Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]


Looks that way doesn't it.

It beggars belief that people need advice to get into the bottom end of the profession. The only sad thing is that people are paying money to learn English from some schmuck that needs to ask how to get a job in some language factory.

History / The Humble Beginnings of Empik in Poland [14]


Historically it had a lot in common with a library.

Unfortunately for them the Internet is killing places like this all around the world.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]


Check out the ads running at the moment, Smurf. A decade ago it was as you say - now the best places don't need to fly people in. The places that advertise on tefl.com, Dave's etc are either way out in the sticks or have some other reason that they need to advertise outside the country.

In all my years of hiring teachers in PL, I only ever once recruited from outside, and that wasn't a huge success. I advertised internationally a few times, but most of the replies were from Americans, Canadians, Indians etc and therefore useless for legal employment - that or absolutely green newbies fresh from a CELTA who weren't much use to me either.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

You'll find that very few, and none of the decent places, recruit from outside PL.

Remember that language school owners get stacks of CVs in our email. Most of them 'impressive'. The key is to have a personal contact. That or do a very good trial lesson. And there are plenty of English speakers living here already.

The market here in Poland, by the way, is truly saturated. There are plenty of private language schools in Warsaw now and Krakow is stuffed with native speakers all chasing the same work. The OP's best bet is to look at somewhere in the backwoods.

Food / "Poland - it's the new Provence of food" [56]

Did you buy ready made ones?

Food / "Poland - it's the new Provence of food" [56]

A pelmenitsa is the small frame you use for making them. In every store in Russia & Ukraine, not so easy to find here.

Food / "Poland - it's the new Provence of food" [56]


Do you use a pelmenitsa?

Life / Men in Poland in the forest? Just men? [133]


They go there to have a break from the women's nagging.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

Some people are gluttons for punishment. Or just fancy small town life. I tend to agree with you re adverts - as far as Poland is concerned anyway, other countries are different. If people really have to work for private language schools, it's better to know one and speak to the owner. Then again, one has to get into Poland in the first place to make the contacts. A CV out of the blue from the OP wouldn't impress any of us.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

I never really advertised for staff - word of mouth mostly found people. In smaller towns though, they often have to.

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]


No, no, no. The whole point of the chav thing is that they aren't working, despite the availability of jobs.


The NHS operates on the basis of need. People who work have different needs to those who choose not to.


On this we agree. The issue is serious enough to reappraise the way the NHS operates.

History / WWII - who really was the first to help Poland? [900]


Pretty well true. Stalin and the Americans had it sewn up between them. The UK, France, Poland etc could not have done a thing.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

There are some adverts for jobs in Poland on tefl.com at the moment. None of them great.

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]


For once you've got it right. There was no prioritisation and someone with a job dealing with the public had to join the same queue as anyone else. in fact you're only nearly right since working class people were not the issue. I would certainly count as a working class person myself - one working hard, paying 9% of my wages in NI and having to stand in the same line as those who spend all day at home, buying scratchcards and watching their peers on the Jeremy Kyle show.

This sort of thing needs to stop - with the exception of disability issues and life threatening illnesses people paying NI should always take priority over those who don't. In 1948 the founders of the NHS expected increasing equality between the haves and have nots - they never expected the polarisation we now have between those who work and those who use.

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]


Until they fall ill on holiday and a surprised to find that the hospital has no cash register.

Food / "Poland - it's the new Provence of food" [56]

There are Georgian and Armenian restaurants in Warsaw. Excellent food.

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]

Like many of us here, more than one. As for the UK benefits, I don't pay tax there and it isn't my money. The benefits system over there is however something that people fought for - it shouldn't be abused by anyone.

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]


The same as always, Oxon. the NHS is something that my forefathers and yours fought for. Even the Tories have figured that out now. A few years ago, before I left the UK, I had a serious problem on one side of my face. I was supposed to wait 18 months before seeing a consultant - not because of immigrants, but because of chavs. In the end I was able to pull strings - they figured there was a real need to do it and followed the spirit (but broke the letter) of the rules. I was probably lucky.

The NHS is still the envy of the world - probably half my social circle here in PL are doctors - they say the same. We all, whether BNP voters, Tory voters, LibDems, Labour or Respect or Communist, all of us have something to be proud of!

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]

No, not exactly. The NHS isn't 'benefits'. It's health insurance, paid for from people's wages. Not free. Women with no connection to the UK - perhaps from Poland - turning up to have babies because the doctors, nurses and hospitals are better and they won't get a bill is however scrounging.

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]

What makes you think that criticising chavs is the same as criticising an entire class? Unless you think that chavs comprise an entire class.

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]


I notice you don't mention that this treatment you refer to and are pretending is some sort of benefits tourism is actually part of the Patient Mobility Scheme. To save you the trouble of clicking on your link and following it through to the Department of Health details, I'll post this quote:


And this one:

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]


The ones that pay, you mean?


Since when do the long-term unemployed 'keep the wheels' on anything?


So now you're attacking public funding of the arts. Half Tory, half Taliban?


So inverse snobbery now.

Travel / Which SIMcard to buy in Poland for two week usage [11]

On an iPad or Windows Phone, in the settings menu you should input an APN. For Play, it is just 'Internet'. No username or password. Perhaps android is the same, however when I had one I used Play and don't remember needing to change anything.

Life / Are Polish ppl capable of revolting? [41]


That will happen EU-wide sooner rather than later. The sticking point is Italy who give foreigners the vote on the basis of ethnic heritage and some of the smaller central/eastern European countries who don't like the idea of non-citizens voting. At the moment they're deciding what to do so it's consistent in each member state.

Food / What are small fish rolled up and marinated in oil and vinegar? [11]

An old Cornish traditional dish. But popular in every country that borders the North Sea.

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]


I have a few times. Very hit and miss.

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]

Spot on. I don't see many of the Poles who've gone to the UK disdaining it for Medicover.

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]


Perhaps you are. EU integration, so far very, very good for Poland has produced this temporary situation that will and must be corrected.

Food / What are small fish rolled up and marinated in oil and vinegar? [11]

Feeling hungry just reading the thread!

Rollmops, as their name suggests, is an old English dish (there's even a cooked version). Kolecki are as far as I know, uniquely Polish.

Work / NO JOBS IN POLAND FOR ENGLISH PEOPLE EXCEPT TEACHING? [44]


If you speak Polish very well you have a good chance - if not, you don't. As for jobs involving speaking English, plenty of Poles speak it very well and if you've noticed there's a huge population spike in their 20s and 30s which affects the jobs market. The rudimentary benefits system here also keeps people in jobs rather than on the dole.

If you want to teach English, you'll find that the bottom end of the market has been swamped by people who've gone to PL as partners (usually boyfriends) of returning members of the post 2004 diaspora. The better end of the market needs good qualifications and experience.