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Lektor David Wilding (Kraków) język: English
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I first came to Poland in 1995 to teach English. At that time it was something new and interesting and even exciting for me. A new country to see and new people to meet and become a part of. I thought I would give it a go for "about a year" and see how I liked it.
Nearly 16 years later I am still here and have no intention of going anywhere else. Well, the last three years has seen me back, briefly, in England and then for a year in Saudi Arabia and then Russia. Now the "adventure" is over and it is time to establish myself here. I WILL be staying!
Before I was an English teacher, I worked for three years as a computer programmer. After my university degree course, I had many hopes for my IT career as it was a long-term interest of mine. However, I found the job of programmer to be tedious, repetitive and rather boring. I had to decide if THIS was what I wanted to do for the rest of my working life or if I wanted a change.
A year of world travel later and I decided that English teaching was the obvious thing to do. Not because "everybody was doing it", but because I actually DO enjoy language work. I am a part-time poet and very much enjoy creative writing and working with language.
In 1995, Poland was somewhere new for me personally. It was not long out of its communist rule days and native speakers were still something of a "novelty" I suppose. Since that time, Poland has become an EU member and has surviuved the global economic crisis better than most in Europe INCLUDING the UK where many Poles went to for better work possibilities.
For my first teaching destination, I did not want to go where so many people do go - countries like Spain, Italy, Greece and the Mediterranean. The life there is good but working conditions are less good. In Poland I have a good job with motivated students and enjoy a new place of living and working.
I will not be back to live or work in England again. Yes I have family there, but other contacts are few. Now I have been away for so long that it is difficult for me when I go back to England for any length of time. I actually feel more "foreign" there now than I do here. Both England and myself have changed much and, I think, have "grown apart".
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION and QUALIFICATIONS INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, London, England (2000 - 2001) - DTEFLA course (RSA/Cambridge) - Distance Learning year in Poland with approved supervisor - External DTEFLA Examiner for end-year teaching practical exams - Practical exam: Pass, Written exam: Fail HAMMERSMITH & WEST LONDON COLLEGE, London, England (1995) - CTEFLA (RSA/Cambridge) LEEDS POLYTECHNIC, Leeds, England (1986 – 1990) - B.Sc (Hons) Computing & OR
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I have many varied interests. Firstly, I very much enjoy using the internet for leisure and for work purposes. It is hard to imagine life without it now. I am a part-time webmaster and creator of many blog websites. I do not play games much except for strategy games like Civilization and Football Manager. For teaching purposes, the internet is like a goldmine for ideas and resources. These days it is much easier to find what you need for all teaching situations imagineable.
Apart from the internet, I like travel and photography. I have been to many countries in Europe, and also to Southeast Asia and Australia. It is not easy to say where my favourite is as they all have something different to offer.
I also enjoy cooking. I seem to be most successful with cakes and biscuits than anything else, though I enjoy just being in the kitchen and being creative with what I have. Sometimes it even tastes pretty good!
I am very much an outdoors person. Walking in the countryside, in the mountains, by the seaside, through a beautiful town is a great pleasure for me.
I cannot say I am a very good sportsman. I always feel I should do more. I do exercise at home and, as I have no car, get plenty of walking exercise around the area. In the past, I did enjoy a game of golf but now so much any more. Once in a while I go to the gym, and I intend to do this more in future.
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