Job Discussion Forums

spnz_1 · Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 1 Location: New Zealand

Hello,i'm Simon, 22 from New Zealand. I am new to this website so please forgive me if my post is too general, if this topic has been covered before or if i'm in the wrong place. I am currently corresponding with English Time, talking about possible job opportunities. Has any one had any experience with this company? would it be a good place to start my ESL career? I recently travelled through Turkey and would love to return to Istanbul to teach. Any replies would be appreciated.

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 5:53 am Post subject: Be careful !

If you have read anything at all in this forum you should know by now this is one place to avoid .
The place has more than a chequered history and very few people I know who have worked there have positive stories to tell .
Ask to speak to any teachers who are still there ,I doubt if they have worked there for more than a year .

calsimsek · Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 775 Location: Ist Turkey

Hi Simon, do you have a death wish Confused

If you had a choice between a kick in the teeth and nice glass of wine, would chose the kick instead. No.. Well working for English time is like that. I only worked there part time and I got more per hour than all of their staff. It's not any one individual who makes the place so bad, its the style of the place it's becoming the fast food joint of E.L.S teaching in this country. You either fit into their idea of a teacher or you don't. There is no room for you to be your self. The company is run on production line system, new in, old out. Good luck, if you take the job.
P.S If any one wants to defend E/T and attack me at the same time go ahead I will not respond. I've seen too much of this kind of thing, to be a part of it.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Any comments Molly?

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

Yes, there are problems, but it is still one of the best schools to work for in Istanbul. We pay on time, we have a solid system, and we work hard to make things better for the students and the teachers. Some of the complaints in this thread are baseless, as there are many teachers at ET who have been teaching for us for more than 2 years. Many people renew their contracts, so we can't be all bad. I am quite aware that not everyone is happy, but that is true everywhere (see the thread about this topic). Some people spend more time whining on this site than working, it seems to me.

corall · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 270 Location: istanbul, turkey

well simon it seems that it's about a 50-50 split. but molly is right you have problems everywhere and there is the same stuff happening at even the better schools. but visitors visas are good in the fact that you can always leave a bad situation.

oh...the last thread on this topic was great! funny stuff for those of us that got to see it all unfold...well i think its funny to see people air out dirty laundry on a public forum anyways...

yes there are a lot of people who whine but there are also a lot of people who know what they are talking about too and don't agree with molly. i don't think that these comments are baseless. if i were you i'd take it all with a grain of salt and pm the people who might know more and be a bit more UNBIASED - like dmb or someone like that - he's been working here for ages and knows the score

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

corall · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 270 Location: istanbul, turkey

very true i forgot about that... oh yes.. and you erased that post i remember now it's all coming back to me....

so there must be someone who can give an unbiased opinion about this place- now i am curious -it's funny how all you hear is the crap about places on this forum and rarely any good

sorry dmb never meant to put you on the spot like that

irieteacher · Joined: 29 Apr 2004 Posts: 30

I worked at ET for two odd years.

In another thread u can find what I had to say on the topic: the Pros and Cons.

Although, there are a lot of cons, the reality is there are worse places to work than at ET.

A lot depends on the kind of Manager u have. I worked at the Taksim branch which has gone through about four managers in the last year. Of course each has a different personality.

One manager encouraged songs and laughter in the office, another didn't.

The Management can sometimes exhibit the professionalism and communications skills of a chimp, however, the same can be said of a lot of other course schools.

Many teachers stay on at ET, because they can't do better or are too lazy to do better. They are happy to complain behind Management's back. However, the motiviating factor is the salary. Even if u are paid at the low end of the scale 14-15 MTL, with the hours u should get, u should be making 2 billion TL or more a month.

The end of contract bonus and flight fare aint too bad either.

I would encourage any young teacher to go to ET, u can cut your teeth there, and make some ok change. Should u get fed up, as some do, simply give your notice and move on.

Regards,
Irie

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

I really appreciate Irie's comments-- nice to read something positive for a change. In general we see mostly negative comments about just about everything on this forum, and as the unofficial apologist for English Time, I get tired of it when it is about our school. I suppose one perspective is that the percentage of ET people who whine on Dave's is low compared to the ones who don't, but unfortunately people who read these posts often don't think of that (a recent realiziation on my part, I confess). of course if someone has a direct question to ask me, you will get a direct answer, if I know the answer, so feel free...

calsimsek · Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 775 Location: Ist Turkey

O.K Molly. This is not an attack on you. Why is the company you repersent. ( and I know its not up to you, and if I'm wrong please let me know) still paying rates back at 2002 levels.
E.T pays one of the lowest rates going. The problem with this is that since E.T is so new and big it's almost set it's self as a market leader and indicator of wage rates. Between 1999-2002 average rate in E.T type places was around 10$ an hour some got more. Thats 15,000,000 T.L at todays rates yet I know alot of people. With full paper work, who for some reason work for less than this ( One person works for 12,750,000 T.L )
My point being is that this my job, I come from a Union family, and I know a market player when I see on. My Problem with E.T is not personal, E.T is one of a few companies coming into this sector and changing the rules of the game in favour of the schools. Thats not good for US: Crying or Very sad

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

It's not only E.T. The owners of other dershanes get together and fix the prices of classes and what they are going to offer teachers.

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

As far as I know, the average wage at ET these days is about 14-15 m/hr. Plus 130 m/mo for rent allowance plus end of contract bonus and travel, which add up to about $1000-1500, depending on where the person is from. I have never worked for the other language schools, so I don't know how that compares. I have little input into the wages, but you know I try to support the teachers as much as I can.

calsimsek · Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 775 Location: Ist Turkey

As dmb points out all the largh fast food chain style of 'schools Embarassed

', are into price fixing and controlling wages. I feel less freedom about work than I use to, and E.T is clear example of a school which is demanding more from their staff and not giveing anything back.
Perhapes when I first came here the balance was wrong, a good teacher could ask for and get what he or she wanted, now the good and bad are all in the one bag. Feed like cattle from the same tray.

Flexablity of work and rates has been lost. If less teachers agreed to work for these 'Mc Enghlish schools' then perhapes pay and conditions would improve.
I have to be honest if I sat on the other side of the table I too would want what they now have. Rolling Eyes

irieteacher · Joined: 29 Apr 2004 Posts: 30

I don't know if this 140-15 M at ET is a starting salary or just for inexperienced people. However, I fear it is the former.

There are teachers at ET making more than this, but they are from the old guard. Hence the reason some feel that ET is actively looking for new blood who can't make comparisons to the past and complain.

However, I do know that when I shopped around, nobody offered me less than 16 M/hr. with the exception of one school. However, I do have some experience and that may have made the difference.

With the kind of inflation that has gone on in the last three years, I am amazed that ET can charge 2002 prices and get away with it. How are these teachers getting by on that I don't know.

However, at ET with frequent hours and a rent subsidiary it is possible.

Regards,
Irie