Job Discussion Forums

[CECTPA]

A while ago this was looking like the hottest ticket in town. Now what? They are running ads again for some reason.

[TeachEnglish]

Maybe they are getting more students. I hear the teachers have to work their buns off there.. but the pay is reasonable..

I would like to hear about the conditions there from any teacher(s) currently working there.

I know they have an unusual application process where you have to write some silly letter stating why you want to teach.. or something like that.

I hear Yeditepe is hiring for their Southern Prep school..

[coffeespoonman]

Well, I certainly have no buns left... But I'm also doing the DELTA at the same time as working at Ozyegin. It's a nightmare, but they're paying for 70% of it, so I can't really complain.

We're hiring more teachers now because, quite frankly, we need them now. Since opening, we've promoted 6 or 7 teachers into coordinator and management positions, and with all their new responsibilites, they get reduced teaching hours, spreading the teaching load over the rest of us. We anticipated this, however, and the decision to hire new teachers at this time isn't a new one. But it's difficult to get quality teachers at this time of year, even recruiting internationally. We've picked up 3 or 4 since the school year started, but with visa and related issues, it's a difficult and time-consuming process.

And yes, we're also getting more students, though not that many more until next academic year. However, there's a lot of work to be done now, as we're creating a program from scratch, and we're looking for a few more people to start soon, helping with the teaching load as well as materials preparation and curriculum development.

And no, the pay isn't reasonable. It's more than reasonable. And although the workload is quite heavy, it's pretty satisfying. It's a lot of work starting a new Uni, and it's been a real learning experience for me (reasonably young, 5 years teaching experience) being in from the beginning, setting up everything.

It's a Mon-Fri job, but you get the equivalent of 2 half days off (1 late morning and 1 early afternoon), and if it weren't for the DELTA, the workload would be more than manageable. The facilities are supurb, the support is top-notch and the staff is without a doubt the best team I've worked with in my career.

I'm not saying there aren't problems, and you've got to be quite flexible at times since there aren't a lot of clear, set practices in place yet. Sometimes I feel like I'm going out of my mind because I've got a million questions about what's going on and about 4 1/2 rather shaky answers, but the great thing is that I have a real say in what those answers will be. I feel like, for better or for worse, I share the responsibility for the department's running smoothly, and I think I speak for most of the team when I say that we're all committed to doing this right, and we're doing a great job so far.

Hope I've answered some peoples' questions. Feel free to PM for specifics.

Happy New Year!

[gilagecko]

coffeespoonman-

How are things at Ozyegin U. now? Any updates? Do you think it's still a good place to work?

[coffeespoonman]

I'm more than happy to share, but by PM only, at least for now. Sorry, but I've learned the importance of watching one's own back.

[gilagecko]

I'm new and can't initiate private messages yet. Can you please PM me?

[Great Teacher Umikun]

coffeespoonman:

Could you PM the contact details to me too? I'm considering sending in my resume.

Yeah, I'm a noob too! ^_^