Job Discussion Forums

[JulieC]

Hi I'm new to the world of ESL I'm a primary school teacher with over 12 years experience. I have been offered an interview in January with ISTEK English schools. I am wondering if anybody knows about them?

Also I'm37 and single so would be coming over by myself I wondered in your opinion how safe Turkey is for a solo female and also if there are many opportunities to meet others?

Last question is the salary range offered is between US $24,000 and $36,000 I have a loan in Australia that I need to repay that would account for $10,000 US per year in your opinon would that leave me enough money to have a decent standard of living and so some travelling

Hope this isn't too many questions!!

Cheers Julie

[eclectic]

[keitepai]

I think you are as safe as in any big city in Australia, just be careful.....don't sit in the front seat of a taxi, count your money out in public, or walk around holding a Lonely Planet guide, or wear shorts and sandals. All quite obvious really.

You should be careful who you trust, anyone who says "My friend" beware of them as they are probably trying to pull one over you! It can be hard to meet people but if you are patient and careful you will find good friends.

Your salary should be at the top end if you are a trained teacher...why are you not going for a better paid job in an international school in Istanbul?

[coffeespoonman]

Well, I can't comment about working conditions there. ISTEK is a big name here, so I suspect it can't be too bad, but let's hope someone who works/worked there can go into more detail about it.

About being a single woman here - don't be concerned at all. You'll get the occasional comment (probably from 16 year old boys trying out their English), but on the whole, there's nothing at all to be worried about. Just like any other city, you'll learn where and where not to go, and the worst you're liable to face is a stare or two, or maybe a couple of overly friendly men in touristy areas. Istanbul is a very safe and arguably quite modern city (at least in the places where you're likely to spend your time).

About the salary, you should have some questions before you agree to anything. Even at the low end, 24,000 USD is a pretty good salary here (3000 TL a month), and 36,000 is really quite good (4,500 TL a month), but you need to ask:

1 - is that net or gross? (should be net, but you need to learn for sure)

2 - will they supply you with a work permit? Aside from the obvious benefits associated with working legally, a work permit means they'll have to make social security payments, which, for some nationalities, are refundable when you leave (Americans, for example). If Australia has a social security agreement with Turkey, that money can be rolled over to your retirement account in Australia instead of paid directly to you. In any case, it's yours, and this will be between 1000 - 1500 TL a month, so it is quite important.

3 - Do they provide housing, or a housing allowance? If not, it's ok because your salary is enough, but if they supply housing, you'll save a lot of money on start-up costs.

4 - Do they provide transportation to work? (I'm quite sure they do, but it's something you should discuss)

5 - Do they give free lunches? (Again, this is the norm in Turkey, but you should check it)

6 - Are they paying for your flight for your interview? This is NOT the norm, so if they are, it means they're really interested and should treat you well.

7 - Does the contract offer paid holiday? It should be at least 1 month.

8 - You should also get a yearly plane ticket to your country of origin.

Don't hesitate to ask these things - it'll show that you've done your homework about what you should expect from Turkey, and it'll show that you have high expectations, which in their eyes, will mean that you're a professional, and they will treat you as such.

Good luck, and let us know how they answer!

Oh - almost forgot, you'll have no problem meeting people. In fact, you'll probably meet too many. But there are a lot of foreigners here from all over the place, and after a brief period of being a fish out of water, I'm sure you'll meet people you connect with. Don't hesitate to go out in the evenings, and if you're so inclined, have a look at mymerhaba.com. It's full of news about groups, classes, workshops, etc., many of which are in English.

[eclectic]

how the OP never responded!