Job Discussion Forums

Pigeon_85 · Joined: 28 Aug 2009 Posts: 23

Hello!

I have applied to work at this school but I just wanted to gather peoples previous experiences and opinions before I take the application any further. So what do you think, is it a good place to work?

Thanks in advance.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:40 am Post subject: Not on your nelly!

Avoid like the plague. PM for details

sq82 · Joined: 26 Dec 2009 Posts: 3

Hello,

Would it be possible for you to email me with some information too? It would be much appreciated, and I cannot PM yet.

My email is kajem29 [at] hotmail [dot] com

Thanks in advance

TeachEnglish · Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 239

Hello.. they are ok.. used to be one of the better places.. Teachers and students are usually great... management is crappy.. İf possible, use them as a way to get to İstanbul, get your foot in some doors, whatever and as soon as you can run away to a better situation.. do it. This might sound kinda not so nice, but trust me they will use you all they can. Sometimes it is better to use before being used. Laughing

crashartist1 · Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Posts: 164

run run and run far far away... go anywhere else then there. I work for that piece of $hit Somaz for 6 months and I got paid once.. my housing was in Kasimpaşa.. the WORST neighborhood in ALL of Turkey... prostıtutes, drug addicts, thieves, gypsies everything was there. Construction workers were allowed into the apartment to brick up a window and used my bed as the ladder and helped themselves to my clothes!!! My students after 4 months asked for a new teacher because they thought I was sick.. like HIV+ or cancer because they watched me lose about 12 kilos (I was never fat) in a matter of 3 months... I was told when İ came out they would give me the money for my plane ticket upon arrival, but when I asked for the money they said they would pay it back to me after I completed my year (I had it in writing from them to pay upon my arrival) they said the old human resource manager Eda had said that and I had to bring it up with her. I had no money I was living off od 400,000karuş a day along with the free tee from Berlitz... they pay you in the middl eof the month so if you do do a runner they don't have to pay you for the previous month.. or if you do a runner (and you will) they got two free weeks out of you... (kind of smart really)... find a Dr., fake an illness and run when no one is watching.

norwalkesl · Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Posts: 366 Location: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-China

Berlitz has a great brand, books, tapes. But the schools have a proprietary model to teach with and they are a horrible employer to work for.

Go figure, eh?

TeachEnglish · Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 239

Previous 2 posts seem to echo my sentiments.. they are a crappy place.. .but if you are smart and can find a way to outsmart the old codger.. do it.. use them before they use you. Some have had terrible experiences.. and some have had not so bad experiences.. 99% of my dealings with students and other teachers were ok... but.. i tried very hard to stay away from the owner and his hired helpers.. they were all a mess..

barabbas · Joined: 22 Aug 2009 Posts: 58

The Teflblacklist has some information on the dark history of this place:

http://teflblacklist.blogspot.com/2008/02/berlitz-istanbul-turkey.html