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English Time (ET) Post Only Here
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nyc2323



Joined: 22 Nov 2009
Posts: 38

PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 3:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I finished a 10 month contract with ET at the Mkoy branch this summer.

In response to what ET is actually like these days: The pay is either 17-18 lira/hour. They absolutely pay on time. If you're on a full-time contract you also get a 300 lira housing stipend and they will get you the res permit within a few weeks of arriving. The work permit paperwork will be in the process but you probably won't actually get it until at least halfway through your contract. This isn't the fault of ET, as far as I know, it's the bureaucracy within the system.

As far as the books - yes, they're pretty bad, but you can skip the really horrendous exercises and readings and supplement your own materials. I guess the importance of adhering to the book varies a bit from branch to branch, head teacher to head teacher, but if you're smart you'll figure out how to use enough of the book stuff to make both the bosses and the students happy. It's not that hard.

I can't speak specifically about the kadikoy branch, but i have a good friend who recently renewed her contract there and had a similar experience as mine. I can half-agree with Dudeteacher - if you're serious about ESL as a career you probably won't stay at ET for years, and there are a lot of not so serious teachers. But for me, it was a decent first job and I loved a lot of my students and co-workers. I had a pretty good experience at English Time.

You can send me a PM if you have more questions about English Time.
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roywebcafe



Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 259

PostPosted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:14 am    Post subject: Still rubbish even today Reply with quote

Worked there in 2011 in Izmit. I just want to add - JUST DON'T DO IT!

Nothing has changed - Also these people won't even provide references for the teachers who have left. Its another mill. One teacher in particular was a prissy, uptight wanker who liked to shoot his mouth off and have a go if you tried to have a life outside of teaching even if it included self-improvment.

The training is a joke they just ask teachers to present grammar to other teachers pretending to be sub normal students. And if you got things wrong they enjoyed ripping you apart. So no real development. Maybe a lesson on preparing difficult gram points i suppose? Nearly all the teachers i observed had way too much TTT but as long as no mistakes. Fine.

Yes they still use that dreadful book. Students are more concerned with getting noun clauses accurate than actual communicating. I have met beggars with no education who spoke more English than a lot of their students. But if you do decide to work with them then my advice is write down examples and rules for the gram and a back up activity or two for the points and you will keep most of them happy.

Lastly if you want to work for ET stay away from their Izmit branch in Kocaeli the people are ultra conservative, narrow minded and location is more like a shopping mall surrounded by Autobahns.
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gloomyGumi



Joined: 29 Dec 2010
Posts: 353

PostPosted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 7:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

do you need a TESOL or TEFL cert to get the work vısa at ET? I was asked ıf I had one. I do NOT. Yet stıll offered the job.....? Confused
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oipivo



Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Posts: 163
Location: Poland

PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you're a native English speaker, they will hire you at ET. Having said that, it's not a bad place to work. It seems the people that really complain about it come in having high expectations. If you know what you're getting into, it's not bad. They pay on time, and if you do your job the management completely leaves you alone. There is no micro managing at my branch and I appreciate that.
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roywebcafe



Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 259

PostPosted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 7:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I should have added. You will do split shifts and six day weeks. By split i mean morning until about 12 then 1800 until 2150.I lived a long way from my branch and spent a long time around the school.

I had no good expectations i just needed the money at that time. Glad when i got out.

Good luck.

gloomyGumi wrote:
do you need a TESOL or TEFL cert to get the work vısa at ET? I was asked ıf I had one. I do NOT. Yet stıll offered the job.....? Confused
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dudeteacher



Joined: 27 Feb 2010
Posts: 173

PostPosted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

oipivo wrote:
If you're a native English speaker, they will hire you at ET. Having said that, it's not a bad place to work. It seems the people that really complain about it come in having high expectations. If you know what you're getting into, it's not bad. They pay on time, and if you do your job the management completely leaves you alone. There is no micro managing at my branch and I appreciate that.


What's important is to have no expectations.

I went there with low expectations and even that was beyond ET.
I expected the falsification of grades. What I didn't expect was the passing of students before they had written the exam; people who got less than 10 % or gave in a blank exam. Head Teachers too afraid to confront students who admitted to cheating or the teachers who allowed them to - as well shamelessly protecting friends who had no idea what they were doing in an Eng. class.

One HT openly stated that he had no intentions of speaking to classes that admitted to cheating. He said he would speak to the teachers who allowed it but a year later was still saying it Wink Classic ET management. Somehow he got a job at Bilge Adam.

There were teachers who rushed through the grammar in five days and then did "activities" for the next seven weeks. If the class was sufficiently amused they said nothing as ET would pass a dog if there was money in it.

If there are some people out there who are looking to use a TEFL certificate to see the world and make some money despite their lack of experience or ability, then ET is the promised land.

ESL schools in Ist. usually have some degree of unprofessionalism; however, in ET's case it truly was scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Never have I seen people get paid so well for doing so little.

Dude
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dudeteacher



Joined: 27 Feb 2010
Posts: 173

PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

nyc2323 wrote:
I finished a 10 month contract with ET at the Mkoy branch this summer.

In response to what ET is actually like these days: The pay is either 17-18 lira/hour.


I was there in 2003 and earnin 17.5 lira an hour. My mates earned around 16 L/hr.
Left in 2009, was earning 25 lira an hour.

Are you telling me almost a decade after I came there, they've gone backwards in salary?? Is this true for all the branches? ;-0

Dude
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roywebcafe



Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 259

PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

just to add regarding split shifts at the Kocaeli branch in Izmit. I was there for so long during the day that on quite times some of the students helped me learn to play guitar in the empty classrooms. Some of the staff hated me using the time for this and I was verbally assaulted for it. Most of the staff there were friendly enough around the school but always kept themselves to themselves and there was no attempt at friendship so I spent most of the time socialising with students.

So beware of taking a position here. I can't speak for the other branches.
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roywebcafe



Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 259

PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ditto. The ass kept promising me a reference but never delivered after I left!! Which IMA was after my contract ended.

Urban_Kitten wrote:
Kirkpatrick wrote:
I lasted a week in Izmit and they let me keep the 200tl they loaned me.. Didn't even teach a class. MOD EDIT the head teacher in İzmit is an idiot..


Congratulations for getting out with your sanity in check!

Btw, the head teacher in Izmit has worked for pretty much every school in town. ET is his last port in the storm. Laughing
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roywebcafe



Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 259

PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

gloomyGumi wrote:
do you need a TESOL or TEFL cert to get the work vısa at ET? I was asked ıf I had one. I do NOT. Yet stıll offered the job.....? Confused


Hi Gloomi did you take job with them in the end? Which branch? Wondered if your experience was positive if so?
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Four



Joined: 27 Jun 2012
Posts: 30

PostPosted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 8:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

They reduce the wages when they get inundated with TEFLers looking for work. With the recession there are tons easy jetting into Istanbul.
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sroetem



Joined: 06 Jun 2008
Posts: 33

PostPosted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 1:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Eagle Eyes? Surprised
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dudeteacher



Joined: 27 Feb 2010
Posts: 173

PostPosted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

roywebcafe wrote:
gloomyGumi wrote:
do you need a TESOL or TEFL cert to get the work vısa at ET? I was asked ıf I had one. I do NOT. Yet stıll offered the job.....? Confused


Hi Gloomi did you take job with them in the end? Which branch? Wondered if your experience was positive if so?


Years ago a Canadian qualified teacher who worked at ET was turned down as Head Teacher because she had no TESL Diploma.

Now they're hiring people without TESL Certificates. But seeing they've hired people without University Degrees, that's not really surprising.

Dude
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sheffin



Joined: 18 Jun 2012
Posts: 20

PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:12 pm    Post subject: Visa Reply with quote

Hi guys, thanks for all the info on ET. I was offered a position with them in Istanbul. I am still on the fence, because I need a school that will allow me to work only 4 months. They did offer me working month-to month, but without any benefits. I am concerned as to how it would affect the visa. I feel they might not want to spend the time to actually get me the legitimate visa if I am only working there for that long. What do you guys think?
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dudeteacher



Joined: 27 Feb 2010
Posts: 173

PostPosted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 2:07 pm    Post subject: Re: Visa Reply with quote

sheffin wrote:
Hi guys, thanks for all the info on ET. I was offered a position with them in Istanbul. I am still on the fence, because I need a school that will allow me to work only 4 months. They did offer me working month-to month, but without any benefits. I am concerned as to how it would affect the visa. I feel they might not want to spend the time to actually get me the legitimate visa if I am only working there for that long. What do you guys think?


Speak to the DOS. I believe her name is Karen.

I believe they would be willing to prorate the cost of your Visa. Worst case scenario is you go with the other teachers when they make the visit to the Enmiyet and pay for your Visa yourself.

I don't see why short term would be a problem. They've done it before. They also offer part time contracts, which is probably what yours would be.

You really want to work there? Good luck.

Dude
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