There’s a real difference in the way Americans and Poles show their feelings. Americans love talking, so they’re very specific about theirs – so much so it’s sometimes cringy-worthy. Poles are sometimes so non-descript about their romantic feelings that you’d think they were cold. But it’s not like that. There are two huge differences in our modes of expressions – Americans say and Poles show.
I get asked this question constantly by folks interested in teaching English in Poland, but who aren’t exactly sure how to go about it. They often don’t know where to look for a job, whether they need experience, or whether a TEFL certificate is necessary to teach English in Poland or not. Frankly, in short, I don’t think you do and I’ll explain why below.
As an English teacher and person who lives with a Pole, I spend a lot of time speaking English with non-natives but also speaking Polish, so I know how these common Polish phrases/words should be used! There are a lot of common errors, but these are a few you might not have heard in your typical English course. For those of you who’d like to quickly improve your everyday English skills, check out these 7 Polish phrases to start translating correctly:
Are you considering teaching English in Poland? This post should help you decide what style of teaching in Poland would be best for you. In general, there are three ways to teach English in Poland: teaching online, finding your own private students, working in a school. Which would be the best for you depends on how enterprising you are, how much you’d like to work, and what days and times you’d like to work. There are advantages and disadvantages of each, and I’ll outline then in this post.
Polish pronunciation is famously challenging for people from abroad. Not many are able to master even the simplest words, much less tongue twisters or ridiculous names. If one more person says Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz to me, I’ll scream. Ever met someone with that name? No. I know it’s hard to say and hilarious to hear foreigners try to say it, but I’m talking about it words which we actually USE. Read on to find out which Polish words I use frequently that I’ve found the hardest to master.
Expat life can be tricky. You have to deal with a lot of tough stuff that you normally wouldn’t. Language barriers, obtaining residence permits, trouble meeting friends, lack of familial support, cultural misunderstandings. Phew! That’s a lot for us expats to handle. So, how can you survive all that? Read on to find out.
Finding a job in Poland as a foreigner might seem like a challenge, but there are more and more opportunities for us expats as Poland becomes more and more open. If you’re a native English speaker, working as an English teacher is an obvious choice, but there are plenty of other opportunities out there in various positions for foreigners, you just have to know where to look for them. In this post, I’ll give you my tips for finding a job in Poland as a foreigner.
Maternity leave in Poland is a beautiful thing that they do very well and America is really lacking. I had a baby last year, so I enjoyed the one year of receiving maternity benefits (mine just ended… *tear*). It’s a beautiful thing for women to have the comfort of staying home with their babies to care for and nurture them for the first 6 months – 1 year of life, especially if they’re breastfeeding. I can’t tell you how fortunate I felt to spend 4 months at home with my son and then return to work part-time as the maternity leave pay gave me the freedom to do so. I know that living in the States, it would have been more of a struggle and I’d have had to return to work earlier. Having a baby in Poland? Read on to find out what Poland has to offer your in your first year of maternity.
In general, there is a huge demand for native English speakers in Poland. If you’re thinking of teaching English in Poland and you’re a native English speaker, you shouldn’t have much trouble finding work. But you may be wondering what your students will be like, where you can work, whether you need a teaching certificate, and how much you can earn. You’ll find the answers to all those questions here, and also why Poland is a great place to teach English.
The topic of jealously in Poland is a sensitive one, but it’s an important aspect of culture that I think requires its own post. I’ve had this post written for a long time but I keep going back and forth with it because it makes me nervous. I’m afraid of the stirring the pot too much and the backlash it may result in, but anyway I think it’s time. So, why are Poles so jealous and how do they express that jealousy?