Job Discussion Forums

[butterfingers]

Hello, I'm looking into a country change for the next academic year or even after Christmas, I'm currently living in Korea, the money is great but I need a change after 6 years! I'm looking into schools in Istanbul, I'm really interested in Aci pre-school as I had a friend go there 2 years ago and she said the pay was great! However I don't think she stayed?!!

Anyone out there got any info on this school? also just on life in general in Turkey? How do American's fit in there? Can people speak English?

Thanks.

[bulgogiboy]

[pamjane]

Hi,
As with any school, you'd hear a mixed bag of experiences. Compared with [my experience with schools in] Korea, the administration puts more trust in their teachers and supports them well. I feel like I actually get to teach here. Turkish children are wild, though, and their behavior will come as a shock after 6 years of teaching in Korea.

I felt like more of an outsider in Korea than I do here. More people spoke English in Seoul than they do in Istanbul, but Turkish people are less shy about trying out the English they do know.

[futbolfan]

Do NOT go to work at Aci Preschool. They have something like a 90% turnover rate for foreign teachers each year. Some don't even finish a year, it's so bad there.

[Webster1218]

Does anybody know how much they pay at ACI, there was no amount mentioned in the posting?????

[coz0630]

i work there now...the place is a nightmare!!!

[sohniye]

Hello,

I am resurecting this thread as I am considering taking a position at this school. I have a MA in Education, but am going into my first full year of teaching so the offered pay is 2,500 a month, this includes rent and utilities.

I have been to Turkey before and really enjoyed it and would like to come back, not certain however if I would be able to save on 2,500 living modestly.

I am just wondering for those of you who did not enjoy working there what exactly was it that was so bad?

I have read some past posts and things like a lot of paperwork which to me seems pretty standard and necessary to the profession, really drive people away. Maybe it's because I have teacher background but I expect to be asked to do things like that. Someone said the turnover rate is around 90%---why is that?

Is the school supportive of teachers, do you feel like you are actually teaching or is this just glorified babysitting? Does the school act ethically towards students and teachers? These are things I am concerned about.

Cheers,

Sohniye

[delal]

Excuse my cynicism but after 10 years in Turkey good luck with your quest for a school which "acts ethically towards students and teachers" (hilarious). When you find it, let us all know.

[Amy Youngblood]

[sohniye]

PM sent to you Amy

[JLS89]

Is all this criticism just for the Aci Preschool? I was offered a job working at one of Aci's other schools, and I have been a little bit concerned about it ever since I read this post.

[sconadott]

Hi all,

I'm also considering a job offer from one of Aci's primary schools so it would be great to hear from more people who have worked there recently. Everyone's experiences will be so different as everyone has different standards.

Amy, your post is worrying me! What exactly do you mean by endless demands/last minute things? Could you give an example? You also mention the long days... How long? I was told that the teachers generally arrive in school at 7.50-8am and stay until 5-5.30pm. Did you find there was much work to be done outside those working hours? Although, as I said, I would be working in a primary school, not a pre school, so it may be different.

Sohniye and JLS89,
Have you made any decisions yet regarding your job offers?

[miss smarty]

From my perspective, as a former employee of this institution, you must be adaptable. Things change constantly and there is no consistency. You will be told to do one thing, and be told to do it another way last minute. Being flexible is a must! The lack of opportunities for professional development and the school's lack of support for Turkish language development are some vices to consider. As the school is expanding its campuses, you will find that the program is becoming more scripted. Thus, this type of teaching style restricts creative opportunities for the teachers.

The hours are long- it�s a REAL job. Generally, I wake up at 6:40 and get to school around 7:45. You must be at school by 8 am and stay until 5:00 pm. You do have to work on some Saturdays. For example, in December, they have a Family Fun Day, where you are doing holiday crafts with the children. Generally, the parents are supposed to do the crafts with them.

You really need to have thick skin when working here because the parents alone are going to tear you apart. They thrive on your mistakes and they LOVE to gossip about you to the other parents. They have �parties� just so they can talk about you. They also love to come to the meetings to tell you �what they have heard about you� and why they think you are not qualified to teach their �precious� child. Yet you must put on a happy fa�ade for the parents. Everything is about making the parents happy and making sure your appearance is polished.

You are partnered up with a Turkish teacher, however, be expected to do everything yourself. The native English teachers are paid more and as a result are expected to do more. You need to learn how to write Friday letters, write positive notes in the children�s communication books, be responsible for calling the parents when the children are absent, do the lesson planning, change the children�s clothes when they are sweaty (because if they are wet they will get sick-according to the Turkish culture), being in charge of the attendance, taking the children to their service buses at the end of the day, writing their reports, and making sure the children put on their school shoes first thing in the morning and put on their home shoes before they go home. You also have to talk more since you are the native English speaker. It is not 50/50 and people need to be aware of this. From my experience, the Turkish teachers are more like aides in the classroom but they only can speak English and not Turkish.

I hope this helps and makes you more aware of what the reality of this place is like.

[BrotherJimma]

pm me for details

[lexharvey]

brother Jimma I have sent you a PM but I'm not sure why but it is stuck in my outbox. maybe your inbox is full?