Poland - TEFL in Poland
From The ICAL TEFL wiki
Poland joined the European Union (EU) in May 2004 therefore if you are an EU national you can visit Poland as a tourist and stay up to 3 months on your (valid) EU Passport, without having to provide any other formal documentation.
For stays over 3 months, and if you are there to work, you will need a temporary residence permit. This will entitle you to take up work. Residence permits are issued by the Department of Citizens Affairs of the Voivodeship Office in the province in which you wish to stay. Detailed information is available from the website of the Polish Ministry Of Foreign Affairs.
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Teaching
Prospects for English teachers in Poland are good, not only in the big centers like Warsaw, Wroclaw, Krak'w and Poznan, but also, and perhaps even greater, in the lesser-known cities and towns.
You can expect to find students who are generally very hard-working, eager to learn the English language well and very respectful of their teachers. Poles are very proud of their heritage and value education. Achieving linguistic ability is no exception!
As in many other countries, there are some very good schools and some real cowboys too so be a little careful.
Teaching jobs are available in both state and private schools. Contacting private schools ahead of time is always a good idea however you are more likely to find work on the spot. So pack your walking shoes and prepare yourself to do the rounds of the school directors!
Native speakers of English are treated with some sort of reverence in Poland and school directors are delighted to interview native English speakers who present themselves in a professional manner. However don't expect to simply walk into a job! The EFL customer here is slowly becoming more discerning and teachers are expected to have at least a TESL/TEFL Certificate and/or some teaching experience.
If you lack formal teaching credentials and/or teaching experience, your chances of finding a teaching position are better the further you get from places like Warsaw and Krakow.
However, despite the fact that you may be able to get away without any substantial formal qualifications, it would be to your advantage to get TESL/TEFL certified. A Certificate like the ICAL TESL/TEFL Certificate will not only make you more marketable but it will also, and perhaps more importantly, prepare you for the job.
Term Times
The academic year for most schools begins on September 1st and ends on the first Friday after June 18th. In universities it is October 1st.
Pay
Teachers work a minimum of 20hrs a week.
Make sure your contract includes not only your pay but also a set number of hours per week. Unscrupulous employers will guarantee high hourly rates but not a set number of hours per week.
The current hourly rate for teachers working in the private sector is the Zlotych equivalent of US$15 [deduct from this 21% for taxes and contributions].
Average wage is about 2,500PLN per month (1,185USD)
Although the wages are poor by Western European standards, native English speakers earn a more than decent wage by local standards.
To put things in perspective you should bear in mind that the minimum wage - set on 1 January 2004 - is 824PNL (390USD) and that people in Poland work 5 days a week for a maximum of 40hrs a week.
As part of your teaching contract, you can often expect to receive assistance with visa and accommodation, possibly in lieu of part of your wages.
Besides working in a school, you can also work privately and, in fact, many foreign teachers supplement their income by giving private lessons. In fact it is not uncommon for employers to take teachers on a part time contract and allow them to work privately for extra money.
Practicalities
The public transport system is efficient and convenient.
In the major cities a pleasant one room flat with kitchen and bathroom will set you back around 1300PLN (615USD per month).
