Why Poland?

Having had the vibrancy of faith stripped from them, many Poles have lost their relationship with God, their trust in the church and their hope for a better tomorrow. The average Polish person has no concept of God's redeeming love and grace and most feel they have to earn their way to heaven. Materialism, workaholism and alcoholism are evidences of a society focussed only on the happiness of the moment and not on the sustainability of a healthy balanced lifestyle. Graceland is in Polandto engage people in discussion about dynamic faith in Jesus Christ: the transformer of lives.

 

Why English?

As Poland emerges from years of Political oppression and strives to find its place in the European Union, people of all ages are wanting and needing to learn English. English is required for daily work, for advancement in careers, for technology, for general and advanced education and for personal enrichment. There is an opportunity to teach all levels of English to all kinds of people.

 

Why Bible-themed material?

Many langauge schools have popped up to profit from the need for English. Many schools process students as just another number and will use all sorts of material, some morally questionable, to teach English. At Graceland, we believe Bible-themed material offers a life giving message of hope as well as practical life applications. Every English student needs a text and so why not have it be a text that breathes life into their souls? We are committed to God-honouring materials in the class-room. For more info on our Bible-themed curriculum or to find out how to order curriculum for your school or ministry click here.

 

Do students pay for English classes?

Because Graceland reaches out to middle class business people, the students that come to Graceland pay a small amount for their classes. Graceland keeps class costs very low and consistently comes in lower than any other marketplace language schools. The amount that students pay doesn’t even cover the cost of facility rental let alone the costs of a Polish administrator.

 

Why not charge more for classes?

English is becoming an elitist thing in many Central and Eastern European countries. A young adult needs English to enter university. The public school system doesn’t prepare them for the tests necessary to enter university, so a student is forced to take private lessons. Private English Schools are popping up in every small city and town and charging huge prices making it impossible for poorer students to study, even those we would consider middle class. Adults who are struggling to make ends meet need English for business and can’t afford to take expensive classes when work or family might need them to “miss” a few classes. Most businesses will only pay for classes, provided none are missed and test results are high.

Graceland is stepping into the gap that these profiteering companies are creating and is allowing the average person to study English enabling them to take university tests, to succeed in business and to do the things that so many take for granted such as travel.

 

Can Graceland teachers earn money tutoring privately?

It is possible for teachers to earn money privately, but it is not legal. Getting a work permit in Poland is as difficult as anywhere and so we don’t allow our workers to accept money for any extra classes they teach. We also believe that with money not being a focus for teachers that they will be able to concentrate their time and energy on ministry endeavours rather than extra tutoring for cash. All Graceland workers, except our Polish administrator, are funded by the generous donations of friends, family and churches.

 

How do I support Graceland?
Graceland relies on the generous donations of friends and churches. For more info click here.

 

How can I work with Graceland?
There are 4 ways to work with Graceland: as a volunteer in North America, as a Bible College Intern, as a full-time worker or as a short-term worker.