Job Discussion Forums

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

I am not sure what you meant in your first paragraph. You know as well as I do what kind of teachers you get with the hourly pay and conditions on offer at ET. I am not the only exception because I am older, have qualifications and am not a backpacker, there are others as you know.

You were talking mainly about salaries and hours. I haven`t really worked in TEFL in W. Europe other than doing my CTEFLA in Spain, a little summer work there and a little summer school stuff in UK. But of course pay is terrible there and basically forget it. But that only proves my point, TEFL is TEFL and some countries are worse than others.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Oh I thought that there was a paragraph break where you put the emoticon. It looked like it to me.

Are you really going to be pedantic enough not to reply because of that. I didn`t complain the other day when you asked me two questions which were really three.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I don't disagree that there are low hourly rates in the efl scene in Istanbul and a lot of back packer teachers. Where they work I dont know as I am no there longer involved in the Dershane side of things. What I still can't work out is why you work at ET. I'm sorry 31 but I don't think you do. Someone with your experience qualifications and knowledge could do better. Why would you choose to work with backpacker teachers, if they are. Again I only have your word. The ET from my time yes there were back packers. I didn't want them but had no choice. Teachers all got paid the same regardless of qualifications and experience. The ET of the present day I don't know. Do you get paid more than other teachers because of your qualifications and experience. As i have said in previous posts places change and Et now is a very different place than it was 4 years ago. So please 31 if you do indeed work there why did you decide to work amongst the people you described a few posts ago

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

You have a rough idea of the pay rates. New teachers get the bog standard unless they can prove they deserve more and those few who re-enlist get a little more. The pay rate is not so much the problem, it is the fact that you can`t guarantee what you will get each month and so can`t plan. Holidays are punishments because instead of being able to enjoy yourself you are thinking about how much this is costing you.

As I said in a previous post there are advantages and disadvantages to all tefl jobs in Ist and anywhere else. ET does have nice students and you can do your own thing up to a point in the classroom. Nobody bothers you as long as you keep the punters happy. The dross cause so much agro that it is a piece of cake working there.

whynotme · Joined: 07 Nov 2004 Posts: 728 Location: istanbul

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

i checked the website and saw two schools want their teachers have similar standarts

Lack of standards more like

yaramaz · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 7:17 am Post subject:

As far as I know everybody at the Suadiye branch of EF has a degree and Celta, and about half of us have work permits and the other half are in the process of getting one for next season. I think with EF it depends on the individual owners to set the standards- and maybe in China you dont need a BA or Celta for a work permit so it isn't asked for. Whether EF with maintain this standard in the future, I don't know, but speaking for the present, they haven't succumbed to the backpacker standard.

BTW, are backpackers really so bad? (speaking as a person who backpacked a lot for many years on-off before settling into teaching-- and who was able to actually do a good job at the jobs I held and never broke a contract)

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Thanks to hitch hike Jack now we know why Liz is desperatly trawling for any native speakers who will work for hourly pay.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Nice little quote about Interlang:

''In my experience most language schools are miserable places, bucket shops whose owners shamelessly claim that the flotsam and jetsam they employ are highly-qualified, hand-picked professionals.''

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Where is the quote from?

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

you mean Cresswell-turner?
http://www.englishdroid.com/guestarticles/cresswellturner.html
It will come as no surprise to you 31 but i disagree with most of what he says

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

It comes as no surprise. And of course he generalises massively and is talking more or less exclusively about the language school industry, particularly in Italy. He is actually a writer about Italian affairs and is a serious writer on Italian affairs. But I realise what he says is partially true and have met many sad cases like the 40 year olds he mentions. The language school industry is apalling-you got out of it. From what you say your employer is vastly different. He is right -unless tefl teachers are very very careful they do get left behind-what employer pays for training and qualifications compared to the world outside?Also EFl sucks the young, naiive, single and inexperienced in and spits them out later when they are older, married, experienced and not so naiive. You have seen the job ads-21-35 or 40. QAC is/was one of the few places that older teflers could get jobs.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

It just gets worse. Interlang is now advertising for teachers and DOSes on edunet.com and spot the spelling howler. You would have thought that they could have got language school right.

TESOL TEFL Teacher
Qualified EFL Teachers plus Director of Studies at private langauge school in Istanbul.