Job Discussion Forums

nortega · Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 3

I will be moving possibly next year to Istanbul and am trying to find out if there are schools, etc in the Sariyer area of Istanbul to teach english. (reason being I might be living in that area).
I am a newbie to this and will be getting my certificate to teach before I go.
I appreciate any suggestions that will help me to plan.[/b]

gelin · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 144 Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Well I guess we need to first find out what kind of certificate you will have to teach. Depending on that will be your options as to where, who and what you will teach. Sariyer is a nice place in Istanbul, by the way, if you didn't already know that.

I also take it that you do realize that you need to have all the visa work done BEFORE you come to Turkey, right?

nortega · Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 3

Thanks for the response. As I said I am new to this. I am looking into a program that will give me a TEFL certificate.
I hope to come to Istanbul in the next month and visit some schools to discuss my teaching for them in the Fall. (of course providing there are openings)
From everyones messages, I do know about the visa and I thought I would take that step if and when I was given an offer - I realize this all might be unreasonale thinking from my part????

gelin · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 144 Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Your teaching credentials will certainly limit the places you will be able to teach at. You will be looking at language schools, which typically don't pay as well as private schools/universities. I think if you do have the means and time to come and check out the schools, do so. You will be able to talk to the current teachers and have a look at their living arrangements. Sariyer probably isn't the cheapest place to live if the school doesn't provide a place for you.

Don't limit yourself to Sariyer -- there are plenty of other schools on the European side. Why Sariyer, just to be nosy?

Have you checked out the internet ads for language schools in Istanbul? You might as well send out your resume and find out salaries, etc., before you go to save time and frustration.

nortega · Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 3

Thanks for putting that so clearly about what my options re:employment.
My husband might be teaching at Koc University, so this is why I was focused on Sariyer. It sounds like there are no language schools in that area, so I should concentrate on other parts of Istanbul...I better get searching....

El Gordo · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 35 Location: Turkey

There are plenty of private K12 schools in the Sariyer area which employ foreign teachers and, providing you have a degree in English, some of them might be prepared to consider you even if you do not have a PGCE (or similar). For example:

�zel Cent Koleji, Tarabya
�zel Dar�ssafaka Lisesi, Derbent
Atat�rk Koleji (an Istek school), Tarabya �st�
Isik Koleji (written with two undotted "i"s and an "s cedilla") and University, Maslak
Y�zyil Isil (again, two undotted "i"s and "s cedilla"), in Belgrad forest near B�y�kdere.
Bogazi�i Koleji, Maslak.

All of these are within 10-15 minutes bus-ride of Sariyer. You can find contact details on their websites. I suggest you fax your CV to them and you might be lucky.