Legal work in Poland – teacher

We have all gotten used to the fact that dozens of foreigners come to work in Poland every day. Previously, there were stereotypes about many foreigners in Poland: low-skilled workers doing hard physical work, agricultural work, elderly care, etc. Today, this has changed. More and more often, Polish employers are looking for teachers and doctors from different countries, programmers, engineers, automators, translators, web designers, etc.

How can a foreign teacher find a job in Poland?

The first and most important thing is knowledge of the Polish language. No matter how great a specialist you are in your home country, you will not be able to teach Polish children without knowing Polish. This is a fact.

The language barrier is the main obstacle for a foreign teacher on the way to getting a teaching position in a Polish school.

Therefore, if you are serious about finding a job as a teacher in Poland, learn Polish.

What is the difference between teaching children in a Polish school from a teacher’s perspective?

In principle, the essence is the same. The methods and forms of teaching may differ slightly, but not significantly. However, in Poland, the spheres of teaching the same subject are more clearly divided. For example, an English teacher teaches his or her subject to specific age groups (classes). In other words, an English teacher does not switch from teaching English in the first grade to teaching a lesson in the 11th grade and then in the 5th grade. They have clear age groups and standards.

Can I be an English teacher in a Polish school without knowing Polish?

Unfortunately, no. You still need to explain things to students in Polish. Therefore, you need to know both English and Polish at a very high level. After all, this includes explaining grammar, colloquial and vocabulary nuances, idioms, structures…

The exception is the so-called native speakers, i.e. those whose native language is English – Canadians, Americans, British, etc. But such persons are usually invited as guests and do not work in Polish schools as teachers on a permanent basis.

Are Polish schools looking for foreign teachers?

Yes, they are. From my experience working in Polish employment agencies, I remember that we were often approached by Polish schools with a request to find teachers from Ukraine for them. This happened in 2020 and 2021, and earlier.

In 2016, I worked for a Polish recruitment agency in a small town. Even as a small employment agency, we had experience working with a private school that was looking for Ukrainians to work as teachers.

The school needed new qualified staff and offered decent salary conditions. They needed teachers of physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and several other subjects, but a prerequisite was knowledge of Polish, because how can you teach a Polish student without knowing their language?

As you can see, there is a demand for Ukrainian teachers in Poland, but it is very difficult to find them. The main barrier, as already mentioned, is the lack of knowledge of Polish.

Is it worth working in Poland in your specialty?

Yes, of course it is. There is no point in “working” for nothing or translating parts at a factory for 13-14 zlotys per hour, working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, if you can conscientiously learn Polish in your country for three months, then go to any job for a while to get used to Polish society and better “hone” your Polish skills, and then look for a job in your specialty where you can work 8 hours a day but get 30 or 60 zlotys per hour net.

What steps should I take to find a job as a teacher in Poland?

These are my subjective tips, but I think they will help you a lot:

• Learn the basics of Polish while still at home
• Do not rush to go to Poland, and in addition to learning the basics of the Polish language, watch Polish movies, TV, listen to the radio
• Understand that a high level of Polish can only be achieved by living in a linguistic environment
• Move to Poland and find any job at first, but surrounded by Poles
• The job should not be too hard, but you should be able to practice Polish every day
• It is good if you find Polish friends and can integrate into society
• When you realize that your level of Polish allows you to communicate freely with children, you can send your resume to Polish schools
• Some schools may require you to have a state certificate of Polish language proficiency not lower than B2 level – but this is individual
• The certificate will take at least a year to complete, so take this into account

What is the salary of a teacher in Poland?

As of 2022, the average teacher’s salary in Poland ranges from 4500 to 6000 PLN net per month.

Is it possible to look for a job as a teacher in Poland through agencies?

Yes, you can. It is advisable to do this through Polish employment agencies that have relevant vacancies. The search process will be absolutely free for you. Because the Polish school pays the agency if the agency has found a teacher for them.

You can also search for ads directly and respond to them. There is no significant difference here. The only thing is that agencies pay more attention to details, they can help with the preparation of documents and other formalities.