Page 32 - ELG2003 Mar Issue 469

El•Gazette 469.qxp_El•Gazette 469 25/02/2020 21:52 Page 32

TEACH IN .

T Teeaacchh iinn Turkey

Umair Ahsan shares his experience of teaching

in the ever-fascinating country of Turkey

Why Turkey? to complaints. Plenty of anecdotal evidence
urkey remains a popular destination exists that the promises from such outfits are
for English language teaching, and worth less than the paper they are written
there are always opportunities, both on; especially when it comes to paying on
Tin universities and language schools. time (if at all) and securing work permits.
Though the economic picture continues to Good language schools do exist, and they
be far from rosy, and political turmoil is part are worth seeking out. They will usually have
of everyday life, the attractions of living and stricter requirements in terms of
working in Turkey remain considerable. Few qualifications, akin to universities.
places can offer such an appealing
combination: spellbinding cultural How much can I earn? The Ishak Pasha Palace in eastern Turkey, constructe
attractions, exotic landscapes, rich history, As a single person, 6000 lira/month – almost
warm people, great food and generally good exactly $1000 at the time of writing – is the in Turkey, then this isn’t such an issue. But if
infrastructure (in terms of transport, minimum you would need in one of the big you want to save money, Turkey is probably
healthcare and shopping). cities (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir or Antalya). A the wrong country. Unless, of course, you can
reputable university should offer you at least find one of the rare teaching positions that
What qualifications do I need? that amount if you have the requisite pays in US dollars. International schools and
For an English Instructor position, most experience and select universities do pay
universities stipulate a minimum requirement qualifications. in foreign currency (c.
of an MA TESOL (or equivalent). Some may In terms of living with The attractions of $2000-2500 a month to
show flexibility for native English speakers, a family, add on 1000 living and working in start), but competition
depending on previous experience, though it lira/month for each for positions is fierce,
is worth noting that English Instructors of dependent. Realistically, Turkey remain and you’ll be worked
local Turkish origin are required to be however, it would be hard for your money.
qualified to Masters level, so the same criteria unusual to find a considerable. Generally speaking,
are increasingly applied to foreign hires. university teaching salaries in Turkey have
The Cambridge DELTA is widely accepted position that pays more than 8000 lira/month not been able to keep pace with the double
as an MA TESOL equivalent, though you ($1350), and that is for a highly qualified whammy of the lira’s precipitous decline
may not see it mentioned in job native speaker. (nearly halving since 2016) and high
advertisements. A few things to bear in mind. Firstly, the inflation (peaking at over 25 per cent in
If you plan to teach at a language school, Turkish Lira remains weak, and inflation is 2018). And a combination of economic
there’s more flexibility in terms of high. Local people have seen a dramatic constraints for the universities themselves,
qualifications (with some not requiring any at decrease in their spending power, while together with an influx of highly qualified,
all – just being a native English speaker is foreign staff find it increasingly less viable to highly skilled English instructors from places
enough). Be wary of such operations though: convert a portion of their salaries into foreign like Iran and Syria has increased competition
the working hours can be awkward, pay rates currency for savings. for teaching positions at university level. The
low, and the management far from receptive If you plan to spend your earnings entirely cachet that native English-speaking teachers
once had is not as strong and as a result they
FRANTIC00/SHUTTERSTOCK Any other perks?
can no longer command a guaranteed
premium.

Many ads will state that the position comes
with health insurance, without specifying
whether that means Turkish state health
insurance or private insurance. There is a big
difference in terms of quality and service.
While the latter was a widely available perk
at private universities just a few years ago, it
is increasingly restricted to select employers.
Most universities do not offer
accommodation, though some may offer an
allowance. Some will offer a flight allowance,
or a round-trip ticket to your point of origin.
Other common benefits include
free/subsidised lunch and service buses –
Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul, connecting Europe and Asia which usually travel a set route.

32 March 2020