Job Discussion Forums

nessa · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 6 Location: new york, usa

new kid on the block. loads of questions. appreciate your patience and any advice!

i have degrees (ba and ma) but not in education. no esl certificate. no previous teaching experience. should i get some certificate before i get out there and starting knocking on random doors?

if i'd like to teach elementary school kids or university level/adult classes, what type(s) of certification are more sellable? with my ma degree, is it possible to land university jobs in turkey?

i guess i've missed the recruiting period for this fall. are spring openings hard to come by? when should i make the big move? sometime in mid fall? winter? do people usually land jobs through agencies first or move out there first?

im asian american, will that affect my job prospects there? (i.e. blond blue-eyed "real" ones are preferred?)

last but not the least, is ankara really that bad? the main reason im thinking ankara instead of istanbul is i have a couple friends who are originally from there and they've offered to connect me with their families and friends. so it might a bit easier at the beginning? whereas in istanbul i don't know a single soul...

any recommendations on schools in ankara? im making a trip out there in mid august. thinking i might check out a few if they are still open...

thanks a bunch!

mongrelcat · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 232

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=40668

you've read this, i assume...

i went to Ankara (rather than Istanbul) for the same reason - I knew people there and it seemed more "civilized" and less scary. But that all lasted about 7-8 months.

Dynamitestarbuck · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Istanbul

A safety net? Pah! Go on .... jump into the deep end in Istanbul Razz

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

amykittin · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 10

Snap - I'm a newbie looking at relocating to Ankara but won't be going until next year as I won't go without a cash fund (YES I AM A WUSS). I also have contacts in Ankara for cheap accommodation where I've none in Istanbul lol

I've also BSc and ALMOST an MSc (dissertation almost done!) but no teaching apart from work presentations! I'm going to take a month out of work before I go to do the 4 wk CELTA at Man Uni - heard it's one of the only ones that is worth anything (at least to get the better schools)!!!

I noticed a Wall Street Institute add the other day and I must confess to being a little scared of them having read some of the information on this site! Anyway, I'm going to have a wander round to some of them when I'm over visiting in September.

Good luck with it!

Ames

billybuzz · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 219 Location: turkey

Looks like it might be ok for you as your not canadian .

nessa · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 6 Location: new york, usa

with a master's degree, i am hoping to locate teaching positions at the university level. could someone shed a little info on decent universities in ankara? i've only checked on bilkent so far. many thanks!