Job Discussion Forums

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

I have just read these lies and can`t believe it. Please, please, please Molly tell me they are not true.

Attention

The following text is taken form the job information journal (Turkey) and was not written by me.

When I started at English Time, I was scheduled for 40 hours of teaching. I was not given my course materials until the day of the lesson. I was given additional courses to teach at a moments notice by means of a small pen-written note with an ironic smiley face scribbled on it. I worked from 9 in the morning until after 10 p.m. during the weekdays but only 9 until late afternoon during the weekends. I planned my lessons between 12 and 4 in the morning.

After 4 months of a 6 month 'contract', I needed to leave. When I informed the 'education manager' that I was leaving, she referred to some non-existent clause on my contract stating that if you quit you dont get your previous month's salary (which was over 800 ytl = around 600 dollars).

FGT · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Turkey

I find it hard to believe that anyone would work a 7 day week, in excess of 40 hours per week - the extra hours were not specified (implied 70 hours or so in the school per week); FOR FOUR MONTHS and then quit.

The penalty clause deprived the teacher of a month's salary - more than 800YTL. That is equal to an hourly rate (guestimating the hours actually taught) of approximately 4 YTL per hour. I don't think so.

Is my maths up the spout or is the poster?

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

OK, let me try again. Yes, sometimes teachers get late news and we are trying to make that better. They have to stay in touch with the head teacher, look at the baord, check their boxes, etc. SOme teachers don't have cell phones, which makes them mighty hard to get hold of.

When someone quits without notice they often will not get their salary. They put the students in a bad situation because it is hard to find cover for the class and there has to be some kind of punishment for leaving us in the lurch. Sometimes the teacher will get the previous month's salary but not the days of the month he/she quits in. And there is a clause in the contract saying that we can let the teacher go at any time, usually because he/she is a poor teacher or grossly flouts the rules (take note, 31).

From the amount of money (800 YTL), it must have been a long time ago, because if someone was teaching 40 hr/wk (too much, I know, but sometimes we get into a pinch for a while), the person would certainly make way more than 800.

Any more erroneous information I can deal with?

Scarred2 · Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 38

Molly,

A (loaded) question. Why do we spend so much time discussing ET? OK I know that I am one of those who seem to bring it up at every opportunity, which perhaps says more about me than ET! However the question is still there, teachers seem to complain more about this school than other schools. I don't think that ET is the worse school and it is certainly a lot better than some of the others - I am talking about the backstreet ones. Why then so many complaints? Are the owners aware of the school's reputation or do they not care?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

S2, I think it is just a matter of numbers. ET is the biggest group of schools at the mo so it has more teachers. If this site had been around 10 years ago then English Fast would dominate the discussions.

Scarred2 · Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 38

Yeah, I think you have a point there.

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

whew! thank you dmb.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

teacherdude · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 260

Man 31..your days are numbered dude.... Very Happy

TD

Faustino · Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 601

I think 31 probably works at Molly's branch. She just seems to know so much about the organisation. Can any of you actually imagine if she's Molly's superior, and all of the things she's written are true?

For clarification, I don't work for ET and never have done.

teacherdude · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 260

"She??"

I deduce that he was a "he."

Methinks probably from the Kad. Branch.

Oh well ... not my problem.
Good luck in your search Molly.

TD

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

They are all my branches, as I am not teaching now. My superior is the general manager, so it's not him.

think 31 is a he too, as women generally don't write like that about shagging students and most women don't feel they have to brag about another notch on their belt.

31 is not the highest item on my list, but if he is not perpetrating a hoax, then i will find him.

i never realized how much entertainment there would be on this thread and i certainly did not ever intend to inadvertently become the source of it... 31 didn't either, evidently, since he keeps leaving himself wide open.