TURKEY
Would you like to teach and live in a country that offers a great lifestyle,
an East-meets-West environment, friendly and
passionate locals, great shopping and a huge demand for English teachers?
Then head over to Turkey!
The ESL market is booming in this beautiful and exotic land. Teachers can expect good salaries (an average of US$1,200 per month) and accommodation provided from one of many language schools. There are many franchise schools operating in Turkey as well as countless privately-run language schools, so teachers have a good range from which to choose. There is a big intake of teachers in September (start applying up to three months in advance), however jobs can be found at all times during the year.
Turkey boasts an extraordinary history! You can
see much of its heritage, which spans over 10,000
years and 13 civilisations, including Roman,
Byzantine, Seljuk and the mighty Ottoman Empire,
in a short amount of time. Today, however, Turkey is a place of diversity
and a melting pot of cultures which can
be seen in its people.
Turkey has an ideal climate for most of the year and visitors can enjoy the beaches, mountains and lakes. Ankara is the capital city, but certainly Istanbul is where most people are drawn. Visit ancient mosques, check out the sultan’s harem and go bargain-hunting in one of many grand bazaars. It is said that the Turkish are excellent socialisers and this can be seen in the game-playing that takes place in the many tea gardens where backgammon boards are not uncommon. Even though cost of living has risen a little, Turkey is still considered the most affordable Mediterranean spot.
There is a myriad of festivals in Turkey. Some
of them are religious - Şeker Bayramı, a three-day festival
at the end of Ramazan; Kurban Bayramı which commemorates İbrahim's
near-sacrifice of İsmael on Mt Moriah - and others are secular,
including the camel-wrestling festival, the International
Istanbul Festival of the Arts, Bursa's Folklore
and Music Festival, and Diyarbakır's
Watermelon Festival. For only a moment, the entire
country stops at exactly 9:05 on November 10,
the time of Atatürk's
death in 1938; Ataturk was the founder of the
Turkish Republic and its first president.
Many Teach International graduates have ventured off to Turkey for a teaching stint, so why not see Turkey for yourself? If you are a Teach International grad, get in touch with fellow grads who are working as teachers there, and if you are not, what are you waiting for? Get your TESOL certificate today!
Comprehensive country guides are available for all Teach International students and graduates. These guides include helpful information on the ESOL market, visa requirements, cost of living, salaries, and numerous web links referring you to more helpful advice on accommodation, employment and media in the country where you are headed.
