Job Discussion Forums

Ulysses · Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 41

Hi all :-)
Anyone got any information on this establishment? Or any other language schools in Istanbul? I am looking for work in Istanbul as from late summer...got qualifications and experience, mostly university, but maybe a language school is better in Istanbul?
Thanks!
U.

Nargile57 · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Istanbul

All you need to know about English Time can be found here - and there's plenty of it, oh and avoid Gok Dil:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/search.php

Ulysses · Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 41

thanks for the link but I cant access it..I gather the contents are negative?

Shalana · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 150 Location: Istanbul

I work at ET so I will offer my opinion.

The branch I am at is pretty good, but I have heard that this is not necessarily true of all branches. Like any place, the people make it what it is.

I really like my students as people. Some of them are good students and really want to learn. Others seem to just want to pass from one level to the next for whatever reason and some seem to be here for socializing. My students have ranged in age from 15 to 50, with the majority being between 20 and 30.

Recently, there was a huge pay increase at ET. I heard that incoming teachers are being offered between 20 and 26 lira per hour. Existing teachers are now getting paid between 20 and 30 lira an hour - an increase from the previous 14-17 lira/hour. Also, we used to get 150 lira/month rent allowance. This has been increased to 300 lira/month.

ET does have its good points and there are other things that coud be improved, but this is probably true of any workplace.

If you are considering EF, I interviewed there a year ago by the owner and was told that they only hire people with a CELTA or a DELTA and I believe they pay a salary of 24 lira/hour. At ET, you are only paid per teaching hour, so there is no minimum and you are not paid for class prep or grading exams.

Good luck in your search.

yaramaz · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject:

It's true that EF require a CELTA, minimum. They pay a salary and housing allowance, however, not hourly. The salary varies depending on experience and how long you've worked for the school. There is also private health insurance. Overtime is 30ytl/hr. I've been working there for about 2 years now and it's been uneventful and fine. No complaints- especially after all I'd dealt with in previous situations.

tararu · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 494

You also get a residence and work permit with ET and public SSK insurance plus bonus and flight allowance. Every year we get a group discount for private insurance that costs 1100ytl. It covers everything except dental but includes travel insurance. For those who get it, we take it out of their pay in installments.

CECTPA · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject:

I never imagined I'd see the day.

Anecdotally, lately I have heard of a lot of people choosing them, or even returning to ET from other, presumably "better"(?) deals. The above mentioned package is a hell of a lot more than many schools are offering these days. As another thread mentioned, it may be an incentive for competitors to step up their game, in which case we all benefit.

Might even check it out myself at some point...

fungus the bogeyman · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 25

Interesting how all the many problems with books, management etc that we have all had to listen over the last few months, even years, suddenly disappear when they raise the salary.

Wow am never ceased to be amazed at the integrity of TEFL teachers!

happeningthang · Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 117

Shalana · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 150 Location: Istanbul

Just because some of us are mentioning the good things that have recently happened at ET, that doesn't make us TEFL teachers without integrity. And we are not blind to the things that should be improved at ET.

Is there a language school out there I don't know about that is perfect? If so, please share this information with the rest of us.

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

look et is great! ive worked in istanbul for quite a while, at both et and kids' schools and it's hard to beat et (other than "the book"). it is true that the people at the branch you work at will generally make the experience either a good one or a bad one. on the other hand, turnover is pretty high cos many people either come for a short time or want to see more of the region and take time off for travel, so even if you dont have any "fun" people there when you arrive, the chances are high that youll make friends pretty quickly regardless. as for the company, et is fair and reliable, with no strings attached. it's definitely a great choice if youre just arriving in the country for the first time. it gives one a chance to suss the scene out some, without signing a more restraining contract. too their lojman, though rough, is at least warm and cheap.

misterkodak · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:23 am Post subject:

The crime is still the crime. No amount of money could ever persuade me to work there again. I refuse to work in what has come to symbolize an ESL sweatshop, nor indirectly support a firm which is funded by religious zealots. There are a hell of alot worse problems there than their books and the whacked out geriatric mafia who used to run the place.
"They give you a nice place to sleep" is an enticement to work for them? I'd rather sleep in the Taksim metro than in their lockdown. Sheesh, some people are tools!

happeningthang · Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 117

Ulysses · Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 41

great little photo, mister! :-)

teacherdude · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 260

One man's good is another man's crap.

I am pretty knowledgeable re: the Taksim branches.

yes, many people came back becz the money is amazing. Quite a few were willing to sacrifice their "principles," for the moola. I am not judging them, just telling it like it is.

The Taks One branch has had no Head Teacher for two months. The Taks. two Head Teacher will leave at the end of May. That means no Head Teacher at either branch.

Both branches at Taksim have been without a Turkish Grammar teacher for 3 months.

At the Taksim 2 Branch, the GM took away their recorders so no one had had a listening activity for five months. Yes, they have TVs with audio exercises. But the teachers refuse to use the crappy ET material on the TV.

The books are a joke, teachers simply cannot teach with them. Many teachers simply allow their students to cheat, get amazing grades and move on the next level. Therefore, you may find a student at upper Intermediate without a clue about certain aspects of Pre Int Eng. The exams are usually a joke and bad students can pass them, however, if someone amazing fails despite the afore mentioned 'aids,' the Management will be happy to pass you. You will find very few students repeating.

I had a colleague, whose students averaged more than 90 percent in their elementary final exam, however, most didn't know the Presen Continuous or Simple Past. Ask them the time or the date and you might have to wait a long time. They are now in Level Two and are 'relearning' simpe present , simple past etc.

The classes are a joke. The exams are a joke. However, the money ain't no joke.

You can make your money and you might luck into a normal class. However, expect no personal development as a teacher.

TD