scottie1113
21 Jul 2012
Life / How much does it cost to live in Poland? [42]
True, unless you live here and a Polish salary.
True, unless you live here and a Polish salary.
scottie1113
29 Jun 2012
Travel / Massive thanks to Poland for the Euro time! [19]
There were 30,000 Irish in Gdansk. They were great and the people here love you. Come back again!
There were 30,000 Irish in Gdansk. They were great and the people here love you. Come back again!
scottie1113
27 Jun 2012
Life / Freelance English teacher - Are Polish people unreliable? They continually cancel lessons... [22]
That's a valid point, and it's also why I don't go to them. If they want me me, they come to me, with the exception I mentioned before.
Well, I'm not totally unreasonable, but I don't tell them there are any exceptions. I actually travel to my student's homes (depending on how far), so it's rather a hassle if they cancel last minute.
That's a valid point, and it's also why I don't go to them. If they want me me, they come to me, with the exception I mentioned before.
scottie1113
26 Jun 2012
Life / Freelance English teacher - Are Polish people unreliable? They continually cancel lessons... [22]
Mine is more flexible than that. A call even five minutes before a lesson is fine with me if they suddenly find out they have to work late. At 20.00 the night before they might be feeling fine but if they wake up sick on the day of the lesson, have an accident with their car, anything, all they have to do is call.
My lessons are in my flat with the exception of one couple I've known for four years. He picks me up at my flat and drives me back to their flat where after three hours of lessons (90 minutes with each one), she always cooks dinner. Last year, in lieu of a lesson, we went looking for mushrooms in a forest. No charge for that one. :)
As I've said, the first lesson is free. I want to find out what they expect from me and I want both of us to decide if we want to continue working with each other. Since all my private students are either referrals or former students, we've always continued.
The money I receive from private lessons supplements my regular salary as a teacher. I don't need them as a sole source of income, so perhaps I can be more flexible than others. At any rate, I'm satisfied with my policy and very happy with my students. Sometimes we meet for coffee in addition to their lessons. We chat, and there's no charge for this. Value added I guess, and it builds loyalty both ways.
Mine is more flexible than that. A call even five minutes before a lesson is fine with me if they suddenly find out they have to work late. At 20.00 the night before they might be feeling fine but if they wake up sick on the day of the lesson, have an accident with their car, anything, all they have to do is call.
My lessons are in my flat with the exception of one couple I've known for four years. He picks me up at my flat and drives me back to their flat where after three hours of lessons (90 minutes with each one), she always cooks dinner. Last year, in lieu of a lesson, we went looking for mushrooms in a forest. No charge for that one. :)
As I've said, the first lesson is free. I want to find out what they expect from me and I want both of us to decide if we want to continue working with each other. Since all my private students are either referrals or former students, we've always continued.
The money I receive from private lessons supplements my regular salary as a teacher. I don't need them as a sole source of income, so perhaps I can be more flexible than others. At any rate, I'm satisfied with my policy and very happy with my students. Sometimes we meet for coffee in addition to their lessons. We chat, and there's no charge for this. Value added I guess, and it builds loyalty both ways.
scottie1113
26 Jun 2012
Life / Freelance English teacher - Are Polish people unreliable? They continually cancel lessons... [22]
It's not strict at all. Last minute cancellations happen and I accept that. What I don't accept is no notice at at all and a no show. I always explain this during our first meeting, which is free, And as I mentioned, it hasn't happened in five years. It works for me.
Scottie1113's comment is sensible but a bit too strict because students should be able to cancel lessons in case of emergency
It's not strict at all. Last minute cancellations happen and I accept that. What I don't accept is no notice at at all and a no show. I always explain this during our first meeting, which is free, And as I mentioned, it hasn't happened in five years. It works for me.
scottie1113
25 Jun 2012
Language / Should I just learn German? [55]
Easier said than done, but if you study Latin, you'll find it easier except when it comes to grammar.
Again, easier said than done. This forum is full of advice about how difficult it is for Americans to find work in Poland unless they teach English. Difficult yes, impossible no. And I'm not the one to rain on your parade. Just do your homework on this subject.
just need to learn the grammar and declination and I'll be good
Easier said than done, but if you study Latin, you'll find it easier except when it comes to grammar.
And I do plan on working/living in Poland.
Again, easier said than done. This forum is full of advice about how difficult it is for Americans to find work in Poland unless they teach English. Difficult yes, impossible no. And I'm not the one to rain on your parade. Just do your homework on this subject.
scottie1113
24 Jun 2012
Life / Freelance English teacher - Are Polish people unreliable? They continually cancel lessons... [22]
I've been teaching in a private school in Poland for five years and I also have private lessons. I've never had a cancellation. Postponements or reschedules, sure. That's life. Maybe they're sick or have to work late. Whatever. It happens to all of us.
My cardinal rule is that if a student doesn't show up for a lesson without notifying me in advance, our relationship as student-teacher is over. That's just common courtesy. And it's never happened to me.
I don't advertise for private lessons. My private lessons are either referrals or former students. They're looking for a high quality lesson and that's what I give the,. I've been with some of them for years. It's all about attitude, professionalism and preparation, even for a coversation lesson.
Some teachers in Warsaw do this, and if a student misses a lesson-for any reason-they still get charged. I think that's deplorable.
they continually cancel lessons
I've been teaching in a private school in Poland for five years and I also have private lessons. I've never had a cancellation. Postponements or reschedules, sure. That's life. Maybe they're sick or have to work late. Whatever. It happens to all of us.
My cardinal rule is that if a student doesn't show up for a lesson without notifying me in advance, our relationship as student-teacher is over. That's just common courtesy. And it's never happened to me.
I don't advertise for private lessons. My private lessons are either referrals or former students. They're looking for a high quality lesson and that's what I give the,. I've been with some of them for years. It's all about attitude, professionalism and preparation, even for a coversation lesson.
why not collect up front for a block of lessons?
Some teachers in Warsaw do this, and if a student misses a lesson-for any reason-they still get charged. I think that's deplorable.
scottie1113
20 Jun 2012
Life / What does an american citizen need to do to live in Poland with his Polish citizen wife? [35]
And I've seen some who were totally SOL if they didn't apply well before day 45. Take no chances and make this a priority.
oh, and try and apply for the residency permit (karta pubytu) before your 45th day in country. i've seen enough americans apply beyond that period (88th day) without any hangups
And I've seen some who were totally SOL if they didn't apply well before day 45. Take no chances and make this a priority.
scottie1113
19 Jun 2012
Travel / Travel tips (Katowice, Gdansk, Krakow, Zakopane, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Sopot) [5]
Actually, I was thinking of Westerplatte, Oliwa Park, the hill behind the main train station, the Solidarity museum, and many others.
Actually, I was thinking of Westerplatte, Oliwa Park, the hill behind the main train station, the Solidarity museum, and many others.
scottie1113
19 Jun 2012
Travel / How come no one ever seems to pay for the bus in Poland? [63]
As I said before, if they take you off a bus or tram in Gdansk, it's going to cost at least 100zl, and usually more. And here they will call the police. It's never happened to me because I always have a ticket, but it has happened to my Polish, English and American friends. Just buy a damn ticket and avoid the whole thing.
All the inspectors have a quote, you just ask them .
It's always below 70ZL (from my experince)..
So if it does happen that you forgot to buy a ticket, just pay the bribe.
It's always below 70ZL (from my experince)..
So if it does happen that you forgot to buy a ticket, just pay the bribe.
I hear the going rate in Warsaw is more like 50zl. Although if you've got the time, just tell them that their ID is fake and you aren't even going to get your wallet out to show them your ID for them to write up the fine until a uniformed police officer tells you that the ID is real. They pretend to phone for the police before losing interest and getting on the next tram.
As I said before, if they take you off a bus or tram in Gdansk, it's going to cost at least 100zl, and usually more. And here they will call the police. It's never happened to me because I always have a ticket, but it has happened to my Polish, English and American friends. Just buy a damn ticket and avoid the whole thing.
scottie1113
19 Jun 2012
Travel / Travel tips (Katowice, Gdansk, Krakow, Zakopane, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Sopot) [5]
This time, skip Sopot and spend some time in Gdansk. The Old Town is beautiful but there are other places to see and things to do here.
This time, skip Sopot and spend some time in Gdansk. The Old Town is beautiful but there are other places to see and things to do here.
scottie1113
19 Jun 2012
Travel / How come no one ever seems to pay for the bus in Poland? [63]
In Gdansk they either write the fine while moving, or both will get off with the ticketless person and threaten to extort more money from them once they're off the bus or tram.
There's a very simple way to avoid this-buy a ticket. You can buy tickets at every kiosk or from the driver. It's simple and you don't need to speak Polish to do it, although common courtesy dictates that visitors should learn at least a few words of Polish.
I've been using Dajan taxi (583 060 000) for five years. They're inexpensive and reliable.
Do any of the inspectors ever boot the fare evaders off the bus then & there, as opposed to issuing a monetary fine to pay?
In Gdansk they either write the fine while moving, or both will get off with the ticketless person and threaten to extort more money from them once they're off the bus or tram.
There's a very simple way to avoid this-buy a ticket. You can buy tickets at every kiosk or from the driver. It's simple and you don't need to speak Polish to do it, although common courtesy dictates that visitors should learn at least a few words of Polish.
I've been using Dajan taxi (583 060 000) for five years. They're inexpensive and reliable.
scottie1113
13 Jun 2012
Language / Meanings of 'stkę' [14]
ghoti
gh as in enough=f
o as in women=i
ti as in nation=sh
I love this. It drives my students crazy!
Look up Lewis Carroll's spelling of "fish" (phonetically)LOL!!!
ghoti
gh as in enough=f
o as in women=i
ti as in nation=sh
I love this. It drives my students crazy!
scottie1113
7 Jun 2012
Travel / Will I get instantly laid with my American accent when I speak Polish? [30]
Not true. I only react react like that when I see what fools write. To compound matters, the idiot is from my country.
Your always in a curmudgeonly mood...that's why you moved to Poland!
Not true. I only react react like that when I see what fools write. To compound matters, the idiot is from my country.
scottie1113
6 Jun 2012
Travel / Will I get instantly laid with my American accent when I speak Polish? [30]
Another tool who hasn't bothered to register. He doesn't deserve any replies at all. And he doesn't even know that polish isn't Polish. He deserves any fate that befalls him.
Sorry. I'm in a curmudgeonly mood because of the OP.
Another tool who hasn't bothered to register. He doesn't deserve any replies at all. And he doesn't even know that polish isn't Polish. He deserves any fate that befalls him.
Sorry. I'm in a curmudgeonly mood because of the OP.
scottie1113
6 Jun 2012
Language / Polish language grammar books [59]
301 Polish verbs, Hurrah po polsku, Czesc, jak sie masz?, and even Polish in 4 weeks, although I wouldn't call it great.
301 Polish verbs, Hurrah po polsku, Czesc, jak sie masz?, and even Polish in 4 weeks, although I wouldn't call it great.
scottie1113
31 May 2012
Work / Salary and cost of living information - Krakow [257]
I've been in Poland for five years. I pay taxes but I don't pay ZUS. I pay 80zl a month for my private medical insurance. I'm American, have a karta pobytu and a contract with my school as an employee, and that's honored by the government. There are other ways to avoid paying ZUS but I won't go into them here.
I've been in Poland for five years. I pay taxes but I don't pay ZUS. I pay 80zl a month for my private medical insurance. I'm American, have a karta pobytu and a contract with my school as an employee, and that's honored by the government. There are other ways to avoid paying ZUS but I won't go into them here.
scottie1113
30 May 2012
Travel / Tri-city travel (want to see Gdansk and Sopot) [10]
And the best place to live. I've been living in the Old Town in Gdansk for five years. I love it here.
And the best place to live. I've been living in the Old Town in Gdansk for five years. I love it here.
scottie1113
29 May 2012
scottie1113
17 May 2012
Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]
Probably true, but many students are supported by their parents, and obviously they can.
So am I but it's way to the left of mainstream thought. And of course they'll finfdfault with that opinion. So be it.
Exploitation. What world are you living in? A shopkeeper buys something for x zl and sells it to me for y zl. Is this exploitation? In your myopic view, you would probably say yes.
I give up. The content of this thread has become worthless.
Oh, property prices in Gdansk haven't come down much. Certainly not in the Old Town, only in areas where developers outside the area leveraged heavily against future developments to build new ones without having sold their existing ones and got called by their banks for repayment of their original loans. Two of them went bankrupt. Just desserts.
Adios, my contentious amigos.
I think his point was that students could not afford it, well the vast majority couldn't.
Probably true, but many students are supported by their parents, and obviously they can.
thanks, I am still trying to wrap my head around the concept that they follow.
So am I but it's way to the left of mainstream thought. And of course they'll finfdfault with that opinion. So be it.
Am I misreading you in that the essence of this post suggests that as long as money exchanges hands then exploitation isn't happening?
Exploitation. What world are you living in? A shopkeeper buys something for x zl and sells it to me for y zl. Is this exploitation? In your myopic view, you would probably say yes.
I give up. The content of this thread has become worthless.
Oh, property prices in Gdansk haven't come down much. Certainly not in the Old Town, only in areas where developers outside the area leveraged heavily against future developments to build new ones without having sold their existing ones and got called by their banks for repayment of their original loans. Two of them went bankrupt. Just desserts.
Adios, my contentious amigos.
scottie1113
17 May 2012
Life / Poles always ask how much money you earn. Why do they do this? [30]
I have lived in Poland for five years. Nobody has ever asked me how much I earn now or how much I earned before I came here.
I have lived in Poland for five years. Nobody has ever asked me how much I earn now or how much I earned before I came here.
scottie1113
15 May 2012
Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]
pip, I'm 100% with you on this one. You're not creating anything? True, but the transfer of money is what makes our world go around, and the person you buy from can buy or build another or just spend his gains on something else.
Exploitation? Hardly.
pip, I'm 100% with you on this one. You're not creating anything? True, but the transfer of money is what makes our world go around, and the person you buy from can buy or build another or just spend his gains on something else.
Exploitation? Hardly.
scottie1113
12 May 2012
Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]
[quote=Foreigner4] Imo, buying residential property which you don't need in a place where there is shortage of it, is exploitation.
As you said, in your opinion. That doesn't make you right, and after reading your osts on this thread, i have to say that I think you're out to lunch.
Having said that, I'll return to the original topic. I haven't seen a drop in property prices in the Old Town in Gdansk in the five years I've lived here. Some apartments farther out have seen a little drop but that's not across the board.
[quote=Foreigner4] Imo, buying residential property which you don't need in a place where there is shortage of it, is exploitation.
As you said, in your opinion. That doesn't make you right, and after reading your osts on this thread, i have to say that I think you're out to lunch.
Having said that, I'll return to the original topic. I haven't seen a drop in property prices in the Old Town in Gdansk in the five years I've lived here. Some apartments farther out have seen a little drop but that's not across the board.
scottie1113
12 May 2012
Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]
[quote=pip] I will leave that to the Americans.
pip, that's a very generic statement and it's not applicable to all of us.
[quote=pip] I will leave that to the Americans.
pip, that's a very generic statement and it's not applicable to all of us.
scottie1113
6 May 2012
scottie1113
4 May 2012
Work / Does it have sense to get TESOL for a non natve english speaker in Poland? [9]
I agree with the CELTA but I'm not convinced about the DELTA unless you want to become a DOS.
I agree with the CELTA but I'm not convinced about the DELTA unless you want to become a DOS.
scottie1113
4 May 2012
Work / Brazilian in Poland needing help - ideas to find a job? [22]
Nonsense. He's better than that.
[quote=Hipis]where the stafff speak Portuguese, Spanish or english
I believe it should be English. and staff without the third f.
From a purely academic assessment given what he has written here he'd be placed in an intermediate/upper intermediate bracket.
Nonsense. He's better than that.
[quote=Hipis]where the stafff speak Portuguese, Spanish or english
I believe it should be English. and staff without the third f.
scottie1113
8 Apr 2012
Language / How hard is it to learn Polish? [178]
Maybe, but i don't think so. I studied Latin for two years in high school, then French for the remaining two. My university degree is in French, and I'm still pretty good in it, although a bit rusty. I also studied Italian for a year, picked up some Spanish in San Diego, and learned some Japanese when I lived there as a high school student, though not in a Japanese school.
Polish is by far the most difficult language I have ever tried to learn. I teach English, and my Polish students and friends tell me that they frequently make mistakes, sometimes while speaking, but more often when writing. When I ask them how that's possible, they tell me that Polish is difficult.
Difficult, yes. Impossible, no. Get a couple of good books, including a good dictionary, and find a Polish native speaker to help you. As one of my Polish friends says, the only hard part about learning Polish is the first 20 years. :)
Is it easier for people who already learned one language, and who are naturally skilled? I mean, does it take less effort? Or maybe, considering that Polish is a pretty hard language, it takes a lot of effort anyways?
Maybe, but i don't think so. I studied Latin for two years in high school, then French for the remaining two. My university degree is in French, and I'm still pretty good in it, although a bit rusty. I also studied Italian for a year, picked up some Spanish in San Diego, and learned some Japanese when I lived there as a high school student, though not in a Japanese school.
Polish is by far the most difficult language I have ever tried to learn. I teach English, and my Polish students and friends tell me that they frequently make mistakes, sometimes while speaking, but more often when writing. When I ask them how that's possible, they tell me that Polish is difficult.
Difficult, yes. Impossible, no. Get a couple of good books, including a good dictionary, and find a Polish native speaker to help you. As one of my Polish friends says, the only hard part about learning Polish is the first 20 years. :)
scottie1113
4 Apr 2012
Study / British Council CELTA in Krakow, how would you rate it? [60]
It's good. CELTA training is standardized so one is as good as another.
I don't usually answer posts from people who don't take the time to register but your question was a general one one so I made an exception.
It's good. CELTA training is standardized so one is as good as another.
I don't usually answer posts from people who don't take the time to register but your question was a general one one so I made an exception.
scottie1113
28 Mar 2012
Language / How similar are Polish and Romanian languages? [75]
No, it isn't. There are a lot of French words in English but that doesn't make them similar. If you think it does, you're sadly mistaken.
If you had read this thread from the beginning, you would know that the two languages come from completely different language families and are completely dissimilar.
Yes romanian is quiet similar to polish.
No, it isn't. There are a lot of French words in English but that doesn't make them similar. If you think it does, you're sadly mistaken.
If you had read this thread from the beginning, you would know that the two languages come from completely different language families and are completely dissimilar.