Teaching English in Poland
When you get that interview here are some do's and don'ts:
Do's:
- Do dress smartly and appear respectable. It shouldn't need to be said, but trust me, you’d be surprised how many people turn up in jeans and a jumper with hair displaying some kind of fashion statement. Polish people respect a professional looking person, not one in dirty jeans and a ripped t-shirt.
- Do take your CV, original teaching qualifications and degree as well as the photocopies of all of these. They might have lost the original pack you gave them and it never hurts to have a spare set.
- Do make sure you get a copy of the teaching contract and all annexes (if applicable) in English.
- Do ask about things that directly affect you working for the school eg: salary, gross and net (net is the most important as far as you're concerned), amount of hours, the level of classes you'll teach and training that you could receive.
- Do ask about things that don't directly affect your teaching but nevertheless are useful/important e.g. health insurance, support in opening a bank account, support in finding accommodation, support in getting your NIP number (this is your tax identification number) and if you're from outside of the EU support in getting your work visa processed.
Don'ts
- Don't be late. If you are, I wouldn't even bother going through the front door.
- Don't think you'll walk into any job just because you're a native speaker. Those days were in the mid 1990's, nowadays there's a lot more competition in the towns and cities.
- Don't (ever) underestimate anybody's ability to speak English (especially if you're bitching about someone whilst on your phone on the bus).
I wouldn't accept the first offer (unless you know it's the best offer out there), but tell the school you'll get back to them. Your offer will depend on your experience, your qualifications and sometimes your age and previous work experience so don't be afraid to negotiate and play one offer against the other. You'll also want to consider how you feel about the school, the DOS and what other teachers say if you can meet them.
If you want to sign up there and then, do not sign just a Polish contract. Make sure there is another contract in English and read through it thoroughly. Ask questions about anything you're unsure about.
A word about contracts.
I've seen some contracts in my time and they range from the ridiculous to the sublime. Some contracts prevent you teaching private lessons or for other schools as you'll be taking possible competition away. Some don't care what you do as long as you don't steal students, steal materials or burn down the school. If you have any questions about clauses, ask what they mean and walk away from any contract that looks suspicious and unfair. Keep you wits about you and you'll be fine!
