Job Discussion Forums

globetrekker1 · Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 5 Location: USA

Hi All,

I am currently teaching English to adults in Prague and would like to relocate to Turkey within the next six months. I have a TEFL certificate as well as elementary and adult education credentials from the State of California. First, I would like to know if it would be a problem for me to get hired in Turkey since I am black. I did not have any problems finding a job in Prague. I recently applied for a teaching job in Thailand and was offered a job based upon my qualifications. When I told them that I was a black American, they stopped all correspondence with me. Anyhow, if anyone is able to offer any information regarding the employability of a person of color, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regina

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

I know several teachers of colour here. They get looked at more on the streets, but they do get hired. I think Turks are slowly learning that not all North Americans or Brits are blond and blue-eyed.

yaramaz · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:52 am Post subject:

Corall, my dear, your two cents...?

bigbadsuzie · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 9:50 am Post subject: No problem in Izmir

Hi ,a couple of people I know work at the new Uni in Izmir there are a couple of coloured guys there and they generally find the place and the people ok ,so before you jump over to Istanbul check it out ,word is they are still actively looking for new staff .

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

People of color do not generally have problems in Turkey. At the 'Amerika Kultur Dernegi' (Eskisehir) one of the most popular teachers was a Briton of color. The Black Briton married a Turkish lass, and hundreds of people were involved.

It is useful to use 'Black Soccer players' as a barometer of how well black people fare in Turkey, compared with other Euro. destinations. By all accounts, black footballers in Turkey do very well, and face far fewer hostile crowd reactions, compared with other Euro. countries such as Italy, and some of the Central Euro countries like Poland and the Czech Republic.

Taking the above into account, and the general willingness of the Turks to be open to others (letting them live in peace), Turkey is a decent destination for an EFL teacher of color, especially, once again, compared with some other Euro. destinations.

In Vorozneh (Russia), recently, 3-4 foreign students (from Latin America) were attacked by a group of Russian skinheads near the University. One of the foreigners died in the assault, and the others were severly injured. This type of incident, would be unheard of in Turkey, and thankfully so.

Ghost in Taichung, Taiwan.

Mark Loyd · Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 517

OP

Read the job information journal article posted by one of our black teachers, which shows the inherent racism in many large employers here.

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

people are racist everywhere, including the US. however, that does not preclude employment. One of my black teacher friends commented that when she went back to DC she felt sort of not special anymore because she was not different from the people around her. She was stared at here, but then so are most obvious foreigners. You get used to it. Black people are hired here, especially if they are N American or British.

Mark Loyd · Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 517

As Ghost quite rightly pointed out, Turks do have a live and let live attitude but you are dealing with a very insular society that has had little experience with black people. A headline some years ago referring to some Nigerian drug dealers who were caught was:

Dirty cannibals get out of our country

Turkish students with little experience expect a blonde blue eyed teacher and are unlikely to understand the concept of being an African American. I have had this discussion a number of times about the uk and after lengthy explanations about Asian Britons or Black Britons they say things like:

They have a British passport but they come from Africa.

Understandably it is difficult to talk about racism in a country where it is not on the agenda.

Many language schools will not employ black or Asian teachers because they do not want to take the risk of annoying the customers as well as their because of their own ignorance.

globetrekker1 · Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 5 Location: USA

Hi all,

A big thanks to everyone who have responded to my post. As the old saying goes, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." So I am planning on flying down to Turkey in December just to check out the environment and the schools.

Take care and thanks again!
Regina

howmucharefags · Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 299 Location: Eskisehir

Dirty cannibals get out..... I love it!! Hahahaha

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

So did Mark Wallace when he signed for Rangers. Racism used to be rife in England. It still is in other European countries(talking about football) There may be racism in Turkey but like every other European country ıt is the narrow minded minority.

Mark Loyd · Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 517

Nobody could accuse dmb of being a racist.

yaramaz · Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 2:24 pm Post subject:

Do tell.

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

yaramaz · Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 2:57 pm Post subject:

Just curious. You never know.