Job Discussion Forums

[sanpedro72]

I was just offered a position with Bahcesehir College (teaching high school) in Turkey with a free apartment for 2,000 YTL per month. With 2.5 years ESL classroom/training/tutoring experience, is this a good deal? Looking at my contract, it seems Bahcesehir requires more weekend/extra-curricular hours (compared to East Asian contracts)required without overtime. Is this normal for Turkey?

Does anyone have any experience (working or communication-wise) with Bahcesehir (BAH�EŞEHİR) College? How tough should I be negotiating a contract or are Turkish English schools pretty firm?

[big3bc]

I worked at Bahceşehir Koleji for one year 1999-2000. I then went on to work for their university for four years.
First of all, where will you be living, in Bahceşehir or Esenkent? The former is a beautiful suburb- full of the nouveau rich. It's safe, clean and boring (it's a long 45 minute bus ride to the city). There is a man-made lake in a nice park surrounded by restaurants. Of course, everything is expensive. The latter is a step down, but still okay to live in. It's adjacent to Bahceşehir, and you could easily walk to school from there.
When I worked at the high school, we were paid the equivalent of $1250/ month in TL. After 6 months, with the devalued lira, we were making about $800 a month. Of course, a beautiful apartment was also part of the contract. I was hired along with 6 Canadians and 2 Americans, and we were the first large group of foreigners hired there. We were all given one-bedroom flats with new refrigerators, stoves and washing machines. The school also paid all of our utilities.
As far as the school itself went, sadly enough, it was the typical private high school that you often read about here at Dave's- full of spoiled, unmotivated teens. The facilities were awesome- beautiful gym, weight room, music room etc. The administration was okay, but usually sided with the student when there were problems.
As I stated before, this was a while ago, and things have probably changed. I know all of their foreign teachers left a few years after me because of contractual issues. Like all private schools, some of their practices were quite shady.
Good luck!

[sanpedro72]

The job seems to be IN Bahceşehir, with the apartment about 5-10 walk from the school. The school day runs hours 8:something to 2:50, with a precursory 3:00-5:00 extra curricular hours two days per week. Sound familiar? I don't recall is 2.000 YTL is good salary for places around Istanbul for my level of experience (2.5 years business and classroom).

For a rich kid school and close to Istanbul, I am surprised the pay doesn't start a bit higher -- especially for having to work/train/meet those extra extra-curricular hours and tutor extra few days on weekends per month -- but right now my only offers in Turkey are with BHS and English Time. Is there another door you recommend I open?

Regards and many thanks

[big3bc]

As I said before, I would have to know where you'll be living before I can comment on the job. Most of Bahceşehir is a substantial upgrade over Esenkent. Plus the reeking odor of the winter garbage fires in Esenyurt isn't as bad. As you approach Bahceşehir, you pass through Esenyurt, probably the poorest suburb of Istanbul. I always thought that Bahceşehir looked like the Emerald City as I neared it on the bus.
I had a Masters when I taught there with more than 12 years of classroom experience, and I was really no different from the other foreign teachers as far as salary was concerned. Several of them had Masters, also. We were there from 8:30-3:00. We also had to work Saturday mornings, but were paid extra to do so.
How many contact hours will you be teaching? It looks to me that you'll be at the school almost 40 hours a week which means you'll be making around $10/ hr. + apartment.
I have worked at English Time for the last 5 years mostly as a writer. I have no qualms with my job. If you taught here you would make around $20/hr. There are advantages and disadvantages for each place.

[tarte tatin]

If you are comparing Turkish jobs with East Asian jobs, the Turkish ones are sure to be worse.

The pay you have been offered is fairly typical here and to be honest you can manage on that if your apartment is provided but you will save very little (unlike some places in Asia where you can save at least half your income). I have many more years experience than you and don't make any more than that in a language school.

The hours you have been offered are a lot but if you go to a language school you will have split shifts and lots of evening work which will really limit your social life.

I can't comment on the neighbourhood as I am not familiar with it but I would advise you to come with fairly low expectations of the TEFL scene in Turkey. It is a lovely country to travel in but not so great for work unfortunately.

[sanpedro72]

In actually, net pay is not my real motivation. It's the entire package... Income vs. cost living vs. cultural experience. My apartment is covered in the contract...the other teachers at the school each have private, 2 bedroom apartments.

So is 2200 YTL a good living then in Turkey for outside Istanbul? For limited teaching experience at a Science and Technology High School?

[keitepai]

Hello again,

I have found that teachers disagree on the cost of living here. As I have said before it is possible to save on 2200 YTL per month if you make choices;

Use public transport instead of taxi's
Shop at markets and eat a mainly Turkish diet (less red meat and lots veg)
Have party's at each others places not at bars & clubs
Buy clothes at the end of season sales

The list goes on and for some these options are not acceptable but for us we can live on my salary as a family of 4. We are not big spenders as some of the other teachers, are could be we are from a frugal blood line!! We don't save much but then we didn't choose Turkey as a money earner!

I have an education degree and 11 years of teaching experience and I am feeling very underpaid here. BUT we are having a great time so it is kind of worth it in the end. I think the amount you quoted seems ok for a relatively unqualified teacher at a language school.

You will have to decide what standard of living you are used to and want and the purpose of you teaching here money vs the experience.

P.S Are you sure the salary is not in USD? Lots of schools pay in USD so it is always a gamble with the dollar up and down as to what salary you will get that month. When I started USD was 1.32 now it is 1.19 I believe

[sanpedro72]

Actually I was quoted my salary in YTL, not USD. Recruiters typically use USD while direct schools use YTL in my job hunting experience.

Originally my offers was 2,000 YTL but talked them up. The principal of the school agreed on 2,200 Max, no more.

Actually when I lived in Korea, I spent about 1/2 my time wandering about and the other 1/2 on internet when not in the classroom. I guess what I am looking for re-assurance that I can save money, afford to take transports around the country on the weekends and so on.

Would I have been better off on a curriculum developer's salary? I expect they are paid more. I have a heaving 'writing background which is why schools are hiring me for grammar, composition and related classes.

Thanks again for your help J

[keitepai]

Well that's interesting about being paid YTL - at least you know where you are with that!
I forgot to say before lots of teachers do private lessons and get 60-100YTL per hour if you can get the rich families. You can do as much or as little as you like then.

The only reassurance I can offer for your dilemna is that transport and accomodation is reasonable in Turkey for travelling. Train travel is great for long distance if you have time and buses here are next to nothing. There is so much to see in and around Istanbul anyway I don't see how you could get bored. I am still exploring.
You said earlier your utilities are paid by the school - if you make sure of that it be a huge difference.

I have never heard of any Curriculum development positions - don't think it's their strong point here to be honest! Maybe you can pick up extra work in this way with your experience?

[sanpedro72]

How can one find these private students? In my contract, it is written that I cannot tutor any of the school's students in my free time. Maybe if I can go after the ones that were not accepted into the school this round :p

Actually one of the contacts that I had asked for a reference is the school's ESL curriculum developer. So it seems the opportunities are out there.

So how do does cost of living compare to say EU Europe or East Asia like Thailand and Korea?

[keitepai]

To find private students it is really word of mouth so you would have to be here, tak to people etc. You can hand out cards or flyers to people you meet. I have been offered jobs teaching privates without looking. I don't generally do 1:1 tutoring children though. Parents will want their teenagers to have tutors to keep up, Korean families are especially keen to have extra tutoring. You will have to go to their home usually.

Maybe you can find a curriculum development position - I hope that means the school you are looking at is decent! Sounds promising anyway.

I can only comment on EU Europe costs which are far more than Turkey for everything food, buses, clothes............... i.e loaf white bread in Turkey 50 kurus - 1 YTL, Italy & France 2 - 3 EURO

[sanpedro72]

The EU has robbed many countries of their allure, including places like Italy where I would love to teach. I truly hope Turkey doesn't follow suit. In traveling Europe, all I remember is EU subsidized genetically modified Spanish tomatoes, pretty to look at, awful in taste. The EU is putting regional farmers out of business. The US government does the same. Wankers.

Has anyone ever been to Oman, UAE or Bahrain? I also have a good paying offer there but the recruitment process is lousy. I received a job offer without a telephone interview. SERIOUSLY! The money is good though Like 1000 Omani Riyals per month (about $2,600) including salary + various allowances, plus free utilities (or mostly free) and flat. I think they even cover the flight 100%.

Still I am rooting for Turkey.

[keitepai]

I agree re EU, Italian friends say they have a lower standard of living now with the EURO - very sad for such a beautiful country. I am sure Turkey will not be accepted in a hurry into the EU at least not in the next 5 years if not longer. They have so many 'compliance' issues and are not really into change!

I would be interested to know about living costs in the Middle East - it is one of my options for the next contract but looks quite boring in the sense of culture/experiences? Maybe I should post this on the M.E forum to get an answer though

[Mike_2007]

When I lived in Turkey they were quite optimistic about joining the EU by the year 2011. I can't really see it happening until at least 2020 now, depending on what happens with this government.

My in-laws used to live (or maybe still do) in Bahcesehir. I certainly think that you'll be able to find a lot of private lessons there, and for top rates too, teaching both the kids of the rich and maybe even some of the parents. Once you get a name for yourself you'll find that word-of-mouth and networking are king in Turkey and you'll be turning down opportunities.

Regarding the ME, I think you've pretty much hit the nail on the head, keitepai. Living costs are generally low because most things are paid for in those gigs and there's not much to do. However, I know of at least one person who's given up on the ME because the devaluation of the USD has contributed to it no longer being the cash cow it once was.

[sanpedro72]

I look forward to Turkey. Thanks for all your info