Krakow Salaries Getting Lower? Only Kids Want Lessons??

Well, it's that time of year again...looking for a teaching job in KRAKOW, (I would rather be in a different city with my Polish man, but he has a good job here & a contract). Problems? Yeah!

Apparently less adults are wanting English lessons these days, schools are losing students and concentrating on the kiddie market (I'm not good as a teacher of little kids). Does anyone else find this to be true?

And....wages! Ha! Comically low. I have 3 years of experience, and when I finished my CELTA I was told unexperienced/newly qualified teachers could expect 45zl per hour. As someone with a CELTA and 3 years of experience, last year I was given 42 zl/hr (gross) at a reputable school.

Now, I'm being offered 36-37 zl per hour gross at my interviews!

What is going on?!

those of us who were here twenty years ago have already taught the older folk.

english language teaching in Polish schools is much better than it was. because some of us taught the teachers.

there are far too many 'native speakers' or chancers.

celta means next to nothing when it comes to private lessons.

reputation means everything.

far too many private schools all trying to undercut. and possibly using the financial situation as an excuse.

however, i do seem to have had more calls to teach youngsters. so something is changing in the sector.

The fact is that Polish english language teachers are now up to task and in some cases are able to control the market. much as Poles do the same in the uk in the building trade.

Economics ...

There are no barriers to entry in your chosen field other than a course that costs a few hundred quid and a few weeks effort.

Supply of teachers is outstripping demand from students.
Those students that do want lessons have less disposable income

Think you just obliterated the nail there. Beautifully put.


Fore!! Not seen in the economic data, unless you are over-exposed to unskilled Poles?

You and ten million others. Just like Prague, Berlin and Barcelona, Krakow is full of "teachers" who are willing to work for beer money.


Nope, still plenty of demand. My friend got off the plane two weeks ago and has a full schedule already - but she is a proven commodity. As for me, I've turned down plenty of work this summer - but again - I'm known here.


I have a friend who owns a language school in Krakow who managed to get natives for as little as 25zl/hour last year. There's just far, far too many in Krakow seeking work in a city that isn't particularly wealthy by European terms. Just like Berlin, you're seeing that people will really work for nothing because they want to live there.


Plenty of them posting on here, too. Half of them can't even string a sentence together.


That's exactly it. If you've got a great reputation, you'll never be short of work. But if you're willing to work for 36zl an hour in a language school - well, that's not the way to get such a reputation.


Funny thing is, if you go to small (20-50k) towns - demand vastly outstrips supply. But hey, it's not Krakow, with the pretty Wawel and Rynek and those charming cafes and and... damnit.

The market is shrinking on our eyes.