Poland Travel Guide

Work and study
Despite the booming international business scene in cities like Warsaw, Gdańsk and Poznań, it's extremely unlikely that you'll want to pick up casual work in Poland, given that the average monthly wage is still below US$400.

The popularity of learning English has mushroomed in recent years, leading to a constant demand for native-language English teachers both in the state education system and in the private language schools that seem to have sprung up all over the country. However, you'll probably need a TEFL certificate or equivalent in order to secure a job at any but the most fly-by-night organizations. Some of the bigger English-teaching organizations actually organize TEFL courses in Polish cities, and may well help you get a job there once you've qualified. Otherwise, vacancies are sometimes advertised in the education supplements of Western newspapers; otherwise it's a question of touting your CV around the language schools and making use of local contacts once you arrive.

Study
Summer language courses are run by the universites of Kraków, Poznań, Lublin (KUL), Toruń and Łódź. Courses last from two to six weeks, covering all levels from beginners to advanced; a six-week course with full board and lodging will cost in the region of £500/€700/US$900. Information on these courses can be obtained from the Polish Cultural Institute in London or Polish consulates abroad.

In addition, many private language schools in Poland are beginning to offer language courses to the growing army of expatriate Westerners keen to learn Polish. A typical two-week course will cost something in the region of £185–215/€260–300/US$340–390 for tuition, £360–430/€500–600/US$640–770 if accommodation is included. Well-established schools include the Institute of Polish Language for Foreigners (www.iko.com.pl) in Warsaw, and Prolog (www.polishcourses.com) and Glossa (www.glossa.pl), both in Kraków.
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