Hi Jon,

I have thought about your question, talked to a vocational counsellor friend and decided that it is alright for you to use what I have said as long as you don't use my name. Some people have not understood what I have communicated and I don't want to ruin my chances of going anywhere to teach.

Thank you for asking and I hope you understand my reasoning.




After just returning to Canada from a Turkey, not having taught because the owners of the school wouldn't honor the verbal agreements and didn't want to be reminded of this by my presence, I have some advice for others who may be interested in a similar venture.

Although, the Turks don't like to put anything down on paper and often don't honor it anyway, try to get something in writing from the person that you will be working for at the school.

Secondly, the owners will appoint someone to find teachers for them that may not have the authority to make agreements on anything, contractural but will make it sound like they do.

Don't go believing that things have been settled such as accomodations, medical insurance or even salary. These things and others may change many times before you sign a contract.

Realize that the Turkish Lira is not stable and has been falling for many years. For this reason attempt to get paid in a foreign currency such as American dollars, or British Pounds but don't be surprised if the school agrees and then changes it's mind.

The cost of many things is getting more expensive in Turkey, including accomodations. I've seen people advertising to hire teachers and saying that they would give 100 British Pounds for a rent allowance. This is not nearly enough. People in the school that I was to teach at, looked for a reasonably priced flat for me and the least expensive that they could find was 70 million lira, which is about 350 pounds. After agreeing to provide me with free accomodation and then this happening, they figured that I should pay the overage.

Lastly, realize that if you have a degree in teaching and some sort of designation in TESL, then you can find a position which pays close to what you would get at home. The better paying jobs are in the privately owned grade schools, so don't consider working for a training center, if you have the credentials, unless that is where you want to work.



I returned to Turkey in 1994, 1995 and 1997 because I had enjoyed most of my first adventure. On these three occassions I witnessed people telling me things to get me to go and then changing the situation once I got there.

At this point, I'm even wondering how much I want to have to do with the Turks in my university. I wish someone would help me to understand the way of the Turks. It seems if they promise you something will be a certain way and things change for them then this will affect you.