What our teachers say

Real voices. Real experiences.

Paul McCarthy

I have been an ESL teacher for over ten years, and my time with IH Bydgoszcz was hands down my favourite place to work. Flights to the city are direct from Dublin (God bless Ryanair), and Bydgoszcz itself is a hidden gem. It strikes that perfect balance between modernity and tradition, with stunning architecture, magical winters, and gorgeous summers. Travel to other cities like Gdańsk is easy thanks to Poland’s excellent train network. My only regret is that I didn’t start exploring beyond Bydgoszcz sooner—there’s so much to enjoy right there in the city. I loved the bars, restaurants, comedy gigs, clubs, festivals, and the peaceful treks through the surrounding woods.

The students were a huge part of what made the experience special. They were eager to learn, which made lessons rewarding and fun, and they truly appreciated the effort I put in. I was initially nervous about teaching young learners, as I had the least experience with that age group, but they ended up being some of my favourite classes.

My colleagues were incredible. Grzegorsz (I still don’t know if I’m spelling that right!) was kind, generous, and hilarious. The secretaries solved problems with warm smiles before you even realised there was a problem. And Emma is the single best DOS I’ve ever had—completely approachable, and she strikes the perfect balance between guidance and independence. Perhaps I was lucky with the group of teachers I had alongside me, but I couldn’t have asked for better.

I can’t recommend IH Bydgoszcz highly enough if you’re considering where to work. Whether you’re new to teaching or experienced, you’ll find excellent support and encouragement. I was already experienced when I arrived, but even then, I learned a lot. Honestly, I could have saved myself plenty of mistakes if I’d started my career there!

Katharine Dorpman

I started my teaching career at IH Bydgoszcz and could not have chosen a better place to be a newly-qualified teacher. The academic team and all of my fellow teachers were extremely helpful and supportive at all times. The professional development is unparalleled and I learnt so much in my three years there. I made life-long friends and built an excellent foundation that has supported every step of my career since.

Callum Domigan

The management team at IH Bydgoszcz are the most supportive team I’ve ever worked with, their door is always open and the ongoing personal development is great, especially for new teachers.

Hershey Villalino

My experience at IH Bydgoszcz was truly exceptional. The students were a joy to teach—engaged, curious, and always eager to communicate. As a new teacher, I really appreciated the supportive environment within the school. The lead teachers and my mentor offered thoughtful guidance and practical tips through observations and feedback, and the PD trainings and school events provided so many opportunities to grow. The directors and admin team were consistently welcoming, open-minded, and ready to help whenever I needed support. The working hours were also very manageable and flexible, which made it easy to maintain a healthy balance and enjoy exploring the city. Overall, IH Bydgoszcz gave me a wonderful foundation as a teacher, and I’m truly grateful for my time there.

Alex Ghedin

What made my time at IH Bydgoszcz truly memorable was the team. I felt supported from day one. The senior teachers were always ready to help, and the staff as a whole created a really positive atmosphere and made the school feel like a place where I could learn and enjoy coming to work each day. I grew a lot professionally thanks to them! Thank you 🙂

Emilia Fereday

During my time at IH Bydgoszcz, I really appreciated the strong focus on teacher development. The Friday workshops, yearly conferences, and observation feedback all played a huge role in shaping my teaching practice, and I’m still using many of the methods and techniques I learned there. I also have very fond memories of the supportive team and the positive atmosphere at the school, it was a great place to grow as a teacher.

Gwilym Piette

There can't be many better places to develop as a teacher than IH Bydgoszcz. The school is perfectly set up to support teachers, with great organisation, brilliant administrative and teaching staff and some of the best students I have ever worked with. Whether you're new to teaching or a more experienced teacher looking to develop further and experience new things, IH Bydgoszcz is a great place to succeed!

Valerie Gunthel

What I valued most during my time at IH Bydgoszcz was the genuinely supportive working environment, which gave me the space and guidance to grow as a teacher. The weekly team meetings were particularly impactful. They not only strengthened my understanding of how to deliver the curriculum effectively, but also deepened my skills in classroom management, constructive error correction, and maintaining student engagement across different ages and proficiency levels.
I also greatly appreciated having a personal mentor, as well as the collaborative lesson- planning sessions. These moments of teamwork—whether brainstorming activities or refining challenging grammar points—created a sense of shared purpose without ever feeling like micromanagement. On the contrary, I always felt encouraged, trusted, and well supported.
I am especially grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from such a diverse group of teachers and to benefit from Emma’s insightful leadership. Additionally, I also hold the school’s commitment to maintaining an up-to-date curriculum in high regard. The yearly meetings with publishers to select the most suitable and relevant materials for each age group and level demonstrate a level of professionalism and dedication that consistently impressed me.
Overall, IH Bydgoszcz stands out as the most well-run and professional organization I have worked for, and I remain proud to have been part of the team, as the experience continues to mean a great deal to me.

Ash Simpson

Looking back, what I appreciated most about working at IH Bydgoszcz was the support network; great colleagues, amazing office staff, and Mr. G himself, I always felt like everyone had my back if I had any questions or issues. Although the high standard of the school was tiring at times, I think I learnt a lot in a relatively short amount of time, and the (almost) weekly workshops were so good to have in retrospect (especially now that I'm freelance and I have virtually no input unless I seek it out myself). The last thing is the fact that IHB gave me the opportunity to teach so many different profiles, whether they were YLs, teens, adults, big groups, small groups, one-to-ones, beginners up to near-native speakers – I had them all.
Something I really enjoyed was being a little off the beaten track. Had it not been for teaching, and IHB by extension, I may never have discovered Poland and all it has to offer, never mind ending up spending 4 years of my life there. I'd fully recommend it to anyone.

Kyle Blythe

As a new teacher, I’ve found the support from the senior team and my colleagues at IH Bydgoszcz invaluable. Everyone is happy to help and generous in sharing ideas and activities drawn from their wide range of experience. It’s clear that each teacher’s development and well-being are genuinely valued. The collaborative, friendly spirit in our staffrooms naturally carries over into our classrooms, ultimately enriching our communicative teaching practices. I'm excited to grow as a teacher with IH Bydgoszcz's support.

Eva Allen

My time at IH Bydgoszcz was genuinely memorable. I really valued the great rapport I had with both the team and the students; the atmosphere was always supportive, collaborative, and full of positive energy. I also appreciated having the space to be creative in my teaching while still working within a clear and reliable structure. It struck a perfect balance that helped me grow as a teacher and made each day enjoyable

Enda Cahill

The support offered at the school is great. The senior team is really experienced and very hands on in terms of professional development. The workshops have been very useful and I've learned a lot since starting here in September. Not only is the academic support really good at the school, but Grzegorz, Mariola, Marta and the rest of the behind-the-scenes team are incredibly helpful when it comes to the day-to-day of expat life in Bydgoszcz.

James Hearsum

I spent seven wonderful months at IH Bydgoszcz a few years ago, and I cannot recommend the school highly enough for anyone looking to grow and develop as a teacher. Grzegorz Chruszcz (Director and co-owner) and Emma Wooding (Director of Studies) provide outstanding support, helping new teachers feel settled, confident, and at home in their surroundings.

The entire support team in Bydgoszcz is welcoming, approachable, and always ready to assist whenever needed. The school fosters a strong sense of camaraderie not only during working hours but also in free time, creating a genuine community atmosphere. From teaching assistance to guidance on settling into the city, the curriculum, training, and lesson planning—all are carefully thought through and delivered with great attention to detail.

If you decide to join the IH Bydgoszcz team, you will find yourself in an environment that truly values and supports its teachers. Even though my teaching journey there was only a short sabbatical, I continue to look back fondly on my time at IH Bydgoszcz and the special colleagues who made the school such a success.