Job Discussion Forums

[graciela.a]

I'm an American 23 years old who wants to teach English abroad. Specifically in Turkey (Istanbul if possible). I have a B.A. in Literature, and no other teaching qualifications, and no experience teaching. However, I plan on getting a CELTA.

My questions are the following:

1) Where can I get my CELTA in Istanbul? Any recommendations?

2) What about working visas? Do I have to worry about this before I go?

3) Would I be able to make a (modest) living and find a job in Istanbul with a B.A., a CELTA, and no experience?

Thank-you,
g

[happeningthang]

[graciela.a]

Thanks for the response and the help. I hadn't actually heard of the cactus in istanbul. Only got the name of these two centers of the british council website:

International Training Institute
Kallavi Sokak. No: 7/9 Kat 4
Galatasaray Istanbul
Phone: 0532 736 77 02
Fax: 212 245 3163
Contact: Tom Godfrey
E-mail: [email protected]

British Side English Language School
Barbaros Bulvarı, Akdoğan Sokak No: 43
Beşiktaş Istanbul
Phone: 212 327 9403
Fax: 212 327 9472
Contact: Laura Woodward
E-mail: [email protected]

Though it might be expensive to do my CELTA in Istanbul -- if I can I would rather. I thought it might allow me a month's time to acquaint myself with the city, get to know potential employers, figure out where I'd want to live long term, and perhaps make a few friends.

Yet who knows? Perhaps thats silly.

Have you heard or read anything about what is the best month to be looking for a job in Istanbul? I was assuming it was Sept/Oct -- but thats just my bias from friends that teach in Spain.

-g

[flutterbayou]

You can get an online TEFL certificate quickly and easily and then come to Istanbul for work. You would fly in and purchase a tourist visa at the airport for 20 USD.

You need not apply for the work visa in advance, as some language schools will submit the paperwork for your resident permit and your work visa after you arrive.

A number of schools provide this sort of sponsorship. Check the boards for openings. English Time usually advertises that it sponsors the residence permit and work visa. Berlitz does not.

Since you don't mention having any teaching experience, getting a certificate would be a great idea. You would gain a lot of confidence and ideas from a good CELTA or TEFL course.

Good luck!

[graciela.a]

Thanks for the help flutterbayou!

I recently saw an ad for English First in Istanbul http://www.tefl.com/jobs/job.html?jo_id=32761

That announced the following compensation:

Monthly net salary package of 2,250-3,000 YTL (1,125-1,500 YTL half-time) depending on experience, qualifications and skills, including accommodation allowance of 500/250 YTL.
Re-location allowance of up to $750
Free Turkish classes
Full private health and life insurance
Residence and work permits
Assistance in finding accommodation, either in school lodgements, shared flats or with our Turkish students, depending on preference.


Would 2,250 YTL + a 250 YTL housing allowance be enough to live on in Istanbul without struggling?

Thanks in advance,
g

[flutterbayou]

I would think that you could live well enough on that salary, especıally ıf you share an apartment wıth a few other gırls and lıve close to your work sıte.

It ıs wıse that you are basıng expenses on the low end of the scale, as these places often advertıse a hıgher rate as a lure and then offer the contractee the lower wage at the tıme an offer ıs extended.

Movıes cost about 12 YTL and a complete meal wıth drınk and frıes at KFC averages between 7 and 8.50 YTL. A Turkısh menu ıs much more ınterestıng and would cost less than 10. If you brıng along a good supply of shampoo, cosmetics and deoderant, colognes and tooth paste, you can reeeeally cut your costs, because these western ıtems are prıcey.

If you share an apartment and pay about 550 per month on rent and 100 YTL on grocerıes per week. . . and about 60 YTL per month on publıc transportatıon, then you can fıgure how much you can save and stıll afford to enjoy yourself here.

Istanbul ıs great, by the way.

[yaramaz]

I work for the school you quoted the details for above. They do pay the high end of the scale, based on experience (I know several teachers who get it, or higher). They're not just dangling an unreachable carrot. However, I really wouldn't recommend getting an online certificate- I help with hiring for one branch and they prefer teachers who have had hands on training. I've also heard that the rules for getting a work permit require at least 100 hours training with observed teaching.

[flutterbayou]

... yes, and sınce ıt takes 4 to 5 months to obtaın that work permıt, those hours wıll have been accumulated when they are needed.

I mentıoned the lure of the "picture" salary because I have years of supervısory experıence and declıned an offer by that group because the manager quoted me a very low rate. Sınce I had successfully taught supervısed, desıgned programs and led corporate traınıng teams, I was surprısed that I was offered the mınımum, even wıth an MA.

Perhaps someone new ıs makıng the decısıons now....

[yaramaz]

[flutterbayou]

We've chatted by pm on thıs ıssue, so I shall not reıterate ıts gıst.

I do know that people who have doctoral degrees and MAs ın language, wıth both academıc and corporate supervısory experıence, should not but DO get offered base pay. And after correspondıng wıth personnel at that partıcular place, I dıd note a negatıve aura about the hiring hands beyond the fırst three or four emaıls and phone calls.

The Admınıstrator there has wrıtten to me that he's been burned before, and I wondered at the tıme whether he was referrıng to hırıng people who looked good on paper and who dıd not lıve up to expectatıons (easy to remedy) or whether he ıs skıttısh about hırıng people who are savvy and less likely manıpulated.

I do not know xx language group very well, but I do know the system and suspect people are dangled a carrot so the organızatıon looks more successful than ıt actually ıs.