Job Discussion Forums

[IvanaShaanxi]

I have recently been contacted by their manager and asked for an interview. Could someone tell me about their experience in working in Turkey: what's an acceptable salary, do they provide accommodation, who pays for the bills. How do English teachers live over there?

Any piece of information is welcome as I know nothing either of the situation in the country or of the foreign teachers' treatment.

Thanks in advance

[EFL Educator]

Salaries are on the free fall these days due to Turkish Lira depreciaition against the dollar, expect to be paid in Turksih Lira...usual pay is around TL 2,300 -TL2,700 per month or less. expect sharing accomodation with one or two roommates...or an accomodation allowance which isn't sufficient enough to have one's own private apartment...also expect work permit hurdles due to changes towards western native English speakers teaching in Turkey and the Turkish schools replacing them with Turkish non-native speakers...and lastly expect to be teaching around 30 contact hours 6 days a week...and maybe even more. Oh and I forgot you have to pay for your own airfare to get there. Savings are next to impossible....enjoy Turkey!

[Kim Macintosh]

I'll echo EFL Educator.....

For schools like ET, as opposed to universities hiring people with formal teaching credentials and advanced degrees, this is the reality of things. Bear in mind, however, that this pay assumes a standard 30 hr/wk @ 20TL/hr: If stretched to 40, which may happen, you may do over 3000---you'll also be begging to go back to 30.

You CAN save money if you eat like a local person and put-up with the shared housing. Beer can break you, and if you eat an all-American diet the cost of food isn't going to be a lot different. Its amazing across the board how many things aren't that much different in cost if you insist on Western products and standards. Especially going outside of Istanbul, however, the cost of housing does drop significantly.

All that said, it is a living. And if you watch your wallet you'll be able to save enough for travel (airfares to Europe can be cheap) and your ticket home.