14 replies to this topic

[Wolfy]

Just a thought that had occured to me, largely due to my own situation, but I thought it deserved it's own thread in case someone else wanted to know sometime later.

Has anyone on these forums went from a language school, to an actual school? Or does anyone know someone who has.

I'm just wondering, if there is a chance for improvement, and to step up from Language school after a while there. Do proper schools consider time spent at a language school as experience, or do they look down on the time spent there.

[Lucid]

i would imagine what matters most is if you have citizenship of not. I think second issue is do you mean private establishments in both cases? if so i would guess it would depend more on exam organisation experience as they all seem exam /planning crazy.I think they would ask for refs & prior contacts you worked with?
interesting thread though.
just to add ..what makes you think going for a private school would be an 'improvement' ? or that language school work is inferior to school work?

[Wolfy]

By Language schools I mean like English time, British English etc... By Actual schools, I mean state and private schools.

Typically when discussed and compared to language schools, state and private schools tend to have better hours, and less bad word of mouth about them. Obviously this isn't all across the board there are some language schools that are better and some private/state schools that are worse, but on the whole, the general chat on forums seem to be that language schools are the sort of lower tier.

It depends on the person, on whether it would be an improvement or not, some folk will likely prefer the language schoosl, and others state/private schools. Just thought it'd be interesting to know if anyone progressed that way, instead of just going straight to a private/state school.

Just curious, why would having a citizenship be an issue? I could almost understand residency. But I'm a little confused why citizenship would be a factor.

[Lucid]

As far as i know Devlet schools wont employ non Turks hence me asking if you ment private or public schools and if you have citizenship its easier for any establishment to employ you legally. You live in a city so yes you have more experience of things than i do regarding recruitment & there are plenty more establishments willing to employ you legally or otherwise regardless of experience. I think you seem to know what you are on about so lets leave it for someone else to reply & i wont confuse matters more :-)

[Ahududu]

Hi Wolfy,
I went from a language school in Bakirkoy after 1 academic year, to a private school, where I started at the primary, and then went on the high school.
Lots of private schools have schools which go from nursery/primary up to university.
The package was a lot better at the private school.
However, whether they will have an issue with you not having a degree, I'm not sure. But, there's always room for flexibility in Turkey!!
Having spent a year in Istanbul, and wanting to stay will be seen as a commitment, I suppose, and if you interview well, there would be no problem.

BTW all the language schools and private schools provide accommodation as part of their packages, so I wouldn't plan on renting anywhere for long, if you land a job the accommodation will be close to the school, or they'll provide a service bus to get there.

Sue

[Fil]

A school (kolej or lise) would be my least preferred choice for employment as an English teacher. They can be quite difficult environments to teach in because of the behaviour of the students and the attitude of the management. nevertheless, there are good places even in this category. Universities tend to be the best places to teach, although they are not perfect by any means. I would prefer a decent language school to a kolej, but would try to avoid the dodgy ones.

[sunny]

I started off at a language school (dershane)where I worked for about 18 months, then after a short stay in the UK I started in the September in a private school which taught through the medium of English. They certainly considered the time that I'd spent at the dershane as experience, mind you I was a teacher in the UK before I came out here.
Like the UK schools, they will be recruiting in the spring/early summer for staff for the following September.They will often expect staff to go into school during August to prepare for the following term and a lot more commitment will be expected of teachers in the form of special days for parent/relative participation, summer camps, staff meetings during lunch times or after school to coordinate exams and marking schemes etc, Also there are likely to be clubs that they might want staff participation.

In the large cities, like Istanbul, you will find a number of private schools who employ foreign(native speaker) teachers and it's used as part of their sales pitch. The same also applies to the language dershanes.

With the dershanes, as you are paid by the hour, there is not the same amount of commitment involved, but as it's likely that, especially with the evening classes, your students are more likely to be adults and university students with whom you could well end up in the local bar together after class, which is a great way to learn your way around.

[Ahududu]

Hi again,
A good thing about working at a language school when you're new is that you will see a range of students.
At weekends you may have a class of teenagers or university students, and evenings you'll have more mature students.
You'll soon discover what sort of students you are happiest with.
I personally dislike teaching teenagers, but love absolute beginner adults, I find I don't have the patience for the moodiness and sleepiness of teenagers, but have lots of patience for absolute beginners!!!
Just get some experience under your belt, I'm sure opportunities will come your way after you've got on the first rung of the ladder!!
Good luck.

[robertt]

Hi Wolfie,

"Has anyone on these forums went (?) from a language school, to an actual school?"

When I first worked in TR I working in a "basic" language school, then an "actual, proper" language school or two, then an "actual, proper" university. I agree with all the comments above, and I avoided the private schools for similar reasons, because I didn't want to teach youngsters or get involved in all the extra-curricular stuff (English shows, parents meetings etc.). Also over the years, I'd suggest working conditions in private schools have deteriorated; longer hours, less holiday, summer catch-up courses, flight every second year....

Robertt

[Wolfy]

Thanks everyone. Some great info there, I have no doubt it'll help me out greatly. And hopefully it'll help others out as well.

[Agamemnon]

Just to add my two cents worth, I actually started in a private Kolegi, one of the biggest in Izmir and stayed there for six years. yeah it was tough and the kids had a less than agreeable attitude and I saw a lot of people come and go. Still, it was an experience that has been useful to me to say the least. I personally would have to be hard pressed to consider ANY language to work in. The total lack of benefits that come from these places really doesn't sit well with me at all, at best they are just a "temporary " gig.

[clinky]

I work in a Koleji, as a Primary school teacher. I have to say I love it. The feeling of satisfaction when you teach a child something far outweighs the atmosphere in a language school (which i've experience of). The benefits are good aswell. Lunch and cheap canteen facilities followed by the things you don't realise. Your own classroom, your own computer, your desk in your class and dept. room, a regularity about your life and the fact you don't work weekends. The pay is often higher and the holidays are great.

[willow]

Sorry for digging up an old topic, but I've heard a lot about language schools vs. government schools vs. universities and wonder which one is easier to get a job in as a beginner? I mean, I'll have a MA in English, plus TESOL certification, but very little teaching experience -- practically none. Would it be easier to land a job in a language school vs. a public school without teaching experience or should I just apply for everything and hope someone hires me?

[sunny]

Start off with applying to universities and private schools, then if nothing suitable comes up, look at language schools (dershanes).
I think you said you were coming over in December so it may be difficult to find something in the unis or private schools and you may have to take a job at a dershane to carry you over until the next academic year.
Good luck.

[willow]

Start off with applying to universities and private schools, then if nothing suitable comes up, look at language schools (dershanes).
I think you said you were coming over in December so it may be difficult to find something in the unis or private schools and you may have to take a job at a dershane to carry you over until the next academic year.
Good luck.

Well, I graduate in December, but I don't have to move to Turkey directly after I graduate. I can stay here and get a temporary position, or teach as a substitute until I can find a permanent position in a good school. I'd rather do that than land a bad job somewhere. But I'll still apply and see what I can find for after I graduate.