Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

A word of caution to all would-be English teachers looking for work in Turkey. Typically, I don`t agree with giving previous employers bad reviews. However, I feel that as a fellow English teacher I have a responsibility to warn you all so you do not find yourselves in the situation I found myself in.
As far as Turkey goes, its GREAT I love working here and plan on spending the rest of my life here but there are a few unsavory employers one of whom I had the misfortune of working for. If you see a posting on an online ESL job board to work at BRITISH OR AMERICAN CULTURE IN MANISA, JUST SAY NO!
The troubles that plague their incompetent staff make working for them next to impossible. Their former-actor Director of Education initially puts on a good show smiling, nodding and being concerned on cue. However, he soon breaks character and you see that he is clearly in over his head and his poor acting can be added to the list of his inadequacies along with lying, disorganization, and immaturity.
Aside from the management team having fatal short-comings, I can garantee 5 things if you or someone you know decides to work for BRITISH CULTURE AND AMERICAN CULTURE:
1. You will NEVER be paid on-time or in-full
2. You will ALWAYS work more than you originally agreed to work
3. You will NEVER get paid overtime (contract or no contract)
4. You will NEVER know what your schedule is (further more, neither will the admin staff)
5. You will ALWAYS have the threat of being DEPORTED looming over you.(Promises of the school applying for a work visa for you are never realized)
I have a laundry list of names of former teachers of this school, 99 percent of whom left on bad terms. But so as to avoid incriminating anyone, I will not mention them in name (most are still in Turkey). I say this to let you know that this is more than a former employee trying to stick-it to a former employer, what this is is a warning to all: DO NOT WORK AT BRITISH CULTURE or AMERICAN CULTURE IN MANISA!

[Lucky Star]

I would like to share my experience having also worked at this institute in Manisa Turkey. As in the original post I do not usually agree with giving bad reviews to previous employers as sometimes this can come off as a bitter rant from a former employee trying to seek revenge and frequently become biased, void of all specifics and/ or facts.

However, having spent my initial working experience abroad within this institute and experiencing the worst ethics I have seen both professionally and personally I feel that it is my responsibility to warn all English Teachers looking for a job in Turkey. Avoid BRITISH AND AMERICAN CULTURE MANISA at all costs. I only wish that I had of been able to find this feedback before arriving in Turkey.

I think at this stage it is important to note that both of these schools (whilst not advertised locally) belong to the same franchise and are owned by the same person. My experience and those of other natives apply to both schools.

Turkey is the most beautiful country I have seen, full of wonderful people and rich in culture and ethics. This however, does not extend to the working environment within these two schools.

In all of my time at this school I never once received my salary on time or in full. Despite several attempts at trying to understand why reductions had been made it was always unclear why the full amount agreed previously was not made.

Terms and Conditions that had been made prior to arrival had not been upheld in any instance, and change of contract (when it suited the school) would be made on payday, without notice and concerning the previous month�s salary. It took me 5 months to receive my airfare and this was only after a daily conversation with one of the many admin staff who do not speak English.

The Company Director of both schools is like the Wizard of Oz in that it is forbidden for teachers to speak directly to him. Therefore any queries relating to your Terms and Conditions are delivered via the Director of Studies.

When payday comes, expect to join the queue of both Turkish and Native Teachers wanting to see the Manager, only to be told we will speak to the Company Director and get back to you. Count yourself lucky if you receive half of your salary a week after payday and expect to be told to keep this to yourself (ie: do not let the other teachers know that you have been paid).

Despite repeated promises of Residence and Working Visa Applications, of all the Natives that have worked at the school (and there have been a lot) not one teacher has received it. It was touch and go��when the Director of Studies took a copy of one Natives passport, but that�s the closest anyone got.

Be prepared to walk into a classroom unaware and unprepared for the level you are teaching or expected to teach without prior notice.
Heard the expression �The Customer is always right�, well BRITISH AND AMERICAN CULTURE MANISA take that to the extreme. Students` levels are predetermined before the placement test has been administered, based solely on how much money the student is willing to pay. Class sizes vary level by level but expect to have to cater for differentials because without a doubt students` abilities will range from elementary to advance in all classes. One highlight of my teaching career was when a student paid to progress from Beginner to Advance in 2 months. He was told: Yes, Mr. Customer we can guarantee you will be fluent in 2 months, but you need a native so it will cost more. Needless to say, that student started and finished a beginner.

Be prepared never to be answered directly by the manager, who can but will not speak English. Again, any queries regarding schedule will be delivered through the Director of Studies- at his convenience. If you are unclear of when a class course starts, it�s pointless asking any of the admin team. My advice�.go to the school, wait, if they come then its starting, if they don�t then it hasn�t. Or you could also resort to asking the students when their classes are, that helped me too!

Finally, aside from their incompetence at running any business, let alone a language school is their sheer stupidity and lack of concern regarding the consequences of it. An immediate example that�s springs to mind is that of the 3 month Visa runs. Despite having been previously informed, they sent a particular Native to Greece whose passport does not allow entry into Europe. On arrival into Greece she was refused entry and unable to return to Turkey due to Winter daily crossings she was forced to spend the night alone on the boat returning the next day. Upon entry into Turkey she was informed her Visa could not be renewed as she had not technically left Turkey. After much discussion she was allowed into Turkey but issued with a Deportation fine, in addition to a fine for overstaying her existing Visa. She had just 10 days to exist and re-enter Turkey from a country in which her Nationality did not require a Visa. AMERICAN AND BRITISH CULTURE MANISA�S solution��..? Having realized how much this was going to cost them with fines and airplane tickets, they ended her contract! This left her with no money and no other option other than to leave Turkey and go home.

Whilst I appreciate that this is a long and detailed summary of the experiences I have had and despite my original intentions this has probably turned into a bit of a rant, but I feel it is important to voice the specifics. These are just a few examples of the problems that arose during my time here and I have tried to leave out the personal behaviours and attributes of many of the schools` employees. If you would like any more information or have any questions please feel free to private message me.

The bottom line, please take this post as a note of caution, AVOID AMERICAN AND BRITISH CULTURE MANISA.

[Zage]

I am glad finally someone has taken the initiative to post about the British and American Culture Schools of Manisa.
I was a teacher there, and I wish someone would have told me how the working conditions weregoing to be like there.
First of all, I found the job on www.esljobs.com, and it looked like a promising job since it stated what the school will provide in order to teach legally in Turkey. The Director of Studies, spoke to me on skype and promised me a contract with all the salary details, work details and also a work permit. He said it would be easier to apply for a work visa once I was in Turkey. Being a niave South African, I believed him.
Upon my arrival in Manisa, everything seemed fine until I realised that there was no sense of structure for both the teachers and the students. I was told I was going to get training before I start, but that didn't happen, frankly I started working 2 days after I arrived. I was only shown the books and materials which they use to teach the students. I guess that was the training he was talking about.
Second of all, I was shown a schedule of the classes, but it was useless, because that schedule kept being changed.
When I asked about my work visa processes, he said that I must just be patient and he will contact his boss to sort out a residence permit.
However, I started speaking to all the other foreign teachers that were there months before me, and they havent even gotten as far as getting application forms for a work or residence permit.
I decded to take the initiative and see how easy or difficult it was to get a residence permit. I realised all one has to do was to go to police station... still confused me why it took them so long.
The second thing I discovered at the school was that my salary was cut in half and I wasn't even told why. I heard from my fellow room mate that I might get half my salary, because I started late. What I didnt understand was, why didn't the Director of Studies tell me that? Then I asked him to refund my plane ticket, which they have promised, but after negotiations, I only got half my plane ticket back....
My salary was always late, no one giving us any reason nor explaination why it was late. The Manager of the school always came up with bad excuses, telling us that she forgot about our salaries.... How does one forget to pay his/her staff.
I realised that my tourist viza was expiring, and I started to be really concerned with my stay in Turkey. However, it didn't seem to phase him at all. Eventually he said I must go to Greece and then come back with the boat. I told him several times that as a South African I need a visa prior my departure to Greece. However he believed he was right and send me to Greece. Upon my arrival at Chios island, I was asked where my visa was and I explained to the authorities that I was told that I didnt need a visa. I got told that I have to get back on the boat (the boat was only going to leave the next day) and stay there. I got issued deportation papers. I couldn't believe that was actually happening to me. I pend a night on a boat with boat men who could have done me harm, but luckly they were nice people.
When I got back to Turkey I was told that I didn't really leave Turkey and therefore still need to make an exit in order to get any kind of renewing of Visas. I told this to my director and he ended shouting at me as if it was my fault that I got deported. I told them the only country that I can go to is Israel. They realised it will be too expensive for them and then fired me. Just like that!
I told him that, everything up to that point had been a lie from the school, from the salary to the visa. Everything was just a scam to get teachers in in a cheap manner and them not having to deal with our problems.
The students are the ones suffering from all the changes the school brings on to them, some students are shifted to higher levels (not because they are actually that good, but because the school doesnt want to lose money).
The boss, who I have never shared a word with (he is indeed like the phantom: heard of but never seen) operated in a such a bad manner, he was never professional, because he never came to solve any problems if they occured. He let me pay for all of the days that they made me over stay in Turkey and also for my deportation fine from Greece.
Yes, that is what that school did to me.

Please teachers! Be aware of these schools. you are going to be overworked and underpaid. Be aware of schools that promise you a working visa and encourage you to come to their country and apply for it there!!! THAT MEANS YOU WILL NEVER GET A WORKING VISA. A school that wants you to work for them, they should be able to organise the working visa while you are in your country, DONT GO TO THEIR COUNTRY IN HOPES YOU WILL GET IT FASTER THERE!!
British Culture and American culture are english centres in Turkey, which are booming, because many students want to learn English in "3 months", which is a lie. They only care about generating money and therefore the teaching quality is not so good and often you will be pushed and shoved to do what they want you to do.
Remember to ask all the questions that can protect you and to print whatever information they send you so that you have something to back you up if you decide to go.
What was worse for me is that Turkey does not have many black people, and I was the one of 2 black people in that town, that means the police or secrect police could easily see me. They have followed me to ask me for my work permit papers ect. They followed me and my fellow teachers asking for work permits, and luckly our lies were good enough to be believed. So protect yourself.

[vago]

I am writing you this letter of intent in order to bring about legal action within Turkey over the events which have taken place at Amerikan Kultur Dernigi (AKD) and British Kultur Dernigi in Manisa, Turkey.


While I understand that AKD is a franchise and as such is not responsible for the reprehensible actions of the individual franchise owners, I feel that it is important that I bring to your attention the disreputable acts of the owner of the Manisa branches of AKD and British Kulture, Kemil Ozoner.


I am not alone in feeling abused and mistreated by the administration of AKD as you can easily see if you take a moment to look at the teacher forums here.

This man, Kemil Ozoner, and his heavy handed, megalomaniac business practices have endangered not only my family but also the credibility of English schools in Turkey.

My wife and I answered the ad that was posted in June on esljobs.com and after a correspondence with the 'head teacher' we made a trip to Manisa to assure that everything was as it was represented. The schools appeared to be professional and well organized. We met with an American teacher who told us the school was a good place to be.

We negotiated what we thought was a fair contract which we were told would be ready when we arrived to work a month later at the end of August. Our contract included accommodation, a residence permit, a working visa, health insurance, a decent wage, airfare reimbursement, and a promise of two weeks paid vacation at the end of one year. While it wasn't the most lucrative contract, we liked the manager of the school and felt comfortable dealing with her. Our agreement was that we would work a maximum of 32 hours per month, six days a week, with the last weekend of each month off so we could explore a little bit of Turkey while we were here. I arrived on August 29th.

Upon arrival we were told that the contract was not ready. When we asked about the residence permits we were repeatedly put off. The housing was filthy, had broken toilets, natural gas was disconnected, and the bills were past due. We were told that we would be taking duty three days a week but that it wouldn't count towards our working hours. We were told that we could not have our weekend at the end of the month. The American teacher we had met had quit since we had left and within days of our arrival the British teacher was fired and the other American teacher left without notice upon receiving his pay. I received multiple warnings from at least ten teachers via email and Facebook at this time and this is when the bad reviews at ESLCafe.com mentioned above appeared. I was told to begin classes on September 3rd and did so.

Upon voicing my concerns I was told that the manager who had negotiated our 'contract' was not authorized to and that if I wasn't happy with the situation I could leave. This after my wife and I had moved from our apartment in Morocco, changed continents, given up our jobs, and accepted AKD Manisa's offer in good faith.

Upon hearing this, I threatened to action and was told that the problems would be fixed. Our hours were normalized, we were assured that the toilets would be fixed and the heat turned on, and we were given one duty day instead of three. It was promised that we would get a contract, a cleaner was hired to clean the house (after a month of living in filth), hot water was restored to the house (but not natural gas for heat), and a flurry of activity went on as a residence permit was secured for me.

I was told that my wife's residence permit would be easier after I had mine. A blatant lie, I later found out. After my residence permit was secured, all activity stopped. The plumbers never came, my wife's residence permit had zero activity despite our asking about it daily. Next, the owner shut off the internet in our house (which we were paying for) without notifying us. When I asked for it to be restored, for the gas to be turned on before the cold came, and for our health insurance, work permits, and my wife's residence permit, Kemil Ozoner told me "I am busy and won't talk to you. Get out of my office."

From this point forward he had no contact with me and had one of the teachers - his 'girlfriend' or 'ex-girlfriend' relay his messages to me. As my wife's tourist visa came close to expiration we asked again and again for action on her visa but with no reply.We also asked for the gas heat to be turned on and were told that it would be tomorrow, Monday, or the day after for weeks on end. We had purchased a ticket for her to go to Morocco so she could renew her visa. It was at this point we found out my wife was pregnant and we asked about insurance repeatedly with no reply or an assurance they would take care of it. We informed the school that my wife was going to Morocco and they agreed and to our surprise said they would pay her during her time off. The next day they said that she couldn't go. The next day they said she could go but without pay. The next day they said she couldn't go. And so on until four days before her visa was due to expire when they said that if she wanted to have a job she couldn't go and would have to stay. They said (as they had said numerous times before) that they would get her residence permit the next day. By this point, plans were firm that my wife would go to Morocco for two weeks. Since it had gotten cold, she was pregnant, and we were still living in a freezing house with no heat and broken toilets, there was little to make it attractive to stay there. I informed the school she was going and that was the end of my discussing it. When I arrived at work, I was told that my wife and I had both been terminated with no notice and with no compensation.

We uprooted our lives and moved to Manisa on the bad word of Kemil Ozoner and his staff. He has not fulfilled the promises his school made on his behalf nor the promises he himself made. He beguiled us into working illegally in a foreign country, endangered our status as guests in Turkey, and endangered our health by not turning on the heat during the winter or providing the health insurance he promised. He is a bad man and I intend to pursue every avenue within my considerable means to bring his actions to light.

I recommend that all who can should terminate their association with Mr. Ozoner and his school as quickly as possible while I recognize that it is unlikely that we will receive any recompense for our considerable physical, mental, and legal sufferings. I think it is important that Ozoner be stopped. I realize that AKD, the students, and the teachers have little to do with the gross negligence and bad faith of Mr. Ozoner and don't want to see any who are innocent suffer unnecessarily. More importantly, I don't want to see anymore foreign teachers lied to and misled by him or his assistants.

Please post this to anyone who might be able to do something about it. If you can send it to the headquarters for AKD, British Culture, or other authorities it will be appreciated. If you can send it to relevant newspapers, it will also be appreciated.



Thanks...