Job Discussion Forums

tarte tatin · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 247 Location: Istanbul

Actually I was annoyed because I was introduced to Ted College in Samsun and they sent my CV to Ankara head office. The head office liked my CV and called me to an interview in Ankara. I went at my own expense on the night bus and turned up in the morning to be interviewed by a panel of three people. The interview lasted all of ten minutes, during which time they were unable to answer any of my questions about curriculum, school procedures or even salary. Their stock answer was that these things varied from school to school.

On returning to Samsun I was put under pressure to sign the contract straight away but I persuaded them to give me 24 hours with the Turkish contract so my husband could go through it carefully. I turned it down.

I am sure the people were nice and the job would not be difficult but for a private school classes are large (24 children) and the salary was nothing special.

somnambulist · Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 30

Is this enviable in anyone's estimation:

2000YTL per month

Full Insurance

20 hOURS PER MONTH

harry the hobbit · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:36 am Post subject:

A complete fantasy.

somnambulist · Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 30

Er, just checking. Of course, that should be 20 hours per week

harry the hobbit · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject:

What do you mean by full insurance?

FGT · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Turkey

Free housing? Otherwise not enviable, merely average.

not-a-backpacker · Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 3

So is going around knocking on doors the best way to find jobs here? If so, any particular doors anyone would recommend knocking on? I've taught kids, teens, college kids, business people, and bankers. I've just never taught IELTS or TOEFL.

Any recomendations? I've read the master list of schools a few times but I can't figure out if the DOSs of these schools would prefer you to email them or just drop by with paperwork in hand since you're in the city.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Justbecause · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 18

Are there any tefl websites that focus on teaching jobs in Turkey?

harry the hobbit · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 4:44 pm Post subject:

DesertDawn · Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Three places at once

Thank you all for your replies. I've been in transit, so İ couldn't reply earlier. İ'd let you know what İ've found out, but it turns out İ won't be teaching after all. İt looks like somebody else has already got some use out of the replies, though, so thanks on her behalf.

All I can say that finding a decent, affordable apartment around here doesn't seem so easy. Friends helped me get an aptartment for 250 USD a month wıth no deposit or other upfront fees. It's out in a fairly slummy area (near Kumkapi, I think) where the kids set off fireworks in the streets until one in the morning. You couldn't possıbly find or bring private students there.

I also second the person who said Russian is very useful in certain districts. And I don't mean for picking up women. That's how I got the apartment.

Thanks again for the help.

Robin_UK · Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 6 Location: UK

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

Don't do the Cactus course-you will be sorry. Either do the CELTA or save your money.

Robin_UK · Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 6 Location: UK

You imply to be careful with Cactus?

Perhaps you mean the other Istanbul TESOL certificate at Cactus?

The Cambridge CELTA Istanbul course is through Cactus.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

No, it is not. It is a no name "cert" offered by Via Lingua. I repeat it is not a CELTA.

Gregorio · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 105

I have nothing against the CELTA because I don't have one, but I do have a CTEFL from Via Lingua - Rome (2004), which I thought was a pretty respectable program. I also am one class short of my Masters Degree in education (along with an initial teacher cert.) and I still think that the CTEFL through Via Lingua was rigorous, challenging, and adequate+ in preparing me to teach.

I think with Via Lingua, as with anywhere, it depends on the school you go through and the staff/administration who are doing the teacher training.

I am really curious how anyone can make a true comparison between the CELTA and another program unless they have successfully completed both; and why on earth would anybody do that?

I do understand that the CELTA is more respected in the ESL community and maybe a candidate has a better chance at landing certain jobs with it, but I don't think all of the other programs are a waste of money.