Language / Intensive English Language Courses in Poland? [44]

My whole point is not that Berlitz is the best or the only way. My only point is that Berlitz is an option as are others. When looking to attend an intensive language course you should look at al options and not just one.


I fully see the restrictions of the Berlitz method and how it doesn't effectively teach grammar to it's students, for example. However, as a mode of getting students to communicate quickly it's very effective. I have learnt Polish at Bertliz and found it very effective in helping me to try and master the language.


There are, to be fair, many drawbacks to the 'traditional' methods also, but by combining many methods of learning a student has the best chance of mastering a language.

Berlitz is never, or very rarely, going to teach someone academic English, for example. But, it can teach students to hold conversations, write informal emails and I have seen this effectively take place via a Berlitz intensive course. Would the method prepare someone for CAE or IELTS and so on? I am not sure it would effectively do so.

It all depends on what you the student needs to achieve your goals.

Language / Intensive English Language Courses in Poland? [44]

The greatest part of this debate, for me, is to see the blinkered view people have of education. Education surely is that which motivates the student to learn the subject they are studying regardless of method. The way we communicate today is totally different to the way we communicated 100 years ago, or even 30 years ago, and even Cambridge exams are beginning to include this change into it's exams. None of us, including myself, are free of prejudice as we believe we are right based on our own experiences.

JonnyM - you are of course biased, because you may have seen cases from Berlitz that have been negative. The problem is I have seen people who have learned, for year, with the theoretically tried and tested translation method, not doing well and hating it and not making progress. They then have turned to the berlitz/callan/ etc communicative method and made progress.

I tend not to judge methods but look to the effectiveness of the learning process. That is the key. Trying to tie people to certain methods that don't suit them is not only restrictive but also ineffective for them and unproductive for the teacher. I have seen both successes and failures with the Berlitz/Callan method and would always look to fulfil the needs of the student and their learning process. Ruling out a method based upon our bias is unfair to the potential student.

As one of my friends who is a Cambridge examiner says " if it is effective for the student and they can pass the relevant exams the it's working for them"

If peop

Language / Intensive English Language Courses in Poland? [44]


No professional is averse to prejudice as long as such professional is making money from the profession they are professional in.

Language / Intensive English Language Courses in Poland? [44]

No method is bad if it means the student learns effectively and makes progress and achieves their goal. Singling out one school and one method is unfair and also unsafe as I am sure you can find people to criticise all methods. Why can't we major on the student and what they want rather than our prejudice?

News / The cross in Polish parliament - Does it bother you? [100]


I would agree with this.

Real Estate / Demand for apartments low in Poland's main cities [89]

I would suggest that some cities will see a fall and some will not depending on geographic and so on.

Real Estate / Demand for apartments low in Poland's main cities [89]

What have been the last 5 year drop or gain figures out of interest does anyone know?

Language / Intensive English Language Courses in Poland? [44]

As I have repeatedly said I am not saying it's the best method but it's an option for someone wanting to learn the language quickly, as is IH, Callan or other methods. The point I am trying to make, and seemingly rather poorly, is that students learn in different ways that is appropriate for them and only they can choose. There is no hard and fast rule for learning a language which is why different methods are still operating today.

All of us have probably heard horror stories relating to different methods, schools and so on but I tend not to listen to them as people need to find the best way they learn, a good teacher and then commit the realistic time to learning the language in an appropriate manner.

Language / Intensive English Language Courses in Poland? [44]


Now, if I was to be like the others I could say all sorts of things about IH from my experience and so on. However, in my view, why not try them to see if it works for them? Good idea.

Language / Intensive English Language Courses in Poland? [44]


That is an unfair comment. For some it works and for some it doesn't. For some the traditional method just doesn't work and the Berlitz method does. Taking such a blinkered view is also harming the student. I have seen many people finally get to grips with English through a course at Berlitz. Hence, it works for them and we shouldn't knock them for that nor say that a school is bad because we have one example of something. Berlitz is an option is all I am saying.

Language / Intensive English Language Courses in Poland? [44]

I teach English and I have learned that one method doesn't fit everyone and so adapt to the student and their way of learning. It takes a little time but once on their level I see results.

Language / Intensive English Language Courses in Poland? [44]


For reasons beyond my understanding you seem to have issues with Berlitz for some reason and that is your right. However, schools in different cities have different performances even though they are connected to a particular group, just as in other businesses. The teachers in Berlitz Wroclaw are both competent and effective teachers who see real results, demand results from their students and have an interest in their progress and achieving the students goals. However, the Berlitz method has it's limitations, as does the Callan Method. I personally believe to learn a language you have to do the correct research and find the method that suits you as a person. For some, the Berlitz and callan methods work. For others, the more traditional method works. Each of us learn in different ways and we shouldn't knock nor decry tried and trusted methods that have seen many people successfully master a foreign language, whether we think it's good or not.

Personally, I don't knock any method of learning English or a foreign language as long as the student is learning and making effective progress and feels such.

Language / Intensive English Language Courses in Poland? [44]

I both agree and disagree with you and I will try and explain why.

Berlitz charges stupid prices - yes
Berlitz pay pathetic wages - yes and no
Berlitz use a completely discredited methodology - don't agree.
Berlitz schools in Poland pass off Poles as native speakers (and charge the extra a native costs). I have heard this also but they don't charge extra as that is not true. I do know that teachers are not allowed to use Polish even if they are Polish leading to the belief that they are, in fact natives, even though they are not when going to a client.

I know one guy who used to work at Berlitz who was only fired after being so drunk that he fell of his desk and couldn't get up again because it was the second time he'd done it that week![/quote] This has changed. You are only fired if you don't drink Polish vodka - hehe. Seriously, this is not the case now.

My only experience in Berlitz Wroclaw and they have some quality teachers who actually have knowledge of English and have lived in either America or the UK and produce realistic and proven results.

I am not saying nor have I said that they are the best, I simply have offered a suggestion based upon my experience.

Language / Intensive English Language Courses in Poland? [44]

Yes they do! They are expensive but the results are good. I have seen it happen many times.

Language / Intensive English Language Courses in Poland? [44]

Berlitz language school offers really good intensive courses. Contact them and see what they can offer.

Life / Thinking of a move to Wroclaw, Poland [13]

A good idea is to give this company a contact: movetowroclaw.com/. They are very helpful to people who are moving to the city.

Work / The demand for English language learning in Poland is at an all time low [41]

I am finding that I am over-worked this year, for some reason.

I do think a lot of the problem is the sheer number of schools around who offer courses to potential students. In Wroclaw, the number of leaflets you get whilst walking through the rynek etc, is quite amazing. This adds to the problem for teachers if they have all their lessons in one school. I don't believe in having all my lessons in one school and share my time around so that if one school does go down hill then the others are there to take the slack. I have always had this view of teaching here and even with the pressure to give all my time to one particular school this year, I have stood firm and said no.

I guess it's a situation of particular schools getting fewer students this year rather than a demand for language learning being low.

Law / Is having private students in Poland legal? Or a registration as self-employed is required [30]

I definitely wouldn't be talking about this kind of thing on a public forum as it's a little 'in your face' to Poland, isn't it?

I would seek professional advice and then take it from there. At the end of the day it's your choice what you choose to do whether legal or illegal.

Real Estate / What area to live in Wroclaw? I prefer to spend about 1600-1900 per month on renting. [19]

That is the common misconception, I feel. I can get from home to the centre in about 15 minutes in rush hour traffic by car. A little longer by tram or bus as I have to walk to the tram/bus stops from my house. Don't disregard he area is all I am saying :D

Real Estate / What area to live in Wroclaw? I prefer to spend about 1600-1900 per month on renting. [19]

Everyone always forgets about the area of Kałowice, which is one of the nicest areas in Wroclaw. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the city by tram and has a river nearby, a park and it's quiet :D

Love / Was the strict Polish family the reason for our break-up? [20]

I do know from friends that Poles tend to listen to their families a lot and so there could be real influence from them to end the relationship for a multitude of reasons. The relationship has ended and you need to accept that, no matter how painful, and move on to someone who doesn't have that baggage.

Life / Your Polish friends - why do you regard them as such? [41]

I have to say that to date my Polish friends have been far more supportive and helpful than my English or foreign friends. I have a few Polish friends who I have known since getting here. One in Particular is called Marek and he is always there to help me out. Whenever I have a problem he is always there to help me out. I dropped my iphone 4 and broke the glass on the back. So, because he is in Telecommunications, I gave him a call to see if he knew of anyway of getting the phone fixed. He said give me half and hour to check it out. Sure enough, half and hour later he was back on the phone to me telling me to meet him at a certain place where he would take me to get my phone repaired. We arrived at the place where I could get it repaired and he did all the negotiations in Polish and even ended up paying some money towards the cost of repairs as I hadn't taken enough money with me. That's just one story of the kind of guy he is.

I have other Polish friends who take have always been there to give a helping hand when needed, even though my wife is Polish.

Travel / Whats your favourite Polish city and why? [132]

Wroclaw for me :D.

I have lived here for 7 years and having travelled a little around Poland would still say it's my favourite city by far. It has everything and the Rynek is awesome :)

Work / Polish Salary and Tax [43]

It's very good for Polish standards. You will be able to live very comfortably on that amount in Wroclaw in my opinion.

News / Andrzej Lepper committed suicide [98]

Whatever the man was like it is very sad that it ended like it did. I hope his family is ok and can get over this terrible event for them.

Work / Teaching jobs for Americans in Wroclaw? [54]

No all Polish women are bad. I have been married to one for 14 years now and she is great and I have never had the 'polish women' problem with her. She did live in the UK for almost 10 years prior to moving to Poland in 2004. So, that may have helped!

News / Citizen-led Initiative on Abortion Law in Poland [50]

Abortion is a terribly difficult subject to discuss fairly and openly as it raises a lot of emotions.

If I may add my two groszes worth of opinion.

People make mistakes in life and we would generally agree that people should be given a second chance or even a third or fourth. But when it comes to a few subjects, of which abortion is one of them, then second chances are not allowed and I think it's unfair.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is considered to be the greatest sin and is unforgivable the bible says. The bible also says that God sees all other sin as the same with none being of greater importance than another. So, the question is why does the Church major on this issue? So, Sex before marriage ( as that isn't allowed ) is the same as lying to someone in God's eyes but not in a priest's or Vicar's eyes. Something tells me that this is wrong somewhere! The Church always seems to want to condemn and keep people feeling guilty - kind of exactly the opposite of why Jesus came to the earth, isn't it?

I don't believe in a blanket abortion ban, but I also don't believe making it more open than it already is in places like the UK and US is also the answer. We must learn that our actions have repercussions and sometimes we have to live with the results of our actions. Education for young people is the best answer to avoid unwanted pregnancies and surely it would be better for the government and the church to put their resources there rather than condemning people. Also, supporting victims of rape in their individual decisions is far more important that condemning them for aborting their unwanted foetus.

People make mistakes, do stupid things and make bad decisions. Surely the answer is to support them, help them and allow them to make the best choice for them - even if we don't agree?

Work / Teaching jobs for Americans in Wroclaw? [54]


I have given up hiring natives as they are too much hassle. I much prefer poles with high standards of English who are willing to work and always turn up for work when they say they will.

However, if I meet a native who has a track record in turning up when they are supposed to and know English...........then I would employ them.


Depends what you are studying, I would suggest.

I now know several people who have attended WSF and are in 'real' jobs earning 'real' money and all with their degree from a private university.

We must remember that whilst many of us have certain experiences here in Poland, others still have other experiences which will seem to contradict the other persons view. Is it wrong? no just different and also interesting.

Remember that only 25% of a job is based upon intelligence and the academic and the other 75% is based upon your ability to positively adapt to the world ( to paraphrase slightly HBR ). We never know, Jeremy could end up being more successful than we have been. He could be employing us in years to come - who knows?

Work / Teaching jobs for Americans in Wroclaw? [54]

We have a place at 44a pilsudskiego street. But the entrance is via Plac Generała Tadeusza Kościuszki. If you would like to meet other foreigners it's a great place to come visit.

Work / Teaching jobs for Americans in Wroclaw? [54]

As I mentioned to you on Facebook Jeremy, the only way it seems you will know what is reality is by trying it yourself. However, if you were a wise man you would listen to the advice everyone has given you and take some time to really think about what YOU want. Don't think about your GF or her parents, but think about where you want your life to go, where do you want to be in 10 years time?

Wroclaw is a hard city to get started in especially if you don't have a teaching qualification. In fact, native speakers have a bad name here in Wroclaw as many have come and gone and caused all sorts of problems for those of us who want to stay and build something here. I personally have had problems with employing native speakers and now don't as it's simply too much hassle - and I am a native speaker!!

I don't agree with the rhetoric about WSF, as in Poland you simply need a piece of paper to prove that you can do what you say you can do. They are rarely checked and rarely even considered.

My advice: take some time to think about your future and where you want to go in your life. Education is the key to life, sadly. So really take some time to see if you could possibly finish your studies in the US in some way and then move to Wroclaw. Don't miss an opportunity to fulfil your career dream for a quick easy fix solution is all I am saying.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

p.s. If you want to get to know some foreigners if you do arrive in Wroclaw, come along to the International Friends of Wroclaw [facebook.com/pages/International-Friends-of-Wroclaw-IFW/168197799862135] on a wednesday morning from 10.30am - 12.30. It's a social club more than anything else.