Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

Absolutely true! It's not just in Poland though, Harry. The same was true of the pay increments and conditions in Japan.

UK, Ireland / Brits to protest against foreigners in the workforce, including Poles. [289]

I echo those sentiments. Those that remain loyal to the cause should be rewarded in a meaningful way. I'm glad that you didn't launch into derogatory attacks on Poles as they are merely using the options given to them by the British government and British employers. They are hard workers who get paid peanuts in their own country. I can understand their desire to work abroad and experience our country. Still, that doesn't change the fact that employers should still be picking Brits first. What's the point in putting people through the education system or training programmes, only for them to be out in the cold? It just isn't fair.

Mr Bubbles is right to mention that Poles will move home when they start to see proper openings. Many are just testing the water and are not career-oriented in the UK.

Best of luck. I'm well aware that getting a job is a job in itself.

Travel / Which cities in Poland are nice to visit [80]

Definitely Wrocław. It has a lovely market square and enough options for most people. The market square here in Gliwice is nice too but Gliwice can't quite offer what Wrocław can. I'd describe Wrocław as a mini Prague.

Many of Poland's gems are hidden in smaller places. For example, some of the scenery in Żywiec is breathtaking. As a Scotsman, I felt very comfortable there. Wisła and Ustron are also worth visiting. It all depends what you want to see :)

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

The point is that, can you honestly say that the teaching union system here is as vocal developed as elsewhere? Forums are often the best shot at getting things off your chest but I'm surprised that Poland lags behind in this respect. They have enough budding candidates and political experience to make it a reality. Unions are often not given teeth. Where's Poland's Scargill? ;0 ;)

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

Very good points, mephias. Calling really does bring out natural responses, rather than ping-ponging through e-mails. It allows you to ask what you want and gets the ball rolling in no uncertain terms. Also, it shows your interest in their proposition.

Life / era chamstwa - era of boorishness? [5]

Boorishness is too weak, I'd say. Boorish is more like gburowaty but chamstwo is sth that most speak out against. Piast Gliwice even had a banner saying that they would not tolerate 'chamstwo' in their stadium. Boorishness? Well, many red-blooded and testosterone-fuelled males are boorish and that's part and parcel of the game.

Some are cultured and some aren't. What I will say is that I'm disappointed that many have bought into this so-called 'rat race'. What garbage that is! Oftentimes, we run twice as fast to stay in the same place and that just ain't right.

There is an expression, Pol3, that 'you have to be cruel to be kind'. As a naturally kind person, I've found that it doesn't get me that far in the sense of my job life and dealings with authorities. It's all about set and setting. You have to be more boorish in some cultures than in others and in some parts of that culture more than others.

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

Delph, I hear what you are sayin but that would negate the diversity aspect of things. Granted, most Brits tend to be aware of AmE from watching films from Hollywood etc etc but there is no substitute for the real deal. Also, as so often happens, a Pole meets an American in America and wants them to come across to Poland. Knowing only English, what are they to do? All I'm sayin is that we cannot preclude the possibility of them coming across. EU nationals are preferred but some schools directly profit from hiring Americans and, as we both know, that's a material concern.

As for Australians, the Poles need a laugh factor when an Australian pronounces cheaper. I was observing a class with a fine Aussie lass and she proceeded to say 'CIPA', meaning cheaper of course. The whole class laughed and she didn't know why. Yes, that's not a reason to hire them but, whether we like it or not, the world is becoming a global village.

It would be fairer to say that they have their English and we have ours. Besides, I've known many Brits ask me the most basic of tense questions. I'm sorry but that's plainly unacceptable and I couldn't imagine going into class with their lack of knowledge. It's fine if you are starting out and learning the ropes but not after.

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

Again, it's important not to generalise. I've met English English teachers that I would not relish the prospect of learning from.

Back to the topic, I've noticed that schools don't like it too much when you question them. Most have sth to hide and they rely on dumb+unquestioning foreigners taking up places. Probe deeper and you will see how they wangle the system to their own advantage. I've always been a man to combat injustice in whatever form so I've let those schools know that.

They need to stop making their 'bums on seats' policy so blatant and transparent. We need to preserve purer arts like teaching (read Jeffrey Harmer or Jim Scrivener for methodology) and not dilute them to McDonald's English. The process, I regret to say, is faultering with money considerations almost yelling out at us.

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

Torq has a point, aphrodisiac. Why? Because quite a few teachers are disillusioned from experiences in their own country and feel thwarted and frustrated. They should not transfer that angst to Poland. It's not the fault of the Poles that their government (Polish) doesn't have a clue about the cost of living here and pay often grossly disproportionate salaries and shrug their shoulders, 'it's Poland'. Very few people in this world truly have full control over what they are paid. Oftentimes, you accept what you get. I know exactly what Torq was trying to say. They know where the door is.

I agree with the work experience part (from convex). It was inbuilt into my first vocational degree and I'm the better for those 6 months in my 3rd year. A better blend between practical, industrial exp and academic learning is definitely desirable.

Aphrodisiac, many Polish men do train their 'stiff', just on Friday and Saturday nights ;) ;)

I don't think Torq sounded envious at all. This is not Japan where the nail that sticks up gets hammered down. Torq is likely different from many of his peers (due to his fluent English) and can be. He doesn't need to be placed inside the brackets as it were.

Poland has embraced those EU exchange programmes (Comenus, Sokrates, Erasmus etc etc) so there is hope.

What I would wish of Polish schools is to explicitly clarify the relevance of their courses to REAL situations and requirements in life. From browsing through various fora for students, I can see that the views expressed therein square with what I've heard in that this is not done. In any business plan, the objectives should be clearly stated and laid out. With a school that provides useful content and measurable yardsticks for success, the student then cannot be too cheesed off when certain goals weren't attained (providing all aspects were conducted properly). Students complain about things I have very little control over and the teacher is the easy target. They complain about 'grammar', wow, that minor area ;0 ;) ;) It's very hard for the teacher to cater for their ill-defined whims and unrealistic demands.

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

Torq has a point here. There are those teachers who really haven't invested in teaching at all, seeing a stint abroad as a stopgap measure and teaching as merely incidental. Their only strength is their instinct but they suck when it comes to phonology.

There are sufficient replacements, yes, and are good enough for the purpose of teaching world communication. However, don't expect to be fully accurate after learning from a Polish native. I've observed them and they make quite a few mistakes with articles and word choice. Still, who has the time to be fully proficient and accurate?

Yeah, many teachers are disgruntled. They need to accept their guest status and clear off as you can't expect the natives to bend just for your convenience. You should have researched your new assignment better before coming to Poland, rather than expecting Poland to somehow just cater for your every whim.

To the OP, good luck. Like anywhere, you get the good with the bad. I work with a super team at the moment and you just need to ask to be helped.

Genealogy / Marek Dudek, I'm looking 4 person please help. [6]

I knew a Marek Dudek, he was one of my students about 4 years ago. He may well be 41 by now.

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

I just learned today that even a reputable school was cutting corners and pulling fast ones, perhaps unknowingly though. The way it was described, it could have been innocent but money is such a drive in some peoples' lives and Poland is quickly catching up in that regard.

Life / You are Polish if... [433]

Nah, I'm just a Scottish man who admires a select few people here as good friends. There truly are gems but some of the traits stick out like a sore thumb.

Unless your missus is my missus, no ;) ;) ;)

Life / You are Polish if... [433]

you get agitated at airports

you get impatient when walking down the aisle of a plane, not thinking that other people are putting their luggage into the overhead compartments

you believe all announcements should be in Polish, even on international flights

you think your news is the only news that matters in the world

you are stubborn beyond defending your corner

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

It was the poster childwithin that mentioned that some here are not forthcoming with assistance. I keep saying it, you will quickly be made to feel like an outcast if you don't slot in with their jibber-jabber. You have to play their games to a certain extent. Bring your ideas to them, though. Otherwise you will end up being a doormat! Who's to say you can't do that?

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

It's worth reiterating what Rogalski just said. Get off to a bad start with the contract and it's just downhill from there. The penalties are stiff (a good word in Polish would be grzywny or sth like that) and they are just poised to impose them. They are so stingy, they make the Scots look like the most charitable nation on earth. Also, factor in illness provisions to your advantage. It's ok for the Poles to take their L4 sickness leave but I as good as couldn't as I had no cover, the other native having had his plate full too. I had to pay 10PLN to find a replacement, what a joke!

Many Poles have really gone rampant with capitalism. They are not as bad as the Japanese private schools but they are worth the watching!

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

20-25 tends to be standard plus anything else you can pick up.

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

Yeah, 5 years even more so. The poster Rogalski created a good thread about Profi-Lingua and their sharkish behaviour. They were so offhand it defies belief. They lied about the work they had on offer and I wish them all the worst. All I can say in my time there is that I stayed in the teaching game and that I earned reasonably. I will refrain from libel/calumny but they are bad.

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

Always an excuse with them too. Promises are promises, try honouring them. Away on a holiday is neither here nor there if you have made an arrangement with sb. Wanna change it then cancel it.

Too many leaves in the breeze. As long as they can engage in their jibber jabber, they are happy. Oh, and their skewed sense of importance!

At my first school here, it was known that I brought many students in and increased their custom. When the time came (long overdue) for me to quit, they were angry and the previous 3 years went out of the window. No thanks, just rude remarks that I had ceased to be a team player. Gratitude is NOT their strong point!

Work / Is it normal for companies/schools in Poland to be rude? [116]

My initial experience was good. They kept to the time that they said but I lately tested the water. I speculatively applied to different schools, not really hoping to get anything as I already have work. It's just as well as the response rate was naff. My advice to you is get the initial rate right. Settling for a piddly rate is not ideal. There tends to be rudeness somewhere along the line. They are insular little fuc*s quite often!

Foreigners are best kept out of the picture, only there to put bums on seats and entertain. It's hard to get a look in with their xenophobic tendencies.

UK, Ireland / WHAT IS SO SPECIAL LIVING IN U.K [90]

For me it was the crisps and the greater variety of food. I dare say I'd be a roly-poly if I lived in the UK. I miss so many brands of crisps. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise as crisps can be a scoffing food. My Dad does that after beer but he seems to have a healthy metabolism.

Life / You are Polish if... [433]

you talk about money no end, to the point of extreme irritation

you forever talk about 'better', rather than just 'different'

UK, Ireland / Brits to protest against foreigners in the workforce, including Poles. [289]

Jarnowa, you have to trust sometimes. When you leave your car on the street, you leave it to trust that nobody will scratch it maliciously or break into it. Britain must accept the bad with the good and also accept that life is far from ideal.

Poles do that too, they know how to circumvent the loopholes and get more money. Why don't you criticise them? Are they 3rd world too? People cheat to survive a lot of the time.

UK, Ireland / Brits to protest against foreigners in the workforce, including Poles. [289]

Britain can be made to look bad on 2 fronts and I hope that people see through the glossing and muddying that the government will no doubt try and pull. Firstly, their willingness to negotiate with the Taliban but this isn't central to the thread so I will say no more. Secondly, that they blundered in not imposing caps. A U-turn will serve as proof.

Love / How real is your international (Polish-other) relationship ? [53]

They are Protestants? Some are and some aren't, Exiled. Have you ever heard of Scotland and, even better, Ireland? Plenty of Catholics there. How about Spain? Religion doesn't play a part in my relationship with my wife. Practicality does :)

Off-Topic / Europe according to Poles and other European nations [44]

I know where it is, Dariusz, it's just that most maps I've checked don't list it.

Thanks for the link anyhow :)

Off-Topic / Europe according to Poles and other European nations [44]

You made a really good attempt there :)

Love / How real is your international (Polish-other) relationship ? [53]

Like any relationship, it has its ups and downs. Very little is plain sailing in life. It is what you make it.

Off-Topic / Europe according to Poles and other European nations [44]

Pretty good! Ours, how apt! Pepicki, probably accurate. As for Katyń, perhaps the most accurate although the tragic irony is that I can't find Katyń even on highly detailed maps. As one would say, 'a matter of perception'.

UK, Ireland / Brits to protest against foreigners in the workforce, including Poles. [289]

Well, there is that but Brits need to wake up to a newer reality. They've always had a been in their bonnets about taxes and benefits but think about war expenses. It costs the US $2.6 billion a month and the UK figure is likely high too. The crisis also creamed the middle class and the British motto needs to be The Who's song, 'We're Not Gonna Take It'. Foreigners are just exercising their rights, it is the British government that needs to look inward(s). For now, printing virtual money will have to do ;0 ;)