Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

This is my first post to Polish Forums, but I had to jump in on this discussion. I have been a teacher in Poland for 3 years. I did my CELTA in England and just finished the DELTA in Wroclaw, but I'm an American.

I can only say that teaching in Poland is great. The pay is at least 2 times the national average and most teachers can well afford to live on their own, go out pretty much whenever they want, and go out to dinner whenever they want. Obvioulsy, some prudence is needed, but the teachers' standard of living is well above the average, at least for Native English speakers working in private language schools who have either the Trinity Cert TESOL or the CELTA. Higher qualifications and at least 3 years experience affords even higher rates.

Compared to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Rep, and the Ukraine, the Polish wage is about twice in USD what is offerred by language schools in the aforementioned countries. I know, I have been offerred jobs in most of those countries and decided to stay in Poland for a 4th year after looking at the pay, etc. (I'll be moving to Sopot in 2 weeks). In Tallinn, I was offerred 8400 EEKs and Czech about 13000. Slovakia, the Ukraine, Hungary, and Lithuania was even less.

For an inexperienced teacher WITH qualifications, one can expect to earn between 2500 - 3500 zl per month. This does depend, though, on the city and if accomodation is provided by the school. The larger cities, like Krakow, actually pay less than the smaller cities because everyone wants to live there. Also, some schools simply pay less than others because of their reputation and financial stability. The more well-known schools have more teacher resources, better libraries, and usually better teachers.

As far as teaching in public schools: they'd never hire you (they have thousands of Polish teachers for that) and the pay is about 1000 zl per month, not even enough to live on by yourself.

If anyone has any specific questions, please post them or send me a private message.

Hope this helps

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

Well, actually the rents are going up in every major city very quickly, like over 30% a year in Wroclaw, Warsaw rent is insane.

You mentioned that Poland sounds like the best destination in Europe for pay, etc. Although Poland is one of the higher paying countries in the former Eastern Bloc, it is by no means one of the higher paying in Europe. However, as an American for one, and no teaching experience for two, you have no chance of getting a job in Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, France, Spain, the UK, Austria, where the pay is much higher.

So, Poland is one of the better countries where you can get a legal job as teaching.

Here is my advice if you do indeed want to teach: Get your CELTA or Trinity TESOL. Do the intensive course 4-5 week course, not some online, 2 week certificate that means close to nothing.

The pay I was quoting was net pay. If you are going to pay taxes in Poland, it's 19%, so ask for 19% more, if the school is not going to pay taxes. Some schools, like International House, provide accommodation, but your pay is lower. It mostly balances out. But, by all means, only consider a school that will either substantially assist with your accomodation, ie, find one and help with getting your residency permit, or one where accommodation is already provided.

If you are legal here, the school should pay for at least half of your insurance. The other half will be about 100 zl per month. High speed internet will be between 60 - 90 per month. Utililities another 150 or so. Electricity and landline phones are criminally expensive here.

You may save some money, but not enough to pay off US debt or anything. I haven't saved anything because I've squandered it on going out whenever I wanted and by living alone. In most schools that do provide accommodation, you will be sharing it with another teacher.

Good luck!

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

Rent outside major cities will be about 750 zl a month, plus utilities. This is for a 53 square meter place.

I would choose not to do the CELTA in Prague or Warsaw. If you do it in Poland, go to Krakow or Wroclaw. Prague is nice, but too touristy with all the Brits (sorry Englanders!) being able to travel there so cheaply with how strong the GBP is compared to other currencies in Eastern Europe.

I would recommend going to the UK or Spain to do the CELTA.

Warsaw is not that great. Too spread out and not attactive.

This is just my personal opinion, others may disagree.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]


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I'm not sure why you think that teachers will be laughing all the way to the bank. Have you ever taught a private student who really wants to learn English in Poland? Before I give my answer, which I will be glad to, I'd like to know the answer to my question, Mr. Taylor:

Have you ever taught a private Polish student and actually taught them to their needs for learning English?


Also, where the **** have you been working? In a garage? 1500 is a complete joke. Please don't try to lead astray the good people who want to teach English. Maybe that is what you made or were offered because you don't know know what you are talking about and are a complete idiot about wageS, but QUALIFIED people make about 2 times what you are saying.

Sorry, *****.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

Wroclaw, you usually have something inteligent to to say, but to to suggest that 1500 per hour is normal? I was suggesting per month!


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Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]


I guess you are talking about teaching English? I don't know what you do for a living.
I can only give you my experience as an English teacher with a DELTA and someone who has lived here for 3 years.

There seems to be others who disagree. Let me know your circumstances, and I'll try to advice you based on what I've done. But do not let listen to "Michal".

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

someone PM'd me about what the DELTA is. For anyone interested:

The DELTA is the Diploma in teaching English to Adults.

You can do the DELTA after getting the CELTA (Certficate) and having 3 years of experience.

To become a Director of Studies or to have Senior Teacher responsibilities, you pretty much have to at least have done the DELTA in today's market. But, just to teach, it is not necessary. However, it greatly increases your chances of getting the better, more highly paying jobs.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]


You are right, but from the posts from most of the other people on this particular forum, they are simply asking about how to teach in Poland, and I am trying to give them simple advice. Obviously, if one has the educational background to teach, then that person does not need the CELTA or equivalent to teach here. But, if they do have the educational background here, they wouldn't be asking how to get a teaching job in Poland, would they?

The vast majority of teachers in private schools have at least the CELTA or some sort of educational degree. Most teachers here do not fit your profile; however, as you have rightly pointed out, there are exceptions.

So, what I am saying is not wrong at all, and it applies to the overwhelming majority of native English speakers in Poland in private schools.


You're right, it's 2 years, not 3.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]


Ok, that's true, but how many schools have enough conversation only classes for a teacher to have enough hours to live on? In the 4 schools I've worked for in Poland, the answer is zero. How many conversation classes does your school offer?

Also, I am not saying that the teachers without some qualification are not good, or even excellent, teachers. They very well may be, but you seem to think that getting a CELTA would not help in getting a teaching job at a reputable private school. My assertion is that it does indeed help.

You may know many such teachers, but what do you think the ratio is of unqualified native teachers to qualified ones at private language schools? At the school I work for, and for the other 5 in its network of schools, the answer is 0/~ 95.

I admit I was wrong in encompassing everybody.