Job Discussion Forums

[jayzel]

Hey, all. Just wanted to post a "head's up!" about English Time to anyone considering accepting a position with them in Istanbul or elsewhere.

As of the beginning of the new year 2008, English Time management has decided to do a massive restructuring of the entire school. The changes have already taken place and no one was given any advanced notice.

In short, the "school" has been transformed into an assembly line. All teachers have been placed, or will be placed shortly, into a single level and will be required to remain in that level for the duration of their contracts. In other words, if you sign a year-long or 8-month-long contract with them and are placed into an elementary level course, you will teach that same course morning, noon, and night, seven days a week, for an entire year! It's great if you are lazy and don't care about your profession. It's great if you're an alcoholic and want to party every night. However, if you are serious about this profession, stay as far away from this place as possible.

The expression "professional development" means nothing to the owners of English Time. Education means nothing to the managers of English Time. It has become a pure business. It has become a factory. The teacher and student dissatisfaction rate has gone through the roof and almost every teacher I have spoken to here has decided they will not be renewing their contracts.

I expect English Time to go the way of Japan's Nova school within a year maximum. You have been warned.

Regards,

[big3bc]

I have been in Turkey, and have been observing posts here at Daves, for the last ten years. I have never responded to any of the criticism which certain people deem important enough to post here concerning English Time. However, there is a first for everything, and this gentleman's post takes the cake.
I have been employed here at E.T. for the last six years, as head teacher, and most recently, a writer (no, I didn't write the new books). Prior to that, I taught at various universities in Turkey. Regarding the multitude of past threads concerning E.T., some of them have merit, most don't. Have you ever noticed that the people who post negative comments have never worked here, but always state "this person said that this person said". Like most, this present poster is clueless.
I just went upstairs and presented this bit of garbage to the secretaries and the General Manager. As I had expected, I was told that it is completely, totally 100% inaccurate. Where this person got his information, is anyone's guess.
You might want to do a little background work and get better sources before you write another idiotic post on this website.

[Shalana]

I am wondering where jayzel got his/her information from. Does he/she actually work at ET?

I do and I too think that most of what jayzel said is not true. I did hear a small rumor last week that people may stay teaching the lower levels or upper levels, but not just one level and that was just a rumor. Nothing has changed with my experience there as a teacher and I teach three different levels.

And what is this morning, noon and night, seven days a week nonsense? I work 5 days a week and none of those days could totally be considered morning, noon and night, although I do teach 9:00 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. on the weekends as most other teachers do because these are the busiest days.

[teacherdude]

It would be interesting to know WHICH branches the posters here work for.

I was at the Taksim branches this week. I spoke to the teachers there and what Jayzel said is quite true. They have just started to implement this system.

All teachers have been assigned a level. If they are teaching outside that level at the moment, they will finish the class but then continue at the designated level; eg. only Level 5.

Most are quite angry because it would be boring as hell to teach the same level for the next 12 months. They would like to know why management didn't consult with them first. The idea apparently is that students can sign up and enter a block that is being taught, ie. the Reading or writing block. This is a joke, because NOBODY I know is following the block system.

Don't worry if my post doesn't seem quite logical, I'm looking at it and even I don't know what it is that ET is trying to do.

Am I to judge from the previous posts that this is only happening at the Taksim branches.

Big3bc, if you have been a Head Teacher at ET for so long, you should know that the Taksim branch is infamous for doing things that the other branches don't necessarilly do.

Dude

[big3bc]

I haven't been a head teacher in years (at least not in Istanbul). I have no idea what is going on in Taksim.
I do sometimes think that English Time has grown too big for its britches, and does need to clean up its educational system. I can understand where it may seem like an "uncontrollable monster" to some. The General Manager, whom I am in close contact with, does care about the quality of education, teacher's salaries etc. offered here. He works more than 80/hrs. a week, and sometimes I think he just has too much on his table.

[samuraiwriter]

At least head teachers can admit that they are wrong at ET. Next time may I suggest you do your own research before you slam a fact.

Loss of face anyone? Sounds like the Taksim ET is not so hot and the other branches are out of touch.

Bye.

[big3bc]

Another poster who has no clue as to what goes on here, but feels it necessary to interject some snide, untrue comments.

[samuraiwriter]

Snide, indeed.

If you can't see that you may have been incorrect in your initial posting on this thread than yes, my comment was untrue as well. You obviously cannot admit your mistake. I am sorry for jumping to conclusions. And I am even more sorry for the people who work for/with you as well as your friend/boss who is so busy with work that he becomes incompetent. Has he ever heard the expression "don't bite off more than you can chew?"

[big3bc]

I will admit that I was partially wrong about my initial comment. The poster's statement that teachers are working themselves into the ground 7 days a week is absurd, and reminded me of so many other idiotic comments made here about E.T. I am not really in the mix as far as teacher turnover is concerned, so perhaps I shouldn't comment on that either. I highly doubt that teachers are leaving in droves, however.
The fact that the person who started this thread has not reposted further strengthens my case that he didn't know what he was talking about in the first place.
I agree, Samurai, with your statement concerning the Manager's workload here. E.T. works people to death- some can deal with it, others can't. It's not only the company, but the government as well. If you work at a language school, there is one day off for holiday in May, and that's it until Ramazan. That means you go 10 months with only one holiday! Americans work hard too, but they are always looking for good reasons for new holidays.

[windstar]

[big3bc]

Which language schools give you all of those days off? At E.T., there is a "holiday" on May 19th, but you are required to go to a school function. The other language school I know of, does the same. I hardly consider the two three day holidays around Ramazan considerable.

[jayzel]

[jayzel]