Since the collapse of Communism in 1990, the demand for English has skyrocketed. The old State exam in English for Polish secondary school students has been replaced by the Cambridge First Certificate (FCE) exam. This has created a huge need in the State sector for TESOL-certified English teachers. Voluntary-placement organizations such as the Soros Foundation and World Teach fill a significant number of these positions each year.

Hundreds of language schools - particularly in Warsaw - dominate the Private sector, and offer Business English, General English and Cambridge FCE/CAE courses. A small group of the more reputable private language schools belong to the Polish Association for Standards in English (PASE), which promotes ethical practices among its members.

Although conditions vary enormously between schools in Poland, the overall level of professional development for teachers (workshops, seminars and developmental observations) is very high, particularly by international standards.

Newly-qualified TESOL teachers take note: Poland is a great place to cut your teeth.