Job Discussion Forums

[HeadingToTurkey]

Hi everybody,

This is my first post here, so I�ll start with a too-long introduction.

I�m a 42 yr. old pharmaceutical chemist living in a small city in Missouri, USA. My boyfriend is a Turkish engineer from Istanbul, though currently doing his 6 mos. Navy service. I have visited Turkey for a total of five weeks, and we have decided I should move there for a year when he gets out of the Navy in September. So I�m looking into teaching EFL there for a year. My future EFL teaching credentials include:

- An M.S. in Zoology
- Volunteer work as an ESL tutor
- A previous career as a technical writer (lots of publications and manuals)
- Experience living abroad (6-24 mos. each in the UK, Germany, Costa Rica & Brazil)
- Fluent in three languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese)
- Plan to get CELTA certified this summer

After doing a bit of online research, my initial plan was to write my CV and immediately line up a job for September online. In July, I would fly to Istanbul to spend a month doing intensive Turkish lessons. In August, I would do my CELTA certification. Then in September (when my boyfriend gets out of the Navy), I would begin teaching adults at a corporation, or teaching at one of the posh private schools that always have ads online promising US$2000-2500/month, airfare, medical insurance, an apartment, etc.

However, after reading a lot of posts in this Turkey section of the forum, it sounds like these jobs are either pure fiction, or that one must have an M.S. in education and years of TEFL experience to get one.

Instead, it sounds like virtually all EFL jobs in Istanbul are nightmares: teaching 40 classes of unruly kids each week; having to teach early mornings, evenings and weekends; high stress; pay of only 1500 YTL/month; rat- and cockroach-infested apartments (or no apt. at all); and broken contracts regarding health insurance, airfare, salary, etc. Based on the numbers I�ve seen here, I will need at least $10,000 of savings to subsidize a year of teaching EFL in Istanbul...

Frankly, after visiting this forum, I think the stress (and working hours) of such a job would kill our relationship in about a week.

I would be interested in hearing from anybody who has worked recently in Turkey if these horror stories are the norm. What are the chances of a newly-certified EFL teacher finding daytime-only work in a "good" position? Is it a foregone conclusion that I will have to start in one of the dershanes (sp?) working 80 hours a week with the �spoiled brats� frequently mentioned in this forum?

Will it be easier or harder for me to find a �better� position since I am an older female... and have worked as a professional writer and editor?

Have any of you earned a living in Turkey doing freelance work: teaching private lessons or editing university/scientific/corporate papers in English?

Also, what is a typical cost to live a simple lifestyle in Istanbul (small flat, public transportation, home-cooked meals)? It takes me a bare minimum of $2000/month to get by in a small city in the American Midwest... and my rent is only $500/month!

I�ve heard that rent + utilities in a mid-level place like Kadikoy will be at least $1000/month, and have assumed I�d need to earn at least $3000/month just to survive in Istanbul... even in a rat-infested 10th floor walkup. Yet my Turkish boyfriend only earns $1000/month with an M.Sc. in engineering and a mid-level job at a large corporation. He lives at home, but they must expect that a guy could support a wife and kids on this kind of income, right? Does this mean it IS possible to live in Istanbul on 1500 YTL?

And my final question is about learning Turkish. I've heard lots of people live in Turkey for decades without learning conversational Turkish. How much time does it take "normally" for a motivated person to be able to run errands in Turkish? To carry on a conversation about the weather? To become totally fluent? Could I expect to do any of these after three months? After 12 months?

Thanks in advance for any advice,

Sharon in Missouri

[runeman]

Relax.

[yaramaz]

I live very well on about 1200- 1500ytl. I earn about a thousand more than that, which I save. It really isn't hard to live here. I've been doing it for 5 years. Money has never been an issue. Other things have been, but not money. Also, as for work hours, I'm currently doing 28 hrs/week but a lot of that is overtime, by choice. This is the most I've ever worked here.

Don't worry.

[yaramaz]

PS I paid 650ytl last year for a 3 bedroom, rat-free flat in central istanbul last year. I'm currently paying half of 900ytl for a 2 bedroom flat in pricy (but worth it, I think) Tunel. I could find something for cheaper but I like my flat. $1000 minimum for Kadikoy is not true. Check out sahibinden.com. I just did a search for kadikoy and found three pages of flats between 400-800ytl.

[HeadingToTurkey]

Hi Yaramaz,

Thanks for your replies. That is a big relief knowing I can get by on less than I expected.

Sharon

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

Ten years ago your age, (non related) work experience and MA in Zoology could well have landed you a university job pulling in $1,000 - $1,750 per month, but these days there are more people wandering around with related MA's, Dip's and/or a vast number of years teaching EFL under their belt ... who should quite rightly take preference ...

Still .. you might get lucky if you apply in person to some places that are short of a teacher and like the cut of your jib ...

Otherwise, your MA in Zoology could stand you in good stead for dealing with all the monkeys at the private schools ... but they won't be chucking the sort of cash at you that you were dreaming of ...

[TeachEnglish]

I suggest you snag a job with accomodation, come here and get to know the area, wait for your boyfriend to finish is duty, and give yourself some time to think about the drastic change in your life when you come here. That is relatively safe, easy, and will not cost you an arm and a leg setting up an apartment, which can be very expensive. Good luck

[Nmarie]

Technical writing certainly pays well -- Is there absolutely no opportunity for that in Istanbul? There must be American pharmaceutical companies with branches there. Is this something you think to pursue later?

[Shalana]

Yaramaz - is there a way to view the sahibinden.com website in English?

[dagi]

I'd say you need a minimum of 1500YTL a month to live and more if you want to live well. My flat +utilities adds up to about 1000YTL. The rest I spend on socialising, going out and newspapers/books/etc. I don't need to cook in the evenings since I eat at school and that saves me a lot of money.
If you really want to enjoy yourself and not count every kurus you spent I'd say you need about 2000YTL.

Don't forget that you will also spend money getting settled e.g. equip your flat to make it livable and nice, which can add up.

[lovelace]

That's right - the set-up is the biggest expense - first months' rent, same amount or more for deposit, and a ridiculously large commission for the evil emlaks, if you can't find a place direct from owner. Most places aren't furnished here, or the ones that are charge a lot more.

[HeadingToTurkey]

Hi everybody,

Just wanted to let you know that I'm eagerly reading all the replies and appreciate the help and suggestions. It's nice to get an idea of expenses, etc. from people who are actually there. I'm glad I can live for 2000 YTL instead of my estimated US$3000/month.

Keep 'em coming!

Thanks,

Sharon

[dmb]

You say you only want to work daytimes. With little experience it would be difficult to get into a school, university or business. Have you thought about private kindergarten- it would be your best option. Teaching adults at a language school does usually mean teaching weekends and weekends. It's a rule...... newbies work when nobody else wants to.