Job Discussion Forums

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2004 11:20 am Post subject: British Council in Izmir

I tried to use the services of this place recently and the office is no longer there, is there anybody in Izmir who can tell me whats happened to the place and where it may be .

Puzzled Ollie

jebjeb · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 12

i don't know about in İzmir, but the BC here in Ankara was closed after the bombings in İstanbul and hasn't re-opened since. the website for the country says that all of the offices are closed for security reasons. if you're looking for classes and such, try the website - it seems like they still might be offering their classes at an undisclosed location (?). for books, dvds and such we've been out of luck for awhile. hope this helps!

jebjeb · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 12

i don't know about in İzmir, but the BC here in Ankara was closed after the bombings in İstanbul and hasn't re-opened since. the website for the country says that all of the offices are closed for security reasons. if you're looking for classes and such, try the website - it seems like they still might be offering their classes at an undisclosed location (?). for books, dvds and such we've been out of luck for awhile. hope this helps!

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

The British Council in Izmir closed their offices at the time of the Istanbul bombings in November. They do not seem likely to re-open. They are moving their library to an as yet undisclosed location (but we know!!!)
They have left this telephone number on their door: 05375868778/9

What were you trying to find out? I (or others) may be able to help. Work continues elsewhere, for example Cambridge exams, IELTS exams etc. Tomorrow I'm going to a Cambridge examiners' meeting in a hotel (normally it would be at the B.C.)

As an Izmir resident and member of the council I am extremely pissed off about their decision to close for a variety of reasons:-
1) Lack of information (viz this post)
2) They closed due to fears of a terrorist attack BUT haven't removed the signs outside and inside the building so a naive terrorist would still plant his bombs and blow all the rest of us to smithereens (I work on the floor above)
3) People have paid for a service which hasn't been available for about 4 months. Are they going to give a refund?

I'd be interested to hear what's happening with other branches in Turkey.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It sounds as if the British Council in Izmir is continuing in their fine traditions.

The interests of the full-time career staff always take precedence over any other consdierations.

jebjeb · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 12

I have just received an email inviting me to be a member of their "KLC/LIS E-bulletin KLC Hub" which they think will be useful while the library is closed. I'm just as frusterated as you guys are down in İzmir, I don't see any possibilty for new books any time soon.