PolishForums LIVE  /  Archives [3]    
   
Posts by woodgey  

Joined: 22 May 2011 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 2 Oct 2011
Threads: -
Posts: Total: 28 / In This Archive: 24

Displayed posts: 24
sort: Latest first   Oldest first
woodgey   
2 Oct 2011
Work / The demand for English language learning in Poland is at an all time low [41]

Teaching is a sinking ship

I wouldn't say teaching is a sinking ship (people are always going to have to learn a foreign language somewhere) but definitely the model of language schools, grammar lessons and underpaid part-time teachers is hopefully on the way out. Some schools have tried breaking the mould by giving the teachers cars and delivering them to students like pizzas or firing the teachers and using computers but there haven't been too many real quantum leaps forward. And real innovation is what the sector needs.

Actually, it is a great asset if a teacher is able to make friends with his/her students

Hell yes. Win the crowd and you win your freedom!
woodgey   
2 Oct 2011
Work / The demand for English language learning in Poland is at an all time low [41]

They most always understand the explanation but haven't learned a thing. There is a whole process to revealing grammar that goes waaaaaay beyond explaining grammar that many teachers just don't understand how to do nor its existence.

Lol newby teachers

Conversely, there's the "look at me I'm a fcuking clown" entertainer type teachers,

Is this all there is? Grammar lecturers or clowns? Really?

correct as little as possible and play silly games without rhyme or reason

These can be valid within the context of the class, just as explaining grammar can be.
woodgey   
2 Oct 2011
Work / The demand for English language learning in Poland is at an all time low [41]

University is a career move? Sure if you produce articles and do a PhD you can have a career as an academic, but if you go the teaching route you'l be doing the same thing and earning the same money in 20 years. When the director retires or dies, a successor is appointed. Trust me there is no career path in FL teaching (in Poland)

Although admittedly, if you work for EF / Bell / IH or whatever, you can become a DoS or a school assessor or an academic director or suchlike but these positions went in Poland a long time ago. You can have a career but you need to be willing to move to another country.
woodgey   
2 Oct 2011
Work / The demand for English language learning in Poland is at an all time low [41]

You're describing teaching in general. Very few people go into the job willingly, especially in Poland where there is no career progresssion or satisfaction. Polish teachers tend to be women who spend the whole year waiting for the next holiday and hoping for promotion to a teaching position where they do less work. If they are really hard up they go to work at a language school or even use some of hubby's money to open their own. It's not just native speakers who are bringing the profession into disrepute.

Being in the 'profession' used to elevate you in society. This is probably before everyone who could lift a pen could get a teaching degree.
woodgey   
1 Oct 2011
Work / The demand for English language learning in Poland is at an all time low [41]

They say the demand for English language learning is at an all time low

Well, not the demand. There'll always be an interest in learning English - even more since Poland joined the EU - but the problem is the supply. The profession has been degraded for years now and anyone who speaks a bit of English and has a textbook can be a teacher. The situation isn't helped by the universities spamming the market with thousands of newly qualified 'teachers' every year...

EU funding has nothing to do with it. It was a sweet number for a year or two and now it's business as usual.
woodgey   
5 Aug 2011
Life / Moving to Poland - what is the most important thing I need to do, once I'm in Poland? [51]

There's no government control of private language schools in Poland, so you theoretically could teach without any qualifications, experience or ability. You could do cash in hand private lessons but you are probably up against a fair bit of competition and it would take time to build up the students.

Working for a language school, check :

How much they'll pay you
How many hours they want you to work
What kind of contract you're on
Whether you have to travel to classes
What kind of classes they want you to do (kids, business, individual etc)

I'm sure the others on the site can give more ideas....

A CELTA will give you enough to get though your first few classes without looking totally incompetent but it's main function is to show the employer that you have made some kind of commitment to the job (hence you are probably not an alcoholic / p@do phile etc). It'll get your foot in the door at more schools - you can find a list of them at ang.pl
woodgey   
1 Aug 2011
Life / Racism and for what? (story of Egyptian guy's living in Poland) [149]

Midas

Well, those of us who actually have any background in proper debating techniques and academia use sources.

Like CBS news? Midas please

Being a man with better things to do than watch CBS (a member of Viacom?), I was intrigued to learn that an academic of your standing was relying on it so heavily and felt it worth investigation. Of course this shocking event in Egypt brings back memories of the rape and torture of Jessica Lynch in Iraq where it was a perfect example of how Arabs treat brave western women, and the media play a vital role in putting cases like ths under the spotlight.

Oh hang on a second - it turns out it was a complete lie! Oh is my face red. Ms Lynch was actually caught in an ambush and then taken to an Iraqi hospital to recover. The attack was nothing but propaganda.

But but .. this would mean that CBS is wrong and you are talking nonsense? God forbid

My source - professor Jok Madut Jok

And maybe an unbiased souse? You are new to this game I see.
woodgey   
31 Jul 2011
Life / Racism and for what? (story of Egyptian guy's living in Poland) [149]

I mean rapes like that of Lara Logan happen in most European states every other weekend.

Beep - wrong! No they don't

If you tolerate or in any way defend such behaviour ( "mispresenting the issue" ) I have nothing to say to you, because you're quite simply not human. You're just the type of guy who'd gladly say Poland is racist when one egyptian gets his teeth knocked out over there, yet you will still label egypt a tolerant paradise while they tolerate such savage crimes as the one that was committed on Lara Logan.

I don't or condone rapes, nor do I say that Poland is racist based on one racist incident. Nor even have I said that Egypt is a 'tolerant paradise'. You're not having a very successful day are you?

And yes, as long as Egypt tolerates such behaviour ( haven't heard anything about anyone being caught or sentenced in the case ) egyptians don't really have much of a right to complain about other people being racist to them. She got raped because she was white, American and pretty. Period.

Well I hate to rain on your parade here but despite the initial stories, she wasn't actually raped. Beaten, yes, but not raped. This is not to excuse the men who beat her but the story was unreliable. Incidentally, if you read further, it turns out that she was saved by a group of Egyptian women who took her to a group of Egyptian soldiers who took her to hospital. Well, looks like you are wrong again, Midas.
woodgey   
31 Jul 2011
Life / Racism and for what? (story of Egyptian guy's living in Poland) [149]

Lets do it this way then....
Enter Polish burn christian in google then enter egyptian burn christian and compare the results.
That's a fairer comparison, no?

And that shows you what, exactly? Jesus, I hope you don't have a degree...lolz
woodgey   
31 Jul 2011
Work / Polish salaries - New statistics [38]

Interesting to see what the median value for salaries would be and also see them divided by region and sector. There might be a few very high earners in Warsaw distorting the mean up

EDIT sorry nojas u beat me to it
woodgey   
31 Jul 2011
Life / Racism and for what? (story of Egyptian guy's living in Poland) [149]

As long as your own people in groups of about 100 sexually assault, rape and beat white woman for being white and american you are in no position to call others racist

SLIGHTLY misrepresenting the issue here...

So why not stay in Egypt then?

Well that old chestnut. "Oh your system is bad is it? Why don't you get lost?" Way to answer the question foreigner4 - well, he leaves the country and your system still sucks. Oh I get it - I can go back to my country too lololol

Type the following: egyptian burn christian
I think you will find that there is plenty of racism exercised by your Egyptian brothers and on a regular basis, with fire being the weapon of choice.

Oh ha ha ha are you serious? Try typing 'Egypt' into google instead for a more reasonable test
woodgey   
25 Jul 2011
Work / English teaching job offer in a medium Polish town. Is the salary sufficient? [30]

2000 per month. Gross, I think.

Check whether it's gross or nett. Important! Either ways you can live on it if your needs are cheap and your rent and bills are paid.

Also important is to check how many hours you are teaching. You can pick up (nudge wink) privates on the side to boost your earnings if you aren't working flat out at the school all week. Don't expect to save much over the year though.

PT doesn't look that amazing but it's a town and there's everything you need. Good connections to Lodz if that's a selling point.
woodgey   
26 Jun 2011
Life / Homosexuality in Polish Culture [231]

you can disapprove homosexuality on the same basis, on which you can disapprove rain, snow, or gravity. It simply exists

And how would you define it? There is homosexual behaviour, not homosexuality
woodgey   
5 Jun 2011
Love / Polish dating tips [40]

Especially what do Polish girls like to do on the first date.

Same thing all girls like to do although I don't know what that is. Find some place to go that shows you have thought about what she likes.
woodgey   
5 Jun 2011
Love / In Polish relationships who is the boss? [46]

I know what real relationship is all about, but I was pointing out who the boss usually is in a marriage .

That's right now go get me a sammich
woodgey   
22 May 2011
UK, Ireland / Are Poles in UK really that big of a deal? [112]

Living in large group to save a pond or two just proves that they work in those back braking low wage jobs without having to take a handout from the British government or applying for council housing, they rather do it on their own. Nothing to be ashamed of, as long it’s an honest day of work

That's not really true though is it, thug? Increasing numbers of Polish workers are choosing to settle in the UK to raise children. I should know - my wife's cousin is doing it. His wife is unqualified and unemployed but living in the UK and claiming benefits for her and their children. They get more that way you see. They even intentionally stayed unmarried for a few more years for more benefits.

Just look at the number of articles regarding Poles in UK in British press and tell me honestly have you ever witnessed similar hate campaign against any other nationality

Just give up mate. Admit defeat