Job Discussion Forums

[carl_00]

I'm currently trying to decide on where to take my CELTA course, with an eye also on spending the following year in that country, or, however long the typical contract is in that country. I'm a British citizen, 24, unrelated degree and, one whole year of teaching experience in Korea.

Basically, if I were to do the CELTA in Istanbul, what would, realistically, happen next? Is there much work available to the newbie? And, how is the work there? How are the studdents? What's expected?

In Korea, I enjoyed my time in the classroom probably, more so, because there was little pressure and I had the freedom to create a relaxed atmosphere. How does Turkey/Istanbul compare?

Thanks.

[bulgogiboy]

I worked in Ankara, not Istanbul, but you have the same language school chains in both cities, as well as smaller private ones which are all very alike. With a CELTA I'm sure you'd be viewed as pretty employable by companies like English Time, Wall Street, Amerikan Kultur, etc . The ESL market in Turkey is similar to Korea in that it's a lottery. There are good employers out there, but just like Korea you need to search carefully and do a bit of checking. If you do choose to work in Turkey, you'll be working illegally for the first few months of your contract, if not the whole time you're there.

As for pressure to stick to a cirriculum, it depends on the employer. With English Time you'll be told to stick to a widely-detested textbook and schedule, with limited opportunities for creativity. My second employer was much better, you used a set textbook (interchange/headway) for some of the lesson, and supplemented it with your own choice of materials/games/songs etc. I taught adults there and, as in most places, the adult students are fun, very friendly, polite, and keen to learn.

The money isnt exactly great but you can live comfortably, especially if you pick up some privates along the way. You won't save much unless you're a bit frugal.

If money isn't a priority why not look for jobs in Thailand instead?

[carl_00]

Thanks for the response.

Well, so far, Turkey sounds more promising than the Czech Republic. Ideally I would like to save money, what kind of average wage would one be looking at, at those schools mentioned? And what's this about working illegally? I don't think I'd like to spend my time there with that hanging over my head.

[dudeteacher]

The good news is you have a year's experience - that counts for something.
Secondly you would have had the CELTA by the time you apply.

Slightly bad news is that you had the year's experience before the CELTA, not after, diminishes your marque value just a bit. However, it's easy enough to get a teaching job in Ist.. People with worthless online Diplomas are getting paid, so you won't have a real problem getting a job. If you start looking in summer it will be a little tougher as that is a bit of a slow period.

With the CELTA many schools will consider you. You should try English First although you have basic experience, you will have a shot.

British Side requires people with more experience.

Some schools will try to push 15 ytl on you. I think you shouldn't accept less than 17.

Lastly you can probably get 17 at ET. However, as a relatively newcomer to ESL you will make almost no progress professionally at that school. They simply don't have a system geared to helping you. They shut their eyes and just pray there will be minimum complaints. Students accept any crap in class (if the teacher is amiable enough) because they can get exams from friends or the teachers will let them copy.) If you get stuck with teachers who go through the motions or let the students cheat, you will then be under additional stress to try to get results in such a class. There are people who have been at that school for three years or more and still don't know much about teaching. Do you want to be like that a year from now, far less three?

However, if you are looking for easy money and a chance to enjoy Ist.'s night life, then ET should suit you fine.

Dude

[carl_00]

Thanks for the response dudeteacher.

If there'll be work available then Istanbul sounds good enough but I'm a bit concerned at the work place. What's this about exams? I'm not too keen on having to achieve certain exam results. If these are schools which aren't concerned about me professionally then I'm certainly not interested in working in a pressured job.

In Korea, the classes had one Korean teacher, who, admittedly, did the more serious work, then, one native speaking teacher whose focus was conversation. What is the typical set-up like in the Turkish classroom, in the private schools for example?

[dudeteacher]

By private schools, do you mean the private lesson schools or the private primary/highschools. If it's the latter, yes you share the class with a grammar teacher who does the brunt of the work (as my limited experience with these schools indicate).

However, with the private lesson schools, most allow you to teach the class by yourself or with a fellow native teacher. Some will have you share the class with a Turk.

In terms of respect, you will find various levels of it. I've hear that Bilge Adam and British English aren't too bad. Kent school of English in Kadikoy has gotten rave reviews in terms of decency. English First and British Side have a good rep.

Berlitz and ET have their fair share of horror stories.
The Berlitz manager is renowned for her rudeness and having teachers leave. In ET there will be no appreciation for your hard work. It's a school that for years has turned a blind eye to teachers letting students cheat - that should tell you something about their professionalism.

Inlingua and Deulcom are notorious for paying late.

However, no matter the school you will be expected to teach. Only at Bilge Adam do they expect the native teachers to entertain at the lower levels but do all the teaching at the higher levels. However, their system is fallible (they produce their own book) and the quality of their students leaves a lot to be desired. They seem to think that native teachers can't really teach, yet their own local staff is very slow to get results and speak far too much Turkish in the class.

It's a matter of you choosing what you think you can put up with.

With the exception of ET (and maybe Berlitz) I would go to any of the others and get some experience.

Dude

[bulgogiboy]

[eclectic]

Amazing that even with a CELTA, and getting hired bya reputable school, that they would still require so long to get that work permit. When I think of working illegally, what comes to mind is a person with less-than-sufficient quals, doing under-the-table stuff. Amazing that doing all the "right" things like getting a CELTA wouldnt expedite that work permit, if for no other reason than THE SCHOOL SHOULD REALIZE YOU ARE LEGIT, and they should WANT to appease those people sooner rather than later, as the SCHOOL TOO risks losing a qualified teacher if authoriites do find out. Strange,..... it would seem in THEIR best interests as well to hurry it up.

Then again, perhaps they have little control over the beaurocratic part of obtaining/expediting it. And of course we have read over and over again here that some schools merely SIT on it for various reasons.

[fishmb]

My friend and I were both hired by language schools and we didn't even see a contract, and this is supposedly one of the better ones! The administration doesn't care about you that much. I had a year of experience, Pass A on my CELTA, a BA in English Language and Lit., and they still wouldn't get me a work visa. I'd make more of a fuss if I weren't leaving in a few months anyway. I thought I'd stay a lot longer, but the administration/professionalism at a lot of these schools is appalling/non-existent.

[gulam2]

There are may schools in Istanbul. The salaries are pretty poor. But some of the schools treat you well and the teaching is great.
Istanbul is a lively and interesting city.
Howeve,r at ALL COSTS AVOID BERLITZ.

[eclectic]

[kazazt]

There is precious little summer work and schools will not be recruiting in June. September is the time to go.

[eclectic]

thanks 4 that. I hope I can make it til then over here where I am now, ...