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izzyismydog
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 91 Location: cold north-ish regions of Canada
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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 2:43 am Post subject: Legal work possible? and a few other Qs. |
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My boyfriend and I are considering your lovely country for a year or so of TEFLing.
We are both Canadian and will have 1+ years of experience teaching in Taiwan by the time we get there, and uni degrees. No CTEFL but we are planning on going to Istanbul to get them in June. (Via Lingua seems the best choice... any comment?)
Can you tell me if it's possible to get legal jobs? will we have to go back to Canada to process the paperwork (we couldn't afford that)? If we won't get legal jobs, is it worth the cost and effort of getting the TEFL since we are experienced teachers (I even have a degree in Education)?
And of course, the big question, is there any money to be had? We know that it can't compare to what we could pull in here, but will we be able to make enough money to send something home to pay our substantial student loan bills and yet still put food on the table and beer in our bellies?
Any info or opinions would be groovy.
Thanks. |
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NMB
Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Posts: 84 Location: France
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Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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Hi, I taught in Istanbul for 1.5 years.
Yes, you will have to return to your country to have your work permit processed. However, if you are a legal resident of your current country, perhaps it can be done there -- if you find a job before leaving. You should consult your local Turkish Consulate.
Like anywhere, how much money can be saved in Turkey really depends on your lifestyle. Foreign teachers often earn at least 3x the average Turkish salary, so, of course, saving is highly possible. If there are two of you sharing the rent, that's even better.
A teaching certificate is not necessary to teach in most language schools; in fact, teachers with certificates don't seem to earn much more than those without (if they earn any more at all). With a degree in Education, I'm sure you would also be competitive for positions in other private schools and universities. These schools would also be more likely to go through the lengthy hassle of a work permit than a language school. |
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izzyismydog
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 91 Location: cold north-ish regions of Canada
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Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 3:48 pm Post subject: good point! |
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I have contacted the Turkish-Canadian consulate to see if they can direct me to a Taiwanese-Turkish one.
I have heard that even with my Education degree, I would need a TEFL to legally work in language schools- I would apparently only qualify to teach in an International Elementary or High School because that's what my degree qualifies as. It seems like the Turkish beauracracy is worse than the Taiwanese.
Do you know what the situation is like as far as the likelihood of getting hired (since it seems we won't be able to be legal anyways) without our TEFLs? Will we be able to find jobs easily that are willing to hire us illegally and pay us about the going rate (someplace reputable...)
Thanks for any info! |
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NMB
Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Posts: 84 Location: France
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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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Why wouldn't you want to teach in an international school?? I'm sure the conditions are much better than in the language schools. |
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izzyismydog
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 91 Location: cold north-ish regions of Canada
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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 2:03 am Post subject: International Schools |
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From what I've found, they all seem to require teachers with a lot of experience. The only "real" teaching I've done is for my teaching practicum- so 4 months. Other than that I've taught in Taiwan.
So I think that International schools are out. |
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NMB
Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Posts: 84 Location: France
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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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I disagree. I think you're selling yourself short. At least contact the International schools, if you haven't already. With your degree in Education, experience in Taiwan, and the demand for native English-speaking teachers in Turkey, I think you'll get offers. At the very least, try other private schools (colleges, high schools, etc.). |
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Volodiya
Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 1025 Location: Somewhere, out there
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 2:52 am Post subject: legal work possible and a few other questions |
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Last time we checked, it was possible to apply for a work visa in either the country of your citizenship, or of your residence. If you're 1) a resident of Taiwan, working legally there; and, 2) TEFL courses are available there, you could apply for work in Turkey and qualify to work legally before coming over, after you completed the TEFL course.
(On a personal note, I'm not sure why someone would want to work illegally, if they had a path to legality. Is it somehow an advantage?) |
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izzyismydog
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 91 Location: cold north-ish regions of Canada
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:36 am Post subject: love to but... |
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We are unfortunately residents of a non-country. There is only a Turkish embassy in Beijing, who would not recognize us as residents of China because we are residents of Taiwan, which doesn't exist! So according to the Turkish- Canada and the Canadian- Turkey embassy if there's no Taiwan embassy (and neither could point us towards one) we must be processed in Canada.
We have definitely looked into the option of going home to process our paperwork (and thus, scarily, getting a job sight unseen from outside of Turkey) but we are not wealthy people and can't afford the trip home for 3 months and then the resulting (horrendously expensive from Canada) flight to Turkey. I can't make my student loan payments on what I'd be able to make at home, assuming I could even get a job there that fast!
I would love to be able to come and work legally, but it's rather out of our budget... especially considering how little we would make in Turkey. It's not like I'd be able to pay it off if I put it on a credit card.
We are still, however, still wanting to do our TEFL certs sometime before landing there, though those are also seeming prohibitively expensive (around $1500 USD) considering that we don't know that they are needed since we'd be illegal anyways! They'd potentially be good to have in the long run so we are trying to find somewhere cheap in SEA to take them.
So, bottom line is, it's advantageous due to the relative cost of airfare, living etc. of not going home vs. going directly to Turkey. And I have yet to hear tell of the disadvantages of working illegally! |
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Volodiya
Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 1025 Location: Somewhere, out there
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 12:51 pm Post subject: legal work possible and few other questions |
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Yeah, there's always the possibility that we're talking at cross-purposes, but I found your last post much more informative about the situation you're finding yourself in.
This may sound round about, but you could both go to Thailand and do a TEFL course there. There are good and very economical ones- just $600 USD and accomodations (total for two, just $1300, or so). You could then both work for a government school, or any other school that would guarantee you a work visa. Typical salaries are not large, but you could live on one of them, and save the other (say, $600 USD/month). This would give you a legal status in Thailand, residency, and you would be able to apply for a job, and then a Turkish work visa at the Turkish Embassy in Thailand.
For further details, see /www.ajarn.com/. Stamford TEFL, and ECC CELTA, are two possibilities for you. There may be others, as well.
Somebody else will have to tell you about any downside, or advantage, to working illegally. I just don't know. |
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