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TeachEnglish · Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 239

Yes, getting used to this culture has been an adventure. The biggest thing I have not been able to get used to, but getting better at, is the student's cheating. It seems to be an accepted part of the culture. The students will cheat right in front of you as if it is ok. If and when you catch them, they don't show remorse for being caught, they get angry because you won't allow them to get away with it.. I like to give them all the rope they need to hang themself... then smile and wave good bye at them as they gasp for their last breath. Twisted Evil

Some of the best lessons learned are the ones learned the hard way.

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

NisaTex · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 24

As one students told me:

"Of course we know cheating is wrong!" "But in out culture when our friend asks for help we have to help them. Relationships between people and families are more important than abstract laws" We know cheating is wrong but we rationally choose to do it. It is a lesser evil than not helping a friend. And in a country like Turkey relationships are an individual and family's best strength should things start going wrong in a society ostensibly crontrolled by "laws"

Hmm...good point I thought---Or maybe just a good excuse to cheat
Laughing

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 9:37 am Post subject:

On the subject of cheating, there is no excuse, am I being judgemental or fair to those others who do not?

tvik · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 371 Location: here

when i worked at Ollies school there wasn't one student who wasn't trying to cheat. it's a middle eastern thing... it's called 'helping'

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 11:42 am Post subject:

Yes it wasn't actually my school tvik, but I take your point , they do to "help" each other-------------------------- Alot!

Btw, hows the place you're at?

Listener · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 140 Location: Istanbul

Just wanted to say that this is a very interesting thread....

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

how bout somebody helping me get a 25 ytl per hour job that provides me a work permit and my wife a spouse visa? Smile

Listener · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 140 Location: Istanbul

Now you're asking a lot, Eclectic Razz

tvik · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 371 Location: here

hi ollie...
i do miss turkey but i've got better students, more pay and more holidays here. signed up for next year... better apartment too.. hope all is well there, say hi to all my old friends there...

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 11:48 am Post subject:

Yeah no worries mate, but I don't think there are many of them left coz like rats they are looking for greener pastures, me included!

Whats the low down on your place? PM me!

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

billy orr · Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 229

Another interesting little point on the discourse front.

If you google I and we in English versus ben and biz in Turkish, guess what you find?

I is nearly 4 times more frequent than we in English. Yet biz (we) is nearly three times more frequent than ben (I) in Turkish.

PhilYouUp75 · Joined: 22 Dec 2009 Posts: 6

My first year teaching in Turkey was complete hell, for various reasons. I was at a private school full of spoiled students. My department provided no orientation or support for new teachers at all (not even a tour of the building or a key to unlock the computers in the classrooms). And even though I had studied Turkish culture in university, I had no real preparation for the culture of Turkish schools or for Turkish child-rearing ideas. On top of that, my boss absolutely forbade us to use Turkish inside the school. And I was trying to teach just as I did back home, same expectations, same rules.

My second year was better. I started speaking Turkish with my students when appropriate. I started learning what behaviors to ignore (any 'cheating' that wasn't on an actual formal exam, any talking during class that didn't render me inaudible, etc.). I stopped planning lessons more than a day in advance (because you never know what the principals are going to do to you or your students at any particular moment). I learned to switch from kindly uncle to fire-demon to wise teacher in the course of 15 seconds without interrupting my lecture.

Probably most important, I formed alliances with students and other teachers.

As was said earlier, in Turkey relationships are more important than rules.