Job Discussion Forums

selin555 · Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 4

Hello;

I will be graduating university next spring and I would like to spend my summer in Turkey teaching english. I will be graduating with an honors in Politics and a minor in Philosophy. I have yet to complete a program to obtain the TESL or any other sort of certification in order to teach.
I have a few questions to anyone already teaching in Turkey.

1) What sort of certification is best and are the online programs credible?
2) What are the opportunities like in terms of teaching late April-late August
3) Where is a good place to look for work?
4) My friend is also comming with me however she is not yet done her degree, does she have a good chance of finding employement?

I am interested in teaching in Turkey because I am in fact Turkish but I have lived abroad my entire life and I would like to spend some time in Turkey before I continue in my graduate studies.

Any input and/or information would be fantastic

Thanks Again

Selin

tekirdag · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 505

It is unlikely to find honest work for just a summer. Although a summer camp could be an option. eek Shocked

24 hour kiddies!

a CELTA is the best minimum. An online program might get you a job but, since they have nothing practical/hands on (i.e. observing a class, practice teaching) they aren't so good and the better schools won't hire someone with such a qualification. And a good school wouldn't hire someone for just a summer. And, I'm sure, you don't want the headache of working in a nasty school.

If you are just looking to spend some time in Turkey and not spend a lot of money, then working in a pension on the South Coast(sun, beach, nightlife) could be an option- no qualifications necessary. I have met people who, while travelling in Turkey, picked up work in Olympos or �l�deniz. I am sure it is possible to get work in other places, too. The pay is crap but includes food/room so you wouldn't be spending much money. It's a backpacker type option.

Mark Loyd · Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 517

TEFL IS a backpacker type option.

NMB · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Posts: 84 Location: France

Maybe it is if you treat it as such...Anyone else get the feeling that Mark Loyd is 31's twin???

Mark Loyd · Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 517

The OP certainly treat TEFL as such. With no experience of relevent qualifications she and her degreeless friend expect to come here and get a TEFL job and at the wrong time of year.

Mark Loyd · Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 517

selin555 · Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 4

[quote="Mark Loyd"]

Mark Loyd · Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 517

TEFL is an insult to academic integrity.

You are quite happy to have students pay good money for a teacher but have that teacher be one without a degree. Not much integrity there.

A native speaker entails the language in question being your L1. For you non-TEFLers that is your mother tongue.

''A TEFL'' is absolutely useless outside TEFL and pretty much useless in TEFL other than it allows you to get a low paid dead end job.

Welcome to Turkey and happy TEFLing.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Selin, you should know that "Mark Loyd" is a very disgruntled, very pessimistic and very pitiful individual who has made some very bad decisions in his career and life. He then blames all of his "misfortune" on English teaching. Thus you will constantly hear his tirades against "TEFL" as a career and all "TEFLers" as incompetent, poor souls with no futures and no money.

Just ignore him. His sad life is indeed sad, so he takes pleasure in trying to make you as miserable and hopeless as he himself has become.

Many people really enjoy teaching English in Turkey, so you should definitely listen to their advice. Ignore the one pathetic loser.