look at the PISA scores since the reform, things have got drastically better - especially as children are no longer stuck in primary school (and being treated like it) at the difficult and awkward 13-16 age. The best high schools are doing even better now - the real issue is the failure to invest in a proper wide range of choices post-16. But on the whole, the reform has worked. Going back to 8-4 is nothing but PiS hype because of who implemented the policy in the first place.


They are a problem because of the Polish 'right to an education'. Were schools to be allowed to discipline children effectively, problems would dramatically reduce. Trying to blame Palikot is yet more PiS talk - wouldn't it be better to consider that children at this age are difficult in general and that schools should be empowered to deal with them? It also doesn't help that most Polish people find the idea of streaming children to be abhorrent - so you end up with the local village idiot ruining classes because he doesn't understand the content. The culture is to blame here, not the school.


All classes are mixed ability, but you've again forgotten to mention that high schools are streamed by nature. There is no right (as in middle and primary schools) to an education at your local school - hence children are all roughly the same level as it's based on the results of the middle school exam. Why should 3rd year be based on revision? That's pretty senseless - I don't know any country that spends the last year revising!


There's no reason to hire tutors. The books themselves are generally of a high quality due to the peer review process required, but again, the utter failure to implement a proper disciplinary process combined with the sheer lunacy of requiring directors to be elected causes discipline to be a problem in public schools. This - again - is cultural. If you actually worked in a public Polish school, you'd know that teachers hands are tied by the parents - many of whom cannot imagine their child being kept in detention or being suspended.


No, the real issue is the expectations of universities, the lack of professionalism in school management (directors are always thinking about the next election) and the lack of effective discipline brought on by parental expectations.

Nice try, but your post just reads like PiS-propaganda.

(and we all know that the dinosaurs that teach in universities are about 30-40 years behind)

Work / Female Juris Doctor/Native American Speaker/Jobs in Warsaw [59]


As I said above, you don't know who is reading PolishForums. To openly admit that 'most' of your typing is intelligible and rife with grammatical errors isn't exactly doing you any favours, is it?


You keep applying US rules to Poland. This is not a country known for fair hiring practices.


Forgive me for being cynical, but a year abroad combined with internships is highly unlikely to give you a thorough grounding in Polish and European law. It might give you an idea of how the institutions all relate to each other, and you might be able to make sense of a contract - but I doubt that you'd be able to actually write a contract compliant with Polish law. People here study for 8 years to be able to do that - and you think you could write one after a year?


I do love when people make mistaken assumptions.


Which still doesn't qualify you as having experience. As I said above, Asian experience in teaching isn't really considered to be worth anything in Europe.


What does their drinking habits have to do with anything? As I've said above - someone with the CELTA, a poor BA and experience in Europe will always be ahead of you because they're a proven quantity when it comes to English teaching. No-one here is going to be impressed by an American with a law degree - they're looking for people who understand even the basics of classroom management and have a qualification that shows that.


You have Asian experience, which isn't particularly well regarded in Poland, not least because the culture difference is immense. Your piece of paper is pretty worthless without work experience behind it, and your lack of real knowledge about Polish law is also a barrier to finding well paying employment. Of course, you can always find a job that pays 30zl an hour in a Callan school.


Any good job in Poland doesn't get advertised, in general.

Out of curiosity, what would your salary expectations be? If you give us an idea of what you're willing to accept, perhaps we can point you in the right direction. Would you regard 40zl an hour as an insult?

Work / Female Juris Doctor/Native American Speaker/Jobs in Warsaw [59]


The thing is that you aren't highly educated according to what employers are looking for. That's the first thing that you need to understand - employers are interested in certain qualifications, and someone walking in and telling them that they're 'highly qualified' when they aren't will just make them laugh at you.

Someone could have a BA in Media Studies and a CELTA - and they will jump ahead of you for that exact reason.


University jobs go to people who are in the know. I assure you that someone turning up fresh off the plane simply hasn't got a chance - unless your skills are somehow unique. Unfortunately, there are plenty of Americans with law degrees abroad, not least because the job market (as you say) is rubbish in the US for such people. Hence - universities can afford to simply sit back and hire someone that they already know for whatever reason.


Again, your lack of experience (as you say above) stands in your way. If you consider PF as a potential place that employers could be looking, you've already lost the job because of your English skills. And before you say anything, I know at least two people on PF have hired people that they met through PF - including myself.


But can you teach them to write a contract in English that also complies with Polish and European law? That's not so easy, and no American law degree will help you in that respect.

I think you need to consider that in Poland, you're not likely to find anything 'highly paid'.

Work / Female Juris Doctor/Native American Speaker/Jobs in Warsaw [59]


Pretty much irrelevant. It's unlikely that anyone in Poland will regard Asian experience as being in any way relevant to Poland. Different culture, different methods.


The problem is the lack of experience and lack of knowledge of the Polish market. Your experience is pretty much minimal, and your education is nothing special as you aren't qualified in any way to teach.


Yes, there's probably no work for you in the legal sector.


You've made several bad mistakes in your post - do you really think teaching English is for you? Your lack of qualifications is also a problem.


I would suggest talking to your husband about what he expects you to do here.

Life / Pryzmat printer cartridges on Warsaw street [7]

Just had a look and it's a Poznan company only, sorry :(

But it's worth a look around - surely such a thing would be offered in Warsaw too?

Life / Pryzmat printer cartridges on Warsaw street [7]


Tried them once, no problems at all. Only gave up using them because I found a service that would deliver them to your door and take away the old ones for only slightly more money.

Generally speaking, the printer manufacturers don't like you using them, but that's because they make their money from supplies rather than printers.

edit : I refil the cartridges on an old battered printer at work, and they do the job fine.

UK, Ireland / Renewal of British passport in Poland (how long does it take?) [27]

No, I just don't want to give them my old one as it's quite full of stamps from all over the place - so I want to keep it :)

Life / Why is Orange Poland such a crappy / expensive network? [53]


I do hope you negotiated very hard with them? It usually takes 2-3 phone calls, but they do have a special department for people who are threatening to cancel - we got a hell of a deal with our last renewal :)

Life / About Poznan! Foreigners, Life, Crimes, Job Prospects, Expenses! [12]

Every Thursday from 19:00-23:59, Bunuba Cafe, ul. Szewska 20a - there's an international language exchange meeting there, organised under the Couchsurfing/Language Exchange Club/Be Welcome Poznan group. When you get there, just ask at the bar - we're always upstairs or standing outside the bar - there are normally 20+ people every week, even during summer :)

Normally people come from all over the world - Spain, the UK, France, everywhere!

Work / Living in Lublin (as a teacher)!? [36]


Which to be fair is more than the Polish government does.


Very high taxes? Greggy, I don't know what kind of taxation you expect, but Polish taxation is quite low and with generous deductions available.

As for spending it on actual investments - again, what a surprise to see you promoting socialist labour theories.


All CV's are fundamentally lies.


Let's agree that you go back to 1991, then?

What's your experience with Comenius, Greggy?

UK, Ireland / Renewal of British passport in Poland (how long does it take?) [27]

Did you get your old passport back, out of interest?

Work / Living in Lublin (as a teacher)!? [36]


I think if you look at it from a very long term point of view, those funds are breaking down some walls now - perhaps in 50 years time, it will be absolutely normal for teachers from all over Europe to go and teach in other countries. It's really no different to Erasmus - and bear in mind that most teachers in Europe aren't well paid, anything that increases their mobility has to be a good thing.


It's worth pointing out that in a place like Chelm, a public school teacher of English might also be quite poor in general. Therefore - he might actually be bringing something to help the school there. We can't say for certain, but I think we all know that many public school teachers of languages tend to be quite poor in general.

Also - I'm not saying its like this for certain, but usually these exchanges are part of a much bigger programme.

UK, Ireland / Renewal of British passport in Poland (how long does it take?) [27]

No longer - they're doing it all centrally in the UK. So in other words, you pay significantly more money to send your passport to the UK than someone actually living in the UK pays. The old argument that it cost more money to process abroad is now null and void. Thieves.

Completely and totally illogical and downright thievery.

Travel / TRAIN TICKET IN POLAND (what do i do?) [10]


Quite likely. You can ignore it, but if you do, you may find that entering Schengen in future proves to be a problem. Poland is not adverse to abusing European Arrest Warrants to get people extradited to Poland for trivial sums of money.

Work / Teaching in Poland - what opportunities are available to me? [5]


The best jobs just don't get advertised in Poland - they go to people who are already known by others.


Won't count for anything in Poland, I'm afraid - Asian experience is seen as irrelevant here, not least because the mentality is completely different.


This will count heavily against you here. When the school secretary will have a Masters degree and every Polish teacher too, you need to have the CELTA as the bare minimum to make up for your lack of degree. Without CELTA and a degree, there aren't many doors open to you I'm afraid.


In the beginning, you'll be looking at Callan school work at best. You can expect it to pay no more than 2200zl/month on average (taking into account all the holidays, cancellations, etc) - which -


Will be nearly impossible. Most cities in Poland (except, perhaps, Bydgoszcz and Zielona Gora) are full of native speakers already - and they are qualified native speakers too. Any city with something happening in it will already have many native speakers there - but "boring small towns" may be willing to hire you without degree/CELTA.

If you really want to come to Poland, try and get a job anywhere you can. Do that for a year, and doors will open elsewhere. But you've got no hope in hell of getting anything reasonable in any city that can be called attractive.

Why Poland?

UK, Ireland / Warning by Poland's Government before you go to the UK [53]


The wise man invests in companies that give such classes.

There's one particular idea in Poland that I think could do very well not just in Poland, but internationally.

UK, Ireland / Warning by Poland's Government before you go to the UK [53]


This is exactly what I talk about - some preparation goes a hell of a long way. My own heating bills are next to nothing because (don't ask me how) a comprehensive renovation of the block was carried out by one of the neighbours at a very very good price at some point. The end result is that the flat is cool in summer and warm in winter - which strikes me as being highly unusual to begin with.

Of course, the block itself is utterly charmless, but the location and price was right.


Perhaps a sticky should be posted : "DO NOT MOVE TO POLAND TO BE WITH A PARTNER".

A basic rule would be - if you aren't capable of posting a thread with correct punctuation and spelling, then you're unlikely to succeed in Poland unless the inlaws are filthy rich.

UK, Ireland / Warning by Poland's Government before you go to the UK [53]


Ouch. But not an uncommon story I suspect.

I suspect it happens all too often - as you say, people come here talking a good game, but I think you have to have a very realistic head on your shoulders to do well here. I can't imagine moving here with kids that would require expensive private schooling - straight away, you've got a massive burden/responsibility on your shoulders. With the wife not working, he would be under immense pressure - so it's no surprise that it's yet another that is leaving with his tail between his legs.


For those that haven't done their homework thoroughly, I agree.

Always thought that it was sheer lunacy to turn up here with kids if you didn't have the backing and support of a company. To end up in a situation like you describe can only be the result of poor planning.

Genealogy / Find my Polish roots (Poland-Belgium) [4]


Not really, unless you use German names ;)


Depending on when you're here, I'd be happy to introduce you to a few of my Polish friends :)

Genealogy / Find my Polish roots (Poland-Belgium) [4]

Where will you visit in Poland?

Life / Immigration in Poland and being surrounded by a monoculture? [134]


I suppose it's the same in every country. Following on :


Yes, it is a very nice idea - it would reward those with education that chose a vocational career (such as nurses and teachers) too. It would reward education (no bad thing) and if combined with rigorous checking of institutions awarding degrees, would be a reliable way of rewarding people. Probably it wouldn't be perfect, but it makes far more sense than the current situation where people are encouraged to breed by governmental handouts.


This is the problem with most of the "pro-family" policies - they aren't helping the most able ones, but rather than ones that aren't able. For instance - you get 95% off tram tickets for having 4+ children in Poznan. But the vast majority of well educated, stable families don't have such amounts of children - so you just end up subsidising 'pathological' families as a result.


Don't worry, I understand your cynicism - the horror that is a lot of teacher 'training' leaves a lot to be desired.


I don't think he does, it's just the general attitude in Poland that the customer is there to serve the business and not the other way round.

For what it's worth, I've found that good people in Poland will be very loyal and professional, more much so than in the UK.

Travel / Traveling around Poland - our photo stories with very personal commentary [225]


There's motorway to Tarnow now, isn't there?

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


Let's be honest : if everyone in Poland was tough on Communism, the Kaczynski brothers would have never got anywhere near power.

There are plenty of people on all sides (yes, including the Church) who don't want an in depth investigation into their past. Perhaps you should consider that the general consensus is that Communism is dead and that it should be left buried.

UK, Ireland / Warning by Poland's Government before you go to the UK [53]


Really? That's why you live in Canada and rarely post about any Polish issues at all?


Coming on just fine, thanks. I work every day with documents in Polish and colleagues who are monolingual Polish speakers - and you?