Job Discussion Forums

[beets]

Hello everyone!

I posted in the "living in izmir" thread but decided I should probably start my own here

I am seriously considering moving to Turkey and teaching but I'm not sure whether or not I should teach in Izmir vs. Istanbul. So if any of you have experiences you would like to share, I would love to hear about them.

Also - are there any schools currently hiring in either city?

Here is some background info:

-25 female
-Dual citizenship born/raised in Canada but hold Turkish passport
-BA in English Literature minor Sociology
-B.ed (Bacherlor of Education)
-Teaching Certificate
-Highschool teacher in Canada (English/Humanities/Social Studies)
-International teaching experience (S. America)

I will be honest, I would like to make more than 3000TL per/month with accommodations in order to make this move. OR - is there a possibility that a university/private college would hire me without my MA? I am not sure if I am being unrealistic but I am sure to find out...

Thanks again

Cheers!

[keitepai]

Your qualifications and experience sound great - are you sure you are only 25?

There could be a problem with your status as a foreign hire teacher if you hold a Turkish passport. You may be considered foreign hire if you are hired out of the country but not if you arrive and then find a job. I would check this out before you apply.

If you are accepted as a foreign hire you will easily earn the amount you stated plus accommodation provided either in an international secondary school or a university.
Good luck

[beets]

Hi Keitepai,

Yes I am indeed 25!

I appreciate the information - it makes sense. If I were to be in Turkey to interview/search for jobs I may be considered a "Turk". I think I will have to read more on this forum to get a better feel for what goes on behind the scenes. There is a wealth of information.

I do have time on my side at the moment, so I am in no rush to "land a job". I want to make the right decision(s).

Do you know of any schools hiring in Istanbul?

[keitepai]

Hi there,

Schools will have done most of their hiring by now, you need to be looking around January for September positions.

Although, it is worth contacting schools in case they have trouble with new staff experiencing culture shock. If teachers leave unexpectedly then a school may contact you. It's not all that common though so a bit of a long shot.

The international schools I would consider in Istanbul are IICS, MEF & BISI (British school). If you look on their websites they may have info on vacancies, I have not heard about extra vacancies. Their packages seem similar from what teachers say.

Good luck

[FGT]

Maybe it's because I'm British but your qualifications don't seem to add up.
In the UK a BA degree takes 3 years, as does a B.Ed. Do you perhaps mean a PGCE?
The B.Ed is a teaching qualification, so why have a separate teaching certificate?
You should make it clear on your CV prior to making a job application.
You need a specific TEFL qualification to legally teach in Turkey.

[keitepai]

I assumed that the degree mentioned was a 4 year degree (BEd) but I am not from the UK. The teaching certificate mentioned is this similar to the UK PGCE? Apologies for this if I have it wrong......

However, I know that you dont need a TEFL to teach at international schools just a 4 year teaching degree (or equivalent can be 3 year degree plus a post grad qualification.)
I think TEFL should be compulsory as most of my teaching has been to young children who have virtually no English. I definitely could have used more knowledge in this area when I started.

Secondary (high) school is different though at least in the international school environment that I have experienced.