Language / How to pronouce Szczygieł last name? [26]


Actually, that's true in any language. It's called communicating. I still struggle with Polish but my friends and people in shops understand me, so that'll have to do until I reach the proficiency level. I figure that's only going to take another 117 years.

Travel / Is it safe to travel to Poland? [194]

Not a problem at all. It'll be safe no matter if you're by yourself or with somebody else.

Work / Moving to Poland from the USA. Question concerning CELTA certificate.I need help [32]

Yeah, we say that in the US as well even though we're aware that it's not grammically correct English, more of a colloquial thing. But hey, that's how we talk. And really, I was funnin when I posted that.

Law / Poland - Temporary Residence card - Karta pobytu - required documents [142]

That's my understanding as well. And yes, 45 days before the visa expires is correct. I can't remember if the decision comes in 30 or 45 days after application,but unless the application is rejected you're OK.

Work / Moving to Poland from the USA. Question concerning CELTA certificate.I need help [32]


I didn't know that. But I done good to learn it.

Work / Moving to Poland from the USA. Question concerning CELTA certificate.I need help [32]


Done? I did mine in Warsaw. A CELTA is a CELTA no matter where you get it and it will open doors that would otherwise be closed to you. And IH does have a good reputation.

One caution. You've only got very little time to get your CELTA and find a job in Poland. You're only permitted to stay in a Schengen zone country for 90 out of 180 days. Lots of threads about that on this forum and also another teaching forum. Start researching this now.

If this thing with your girlfriend doesn't work out, are you prepared to be in Poland by yourself? Believe me, you'll have to adapt to a major cultural difference between Poland and the US (which state?) and the language is a bear to learn.

Good luck.

Law / Poland - Temporary Residence card - Karta pobytu - required documents [142]

Usually they do, although I've never had one. I'm told that this time they may come to my school to do this since I'm seldom at home during the day. Remember, every office is different so I'm only speaking about my experience.

Law / Poland - Temporary Residence card - Karta pobytu - required documents [142]

Interesting. I've been living in Gdansk for two years with a karta pobytu and and am in the process for applying for the third time. I've done everything here in Gdansk-no need to go to Warsaw. And every time I've needed slightly different docs. For example, this time I needed five photos whereas in the past it was just four. No big deal.

It's definitely easier to go through the renewal process than the initial application.

The Schengen area has made it a little more difficult for non EU citizens to get residency because of the 90 day thing, but it's certainly still possible.

Work / Are there any Americans teachers left in Poland? [38]

Sopot Wyscigi, Sopot, and Sopot Kamienny Potok. That's three.

Work / Are there any Americans teachers left in Poland? [38]


Michal, you are so far off base that it's not even funny. It's apparent that you judge everyone by your own misguided perceptions and self conceived realities. After all, you're the guy who thought that Sopot only had one train station. Get a grip, man. You don't even know your own country any more, and based on your opinionated posts I doubt that you know very much about people. I feel sorry for you.

Work / Are there any Americans teachers left in Poland? [38]


Yes, I have a CELTA.

Michal, someday you'll understand what you read. In this case, obviously you didn't. Let me say it again for your benefit. I didn't come here because of a woman. What part of that don't you understand?

Work / Are there any Americans teachers left in Poland? [38]

I'm an American teaching English at Bell in Gdansk. I've been here for two years. I love it and I'm going to stay here for the rest of my life. I didn't come here because of a woman. I came to experience life in Gdansk.

Having said that, I'm going to get married nest next to a wonderful Polish woman I met before I moved here. I've known her for five years, but she's not the reason I came to Gdansk.

There's another American teacher at my school. He's been in Poland for six years. I know of several other Americans who teach here, so to answer the question posed in the title of this thread, yes, there are still a few of us around.

Interestingly enough, my students tell me that they prefer American English to British because it's easier to understand. Whatever. I use books written by Brits and know the difference between flat and apartment, pavement and sidewalk, etc. I teach both.

Food / Your all time favourite Polish Dishes! [108]

Golabki is great, pierogi is boring. I love bigos and golonka.

Work / I'm interested in teaching in Poland and I need some help. [33]

welshguyinpola
There mistakes is plane to sea. Whats rong wif dat? But seriously, I know what you mean.

News / What's the stupidest question asked about Poland? [414]

I understand.

News / What's the stupidest question asked about Poland? [414]

Poland and Holland don't rhyme.

Work / Would previous experience be necessary to teach english in poznan [22]

Harry's right. Trinity and CELTA are the way to go. I did my CELTA at Bell in Warsaw, much cheaper than in the US including accomodation, and I had a job six days after I finished the course. I had no teaching experience then, just a lot of real world business stuff. It didn't matter. A lot of the better schools want one or the other, unless you want to teach Callan. No thanks.

Language / I'm gonna learn Polish in a month! [86]

Yeah, I've got that book too. Shortly after I arrived in Poland last year I was in a Chinese restaurant in Gdansk with the book on the table as I was eating, and a guy came in, looked at the title, and said Polish in 4 weeks. It's not possible. If you have the CD that goes with book you know what I mean.

The next week I was talking with one of the owners and he told me that he had moved to Germany without a word in German. He said the first two years were difficult but but after 22 years years there he now considers German his first language, and he's Polish. He told me Polish is easy. The only hard part is the first 20 years!

There's hope for me yet.

Work / Easiest way for native English speaker to get a job in Poland? [35]

That was a typo. I thought I had edited it to pub. Oh well. Besides, my friends call me Wujek Scottie because of my age!

Work / Easiest way for native English speaker to get a job in Poland? [35]

Simply out of curiosity. Thanks for the replies, and if you guys are ever in Gdansk I'll take you to the best pus, which we call a bar in the US, and buy you a beer.

Poor Edward, I'm outgoing by nature and am only truly extroverted in the classroom. Strangely enough my students like it and I've made some good friends there.

Work / Easiest way for native English speaker to get a job in Poland? [35]

telefonitika and Poor Edward, may I ask where you're from?

Work / Easiest way for native English speaker to get a job in Poland? [35]

CELTA. Certificate in English language teaching to adults. It's offered worldwide and is under the aegis of Cambridge university so no matter where you do it you get the same piece of paper.

Work / Easiest way for native English speaker to get a job in Poland? [35]

google CELTA. It's a certificate for teaching English, and I've forgotten exactly what it stands for, but think of it as your worldwide passport to teaching jobs. Give me a couple of minutes while I did up my certificate and i'll have a more complete answer for you.

Work / Easiest way for native English speaker to get a job in Poland? [35]

lbright, you should have no trouble finding a job here, although you'll find it easier if you have a CELTA. And you don't need to have a job before you come here. I didn't but found one in Gdansk shortly after finishing my CELTA in Warsaw. There are more job opportunities in Warsaw and the salaries are higher, but so is the cost of living. Still, even though you won't live high on the hog, you'll do all right.

As an American like me, when you arrive in Poland you'll have 90 days on your tourist visa. We're not citizens of an EU country. To stay longer you'll have to apply for a residency card, and you need 45 or more days left on your visa to do that. Good schools will help you with this and on your own it's a nightmare of a process. Poland signed the Schengen zone treaty in December limiting the time non EU citizens can stay here and I knew a couple of Amreicans who had long overstayed their visas. The subsequent hassles with the authorities weren't pleasant but at least they weren't banned from reentering the country which has happened to some people.

To get a residency card you'll have to provide a copy of your birth certificate, university degree, rental agreement, work contract, a statement from the IRS that says you don't owe any taxes, and a police report from your city to prove that you're not a criminal. I didn't have the last two, but this is Poland and they accecpted my statement that I wasn't an axe murderer and didn't owe any taxes. Oh, they wanted a copy of my CELTA also. Anyway, I got the card even though it took five months for them to process the paperwork. Again, this is Poland and that's not unusual.

Good luck and welcome to Poland in advance. It's a wonderful country and SO different from the US. I love it here.

Work / English qualifications to start Teaching English In Poland. Is degree of some sort needed? [123]

I teach English. I'm an American so of course I don't sound like I'm British, and my students like that since they see so many American films. I know the difference between British and American English. My course books come from the UK so I point out the differences when I find them, though there really aren't that many.

English is spoken in a lot of countries around the world and it's all a little different, but in the end it's still English, and none of them is better than another. But recognizing that British English is more common in Europe, I teach that.

Travel / Visiting Gdansk - looking for ex-pat bars... [21]

Try Absinthe in the theater building next to the Armory. Best bar in Old Town for my zl.

Travel / How much is a cab: Warsaw airport to the bus station? [27]

In August I paid 30 zl from the airport to my friend's flat near the station-metered cab. The guy who approached me inside the airport wanted 200 zl! Just go outside to the taxi stand. At least those guys were honest and had reasonable prices.

Work / International House - Kracow school - any chances of being offered a job there [59]

None that I know of here in Gdansk. Bell offers CELTA courses in Warsaw during the summer. One thing about CELTA: it's a CELTA wherever you get it. We've got teachers at my school who have done the course in a lot of countries. Good luck.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

Thanks for the info, Harry. When I said the salary will go up I meant mine next year. My DOS and I have already discussed it.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]


Yes, I love it. I have great students, all highly motivated. We just finished the first semester and critiques from my students indicate they like me. I had a review with my DOS on Friday-he does too and told me there's probably be going to be some in-company work here in the summer. Good news because except for a short vacation I want to stay here during the summer. He also wants me to return next fall, and no, Harry, it's not because he doesn't have to pay me much. I'll actually get more money next year.

lowfunk99, if you'd like to ask more questions feel free to email. Adress is in profile.