Job Discussion Forums

[comet]

Hello to all you TEFL-ers in Turkey!

I am a Canadian who has taught EFL overseas in a predominantly muslim country - Indonesia for one year - and lots of ESL within Canada, and am now ready to leave the safe comfort-zone of Canada to experience the more exciting land of Turkey, to which for some reason I feel really drawn.

My plan is to fly to England, then get a cheap stand-by or seat sale ticket with Ryan Air, fly to eastern Greece, then take a bus to Istanbul. That route was recommended to me by friends who had taught in Turkey before - any other suggestions?

Also, I haven't been able to find a job with any of the Universities, which I've been told are the best avenues to go for teaching EFL. (although I too had an offer with the Academy in Diyarbikir - which I am happy fell through after reading all of your feedback about the city and area).
By the sounds of it, the private schools are kind of sketchy - don't pay that much, strange hours, questionable contracts, don't provide accomodation - Is it possible to tutor privately and make a decent income on that alone?


Question for the women EFL-ers in TURKEY:
I have some money saved and was planning on checking out several cities in Turkey and then choosing one to live in. Which cities are the most comfortable - ie. liberal minded - for western women to live in? I'd like to be able to walk around by myself (at least during the day) without it being a problem.

Your input is greatly appreciated! CHEERS!

[molly farquharson]

I hear it's a looongg bus ride from Greece, but you would certanly see the countryside. At most univs you need a masters degree, so if you don't have that, you won't get on at the better ones, and it is too late anyway. Not all language schools are sketchy, our resident grouch notwithstanding, and you are likely to be hired by any of them. I don't do privates, but I hear that you need connections to get them and they can be erratic. They usually pay well, though.

As far as being a woman in Turkey is concerned, I think you could live anywhere, but probably Istanbul and the other large cities are best. In smaller places you would get a lot of stares and curiosity until they got used to you. Turkish men stare but usually don't touch and if you are local, they will be protective of you.

I think wherever you land, you will enjoy Turkey.

[tekirdag]

I have been in Turkey for many years and have always found private lessons to be a problem. They are erratic, as Molly wrote, and are hard to find when you don't know local people. Turks don't trust very easily, it seems, and hire people mostly through who they know.

I don't live in Istanbul now. Where I am is MUCH easier for a woman. Istanbul had many perverts and I was grabbed and followed many times.
On the flip side of that coin, as a foreigner, Istanbul is better.

Turkish men do stare and try not to make eye contact with them. For some ODD reason, some dirt bags here think foreign women find them irresistible. If you glance at them they may come over to you!!

The bus ride from Greece IS very loonnnnnnng. The train ride was much more tolerable, at least you can walk around and sip a secret beer.

Not all private schools are sketchy, that's true. When you arrive, go in and check them out. Meet the owner, managers, teachers and get a feel for the place.

The most important thing about working with Turks is how you get along them on a personal level- say everything with a smile! And remember, another teacher having a bad time at a school doesn't mean you will. It is also down to the teachers. I worked more than three years at a private school and never had any problems.

And, in Istanbul, be VERY WARY of pickpockets!

[tekirdag]

Come to think of it, I have been told Izmir is a good place to live.

[31]

Money's crap, jobs are far fewer and the supply of well qualified teflers is greater than Ist.

[comet]

Thank you for all of your advice! I don't think I'll be taking the bus to Istanbul! By the way Tekirdag:

[quote]I don't live in Istanbul now. Where I am is MUCH easier for a woman. Istanbul had many perverts and I was grabbed and followed many times.
On the flip side of that coin, as a foreigner, Istanbul is better.
[/quote]

Where DO you live now? Any place that is easier for a woman is a place I'd like to hear about, but what about it makes it easier?

[tekirdag]

Istanbul is a VERY big city and with that comes all the big city problems you might expect. As well, some "gentlemen" who move from small villages to the big city really don't know what to do with themselves when they see women who are out and about and not totally covered up.

I am living in Tekirdag, about half way between Istanbul and the Greek border, on the sea side. It is much smaller than Istanbul so men are more careful because the woman you give trouble to today may come back with her 5 brothers tomorrow. In Istanbul the pervs can just get lost in a crowd.

For an ESL teacher, Istanbul is the best, I think. Just keep your guard up and take the usual big city precautions.

I once asked a Turkish woman "why don't you have as much trouble with men on the street as I do?" She replied "We can see trouble coming and we cross the street." And usually you CAN see it coming- they are dressed in cheap ill-fitting lime green suits and unshined shoes. They are playing with worry beads and are strolling aimlessly along. They rearrange their jewels in public and spit. Cross the street or move away and take out your cell phone like you are going to phone your Turkish husband. It usually works.

And remember that for every perv there are a hundred decent men and unwanted attention doesn't happen everyday.

Overall, I enjoyed my time in Istanbul and would live there again if I didn't have a young child.

Oh yeah... DON'T WEAR SKIRTS!!!

[NMB]

I would say that Izmir is definitely worth checking out. Maybe the jobs aren't as numerous as in Istanbul, but there are jobs there.

If you're going to be in Greece, go to the island of Chios. From there, you can take a ferry to Cesme, and then a short bus ride into Izmir proper. I haven't lived in Izmir (yet), but whenever I visit I feel much more comfortable than I ever did living in Istanbul. The only time I felt overly stared at in Izmir was when I had on some very short shorts because I'd just gotten back into town from the beach. Otherwise, I can't imagine being grabbed there, as had happened to me on numerous occasions in Istanbul. Izmir just doesn't seem to consist of as much village riff-raff as Istanbul.

From Izmir, you can take a very short flight to Istanbul and check it out for yourself.

[Theresa]

Antalya was ok once I got used to it. As it's a holiday resort they're used to foreigners and Tansas ( supermarket) has foreign food (there was even a pork section with ham). Plus the area is beautiful and there are lots of foreigners. There's a newly opened Ted Koleji there which may still be looking for a teacher. Am now in Ankara but don't like it much-people are very cold, serious and insular here

[saloma]

[tekirdag]

(This is a PM I sent to someone...)

I was always amazed at how some Turkish women wear clothes SO tight that it leaves little to the imagination. But they are fully covered. They don't show any skin.

I once wore a skirt which was just above the knee. (This was in Istanbul) Someone pulled to up over my bottom.

Another time, I wore (what I thought was) a very conservative skirt which went just past the knee. I joked how ugly it was and how a sunday school teacher could wear it. I put long boots on (which went to the knee).
OMG the attention I got from men!! I didn't wear it again.

The last time I wore a full length wrap. Nothing could be seen except my ankles. When I tried to get a taxi, the skirt fluttered a little in the wind. Still, nothing could be seen but men, I suppose, expected to see something so I was heckled and cat called from cars.

Of course, a long skirt can be worn. But I would make sure it is SUPER conservative. Actually, I haven't worn a skirt in Turkey for years and years. I don't want the hassle and I don't want to double guess my choice of skirt.

I guess the key is to show no skin.

[dmb]

I once wore a kilt to a wedding in England and got stared at
Seriously though I work in offices and lots of young ladies wear skirts. My g/f wears skirts to work. But I guess 7 year olds don't stare too much.
I wouldn't worry about it, but I guess this is a foreign male perspective.

[tekirdag]

Does you girlfriend get a school service bus pick up from near her home?

[dmb]

Yip. Sevice bus that is. Not pick up..... I hope.

[ZIA!]

Can you tell me what a school bus service pick up means?

Are they on a route and you get on with other teachers and staff or they are full of children and you get a free ride and get to supervise the children while being taken to work?


Cheers1