Job Discussion Forums

[joshsweigart]

I am currently in the application process with Bilkent University in Ankara. They offer free Delta and a Master's degree in Educational management if you successful complete your first year. I have been teaching in Poland for the past few years and will have completed a master's degree in education through a different work-study program.
I was wondering if anyone could tell me about Bilkent, current teachers out there? Is the school well-respected, well-known? I am thinking of eventually doing a Ph.d. somewhere and would like the opportunity to publish. Is Bilkent known for this?

On a less serious note...what is the social life like in Ankara? I see a lot of messages about drinking, are there a lot of expats around? How are the Turks for casual conversation. How about the women? I'll be single if I go? I know that they are mostly Muslim. How much is this adhered to?

Any info on any of these topics would be greatly appreciated. Poland has been great for the good times but I think that I need to start focusing.

thanks

[dmb]

I know someone who did the dip at bilkent. I think you have to sign up for a couple of years after finish or pay the fee backs. he totally rated the course. sorry I can't comment on the social scene of Ankara. But kizilay doesn't come close to Beyoglu.

[Faustino]

It seems that you would be joining the Communist People's Republic of Bilkentigrad for the right reasons.

If it's professional development and qualifications you're after, then there are fewer finer opportunities in Turkey.

[joshsweigart]

Thanks for the replies that I've received so far.

What's an average Friday or Saturday night like in Ankara? Are you guys on the forum mostly homebodies, young, old? I've noticed that a lot of the other forums around discuss the social scenes in the various countries/cities. What's it like there?

[Faustino]

It's not as good as Istanbul. Compare it to a mid-sized city in the American mid-west; lots of conveniences and just about everything you need if you've got a mode of transport to get there.

[ghost]

Ghost lived and studied at Tomer, Ankara - July 2003. Has also stayed and visited Istanbul various times.

Advantages of Ankara over Istanbul.

1. Cheaper than Istanbul....and easier for travelling. Once you are downtown in Ankara, you can walk everywhere you need to, including the cheaper part of the City - Ulus.

2. Best deals for meals in Turkey....thanks to the thousands of office workers and students who converge on the restaurants which serve 3-4 course meals for just 2 yeni lira.......unbeatable prices for food.

3. Cooler and drier in the spring/summer/autumn months. More pleasant climate than Istanbul, with much less humidity...thanks to the altitude (750 metres above sea level).

4. Accommodation available at very decent prices, especially in the Ulus area.....where Hotels can be had for about $8-$12 U.S. a night....and even less if you stay long term and pay in advance. You can also elect "homestay" options through Tomer Language Institute if you take a course there.

5. Best Tomer Language school in the country, with fascinating contact with students from every country world wide who come to study Turkish Language and Culture at Tomer through scholarship programs. When ghost studied at Tomer he had Israelis, Kenyans, Japanese, Koreans, Mongolians, Quataris, Bangladeshis and different Europeans as classmates.....very interesting social exchange....and unique to Ankara.

Disadvantages of Ankara:

1. Cold winters, with temperatures sometimes dipping to minus 20, although the average is not that bad at about 0 degrees celsius (32 fahrenheit).

2. Can be a bit boring once you have seen all there is to see, in Kizilay, etc....

3. Not as much choice for entertainment, bookshops, sporting events, etc...as Istanbul.

4. The people in Ankara, while not unfriendly, tend to be less outgoing than people in Istanbul.....they are somewhat reserved in Ankara.

Advantages of Istanbul:

1. More stuff to do and see than Ankara.

2. Better nightlife, with wider choices compared with Ankara.

3. Closer proximity to Bulgaria, Greece, etc....for those on three month tourist visas. Easy to travel to those countries.

4. Plenty of stuff to do to suit all tastes and hobbies, from music, cinema, concerts, sporting events....with professional soccer and basketball clubs among the best in Europe.

5. Milder climate in winter than Ankara, although it can be wet and chilly.

6. Surprisingly "outgoing" and friendly Turks despite the extraordinary size of the city (close to 20 million....). More chances to socialize with people compared with Ankara, where people tend to be more reserved with foreigners.

Disadvantages of Istanbul:

1. More expensive, especially in the centre of Istanbul and the tourist parts of town like Sultanhamet.....accommodation can be very pricey in select areas.

2. Longer travel to get to and from work, eating up hours of your day.

3. The heat and humidity in summer can wear you down.

4. More competition for EFL positions in Istanbul, which is a haven for backpackers and other people escaping the "rat race" in their countries of origin.

5. An increase in crime in the last few years. Some female teachers in Istanbul complain of frequent "stalking" incidents.

Depends what you want. Many people claim Ankara is boring, and that may be so compared with Istanbul.....but the difference is not as great as people would have you believe.....in fact you can find everything in Ankara that you have in Istanbul, but in less quantity and at a smaller scale.

If you want to save money....Ankara is a better option. If you are a party animal (like Yaramaz and co...) then Istanbul is close to heaven .....at least from a Turkish standpoint.

[yaramaz]

I am not a party animal, ghost. What drugs are you on???

[travelingirl68]

I was thinking the same thing Yaramaz, was going to ask you about that - and we have never even met in person... This colors my opinion of everything ghost has said even more!

[ghost]

[Faustino]

They have places for people who want to live nun-like existences, nunneries. Where does ghost live out a ghost-like existence.

Why are all you people applying to Bilkent? Have they started advertising on TEFL.com or something? Please consider other options, PM me for info about Istanbul.

[Irish]

[yaramaz]

ghost, my dear fellow, you met me for only a few days near the end of my first year in Kayseri and are basing everything you know about me on the heresay reported by that lovely flatmate of yours in Eski who also relayed not so true or flattering info about you. Kindly take all with a large shaker of salt and refrain from gossiping about petty nonsense on a public forum. If you do this again I will report you to the moderators.

[howmucharefags]

Ghostie. Don't judge everybody by your own dull standards. Some people actually enjoy a drink now and again. In Eskisehir you didn't attend one party and you were intent on staying in your hotel room on New Years Eve for God's sake! Get a grip. Where are you anyway?

[calsimsek]

Well done one and all. Three weeks and were back . Thank you Ghost for your ideas, about people you seem not to know. Anyway it was fun holding hands and singing . (Now my spelling is crap as I have said in the past, so here goes) What are the words to Kum Buy Ar my lord kum buy ar. Thats a camp fire song I think. So now take the gloves off. From a land far away a ?ank sorry yank come to tell us all. So yaramaz, you don't know yourself at all. Keep silent at let the ghost spirt do his thing.

Three Weeks . So good, yet not good enough. Please Forgive your children Mr K. we will repent.

[yaramaz]

Aye, Calsimsek, I don't know myself as well as ghost. He can be in a country for a few months and emerge as an expert, just as he can fleetingly meet a person several years ago and know all there is to know about their life and character. Therefore I will cease commenting on this forum and let ghost speak for me.