Job Discussion Forums

wyldfiregyrl · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 16

So...

I've been offered a "phone interview" by two schools in Istanbul... one of them is English Time in an area near the airport. The other is the Istanbul Language Center in Bakirkoy... I believe.
Could anyone give me some feedback about these schools and if you work(ed) there or know someone who did... How is it? Please rate 1-10... One being a pit of hell and 10 being a teacher's dream (good pay, honest work, reasonable students, time off, etc.)
Thanks a lot and any comments would be much appreciated in helping me make this decision! It is so hard to tell the difference between schools when I am not in Turkey. I had a bad experience going to Korea, luckily I went over on a Tourist Visa and could jump ship to a better school... But, I am hoping to not repeat my folly!! Rolling Eyes

Thanks!!
wyldfiregyrl

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I spent a year at the Beyoglu branch of English Time. You are always paid on time, the students are great and the management usually leave you to your own devices. There weren't that many materials at the branch I was at. This may have changed. For a new teacher it might seem a bit daunting. But with experience it's not a bad place to work.
7/10
The other school I haven't heard of.

Mike_2003 · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 344 Location: Bucharest, Romania

This isn't going to a lot of use, but I did visit ILC Bakirkoy about 5 years ago when I first came to Turkey. In fact, I only went in there to ask if they ran some kind of Turkish language course but the owner was more interested in offering me a job there.

Obviously, this information is outdated, but at the time he offered me 28 hours a week for $800 per month, which is not at all good. Of course, I didn't enter into any negotiations as I had no need of a job, so I'm not sure if that is their standard offer - more likely his was just hoping to exploit the fact I was straight of the plane - but even that gives you some insight into his personality. He didn't seem at all trustworthy to me. He didn't ask any questions about permits, qualifications or experience, another indication of his key interests. I don't know if the same guy runs the place or not as I've never been back since.

tammy · Joined: 07 Jan 2004 Posts: 45

I worked at the Kadikoy branch of English Time for a number of months. Although the management is different at each branch, the general rules and regulations are the same. They always pay on time, they tend not to interfere too much in how you plan and teach your lessons and they can offer you accommodation depending on availability and which branch you're at (the accomodation i was provided with wasn't very nice but I soon moved out into my own apartment - the school provides a housing allowance which covers a large portion of rent). The pay was good, I had two days off a week and it's possible to take extra time off as long as you don't do it all the time. The teachers and management were all really nice when I was there. I'd rate it about 7 or 8/10 although I know that the management has since changed at the branch i worked at so i'm not sure what its really like now. I do have some friends who have moved to different branches and some who are still at the same branch, so I'd guess the general vibe of ET is still quite good.
Hope this helps Very Happy

wyldfiregyrl · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 16

Thank you all for your comments and observations. I definately have some deciding to do!! Thanks to all of the posts on this list, I have already come in with more knowledge about salary and benefits than I thought I would! Smile

I hate having that "freash off the boat/plane" pheremone... it's a strong scent that at times can attract the less savory of folks. Rolling Eyes

tammy · Joined: 07 Jan 2004 Posts: 45

wyldfiregyrl · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 16

Im glad it worked out for you! Isnt it funny when you look back at certain times in your life, and cannot believe you did as well as you did, considering how little you knew?

I think I can apply that to just about all of my adolescent expeiences. I look back and in some cases cannot believe I got out unscathed, I was so young and seriourly stupid. Luck does indeed grace the beginner....

FGT · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Turkey

Take note of what Tammy implied: the school didn't provide a work permit. Do you want to live in this country illegally? A reputable school will enable you to work legally. (I know nothing about the schools in question, but draw my own conclusions).

kaw · Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 10:56 am Post subject:

Is the Istanbul Language Centre the same as ILM (Istanbul Language Merkezi???. If so I worked there a few years ago now and it was reasonably ok and we were pretty much left to our own devices. Of course the owner was corrupt etc but aren't most of them in Istanbul???
as far as I can remember we all got out work permits - I remember a fun day or so going to Komitini (or whatever the name of the place was in Greece) to give in and then collect all the paperwork. Maybe things have changed..................

DingirEnki · Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

Which English Time branch?

Of the 2 near the airport, Bakirkoy is a good branch in a fairly good area of Istanbul. Sirinevler I'd avoid to the best of my ability. The management there is utterly incompetant. On the flip side, though, the teachers in Sirinevler are very social and keep each other from going crazy (or at least they did a year ago, and many of the same ones are still there.)

I don't know much about ILC, but the little I know is that it's okay.

tammy · Joined: 07 Jan 2004 Posts: 45

Although my experience at ET was a good one, I've recently heard from some people who stayed on after I left. A lot of the management has been changed, a lot of people (who were very good teachers) have been fired and a lot of people (who were also good teachers) have quit (due to the new management)! So keep this in mind when choosing which school to go to!
Tammy

Kaliax · Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 2:28 am Post subject: Permits?

How many of those schools were willing to help you obtain a work permit? I've heard that, if need be, many people just skip over to Greece to get their permits sorted out there at the Turkish consulate/embassy... which for me would seem to be the only option (I ain't jumping a plane to Washington DC just to visit the Turkish embassy).

Even if they're willing to help, how many of those decent schools are willing to just let you cross the border every three months? For someone eager to travel in the area, that doesn't actually sound that bad...

Blair

DingirEnki · Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 10

MarcusK · Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 5:03 am Post subject:

So, regarding the visa issue:

Is it really cheaper (in terms of time and money) for schools who don't provide work visas to reimburse teachers' expenses for the trip to Bulgaria or wherever every three months to renew their tourist visas? Shocked

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Come to Bulgaria. But forget Sofia ! Plovdiv is nicer !