TEACH ENGLISH IN POLAND

About Teaching English in Poland

In order to teach English in Poland, you will need a TEFL certificate. A 4-year college degree is preferred but not required. Native English proficiency is also expected to find a TEFL job. The average salary for an English teacher in Poland is about $750 - $1,050 USD per month.

One of the great post-Cold War success stories, Poland represents one of the fastest-growing job markets for teaching English in Europe. English teachers in Poland are constantly in demand. Teachers typically find work towards the beginning of September or October, and again in January. Most contracts end in late June. For those looking to teach through the summer, opportunities at summer English language camps are sometimes available throughout Poland and the whole of Europe. Positions in summer camps typically start in late June and early July.  

Qualified Americans and other non-European Union (EU) citizens can interview and line up a job in advance from their home countries, while EU citizens can often line up an English teaching job locally in Poland. Many English teachers share an apartment with co-workers or other English teachers in Poland.

Some schools in Poland will sponsor a work visa for Americans and other non-European Union citizens (teachers will also need to get a residence permit upon arrival).  While some non-EU citizens may work on a tourist visa "under the table", this is not common or recommended in most cases.

A good hourly wage affords English teachers to live a comfortable life.  Schools typically offer around 20-30 hours per week of work, leaving you plenty of opportunities to travel and explore.

Top job markets for English teaching jobs in Poland include Warsaw, Poznan, Wroclaw, Gdansk, and Kraków.

How to Teach English in Poland: Requirements

TEFL Certification for Teaching English in Poland

A TEFL certification is required to teach English in Poland. You do not need professional teaching experience but earning your TEFL certification will provide you with the training and qualification you do need to get hired. 

Teachers typically interview for jobs in advance from their home country, therefore, it is most common for students to take one of our TEFL course options listed below.

Native English-Speaking Proficiency

You do not need to be a native English speaker to teach English in Poland. However, you will be expected to be fluent in English and speak at a native level to be considered for teaching jobs.  

Degree Requirements for Poland

A bachelor's degree is preferred but not required to teach English in Poland. Please note that your bachelor's degree does not need to be in education, it can be in any field.

TEFL Jobs in Poland

Type of English Teaching Jobs in Poland

The most common teaching jobs in Poland consist of:

• Teaching adults in private language schools.
• Teaching Business English to adults.
• Private one-on-one tutoring.
• Limited opportunities to teach children in Summer Camps.
• Teaching English Online.

Finding TEFL jobs in Poland: Hiring & Visa

Poland represents a more challenging job market for any teacher who does not already have citizenship from a qualified European Union (EU). It is pretty common to see quite a few schools in Poland prefer that their teachers already have EU citizenship or legal working rights in Poland. However, there are schools that will hire non-EU citizens and will help them get a work permit to work legally in the country.

English teachers can expect to find jobs during the peak hiring months of September, October, and January with an expected downtime in August and from Christmas through the second week of January. Most Americans and qualified non-European Union citizens interview over the phone in advance from their home country, while EU citizens can interview and gain employment locally in Poland.

Read More: What Type of Visa Can I Use to Teach English in Poland?

Teaching English Jobs in Poland: Hours

Language schools in Poland offer approximately 20 to 30 hours of classroom work per week plus additional hours for prep time. This allows for plenty of time to travel and explore. 

Teaching Polish Students

It is most common that your students will be adults and business professionals.  

Teaching English in Poland Salary & Cost of Living

Start-up Costs

Start-up costs will range from $900 - $1,800 USD (3,450 – 6,900 Euro). These are expenses you will incur from your arrival in Poland until you receive your first paycheck and may include things like rent, apartment supplies, transport, groceries, getting your new local cell phone number set up, etc. 

English Teacher Salary in Poland

A modest salary enables teachers the opportunity to live a comfortable lifestyle while in Poland. Teachers can expect to make $750 - $1,050 USD per month (2,500 - 3,600 Euro).

There are no flight or housing benefits/stipends provided so you will need to remember to account for accommodation or temporary housing for your first few weeks in your start-up costs until you find an apartment to rent.

Teacher salary in Poland: Cost of Living & Savings

The average monthly cost of living ranges from around $750 - $1,000 USD per month (2,500 - 3,400 Euro).

English teachers in Poland can expect to break-even month over month. This means you can cover your rent and bills, support yourself, live comfortably, and enjoy your life abroad to the fullest, but you should not expect to save money at the end of the month. If you are hustling and taking on private tutoring lessons and/or teaching English online in addition to your regular teaching schedule, you may increase your ability to save.