Job Discussion Forums

alexis · Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 20 Location: Asheville, NC

My husband and I have our three children with us. We have been in China teaching English since August and would like to try teaching in Turkey when our contracts expire in June. We like China in general but we are very frustrated because teaching English here is a joke and no one cares 2 cents what you do. We teach in a primary school and have thought about changing over to a public Univeristy or College but we hear that these are just as bad. We currently hold B.A.'s and TEFL's. We are both enrolling with our University back in the States to complete our Master's. My B.A. is in Business and I do not which would make me more marketable a Master's in Business or one in Education. We have also thought of getting our TESOL in hopes this might help us land jobs in Europe. Can anyone give us suggestions on how to approach this?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Who will pay for the children's schools ?

alexis · Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 20 Location: Asheville, NC

Our children are schooled at home

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

If you both get MAs in TESOL, you could get jobs at a private university such as Koc or Sabanci. They pay decently and the housing is nice. I know Koc subsidizes schooling (some) if it is done at a Koc school. Otherwise, I don't think you could afford to work at a language school

alexis · Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 20 Location: Asheville, NC

Thank you, I will try that. What is living in Turkey like. China is pretty polluted and the people really stare alot. Is it the same in Turkey?

calsimsek · Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 775 Location: Ist Turkey

All the top schools will help with your kids. Pay here is much better than China and in general from what I know air pollution is alot less in Turkey. In Istanbul it was pretty bad when I first got here. Now well over 60% of the city has natural gas heating so the winter coal smog is over with.
AS for people staring alot. It depends on you and your location. You could walk down Bagdat Cad (Street) in summer with next to nothing on and no one would look at you, on the otherhand go to Faith or Sultanbey in a short dress and people will stare and talk.
Work is no problem for you. Tons of it

alexis · Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 20 Location: Asheville, NC

Can you give us the direction on how to start finding the better jobs in Turkey. We are going to pursue our Master's in TESOL and will be finished after our next contract in China ends. Could you also recommend an area in Turkey that would be nice to live with teenagers?

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

calsimsek · Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 775 Location: Ist Turkey

Hey alexis

There is alot of work here, find it over the web or english papers. If you want to work legal like start looking for a job. The paperwork will take well over 4 months. Most schools (K-12) start looking for new staff every year around April, May and June. If your kids are teenagers, then you really have no choice either Izmir or Antalya if you like the sun and want ot swim alot. For me the only choice is İstanbul/Asian side.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

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

i haven't lived on the asian side, but i don't think i could. people who live there exclaim about the quiet and greenery, but having lived at koc univ campus, those are not high on my list. i like the history and energy of the european side.

ImanH · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 214 Location: Istanbul

I've lived on both sides and definitely prefer the Asian side, especially given my view of the cloud of smog hanging over the old town and surrounding areas.

ImanH · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 214 Location: Istanbul

I've lived on both sides and definitely prefer the Asian side, especially given my view of the cloud of smog hanging over the old town and surrounding areas.