Working as a Spanish language teacher in Kraków. Wages, living cost, etc.

Hello everybody,
(Sorry I can't write in Polish, unfortunately, not yet)
I am a Spanish teacher and I am planning to move to Kraków and I would appreciate any information regarding working conditions as a language teacher, mainly in language schools and Universities.

Things like:
1) How is the average wages as a teacher in a language school (in zlotys)?
2) How much money (average) one needs to live in Kraków/Poland?
3)Can you recommend me any school in Kraków? I know some, a have a list with webpages but if you have worked in a good school, fair to employees, would be nice to Know

4) Are teachers normally freelancers or the school hires them and takes care of social security expenses (a mirage in other countries)?
5) How much do teachers charge for private lessons?? (30 zl??40 zl??)
Well, if somebody helps me with this it would be a great start!!
Dziękuję bardzo!!!!
Pa!!
Marga

In respect to Spanish, there's not a huge demand. It's seen as a "fun" language by people - not as a serious language. In this respect, finding one school to hire you is going to be easier said than done - though it depends on your own qualifications and experience. One thing that's certain is that you'll enter at the bottom irrespective of how much experience and knowledge you have. But really, don't expect to be offered a full time job from outside Poland.


For Spanish, about 25-30zl an hour, even as a native.


Depends on what standard of living you expect. But in general, assume that you need to have, as a minimum, 2000zl in your pocket a month to be able to have any chance of surviving.


It depends. You can sometimes find schools willing to pay your social security expenses - though don't rely on it. The norm is that they don't (you can start a business to pay them - works out much more cost efficient to do it this way), though.


Private Spanish lessons aren't particularly plentiful, and there's plenty of competition - don't be surprised if you end up only getting 25/30zl an hour for them. I know in Poznan, with much less foreigners, the supply has pushed prices down to 25zl an hour for Spanish teachers. I can't imagine it'll be a different story in Krakow.

Thank you for your answer!! All info will be helpful!!
I have been teaching in Universities and private languages schools in the States, Hungary, Germany and Spain. I had my own school in Spain but we suffered the crisis allright!!

All this experience I know it doesn't really mean much sometimes, and might be even a drawback. But it is only to give a profile (late 30's, I know age is also sometimes a criteria). I don't know if there are many qualified teachers of Spanish in Kraków, might be.

Thanks again!

Blimey, why do you want to waste your time with Poland? The money and prestige here will be much lower than elsewhere - unless you can find a university job. My advice would be to try and see if you can land a university job from outside Poland - it's not going to be easy, but with such a strong resume, you might just have a chance.

But - there is such a thing as the "professor trap" - meaning that universities don't want to hire someone that won't become a professor in time. Trevek on here can tell you about this particular issue.

I wouldn't waste my time with private schools, unless you can find someone willing to give you a full time job. Even then, it's unlikely to be a genuine offer.


The problem isn't so much the qualified part, as the fact that Polish schools will tend to hire anyone and everyone. If someone like you turns up, they're also going to have the choice of hiring some "hello ladies, I'm just off the plane from the beaches of the Costa Brava" type for 20-25zl an hour.

Is there any specific reason for choosing Krakow? You might have much more luck in Warsaw - or even some of the other cities where there's a lack of qualified Spanish teachers.

Hello again, for personal reasons and interests and would like to move to Kraków, but I am open to change the destination. I will also check the possibilities in Warsaw and other cities, but I would like to give Kraków a chance first. I only hope Kraków gives me a chance too!

Thank you for your tips!!
Marga