Job Discussion Forums

comet · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 10

Hello again TEFLers,
I have been emailing a chain school in Istanbul named "INTERLANG" which so far has presented itself quite well! Does anyone know anything about this school? They offer shared accomodations rent-free, guaranteed 25-30 hours a week paid at an hourly rate (of HOW MUCH I don't know!), two days off each week, "relocation allowance" after completion of one year contract.
Also, "Once teacher has a work permit/Visa, school applies for teacher's residence permit in Istanbul."
Advice on reading between the lines of Turkish EFL school contracts would be greatly appreciated!

I think I should start off teaching in Istanbul rather than take a year long contract with "Academy of English" in Diyarbikir. Would you say this is wise?

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

PM me for the gos about Interlang (ET)

TeachEnglish · Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 239

Most contracts state bonuses and other good things after completion of one year contract and some go so far as to not give you what is promised until you sign the second contract. But ofcourse that little extra point is not always in the contract. From what I understand, you must apply for the work permit/visa in your home country. Once you have a job promised to you, you can apply for such permit. The whole process is screwy. My advice about permits and trying to beat most of this strange process, apply for a residence visa/permit in your home country. In my country, it was the same as applying for the tourist visa. When I came here, i had a month to take care of the paperwork to get my 1 year residence permit. You are not supposed to work with this type of permit, but you are not supposed to work without a work permit anyway, but most of these schools don't care. With the residence permit, it was easier to get the work permit because i did not have to go home again to apply for it. Most legitimate schools/language centers will give assistance for work permit. It is not a fun process, especially if you are on your own. With the 1 year residence permit, you do not have to do a border run every 3 months and you have a year to decide if you want to stay and go legal. Good luck PM me if you want more info. As far as Interlang, I was interviewed there and did not like the conditions.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Interlang used to be one of the top 3 schools. Now I am not sure. In the past year I know of two people who worked there. One was a success and enjoyed it. The other hated it and left. There are 2 sides to every school. (btw the one who liked it got all the bonuses, etc)

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

I think it is better to get the tourist visa at the airport and then get the residence permit. My understanding is that once you have the res permit for 6 mo you can get a work permit here. it is lot easier to have the school handle it than to do it yourself. Also, you might be sitting in your home country for a very long time waiting for someone to finally shift your paper to the right desk.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Don't forget you cannot work if you are on a tourist visa or just hold a residence permit.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

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

it used to have a good reputation and then the owner ran it into the ground and THEN it was bought by ET. The teachers hadn't been paid in a long time, and it is my understanding that they were paid when ET took over.

Now that 31 is such an expert on Interlang, perhaps he works there?

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

When ET took over Interlang it did not pay the teachers. They were left with nothing. PM justme if you want to confirm this.

I did work part time for Interlang many years ago.

bron · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 88

The hourly rate for a Band 1 teacher -- which is where you'll begin, regardless of experience -- is YTL13.50, I believe, or possibly 13.75. I was on Band 2, YTL15.00, after an academic year's worth of work. If you have a year's experience, you will move up to Band 2 after your probation ends.

You won't get a work visa, and the housing is not great, but I stayed in it for all my time there with no ill effects, and actually managed to get one place at least to seem like "home" for quite a while.

I enjoyed most of my year and a half at Interlang, but the end of it was very, very ugly. I escaped most harm and got everything that was owing me after I resigned with a month's notice, but about five of my colleagues were not treated nearly so well at various times.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Starting hourly wage of 5 pounds an hour.

No work permit.

Harm and hassle when you want to leave.

ET continues to lower the bar wherever it goes.

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

ET is ET and Interlang is Interlang. When ET bought Interlang, the general manager told me the owner was going to pay the teachers with the money he got. It is not ET's fault that he didn't, though I am sorry for the teachers who got burned. Now the teachers get paid regularly.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Of course the general manager knew all along that the teachers would not get paid. Why would he care? Levent the part owner of Interlang and the founder of Interlang is now living in San Francisco. Living the American dream no doubt.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397