Job Discussion Forums

gloomyGumi · Joined: 29 Dec 2010 Posts: 353

I worked 6 mos at English Time on Istiklal and 1 yr 6 mos at Just English (I worked each week at 4 branches, traveling my ass off between Sisli, Besiktas, Sirinevler, and Bakirkoy)(split shifts, too)--- but never do any of the course books contain defining and non-defining relative clauses, cleft sentences, active and passive and causative forms, reported speech, reporting verbs, conditionals, etcetcetc. in fact the books were lousy and students were bored and if I tried to prepare a lesson using the above grammar points they didnt understand it. These were uni students going to Beyazit, Marmara, etc.

what kinds of schools in Turkey would need teachers to teach the above grammar points??? I dont wanna work at any more of these cram schools.
Am teaching in SE Asia now but wanna go back to Anatolia. Gotta make 3000 lira per month or it aint worth it. Any advice please?

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 10:31 am Post subject:

This isn't difficult grammar. It is quite basic. The students are stupid or lazy. Probably both.

Dershanes in Istanbul seem to attract the worst students, who failed academically at school, and continue to fail at uni. No surprises that they fail in a language course. These places are all the same, it seems to me.

Better off coming to Russia : )

gloomyGumi · Joined: 29 Dec 2010 Posts: 353

I would come to Ruussia in a heart beat if I knew anything about the place. I only got a bachelors degree in English, a Masters degree in Marketing, and 7 years TEFL teaching experience, the last 2 years being at a university. I am 50 and am a bit tired/lazy to go and do a CELTA right now. But if I have to then I must. What could I get in Russia, mate?

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 10:44 am Post subject:

Students who can learn. Satisfaction of doing a job which shows tangible results. Living in a culture that values learning, literature, and doesn't baulk at a little mental effort. (Still cheats openly in exams, though: ) )

There is plenty of opportunity to make a comfortable living teaching privates on the side too. So, don't be put off by adverts offering just a grand a month.

And then there is the social life. No moralising about alcohol or women. No one bats an eye. Very unlike Turkish neighbours, that : ))

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 10:45 am Post subject:

Do the Celta in Moscow! Live the dream!

billy orr · Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 229

The grammar points mentioned in the OP are in most decent course books, for example Face2Face, those structures appear in the pre-intermediate, intermediate and upper-intermediate books. Sadly it is up to the customer to recognise what type of school they are attending. Some students might not want to be challenged, only want nice easy things to do so that they pass the course and can tell whoever is paying for the course how well they've done. That type of student won't care that the choice of materials is done for commercial, not pedagogic reasons. Many other students are more discerning and choose language schools that use better materials.

Shalana · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 150 Location: Istanbul

If you have your heart set on coming back to Turkey, you could try getting on at a uni. You'd get 3000 lira minimum and decent grammar books.

gloomyGumi · Joined: 29 Dec 2010 Posts: 353

thanks to Sasha, bill orr, SHelana, and the others. Hmmmmmmmm

Sasha does have a point about the moralizing, haha. Hmmmmmmmmm

CELTA in Moscow......... CELTA in Ist............... eeny meeny Smile

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 7:54 am Post subject:

Join the Party! Forget the corrupt land of Osman. Join a resurgent power that will at last annex the Bosphorus!!