Page 30 - ELG2404 April Issue 489

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RESOURCES

Next stop: Turkey!

Trying to choose the best destination for your skills?
Teacher Jonathan Smith asks: why not consider Turkey?

s a novice teacher, I first came somewhat lower, but then living costs there foodstuffs – once much cheaper – are now
to Turkey with a single suitcase were considerably greater, and remain so. comparable with the UK.
and a return ticket (just in case) If you’re working at an international school, The school must also provide a work permit
A more than 30 years ago. At that you can expect to be paid in dollars or euros, for the foreign teacher, which can take some
time, the country seemed frontier territory, or receive a salary pegged to one of these, time to process. When I was new to Turkey,
whereas Italy, Greece and Spain were already which will protect you from fluctuations in this largely seemed to consist of my being
well-trodden paths for the EFL teacher. the local currency. Otherwise, you’ll be paid registered with the Turkish Social Security
Turkey was in the grip of another economic in Turkish lira, but, if so – with inflation and sipping tea with the local Chief of Police
crisis, which meant that, in lira terms, I was running at over 60% even by conservative in a rather plush office. It has become more
already a millionaire on receiving my first estimates – your employer may well provide complicated over the years, but the basic
wage packet! regular increments. Accommodation and requirement has always been a university
I’ve spent much of my time here in Izmir, flights may be part of your package, but this is degree and CELTA or similar.
although my first job was in the neighbouring very much at the discretion of the individual In the past, there was a certain amount of
town of Aydin. On reflection, I’m glad I school. As the economy in Turkey has been flexibility regarding this, but the authorities
was never tempted by the bright lights of highly volatile, especially in the last year or have tightened up quite considerably and
the metropolis that is Istanbul, although so, it’s hard to generalise on financial matters. the regulations seem to be subject to change.
most EFL teachers inevitably end up there. Suffice it to say, rents for apartments have You may, for instance, be expected to provide
Salaries outside Istanbul have always been risen sharply, and the price of some basic extra documentation proving the equivalency
30 April 2024