Job Discussion Forums

[EvilTwin2000]

To be honest, Turkey is my second choice of country after Italy, which is where I'll be taking a Celta course this summer. But it's a very close second. I love Istanbul, but I feel the language barrier is an awful lot higher in Turkey than in Italy--i.e., it took me three days to learn how to say "thank you" in Turkish (my crazy mnemomic device was that the musician John Tesh had mutated into a terrible disease for which Bull Durham's brother Ed had found a cure). Besides, any scheme where the backup plan is to move to Istanbul can't be all bad.

So most of my attention has been focused on Italy, where there seems to be a lot of last minute decision-making. But I recall hearing that this is not the case in Turkey. Is now the time to contact language schools for fall employment? By the time I have my Celta in hand, will I be fighting over scraps? I have a USA Master's in English and teaching experience, but in English composition, not ESL.

Or am I confusing language schools with pulic/private schools that make their decisions earlier--and where, as a newbie, I probably wouldn't stand a chance anyway? Or would I?

I know these are basic questions, but your help is greatly appreciated. For your kindness and patience toward a newbie whose energies have been focused elsewhere, I say, "Tesh: A cure!"--Ed Durham.

[spiral78]

If you're from the US (and therefore lacking that vital EU member state citizenship) Turkey's by far the better option...

and I agree with you - by no means a bad 'worst case' scenario

[EvilTwin2000]

I probably should have added that I�m eligible for an EU (Irish) passport, for which I applied about a month ago. But a lot can happen between passport application and passport delivery.

I probably need to rethink relegating Turkey to backup plan status�it sounds like there�s a value judgment in there when there certainly isn�t�and consider it an equal option. Though where you take the Celta says a lot about where you want to end up. And taking the Celta in Italy is nearly a done deal. Hmmm, maybe it shouldn�t be�.

Arrgh, new ideas confuse brain! Horrible ifs accumulate!

[Misstanbul]

I did my CELTA here in Turkey, and saved a lot of money compared to the one in Italy I was looking at. You can PM me if you want details.

Before choosing Turkey I had looked at Germany and Italy, but it was going to be a pain in the behind to get visa stuff worked out in those countries. There were not as many jobs either. Turkey had/has a lower cost of living, higher wages, and jobs were/are plentiful. The visa stuff did not pose any problems either.

The Turkish language is daunting at first, but you get the hang of it. Why don't you try learning "bye bye" they way I did: G�le g�le. I pictured myself calling a ghost ghoulie ghoulie .

[spiral78]

With a name like yours, how could anyone argue? Very clever, Misstanbul

[EvilTwin2000]

Oops, got ahead of myself as usual. becaue of course the first thing I did once I was accepted into the course was book the flight to Italy. Duh. So Italy it is, for the Celta at least.

But that doesn't mean I can't take Istanbul seriously as a place to work. I've looked into flying there from Italy as a side trip, right after the Celta course ends--not cheap but do-able. Would it help at all to show up in person, even if it was only for a few days? This would be in mid-June.

I have to get back to the states in August both to tie up loose ends and because I can't afford to roam around Europe for a month. Whatever happens, I'm planning on getting a one-way ticket to somewhere in Europe in September. Hopefully, I'll know where and why by then. But if not, is it likely there will still be some jobs left for the fall in Istanbul? Would there be any point in just showing up if I were willing to take whatever was offerred? Or is late Augist/early September far too late for that?

I feel guilty asking you to spend more time helping me on a backup plan--but what a tempting backup it is, especially given the scarcity of jobs in Italy. I've been to Istanbul three times and I know I'll be back. I still don't know much about Istanbul, but I sure do love Constantinople.

Thanks again.

[Misstanbul]

Many schools are OK with phone interviews, so I would not stress out too much about visiting them in person.

It seems like there are always jobs in Istanbul for teachers. Late August/early September would probably be fine for starting work here. Ramadan falls during that time this year. That means that language schools are a little light, as far as evening classes go, to accommodate the 'fast breaking' . I would suggest applying as soon as you finish the CTEFL though, and get a contract before you head anywhere.

[kateteacher]

I literally just finished a phone interview with an Istanbul language school. They are hiring for September and October. I think I'm on the early end of the applicants, but I'd say now is definitely not too early to apply. I'd imagine other schools will be hiring much more last-minute, though. I realize this is a lot of speculation on my part...hope it helps, though!

[EvilTwin2000]

Thanks all very much, esp. Misstanbul for saving me that airfare! Hope the interview went swell, Kate. Swelly?

Now it's back to the newbie board to ask if I should even bother contactng schools before I've got the Celta in hand. Thanks again.

[SAM31]

I don't think it ever hurts to send a CV while / before doing the CELTA. Noone is likely to offer you a job till you have it in hand, but you'll be 'on the radar' so to speak.
Lots of schools do phone interviews as Misstanbul said, but without experience, you'll have better luck if you show up and they like you and you are actually there.
By the way, İf you do go to Turkey, don't ever call Istanbul Constantinople in front of Turkish people. They can be sensitive on the subject

[EvilTwin2000]