Questions about teaching in Elblag or Opole?

I have two teaching offers. One is with Regent College in Elblag and one is with ILS in Opole. I'd love to hear feedback on either the cities or the schools. I have seen slightly negative posts about them on Daves ESL. There are a lot of disgruntled teachers though. I'm sure there are many bad schools too. I'm just weighing out my decisions Any input on the schools or the cities would be greatly appreciated.

Edward

I have no idea about those schools but you should make between 4000 and 5000 monthly for 30 hours a week before taxes and ZUS (polish health care) or the school should pay it. Are they offering you a work Visa?

Regent College in Elblag is run by an evil, manipulative witch called Dorora Goerick. Stay away from there if you want to keep your sanity.

I used to work in Cosmopolitan school in Opole (late 90's). Decent wages and conditions.

I know that there are MANY schools in Opole (and no doubt elsewhere) who are paying crap wages. SHOP around! My wife's from there and we go there at least twice annually to visit in-laws etc. I'd personally move back there tomorrow (but my wife prefers Scotland...!). Alternatively I'd move to Warmai/Mazuri area - possibly my favourite area in Poland (though don't tell my wife!) - and where my Dziadek was from.

If you want to know about Opole, mail me back and I'll pass on my views etc.

The fact that they constantly advertise for teachers says everything.

I worked for her. This poster is correct. Stay as far away from Regent as you can.

Opole is rather small but a great student city. It is home to Itaka so any trips that you take abroad through them will have their buses located there.

I had to travel up there from Gliwice, only 1 hour, to get the coach to the Balkans.

It's a good place to cycle around.

Even better, it's not far away from Katowice-Pyrzowice airport.

Exactly, I can get there in 50 mins. It's about 70 from Opole.

That's funny because I have been offered a job at the Regent school in Elbląg too!! Did you go there and meet them? I was told that me and another person were being considered for a position... but... hmmm... I received the contract today and I have a few words to say about it. I have been working in Poland for 2 years and I think i know the country and t&c's of contracts quite well - send me a pm - it would be interesting to discuss this 'offer'.

Also, why do people think that Dorota is manipulative?

check daves esl cafe in the polish forum section ...it says it all...if regent hasn't had it deleted.

Can anyone pm or email me some info about Regent school in Elblag?

Don't go there - it's as simple as that.

Sorry but I cant turn down a job offer on that basis without some back up - can you be more specific about the problems?

I can only tell you the facts - there's a forum that is probably the definitive forum about ESL called "Dave's ESL". Regent School have been very very proactive in making sure that any criticism of them is removed from the site - do you really want to work for a school that does such a thing?

I also know puddddddin quite well - and she was left with a very unpleasant taste in her mouth about the place.

There's also the fact that if you have problems there, it's going to be a lot harder to find another job/hours there than in a major city - essentially, you'll be tied to the school.

The "word on the street" is that they resort to hiring teachers blind because no-one in the country would go near such a place. They also seem to hand out a lot of "job offers" in the true Polish style - it really isn't worth anything unless you get a signed and sealed contract.

Hmm I see - I appreciate your thoughts.

Actually where I work does the same about eslcafe. A lot of people go on there because they want to vent, and so schools get some partly unfair negative criticism. Very few people go on there to say something good... so schools are given a semi-unfair picture.

I guess I have some doubts in my mind now, would still like to speak to someone who has worked there.

It's a very devious thing to do - I appreciate that some people simply demand too much and then feel hard done by - but schools should leave it alone rather than proactively trying to remove content.

What are they offering you, out of curiosity? Feel free to PM me :)

Perhaps devious - but in the end they are a business and have to protect their interests.

My current place of work has a fairly high staff turnover, and those forums would put people off coming and make the recruiting harder for them. If I had seen such comments before I came here, I wouldnt have accepted the job. Now I can see what they were saying, but also its only half the picture.

Pm'd you.

Does anyone have specific information about what was so terrible at this school. I prefer someone who worked there last year to tell me what actually has happened there to teachers. Thanks

I can only repeat what I said before - they have "interesting" contracts (you'd be mad to sign what they present), they trawl the internet to make sure that bad things are removed about them and that many, many people have been left with a sour taste in their mouth as a result.

The fact that they're so keen to hire people is very suspicious.

It isn't true. Dorota was a wonderful employer. She was generous and fair I really enjoyed having her as a boss. I think anyone would be lucky to work at Regent, it is a great experience. I always felt that I could talk to her for advice and help. Don't judge people unless you know them...it isn't fair.

Yah, if you believe 'Janeyteacher' then I have a bridge to sell you. Don't listen to Janeyteacher....they probably told the secretary to write that for them cause that is just a boldface lie.

I'm a former employee so take it from me I seen how they operate first hand. The only thing this "school" cares about is money and not the children. The school actively employs a child predator named Roger and teachers are harassed by other teachers. It's strange and somebody seriously needs to investigate this place. Don't say I didn't warn you