Job Discussion Forums

Yoda · Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 8

I found this on another part of this site....

[email protected]
17/03/03
Istanbul, Turkey..... Sounded great while I was in America trying to decide what to do. F.M.V. ISIK school in Maslak also sounded great. Then I got here and have found that I'm in this strange place where everyone seems to dislike everyone. Turkish/English teachers hate the native English speakers, Turkish teachers from other departments hate the English teachers, they don't discriminate too much about if you're a native speaker or not, and the administration seems to hate everyone else that is left over. All this makes for a very uncomfortable and difficult working environment. Then you add in to this mess the fact that there are so many kids running around that are totally out of control.
Money is power in the private school system here. The parents are rich and like to demonstrate this. The school is rich but if you are looking for a board marker there are never any available. The Turkish English teachers are paid more than teachers from other departments but they still like to demonstrate how much they dislike foreigners because we are paid more than them. But then, where they teach 12-15 hours a week we teach 24 hours or more.
So, my turkish delight has turned to turkish dislike. All I can do is pass on my experience in the hope that others will not make the same mistake I have already made. If you are a professional and wish to be treated as such then avoid this place.
Posted: March 17, 2004

This guy sounds depressed. The school mentioned above is where I work now. YUP! Every word written above is true. Infact, it's probably worse. Don't know who the writer is but I've got a good idea.
Anyone else finding that teaching in Turkey (k-12) is getting harder as the years go by?

yaramaz · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 3:42 pm Post subject:

It sounds far worse there than here. My coworkers and the folks in charge are a pretty fair and kind bunch. I am treatedly very professionally and we are a pretty tight group--- in the lise I am the only yabanci, though in primary there are 3 yabancilar. I know enough turkish to know that we are not resented, and I've had a lot of support from everyone in dealing with some of my students (the AL9 class IO mentioned in another post). I work 18 hrs, the turks work far more. I dont have to attend meetings in Turkish unless they directly affect me.

Is it getting worse? Depends on the school and idividual situation, I think. Most of my students are pretty good still....

Yoda · Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 8

Fair and kind? treated professionally? You are so lucky Exclamation

It's gives a ray of hope to all of us out there (and especially at my school) who are job hunting at the moment.
My school plan to cut 6 or 7 jobs at the end of the year. The head of department has already told people this... makes for a great working environment Rolling Eyes

yaramaz · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 8:45 pm Post subject:

Aye, but the catch is that you have to live in Kayseri... After 2 years in this burg, I've just about lost it. I find myself wearing a headscarf some days just to ease the stares and comments from sapiklar.

The kids are mostly alright. The mafia thugs are my main psychological hurdles but luckily I only see them on Thursdy afternoons for a double dose of sheer agony.

Actually it aint so bad. I have even pondered a third year here but it's just a bit too dull and conservative for me. Pity I can't airlift the school and grounds into a more favourable locale...

Yoda · Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 8

richard ame · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 319 Location: Republic of Turkey

After almost a decade of working in the private schools and now a university I see that things are not really much different from one place to another ,basically I am teaching the same kids who are older now and although the systems are similar the kids (thank god) are different and the high school hangover when its shaken off makes teaching them more bearable . I would like think that most of them see me more as a friend as well as an instructor and we rarely have major disagreements ,flexibility is the key here I do believe it goes a long way with them and at the end of the day if they are on your side then life isn`t too bad . Just my two pence worth .
Yaramaz ,sounds like your part of the country is playing itself out especially when you have to go out in disguise,move west ,you know its best .