Poland’s not all cabbage stew and picture-postcard castles – it’s also a great place to start your TEFL career. Schools in Poland take teaching seriously, so if you’re keen on honing your TEFL skills, it’s the place to go. Oh, and that’s before you even get started on the awesome people, ancient cities and beautiful countryside.
Tempted yet? If you’re already TEFL certified and Poland sounds like your cup of vodka, check out the Teach in Poland Internship. i-to-i has teamed up with the Speed School of English to offer you 5 amazing months teaching in Southern Poland, with full support and loads of training. Here’s what you get:
Terrific 10-day orientation
You won’t just be thrown into a classroom with hoards of marauding students. When you touch down in Poland, you’ll have a fantastic 10-day orientation, giving you a great introduction to Polish culture and language and the Speed School of English’s teaching methods. You’ll also get to know all the other interns, not to mention sample some great Polish food and drink.
The peace of mind of having everything arranged for you
Unlike setting up your own TEFL job, on the internship you’ll have the benefit of having everything set up for you for when you arrive in country – from an internship at a reputable Speed school to a free apartment that you’ll share with other interns and teachers.
Continuous professional development
This program has been designed especially for new teachers who have got TEFL certified, but have little or no real teaching experience. You won’t just be placed in one school, but will move schools half-way through your contract, giving you experience of teaching a different set of students. Throughout your time in Poland, you’ll be involved in free workshops, as well as having your classes observed and filmed, so you can get feedback on your teaching and become the superstar teacher you always wanted to become!
It’s more than just castles y’know (Photo: lostajy)
Generous spending allowance
Your accommodation is taken care of and you’ll probably live within walking distance of your school, but you’ll still receive a monthly living allowance of 1,500 PLZ (around $500), with an extra bonus of 1,000 PLZ at the end of your contract – plenty for tasting all the delicious new food (it’s not just cabbage you know!) and enjoying yourself.
Skiing
One of the perks of the internship is that you get a free 3-day ski pass so you can hit the slopes in your spare time – great for letting off steam and seeing some of Poland’s beautiful scenery.
Want more info? Download your free guide to teaching in Poland to get the lowdown on the internship. If you want to go you’ll need to be quick though – there are only 10 spots available!
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Hi Boyd,
Glad you passed! Good luck if you do decide to work in Poland!
Emma
congratulations boyd:)
Panic over - i passed! Time for a glass of wine i think :)
Hi Emma,
Thanks verily for the good words - im typically quite undecisive, so one part of my mind has been pretty much saying all you are suggesting there. Nothing really lost if that style of teaching doesnt really suit - and certainly experienced gained with teaching classes in general. As a first position, as you say, could be quite ideal.
Also, the other reason for poland is to immerse myself in the language (outside of the classroom, of course!) - im at that intermediate stage where its hard to see any further progress, or at least the rapidity has decreased a bit, and have this dream of talking polish without even thinking too much about it - that would be a spin out :)
(and im not sure emma if you work for i to i - so this is also directed to anyone who does in the hope of sympathetic / explanatory earholes!).......In order to make this friday's deadline, I obviously need to pass the tefl course (!) - Im doing the 120 hours course, and am waiting on the last assignment to be marked (finished the grammar and 4 modules). Getting a tad nervy, as I handed it in on sunday night, and no word yet - with all the other assignments, they've been back to me within a day, day and a half at most. Another thing which makes me slightly even more nervy is that the course expires in 1 day - now does that mean that after midnight tonight im totally locked out? It seems that if that assignment comes back with a pass, then we still have to submit a questionnaire in order to pass the online tefl course?
Im rather brokeski so it would be rather difficult to extend the course at the moment....meaning I may miss out on friday's deadline. Quandary!
Any advice / tips / useful suicide suggestions?!
Boydie :)
Hi,
I know a friend who is an experienced teacher who taught via the callan method in London. He actually didn't mind it as he said it gave results (and it was easy to teach!). I think he tweeked it so they had some freer practise at the end however.
Obviously there are different learners out there and you have to provide what your students want (from the sounds of it this method would appeal to students who want to work on their pronunciation, intonation, fluency, word order/stress etc). With any teaching method there are of course positives and negatives. Also different teachers prefer different methods. I guess you won't know until you try it whether it's how you want to teach.
I would say however if you are a new teacher this method may be ideal as I believe everything is prepared for you (little preparation involved - trust me this is a perk!) therefore you won't have to worry too much about what you have to teach....might be a nice first job if you want minimum stress involved I imagine :-).
It could be a bit boring however and as you say if you want to get creative maybe this isn't the job for you!
I take back my comment on Ukraine.. not sure about the rest of the E. European region at this point either, though I've not visited them.. I guess i'm just a Southern European girl.. Balkans are the best!!
Gday Peeps :)
Oh yeah samlennie - ive been teaching myself polish for a couple of years now, and that one still gets me - my girlfriend is from southern poland, in the area, and i can remember asking her mother (who speaks no english) for a coffee - she said 'no' - oh ok then, maybe some milk?
Its good to track down this discussion - Im just about to finish my course (procrastination anyone?), and this internship seems in many ways perfect - ive always wanted to live in poland to develop my polish, and having just about to finish the course, what better time to actually, like...use it?!
My main concern has been trying to find out more about this callan method - which is the 'direct method' quoted on the speed school for english site. Opinions of this are pretty mixed to say the least. I do wonder how much flexibility there is - our weekend teacher did not have a high opinion of the callan method. However, i to i are advertising an internship at such a school. Im confused.com - perhaps there is more of a mix in methods now - after all, it would be a shame to learn this tefl method (which seems to me to be a great way to learn - and nothing like how i remember school) and then sortof unlearn all that to just be a bit of a robot teacher. Hmmmmm....
Anyway im definately having a good hard think about heading out there to do this, despite the above reservations.
Oh and yeah if you make it to poland, dont miss out on Golabki - i think this is my favourite food of all time - even more than the classic old aussie meat pie - big call!!
do widzenia i uwazaj na siebie,
boydie ;)
Hey Hannah,
We're hoping it's going to run again in a few months time - we'll keep you posted if we end up getting another intake. It just depends on how well this first round goes!
This sounds awesome and I would love to do this- but is it a one off thing or does anybody know if this is going to run again (preferably in the New Year!)??
I read that the English word for NO actually means YES in Poland!!
Maybe that's one we need to remember on our next trip!!
Best thing is that TEFL-qualified Aussies and Americans, who may find it difficult to find work in Europe are eligble for this program! If that doesn't make you have a swig from your can of Zubr then nothing will!!! Anyone who doesn;t know much abotu Poland should check out http://wideawakeinwonderland.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/fun-facts-about-poland/
Poland, Ukraine, and the rest of Eastern Europe just rock my socks!!!
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