Job Discussion Forums

[Sally Vaite]

As I understand it, in years past, private language courses offered guaranteed minimum hours per month, that is, if the number of working hours drops below a certain number, the teacher would be paid a minumum rate as a sort of safety net. Is this still in operation or is this policy being gradually phased out?

[thrifty]

The chain of schools that cannot be named largely killed that. Just as an example Interlang used to guarantee your minimum salary every month but it was bought out by you know who and if you check on tefl.com today you will see the result.

Cue someone who gets a monthly minimum to say that teachers prefer that because they can earn more.

[doris]

i think that chain of schools (which cannot be named!!) give enough hours to their teachers and pay regularly.. so it doesn't have to guarentee minumum salary.. am i wrong thrifty?

[thrifty]

You are wrong.

So why doesn't it provide a guaranteed minimum then? If it is not to save money then why does it do it?

They pay regularly-wow that is normal.

[doris]

if you think i am wrong, then whatever i say will make no difference.. probably, u know better than i do.

but there is one thing that i couldnt understand..what is your problem with that school? just wondering if u have ever worked there?

[thrifty]

[doris]

yes i am!! so u wont answer my question because i'm turkish..? ok i wont ask u questions anymore sorry!!!

[thrifty]

I will answer your questions if you do us the courtesy of introducing yourself briefly here. No need for anything personal but just a few lines about where you work, where you are from etc.

[doris]

i studied english literature at university and graduated in 2005.. i have been workin in a language school for 4 months.. and i'm from istanbul.. enough?

[thrifty]

Thanks. It would have been nice to know which language school (if it is not you know who)-but fair enough.

My problems with the school are that it treats its students and staff like cattle, rips all and sundry off and has reduced the language school industry in Istanbul to the state it is in today. And yes I work there despite pathetic attempts to find me out like checking photocopies of all the teachers' passports and trying to trace ISPs.

[supertraveller]

What school are you talking about? Why can't you mention their name?

[doris]

i really don't know why we can't mention their name..

[corall]

anyway...

i think that schools where the numbers drop significantly in the summer months have a minimum salary, if they are paying you per month for so many hours. i only know of one school that pays per month with a saftey net. most language schools pay per lesson though, which makes this minimum thing none existent. but i am far from the expert. i have never worked at a language school in this country, nor plan to.

[Otterman Ollie]

Hey Sally I think if you are going to work at one of these places regardless of which one it is a monthly salary does not come into it ,you just have to take what they pay you when the student numbers fall off .When you work at any other type of teaching establishment you are on a set regular income but you don't sit around for hours watching the clock and you start and finish at the same time every day .And you get holidays ,paid and meals and maybe a even a place to live in thrown in and they do your papers and pay your social security because they have to coz its a real job and you are a real teacher . Er sort of !

[thrifty]

Are you saying that those who work for the hourly paid bottom feeder schools are not real teachers?