Job Discussion Forums

[kateteacher]

I've read some decent things about working for EF on this forum, but I'm not sure if they were written about EF Dilokulu
(http://www.efdilokulu.com/ENG/Lingua_Franca_English.html)

or EF English First
(http://www.englishfirst.com/trt/index.html)

If you've taught at or heard ANYTHING about either of these schools, I'd love to hear from you! I'd love to know what the differences are between the two- does Dilokulu pay on time and provide a decent package like EF English First does? Is the management decent? Please help! Thanks!

[SAM31]

They are the same school, now called EF Inst. Both of the web addresses you listed will direct you to the same website.
They pay on time, management are fair and colleagues and students are generally nice. Standard of fellow teachers is good. It is hard work though and their side operation at the university is not for the faint-hearted .

Best to talk to teachers working there now for the latest.

[kateteacher]

Thanks so much, Sam31! That was really helpful and encouraging. I think I'm going to apply

[ranter]

Don't expect too much.

[kateteacher]

SAM31, could you give me any more information about the project at the university? I just interviewed, and they're hiring for both the branches and the university prep program. Thank you so much for your help!

[mikeb016]

hey kate i worked at the university program with EF when it was starting last sept. i worked in both the maslak and beylikduzu branches. i had lots of students, mostly very good, but a few bad eggs as you'd expect. i came from the bakirk�y branch of EF so to Maslak we got a service car every day. i think other teachers had a service also but it took a good while to travel to maslak due to the traffic.

the beylikduzu branch is wayyyy out in the wild west. i was there for 6 weeks before i found something different. good books, good colleagues but so many students per class, i found them hard to control. also, all the desks and chairs are nailed to the floor of the classroom in the beylikduzu branch, so any classroom creativity is literally out the window! you will get free lunches though and 3 days off per week..!!

i would have preferred to work for the general classes at the EF branches, but they said they had no choice but to put me out to the university. as sam says, its not for the faint-hearted. im happy to have left, but you might be made of sterner stuff than me!

[kateteacher]

Thanks, Mike! That's extremely helpful. That schedule is soooo tempting, but I think I'd rather be teaching classes where I didn't have to spend too much time being the disciplinarian. Honestly, I sincerely doubt that I'm made of sterner stuff than you How was your schedule when you were working for the branches? For example, how often did you have to work weekends, and how many days a week did you teach split shifts?

[SAM31]

Hi again Kate,
I gather the program will be better organised next year as last year was the first year of it- somewhat trial and error no doubt. Branch teachers had a hard time of it too, working at both branch and uni, but again, I think they'll be making improvements in this area too. You should ask whoever interviewed you to provide emails of current teachers. Any reasonable school should be willing to do this.
As mikeb016 says, a few bad eggs often spoil the class, but many students are nice. I think you just have to get off on the right foot.
Good luck

[kateteacher]

Good advice. I will definitely request some e-mails. Thanks Sam!

[mikeb016]

hi there kate, sorry for the late reply...

i didnt work split shifts in beykent, and had to cover an occasional class at the bakırk�y branch on weekends. my basic working program at beykent was monday 9-4, tues 11-5, wed 9-4 and thursday 9-5. i was so far out of town that leaving the uni for an afternoon nap between classes was out of the question. but fri and the weekends were my own. salary was good too.

be careful of working for universities here. in many cases they are profit making institutions, on the look out for lots of students to make a quick buck, and have very little interest in how language is presented to students. though having siad that, many regular adult schools have the same philosophy!

when are you thinking of coming here? do you prefer teaching children or adults? i am currently working for the best language school ive ever been with in my 2 years in istanbul. if you want, send me your email address and ill send you their details. its a small school, but they are crying out for experienced teachers at the moment.

[refikagurz]

Hello.. Sorry to butt in here mikeb016 and kateteacher.. but I can't PM on this forum although I'm active on the Korean forum. Your mentioned that your "great" small school needs good teachers! I've been in Korea for 3 years and will be coming back to Istanbul in mid/late October. I lived/taught there for 2.5 years a few years ago and miss Istanbul and my "family" there. I will be pursuing a DELTA diploma at ITI and want to work at a private school such as yours, or EF Dil Okulu (although they won't respond to my inquiries) while I do my coursework. I have 20 years experience teaching EFL in a multitude of capacities. I do a good job and am always appreciated (sorry this sounds like a cover letter).. Anyway, since you opened the door about opportunities at your school... Would you mind supplying me the info? Hmmm.. don't really know how to do this since I don't know you.. Maybe you could just tell if you think I'm being too forward about this firstly.. If not, we can go from there... THANKS!

Rebecca