American English Teachers in Poland. Job prospects?

I am a 23 year old American guy who is highly interested in teaching English in Poland, particularly Warsaw. I am wondering if there are other U.S. citizens on this forum who have experience with English teaching in Poland. I have a university degree but have not yet taken the CELTA course. Though the course is offered close to home in the US, I would rather take the one in Krakow. However, due to prior commitments I am not able to take the course until November and could therefore not take a job until at least December. What I am wondering is:

1. Would there be any hope of finding a teaching job between December and January? What date does the second first semester end and the second semester begin?

2. For the American teachers, did you apply for jobs and a work visa from outside Poland, or were you in Poland when you were hired and obtained the work visa?

3. Is it acceptable to apply for jobs before I have finished taking the CELTA course?

It isn't the best time at all, but a lot of the work in Poland (especially Warsaw) is in-company so doesn't work on the semester season. It's also a time when teachers leave mid-contract. One problem might be Feria (a 2 week holiday in late January). Though it is possible to pick up work at that time. The new year is often a good time to pick up private lessons.


During your CELTA is a good time.

Have you checked out the ESL Cafe Poland section? The search function there is a mine of information, especially about work permits for US citizens.

Bear in mind that you have effectively 90 days to find a job from when you first enter the Schengen zone, and best practice is to find a job within 45 days so that you can get the paperwork processed in time without "running out of time".

1. Not much, although some teachers leave after the first semester.

2, In Poland. Pre Schengen zone. I did my CELTA in Warsaw and had to make one border run before I got my residency card after I got hired in Gdansk. It's more difficult now because of time restraints but stlll doable. Delph is right.

3. Maybe. Some schools may take this into consideration.

If you want to work in Warsaw, do your CELTA there at Bell. I did. Great teachers, and you might find a job there. You'll also make more contacts in the city you want to be in, though only God knows why. Obviously I don't live in Warsaw.

Exactly - it would be senseless to do it in Krakow he wants to work in Warsaw.

Different cities, different mentalities, different attitudes.

I met a guy the other week who said that they don't offer it anymore.

He's wrong. Their next 4 week CELTA course starts on 22 August.

I know this isnt what your looking for but its sort of on topic.

In Asian countries like Taiwan there is a large demand for English teachers.
The cost of living there is very small. And the quality of life is quite good (in some ways better than EU + NA).

But teaching methods are like from Gulag.