Work / Teaching English in Poland (Poznan) with my TEFL Cert degree [14]


I wouldn't be surprised in the least. Even with a slightly lower pay, though, the savings in terms of cost of living will be substantial, and equivalent to a hefty pay increase.

Work / Teaching English in Poland (Poznan) with my TEFL Cert degree [14]


Not much lower than in the popular cities, if at all. Significantly higher if you are minimally qualified. Advantages are much lower cost of living, especially housing, scant competition, and schools desperate to find native speakers that retention is a serious priority. Country living does have its advantages.

I'm really happy that I spent my first four years in Poland teaching in a provincial city. The friendships I made were far deeper and longer lasting than those I've made in the city.

USA, Canada / Would like to move back to Poland from New York after living in USA for 20 years. [155]


If you're unable to get by on $100 to 170K in Chicago, there is absolutely no way that you will be able to get by at all in Poland, where your earnings will be much, much less. You obviously sorele lack fiscal discipline. You won't last long in Poland.

The rest of your posts are blithering nonsense. Your views on life, earnings and costs in Poland and the US are totally unrealistic. You're doing a lot of comparing apples and oranges.

USA, Canada / Shipping large quantity of Polish vodka to the US [14]


Definitely not worth the hassle and expense, and cannot be done by post. See
help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/212/~/requirements-for-importing-alcohol-for-personal-use

Work / Teaching English in Poland (Poznan) with my TEFL Cert degree [14]


Indeed. Wrocław is literally awash with native speakers desperate for any kind of work.


Seen it dozens of times myself. Anyone dumb enough for the "you can earn a lot as a native speaker" line would probably benefit from an intensive course in the school of hard knocks, though. TANSTAAFL.

Work / Teaching English in Poland (Poznan) with my TEFL Cert degree [14]


Yes, it is. You missed the word "reliable" in my post. 40 to 50 PLN an hour means 20 to 25 PLN if you're stuck with a flaky student who cancels every other lesson at the last minute (no shortage of those in Poland). Also, I don't advertise anymore, either. All of my students come to me by word of mouth. Fortunately, I work at the university here in Wrocław, and I am well known for helping kids get into foreign universities. Last time I looked, Wrocław Gumtree was loaded with ads from native speakers giving conversation lessons for 30 PLN. (And I bet most of them are Brits and Irishemen who came here to be with their Polish girlfriends). Private lessons are fine as supplemental income, but as a full-time job, it requires a great deal of work.


Absolutely. I said the best jobs go to the best qualified and the most experienced.


The best advice is to forget about it unless you know for sure that you will be making enough to fully support yourself all year round. Or consider working outside of the popular cities with large universities and plenty of competition from established native speakers. Try places in eastern Poland like Augustów, Mielec, Chełm or £omża.

Work / Teaching English in Poland (Poznan) with my TEFL Cert degree [14]


If "shortly" means before October, your chances of finding work teaching English in a good school are remote. Work is scarce during the summer vacation, and what few jobs there are have already been taken.


If it isn't a CELTA, it's not going to be worth much on the job market except outside of the the popular cities I list below..


The job market is tight in the larger "civilized" cities like Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań and Gdańsk because there is already an abundant supply of native teachers there, both qualified and unqualified. The best jobs with the best conditions and wages go to the best qualified and most experienced teachers. Other teachers have to fight over the table scraps, and end up working in the worse schools for lower wages and under worse working conditions.

Avoid Callan, Avalon and "Direct Method" schools like the plague. They're basically shady operations that pay very poorly, and sometimes not at all. Avoid any school that will not sign a REAL full time contract with you, or that asks you whether they can fudge your tax information.

Never take a job that pays less than 50 PLN per 60 minutes AFTER TAXES. If they can't guarantee you at least 20 hours a week, keep on looking. When calculating monthly income, realize that you are not going to be paid for the Christmas break, the two week winter holiday, and other holidays during the school year. As I said, work during the summer is going to be scarce. Don't count on it, especially in the popular cities.

If you're coming to Poland for fun, experience and adventure, fine. If you're coming here to make money, though, forget about it. You'll be lucky if you break even from October to June, and will most like lose out overall because of the summer doldrums. Very few English teachers make a real good living here in Poland, and those that do are highly qualified and experienced, are good businessmen and marketers, speak the local language well and operate independently.

Forget about giving private lessons. Until you're experienced, the best, high-paying customers won't even look at you. It takes a lot of time and work to build up a reputation and reliable client base, and a lot of business savvy. Hard to do without having considerable savings to tide you over, or with fluency in Polish. The competition is fierce, and never sleeps.

Lastly, about the girlfriend. She will drop you like a hot potato if you do not earn enough to support at least yourself. Think twice about living together with her family. Polish "in-laws" are fine if you're bringing in enough cash to support yourself and contribute your fair share to household expenses (expect to contribute at least 500 PLN for room, and 1000 PLN for board; if they expect more, they will let you know). After the third day of your stay, they will start counting every penny you cost them. Once you become a financial liability, they will very quickly unite against you and start making life hell for you. The best thing that can happen is that they will kick your sorry ass out on the street. Parasites are dealt with very harshly in Poland. Things will ever improve until your "account" with them is in the black, and promises to stay that way for the forseeable future.

Love / Asking her family for permission to propose to my Polish girlfriend? [28]

@David 91: First of all, asking for permission is rather old-fashioned and quaint. It's not the rule in modern Poland. It's more likely to come off as odd than as "proper". Second of all, if you are planning to move here, make sure you to find gainful employment BEFORE YOU COME. Don't try to play it by ear unless you have abundant savings to burn.

For God's sake, do not move in with her family. Get your own place where you have control over the environment. Whatever your relationship may be like now, it's going to make a major turn for the worse if you have to live in close quarters with your in-laws, especially if you are under-earning or not earning at all. You might be tolerated for a short while, but then they will start to make life EXTREMELY unpleasant for you.

Next, don't be cowed into throwing your money away on a big wedding. Live as frugally as possible until you have a good-sized nest egg built up. If you smoke, drink or like to buy unessential things, stop NOW. The only thing you shouldn't skimp on is education to improve your qualifications. Both of you should be actively improving yourselves now. That won't be possible when baby comes.

If, as your nick suggests, you're only 22 years old, wait another five years. Early marriages rarely succeed, both because the partners are not yet emotionally mature, and because they are not financially stable.

Last of all, never ever propose marriage unless you already have a stable source of income adequate enough to support two people in their own apartment at a reasonable level of comfort. Unless you are determined and able to be the sole breadwinner, never ever propose to anyone who is not in the same financial situation. Never expose yourself to the risk of having a child until you are mature enough and financially stable enough to provide for yourselves and it.

In short, when deciding about marriage, take love out of the equation. If it still makes sense, then fine. But never expect love to make up for material and financial deficits in the relationship. Love doesn't fill an empty belly, or protect you from the rain. Think of marriage as a financial contract that has nothing whatsoever to do with love, and you'll be fine.

Work / Any Speed School of English in Poland? [54]


You'll end up losing money over the course of the school year at that rate of pay, even if they pay you for thirty hours a week, which is doubtful. Definitely not a tempting offer.

Work / Any Speed School of English in Poland? [54]

Basically, it's not worth coming to Poland to teach English unless you are guaranteed a monthly income of at least 3500 PLN per month after taxes, and you have a genuine full-time contract to work from a school with a good reputation. That would be the absolute minimum to make it worth your while.

Second of all, avoid the big and popular cities like Warsaw, Kraków and Wrocław. The market is way saturated with teachers who are better qualified than you, and with "teachers" who are willing to work for a lot less than you should be considering. Small provincial cities are the best, because your pay goes further due to the lower cost of living. The big, popular sities are fun only if you have plenty of cash to enjoy them.

Third of all, avoid Callan, Avalon and "Direct Method" schools like the plague. They're basically ahady operations.

Last of all, if you're coming to Poland for fun, experience and adventure, fine. If you're coming here to make money, though, forget about it. You'll leave with empty pockets, and probably won't break even for the year, if you take you plane tickets and residencey permit into account.

When calculating monthly income, realize that you are not going to be paid for the Christmas break, the two week winter holiday, and other holidays during the school year. Your hourly rate should be no less than 50 PLN per 60 minutes after taxes. Also, if the school tries to fob off the cost of the work permit on you, run, don't walk away. On the other hand, you are responsible for the cost of the residency permit.

Work / Any Speed School of English in Poland? [54]

There's one in Wrocław, too. It's a Callan method school. Some of my friends have worked there, but they didn't like it. It doesn't have a good reputation among the English schools in the town.

Genealogy / Was George Peppard Polish?? [2]

No, he was't Polish, and George Peppard is his real birth name. He did play several Polish-American characters though, and received an award from the Polish-American Congress for that. Somebody must have interpreted that as meaning he was Polish-American himself.

Study / I want to move Poland from Chicago area and study.. Job prospects, cost of food, healthcare, other expenses [24]


1,500 PLN a month on top of fixed expenses like rent, untilities, and school costs would enable you to lead a very frugal, monastic existence. You might satisfy your basic needs, but not very much beyond that.

IF you don't drink, don't smoke and are young, single-and-not-looking, in excellent health and exceedingly self-disciplined, yes, you can do it. But it's going to be tiring and frustrating.

Eating out in a mid-range restaurant is going to be a special event. Same with going to the movies, or buying a book. God forbid if you have to go to the dentist or doctor, especially if it means losing time at work or having to buy expensive medications. Saving up money will be impossible, and you'll be living without a rainy-day fund. Travelling is out, as even a cheap day jaunt to a nearby city will be a major item on your limited budget. Buying clothes is going to require a lot of restraint. Food is going to be very basic, and you'll have to be a wise and frugal shopper.

Sure, it can be done, and lots of people do it. Doesn't mean it's going to be fun, though, because you'll be constantly worried that unexpected expenses will arise.

Life / Cost of Living in Lodz [50]


Thriving is the last word I'd use to describe £ódź. While all of the other major cities in Poland have improved over the last ten years, £ódź has gotten worse. When I first came to Poland 11 years ago, I lived nearby in Skierniewice. I used to reallay enjoy spending time in £ódź, and even prefered it to Warsaw. The main street, Piotrkowska, was pulsing with life, and there were a lot of interesting shops, restaurants, cafes and hangouts, all pretty much thriving. That all changed when they build the shopping centers, Galeria £ódzka first, and then Manufactura. That sucked all the money, and life, out of the city center. Another big problem was that it suffered at the hand of the absolute worst mayor in Poland, Jerzy Kropiwnicki, who did a lot of damage to the city's economy and image.

When I go back now, it's depressing to see the decay. Lots of establishments shut down, and to those who remember what it used to be like, walking down Piotrkowska now is like walking through a post-apocalyptic landscape, or through an empty hall after the party is over. It's like watching a puppy slowly die. The city is just a shadow of its former self, and there's no sign that it will get better.


That's quite an exaggeration. It's a little cheaper, but not that much.



Not all that much cheaper than Warsaw, Kraków and Wrocław. And probably about the same as Poznań, Gdańsk and Katowice. So much for "low" rents.


Not very much besides it, though. Wrocław is definitely a better city for film buffs, thanks to Roman Gutek. The number and quality of film festivals here is mushrooming.

Genealogy / Turkiewicz, Czajkowski - Looking to connect with people with ties to Dobropole [13]


The Czajkowski's were a Polonized Ukrainian nobel family, some of which were later Russified, including the branch that gave rise to the famed Russian composer Peter Tschaikovski, who was Orthodox. Religion was not a constant then. People converted to the religion that gave them the best political opportunities: Roman Catholic to curry favor with the Poles, and Russian Orthodoxy to curry favor with the Russians. It would not have been unusual at the time to have three siblings who were Roman Catholic, Latin Rite, Roman Catholic, Byzantine Rite (or "Greek Catholic") and Russian Orthodox.

According to Wikipedia, the founder of the Czajkowski family was a Cossack named Fyodor Chaika, who distinguished himself under Peter the Great at the Battle of Poltava in 1709.

Life / Cost of Living in Lodz [50]

For a single non-smoking, non-drinking young male who is willing to slum it and do without any frills, it's adequate to survive. Forget about any small luxuries, forget about travelling, and really forget about saving any money up. Eating in a mid-range restaurant is going to be a special event. You'll be living like a monk. The cost of living is a little lower than in other larger cities in Poland, while the wages are a lot lower than in Warsaw, Cracow or Wrocław.

£ódź ain't a pretty city by any stretch of the imagination, but it has a sort of sad, dirty charm, if you're the type of guy that likes to pet dying puppies. It's population is skewed toward older and poorer people because the young and talented have left in droves because of lack of opportunity.

You could stretch your money a bit by living in one of the nearby small towns and commuting to £ódź.

All in all, not a particlular attractive job offer. Depends how desperate you are.

Food / Can you buy Absinthe in Poland? [13]


Probably not. More likely due to suggestion. No good evidence has ever been found that wormwood is halucinogenic or has any significant psychopharmalogical effects at the doses found in absinthe, even in the old days. It's basically an urban legend.

Study / I want to move Poland from Chicago area and study.. Job prospects, cost of food, healthcare, other expenses [24]


Not at all if you have to pay for school.

Study / I want to move Poland from Chicago area and study.. Job prospects, cost of food, healthcare, other expenses [24]

@fiveforthedive

Nobody is going to be able to give you a useful answer because you have left out a lot of important information from your post, like:

1) are you a Polish citizen?

2) what do you intend to study?

3) where do you intend to study?

4) What are your grades like and what were your SAT scores?

5) you say you have family here. Will you be living with them? How much do you expect that to cost?

6) how much do you have to spend on your education? If the only source of money you have is $500 a month from your parents, then living and studying in Poland is probably not an option.

7) what kind of carrer do you expect to persue when you finish your education?

Now, some general observations. University course in English at Polish unviersities tend to be of poor quality.

Without exception, there is no university in Poland that could compare with the best universities in Chicago. If you think you are going to get an education as good as one at, say, the University of Chicago or Loyola, you are sorely mistaken.

You've created a false dichotomy. You're choice is not only between expensive universities in Chicago and universities in Poland. There are a lot of options open to you in the US that provide excellent education for very little money. It would be best to explore those options.

Getting a job in Poland is difficult, and the wages are very low, especially for jobs an unexperienced 18-year-old can do. It's incredibly difficult if you are not a Polish or EU citizen or resident (which doesn't mean just that you live here. It involves getting a residence permit, usually after having lived here for five years).

There are no school loans in Poland. At least none that you could possibly qualify for.

A degree from Poland is generally worth a lot less on the US job market than one from the States. A lot depends on the university and the program you study, of course, but this is generally true.

Poland, or at least some cities in Poland, is a great place to live if you do not have a job that pays well. Those are off limits to you until you get a good education.

Your information deficit is so great that studying in Poland starting this fall is out of the question. You have A LOT of research to do, and you will not be able to make an well-informed decision on time for this academic year. Go to school in the States this year, even if it means attending community college.

Last of all, the differences between American English and British English are minor. Furthermore, the differences are way too small to make any difference when studying in Poland. Most Poles who speak English cannot tell the difference between the two.

Food / Can you buy Absinthe in Poland? [13]


There are no laws barring the sale and purchase of absinthe in Poland. Whether a particular store stocks it and whether suppliers import it is thus a matter of supply and demand. If you are interested in a particular brand, you may be able to order it from a retailer, provided they can find a supplier that serves the Polish market.

Study / Polish graduate to stay in country & find a job? [14]

Your best option then is to find a SERIOUS program at a SERIOUS university in the EU. Poland would be a poor choice. If your really serious about studying IT and really want to make a comfortable living, serious programs at serious universities in Germany, Holland, Scandinavia and the UK are where you should be looking.

Study / Polish graduate to stay in country & find a job? [14]


That's correct. Most of these programs are a joke and diplomas from them will not help much on the job market, in Poland, in the EU and elsewhere.


Having a diploma does not guarantee a job. Not by a long shot. The quality and reputation of the program are important to employers, and they can reject you because you diploma is not good enough, even if it is from Poland.


As I said above, this is a very unwise plan. Make your plans assuming that you will NOT get work in Poland.


Chances of finding a job in Poland are poor. Don't count on it. Salaries are also poor, especially for entry level jobs.


Yes, if they are highly educated, highly qualified and very experienced, especially at higher level jobs. Not so much if they are not and applying for entry-level jobs that Poles can do. Generally, you're going to be fiercely competing with masses of unemployed recent graduates from Poland. Unless you're really outstanding, they are going to get hired before you.


Graduating from an English language program in Poland is probably no better than graduating from a university in the Ukraine. Graduating from a serious program at a serious university in the Ukraine would be worth more on the job market in any EU country. If you want to study anywhere in the EU, make sure it is in a serious program at a serious university. If you study in an inferior program at a low-ranking university, your diploma will probably be worth a lot less than a diploma from a serious program at a serious university in the Ukraine.

So far, you haven't said anything to indicate that studying in your own country is the best option available to you. Without good reasons to study in the EU and a good plan for doing so, it would be unwise to do so. It seems as if you think that any old diploma from any old university in any old EU country is some sort of "magic key". It isn't.

Law / A non eu national married to a Polish woman - the custody of the little boy. [3]


The ONLY mature advice that you can receive here is to consult a lawyer. Nothing of value can be added by anyone here.

Work / Salary for Engineer with 3 years Experience in Poland. 7500 PLN gross good enough? [11]


Probably at lot less. That's about the pay that a project manager would get.

Of course, it depends on what kind of engineer you are, what kind of job you get, and which company you end up working for. But 7500 seems a bit optimistic.

Study / Polish graduate to stay in country & find a job? [14]

@jock3r37: The most likely scenario is that you are NOT going to find work in Poland after you graduate, and you will NOT be able to get a residence permit. Make you plans based on that assumption, and you'll be safe. If you make them based on the assumption that you WILL get work and a residence permit, you are very likely to waste three or four valuable years of your life that you could have spent productively doing something more realistic.

Work / Salary and cost of living information - Krakow [257]

No. Not at all. That's even more than what I would expect for that type of job and your experience.

Again, unless you're willing to live very basically and on a tight budget, there is no point in taking the job. If you're willing to rent a room instead of your own apartment, you can live more comfortably, but still won't be able to save up much. The only reason to take the job would be to get work experience, and there are better options for doing so in your case.

Law / Visa interview next month and I was rejected before; Accepted at the Jagiellonian university [13]

It almost certainly wasn't that. But something you said or did did send up some red flags. It might have even been something you DIDN'T say or do.

Basically, they want to be sure of five things: 1) you have enough money to support yourself; 2) you're going to leave when studies end and your visa/ residency permit runs out; 3) the invitation you received from the university is genuine and was applied for and issued with good faith; 4) you're going to stick to the purpose for the visa, which, in your case, is education and nothing else like work or finding a wife, etc.; and 5) you aren't going to cause problems once you're in the country (which is why the official asked you about cultural adaptation).

If they have any reason to doubt any of the five things above, they will err on the side of caution and deny your visa.

If you have money in the bank, great. If you own property or a business back home, even better. A very well thought out and PLAUSIBLE explanation for why would want to study in Poland is necessary, too. Poland is not exactly a popular study destination for well-off foreigners. Whether you think it's fair or not, they are, of course, going to have in the back of their minds the idea that you are trying to get into the EU through Poland for some ulterior motive. And for good reason, as many of your compatriots have been caught doing exactly that. If your story sounds implausible or not completely plausible, they will deny the visa. Be honest, open, and friendly, even if the officials you are dealing with are rude, and you should have no problem.

Life / Changing groszy coins into real money in Poland [16]

Yep. No problem with that. They have a machine for counting coins. You don't even have to sort them or anything. They just pur the whole mess into the hopper and the machine sorts and counts them. It takes only a few minutes.

Like I said, they are going to be more friendly about it if you have an account at that bank. If you do not have a bank account, have a Polish friend take the coins to their bank for you.

Life / Changing groszy coins into real money in Poland [16]


Take them to your bank and deposit them in your account. That's what I do, and I've never had a problem with it.

Work / Salary and cost of living information - Krakow [257]


I have to agree with Zetkom. Your lodging together with utilities and internet are going to set you back some 2000 to 2500 PLN. Public transportation another 100 PLN. You'll spend about 1000 to 1500 PLN on food. That leaves little, if anything, left over for other expenses with a net salary of only 3500 PLN.

The move is not worth it. You'll be struggling to make ends meet.