Job Discussion Forums

Ed3727 · Joined: 18 Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Budapest

I hope to teach in Istanbul next year. I do not have a TEFL certificate but I do have an MS in Biology and 7 years experience teaching adults (6 in Budapest and 1 in Ukraine, my current home). I also taught biology for 2 years while I was a graduate student. On the negative side I am too old to officially work in Istanbul (69).

My wife and I will spend about 10 days in Istanbul - late Dec to early Jan. Can someone recommend schools that I should/might contact for an initial interview.

fishmb · Joined: 08 Jul 2009 Posts: 184 Location: Istanbul

Any more information?

Are you a native speaker? Do you want a work permit? Are both of you trying to find jobs at the same school? Do you have any salary expectations?

Ed3727 · Joined: 18 Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Budapest

Sorry. Yes, I'm a native speaker (USA) and don't think that I can get a work permit due to my age and am willing to make a border run every 90 days. My wife, also a native speaker, will probably opt to teach privately.

istanbuldelight · Joined: 22 Dec 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Istanbul, Turkey

This is a hard one. Unfortunately, you could have a master's in TEFL and it wouldn't serve you as well as some little, dinky, internet TEFL certificate. The Turkish Ministry of Education dictates the employment requirements for all Turkish schools. They require a TEFL certificate OR a BA in English. These are the only two things they accept (if you are planning on teaching English). However, international schools are not under their jurisdiction. You could look into teaching at one of them. And, I should say, in Turkey there is always a way around every rule. If a place really wanted to hire you, they could find a way. Apply to lots of places and see what happens.