Job Discussion Forums

[deegee55]

Thanks to the guardian angel who offered the feedback on the ISTEK schools.

I'm thinking about spending a year in Turkey teaching at either the elementary or secondary level, and I've done some research. Of course, the school websites give a utopian view of happy teachers and sweet-faced tots, but is this the reality?

I'm not a neophyte in this business, but every country is uncharted territory, and I need to know what's waiting for me before I ask for a sabbatical, rent out the house, and farm out the pets.

Build up some good Karma and help me out, please. Don't be afraid to lay it on the line; I've got a really strong stomach!

[ranter]

In a nutshell, it will be a horrible experience.

[deegee55]

Hmm...a "horrible" experience. Guess I've gotta have a closer look at the proposition. This is what I'm getting from other people as well. The recruiters are great seducers of the gullible; they'll promise teachers the moon and cherubic students to go along with it.

By the way, I had a look at your blog. Well done. If you're a teacher yourself, you might consider a career change to sports critic/analyst.

Thanks for taking the time to help out. Good karma to you.

[Ebenezer]

Ok... I have to answer this question... I'm an insider, I've been with Istek for over 6 years! Yeah! Well... let's put it that way, no, they are not "horrible" employers, they are business people, you do your job, do it well, they need you, you need them, they'll treat you good, you screw up, you're out... the students... spoiled brats... you'll have to be aggressive, shout, babysit them, deal with parents who get extremely surprised and frustrated when their cute 7 year-old Mehmet cannot speak fluent English, of course, they don't do anything to help, they themselves dread watching any program in English, reading the subtitles is just too much for them and little Ahmet act like a monkey in the classroom, so he doesn't stand a chance to ever learn anything whatsoever... you try your best, act cute, act friendly, but soon you realise it's oh my, my, my, not working so day- by-day you start turning into a wolf ready to eat little children, if you're tough, you go through the motions, after all the payment is not bad, the lodgings are quite attractive, so you arm yourself and get ready for the fight (I guess that's what I've been doing), if you're sensitive or want a bit more for your life you do a runner, but if you're responsible, want to honour your word, you just stay for a year and swear you'll never want to even see a child in front of you agian... or there's another remote possibility, yo're an angel from heaven and you simply love children, the worst, the better, than you stay for the rest of your life and retire here. So, was that clear enough for you?

[eclectic]

[kazazt]

Why and I worked in a private high school:

School is a business and they do anything to pander to the parents. They would rather lose you than one single kids fees.
Spineless management and local teachers who are utterly terrifed of losing their jobs.
Kids with special needs who you are not allowed to even suggest that they are autistic or hyperactive.
Worrying about whether you will get your holiday pay.
Late pay and deductions
Poor accomodation
Work permits or the lack of.
Terrible class behaviour and you cannot even ask a kid to leave
Other foreigners doing runners

[eclectic]

Thanks for that list. Now I understand why you wrote that.