Job Discussion Forums

tillymd · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 114

Hi,

I'm interested in teaching in a language school in Itanbul, Izmir, or open to any other suggestions. I was posting on the ME board ( KSA, UAE, Oman), but with a Ba and 5 years ESL experience from Japan and Korea, I don't think I have the right qualifications, although I am an excellent teacher in the right situation.

Most of my ESL experience is "Berlitz" style teaching in language schools. I am very familiar with many of the ESL books including Side by Side, Interchange, Let's Go, etc, and before Berlitz, developed my own lesson plans for 3 years, however, that was 7 years ago so I'm a little rusty.

Is it possible to get a 9 month contract from Sept 1st to May 30th? I'm entering a Masters of Education in general science program next June and have 10 months available. New England winters are brutal! Or, do many people work on a tourist visa? I don't want to be in a situation where I'm deported after a raid.

Is it possible to work for 9 months? It took about one year to get going in Japan.
I've read about Berlitz, mostly negative comments, English Time and English First.
What are the general working conditions in these and other language schools? I worked about 35 hours in Japan with a split schedule.
Is housing provided? Shooting giant flying cockroaches with an air gun in my apt in Japan is something I'll never forget, and my apt was "nice."

I'm not fond of teaching young children, grade 7-12 ok

Any info or advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Tillymd Very Happy

tillymd · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 114

Hi Tillymd.

Oh, hello Tillymd,

Not one reply?

Nope.

You must smell, or perhaps the kid comment scared people away.

Maybe you're right. I have bad memories of kids poking me with pencils when their mothers were out of the room in Korea.

So sad.

Good Luck

Thanks.

safarer30 · Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 41

tilly,

it's absolutely possible to arrange a contract from september to may, though with your experience - by the way, what's your degree's major? - you might pull a comfy private school gig. the school year runs september through june. izmir is a bit easier to land, from my friends' (and my own) experiences, and includes a housing allowance. this way, you might decide if the cockroaches are too big to battle.
having said that, i really don't know what the language school situ is like in turkey... i haven't worked for them. good luck whatever you decide. i simply advise you to send resumes, follow up with phone calls, and visit if you can. you should start seeing a lot more adverts out there for turkey beginning now and running through october, as schools of all types adjust for their teaching needs. but there's a lot of competition to be in istanbul. many smaller and equally cool cities are close enough, if you'll open your range a bit more.
again, good luck.

safarer30 · Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 41

and! from what i understand, many language schools never get you a work permit. many schools don't either. it's not that they don't care per se, it's just that the department of labor kind of works like the mafia and doesn't have to issue them, even if you have everything.
but! residence permits are easy to get, and any decent establishment should commit to securing one for you. it obviates the need to do border runs every three months, which i imagine to be a big pain, depending on where you're living.
no situation is legal or secure without the work permit, and with the economic crisis hitting turkey hard this year, i was reading lots of articles about authorities cracking down on illegals. this largely meant the construction workers, nannies, etc, but it could mean you too. for your own consideration, but i worked all last year without a work permit, and i suspect that most people in turkey do as well. i'd insist on the resident's permit.

Marquess · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 165

A few notes:

A private school gig is not comfy. Classes of spoilt rich kids and spineless management as well as bitter jealous local teachers make surviving the year very tough.

Equally cool cities near Istanbul-no.

Housing allowances are rare these days and are usually pitifully low like 100 pounds.

These days virtually no language school will get you a work permit for the first year.

Like a mafia has nothing to do with it. It is cost and practicality. Why spend time on money when you don't have to? Getting residence permits costs money.

It will be difficult to insist when you have no bargaining power-you can be replaced in minutes.

A language mill was raided by the police recently and 20 of their units of procution were arreseted. Those with tourist visas were deported-straight from police station to airport.

safarer30 · Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 41

tillymd · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 114

Dear Safarer30,

Thank you for the suggestions and encouragement, sounds like you had an incredible time. I'll look into Izmit and Bursa. I don't have as much experience teaching kids, so I'm a little hesitant to research private schools, but I'll look into it. I think the main attraction of the language school for me is that it's easy, you just show up and teach. Not much preparation needed.

Thanks, Tillymd

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

[quote]A private school gig is not comfy. Classes of spoilt rich kids and spineless management as well as bitter jealous local teachers make surviving the year very tough.
[/quote]

I can only second that. In my first year I had to teach grades 6-8 and it was hellish. The second year however was a walk in the park teaching in the high-school. But I tought a second MFL and had very small classes which made my job easier.
Second school the kids were lovely but the schedule was onerous. Not to mention the administration....pure hell.