Job Discussion Forums

[babaoreiley]

I have a BA in History and am finishing a TEFL certification program at Hamline University. I'm interested in working in Turkey, and would like to know some of the quality schools in Istanbul, Bursa, or Izmit. Maybe some of you Turkey-vets can help a motivated newbie find the best possible situation for his first teaching job. Any recommendations would greatly appreciated.

Also, is it as difficult to get a work visa in Turkey as I have been led to believe?

Thanks

[babaoreiley]

Thank you for the tip. And thanks for the PM Molly. I will get back to you soon.

Anybody else have any suggestions that they would like to share?

Again, thanks for the replies.

[ghost]

If you go to Izmit, be careful of the eggs there. Recent articles in the Turkish Press mentioned 'contaminated' eggs there.

Avoid eggs there at the present time. Ghost recommends 'kuru fasulye' (Turkish beans dish) as a good alternative to eggs...and the dish is healthy as well, contributing to part of your daily protein needs.

[babaoreiley]

Always good to know the egg situation in a country.

Thanks for the info

[Baba Alex]

[babaoreiley]

Sorry, I was unaware of other "babas" floating out there in cyberspace. I've used the name on-line for years, and it is my favorite "The Who" song.

Its good to know that there are plenty of opportunities in Istanbul. Since this is my first time out in the big ole' world, I would like to have something set-up before I arrive, with a school. But is this the best way to go about it? It definitely seems like the most secure way from this end. But would it be better just to show up and start pounding the pavement for jobs? And if so how much American currency is advisable to bring along with?

Also, I have only heard about English Time, so far. Are there some more schools in these areas (Istanbul, Izmit, Bursa, or even Izmir) that others could direct me towards with solid operations and a positive work environment?

Thanks

[molly farquharson]

no, ET is not offering 20/hr. Perhaps we should offer eggs as a benefit

[preston]

I'm the only BABA here

Funnily enough baba means spittle or dribble in Spanish

[calsimsek]

Off topic but who cares. Lots of jobs in the city, so don't worry you can take your pick,(nice to know that I was one of the last people to an hour off E.T over a year half ago) any now to the question that has been eatting me up all day.

WHAT SORT OR TYPE OF BABA ARE YOU BABA?

We need to know befor we give you the Crown of Babahood.

[Baba Alex]

[babaoreiley]

Not exactly sure how to answer that one, considering that I just found ot that it means spit or dribble (according to preston) in Espanol. What kind of "Baba" am I? You will have to clarify the criteria before I can offer up what kind of a "Baba" I am. Strange, I have never thought that much about the name itself, until now. Maybe Baba Alex has a better definition of himself, in regards to his "Baba"-ness.

The original "Baba O'Riley" is a song by The Who. I changed the spelling of my "baboreiley" in order to avoid possible lawsuits from Pete Townshend or Roger Daltry for copyright infringement. I honestly don't think Keith Moon or John Entwhistle would have cared; but, unfortunately, they have both moved on from this plane of existence. Perhaps getting in touch with a The Who fanclub member could direct one to the correct definition of what, in fact, a "Baba" is or isn't. I am a life-long The Who fan, but apparently not committed enough to know the real story behind the name or the song, for that matter.

Anyway, thanks so much for the information to date. Its good to know that getting a job won't be that difficult, apparently. The work visa might be a different story, but not everything in life is peachy. Keep feeding me information about life in Turkey, good places to work, places that I should avoid, and any other relevent information you might think up.

All inquiries on personal "Baba"-ness will be addressed. Any insights into its deeper meanings or philosophy will also be welcomed. Perhaps together we can establish what the essence of "Baba" is, and then maybe we can crown a king.

Thanks again, and keep giving me info.[/u]

[whynotme]

baba meand father in Turkish.it is also a nickname given to tough men or they give themselves this name .... they usually say things like
"Call me babawhynotme i am a baba and i am the only baba in this neighbourhood, if u have a problem come to me i solve it ...if there is any one to beat , i am the baba i do it.... you can not do anything without asking me if you do , you will see the anger of baba"

you know what we call them "şambabası" or "iskelebabası"

the godfatfather= baba( turkish translation of the film)

[babaoreiley]

Well, whynotme has definitely made it clear to me that I need to take some Turkish lessons before I disembark to the land of Ataturk. I guess knowing a lot about the history of a country and people is not enough, although I think that it will help. Any reccomendations on tapes or videos for learning beginner's Turkish?

According to whynotme's definition of "baba," it does not appear that I am worthy of any "baba"-related title. Seeing that I am no one's father nor particularly tough, it would not be fitting. Perhaps Baba Alex fits the profile better.

Thanks for all the info so far, its been very helpful. Keep it coming. Also, thanks for the entertaining direction this thread has taken. Its been fun.

[the pusherman]

I thought you might like to know that 'baba' also means 'peasant woman' in Russian.
I think this has got a little off the point. As far as I'm aware, and I only know about Istanbul, if you're serious about your teaching and you want to work for a language school don't work for ET. I would rather recommend English First or the English Centre. As it's so easy for English teachers to get a job here, this means you can be choosy about where you go. Find out about pay and conditions, but also about what the school does to promote teacher development, how many students you get to a class, and how many hours you'd be expected to teach at a time.
Hope this is some help.

[molly farquharson]

baba, if you worked for ET, it must have been a while ago. We don't pay the best of the best, but we pay on time and we expect our teachers to be professional. We have worked very hard to streamline the system and I think, as I have said before, that it is quality. We also have professional development (I am on the road these days with some seminars). It is also hard to get away from ET, since we have grown to be very big and own several other language schools. I would be happy to address any of your specific concerns (without bickering ) here or privately.