While teaching English in Istanbul hasn’t been a top destination for earning money since before 2015, the city itself has many desirable qualities for teachers looking to come to Turkey. With its strategic location in the world, Istanbul is a clash of culture and food just waiting to be discovered.
This post will go through the qualifications, where to look for a job and the pros and cons of teaching English in Istanbul.
Qualifications
Qualifications for teaching English in Istanbul vary by school. However, in general, you need to have a Bachelor’s degree, TEFL/CELTA, and experience.
It is desirable to have a degree in Education or a degree in the subject that you will be teaching.
You do not need to be a native English speaker to teach English in Istanbul.
TEFL Courses
TEFL courses vary from online to in-person and in cost.
Of course, if you are looking for the cheapest option, then an online 120-hour course will be sufficient.
If you are completely new to teaching, then I would recommend going with an in-person course. These courses usually take one month to complete. There are many destinations that you can complete this in, including Prague, Spain, Italy, Thailand, and Mexico. Just to name a few.
If you already have a degree in Education and a teaching license, a TEFL is not necessary for you to acquire.
Denklik
One very important piece of information to know about when considering teaching English in Istanbul or anywhere in Turkey, is the denklik. The Ministry of Education has recently changed the requirements for foreigners wanting to teach in Turkey as of 2022, and it is necessary to complete additional paperwork to receive a work permit from your employer. This paperwork is called the denklik which is sending your foreign university degree to The Council of Higher Education (YOK) so that you can get an equivalency certificate in Turkish. YOK basically wants to have all your credits and classes translated into Turkish so that they can match your foreign degree to something that is offered in Turkey.
Why? Well, most of us are still trying to figure that out.
This process is very time-consuming and long. Some teachers have been waiting for over one year to receive this document. It is also very expensive to get hard copies of all your diplomas and transcripts and have them all translated into Turkish and notarized. You must bring the original documents to Ankara for an appointment with the YOK office.
For more information about documents and fees, please refer to the YOK website here.
How to Get a Job Teaching English in Istanbul?
The best way to get a job teaching English in Istanbul is through Facebook groups and networking.
There are 2 helpful Facebook groups that many teachers use to ask questions about different schools from others that have worked there.
The first one is called Istanbul Greenlist. It is a list of schools that have a good reputation.
The second one is called Istanbul Blacklist. As you might assume, it is a list of schools that have a bad reputation.
If you are unsure about a school and want more information, just type the name of the school into one of these groups to see if anyone has left any comments.
Peak hiring time is between the end of January to the end of March. You will be able to find the best offers during this time. After March it is still possible to get hired, but the best opportunities will be already taken.
Deciding which level you would like to teach is also something to consider. Narrowing down your search from Kindergarten, Primary, Middle School, High School, University, and adults would be beneficial when deciding where to teach.
Language Centers
Language centers are companies that offer private classes to groups of adults, teens, and children. Most classes are offered after typical working or school hours to appeal to adults. These businesses mostly focus on business English content for adults. For teens and children, it is a supplementary class to what they are learning in school.
Generally, I would stay away from language centers in Istanbul as a place to work. I have never heard any good stories from teachers working at a language center. However, that doesn’t mean that good stories don’t exist. It really just depends on what you are looking for as far as employment.
The most popular ones are:
- English Time
- British Time
- Just English
- Wall Street English
Most former teachers that have worked there say that the pay is not good, companies don’t pay on time, refusal to file for a work permit, and bad hours.
Public School
Getting hired at a public Turkish school can be a bit tricky especially if you don’t speak the language. However, it is not impossible.
Since this option isn’t the most popular, there isn’t a lot of information on how to get hired at a public school in English. All or most of the information is written in Turkish.
If you are a dual citizen of Turkey, this might be a pro to getting hired at these schools.
Private Schools/International School
Private schools and International schools will have the most attractive offers for foreign teachers.
You can find these types of schools from a simple Google search or looking on a map and searching for international schools. Narrow down your search by neighborhood or district.
As previously mentioned, the Facebook group Istanbul Greenlist is an excellent way to search for international schools. You might even find some openings from schools in the group.
There are a few schools that include housing allowance, transportation to and from school, and flights home once a year in their offer.
Pros of Teaching English in Istanbul
1. Location
Let’s be honest. Istanbul is easily accessible from Asia, Africa, and Europe within a few hours by plane. It is the center of the world, where East meets West making it the ideal location for the ultimate traveler. There is a culture here that you will not find anywhere else in the world. It can be intoxicating as it draws you in.
2. History
The rich history of this city dates back all the way to 330 AD. That’s a long time! There are many buildings and shops that seem like they’ve been there forever. No matter how long you’ve lived in Istanbul, there is always something new to discover.
The number of museums in Istanbul is endless. There is always a new exhibit to see and learn about. Once you have a work permit, you are able to receive a MuzeKart which allows you access to a network of museums that you can visit for free. This is a yearly card that you just pay for one time when you sign up. The network of museums includes the entire country. Not bad for one card.
3. Population
As of 2022, the population of Istanbul is about 16 million. However, there are many unaccounted refuges. So I’d say the population is closer to 17 million. This means that there are a lot of people from many different places within Turkey and from around the world. You’ll be able to meet like-minded people, and build friendships within ex-pat communities and Turks.
4. Food
Turkish cuisine is one of the top food choices in the world. And since many people from around Turkey come to Istanbul, they also bring their dishes. Within Istanbul, you can find restaurants that serve Eastern Turkish cuisine or Southern cuisine.
5. Cats
Istanbul is notoriously known as ‘Cat City’ because of the high population of felines. They are Istanbul’s most popular residents and are looked after by the people in the neighborhoods. If you are a cat person, you will never go a day without seeing a cat.
Cons of Teaching English in Istanbul
1. Economy
The Turkish economy has been making headlines recently with the nosedive that the Turkish Lira took at the end of 2021. This makes working in the country very undesirable for foreigners earning Turkish Lira. Many native English teachers have left throughout the years because it is hard to financially support themselves and a family.
2. Language Barrier
English is taught in all schools in Turkey. However, that doesn’t mean that the population of Turkey can speak English. Many are shy or refuse to speak in English making communication difficult. It isn’t much of a problem when you are a tourist, but when you live in Turkey it becomes more of a headache.
3. Population
Because the population of Istanbul is so high, the traffic is always at a standstill during peak hours. And that’s not always the case. It can be 2 pm on a Sunday and the roads will still be packed. This also means that public transportation is crowded. If you don’t like being squished on buses or trains, you might not like your commute to school every day.
4. Government Paperwork
You will soon realize that experiencing Istanbul is much more enjoyable as a tourist than as a resident.
Why?
Well, there is a lot of paperwork and little details that aren’t always explained clearly.
For example, when you arrive in Istanbul, will get a local SIM card. However, it isn’t until later that you discover that this SIM card is only valid for 90 days. After these 90 days, the SIM card will stop working unless you pay a fee to register your device with the government. In order to register your device, you need to visit a PTT office (post office) to get a login code to enter a government website.
But, PTT offices all close at 5 pm making it nearly impossible to go there because you are working during the week and they are closed on the weekends leaving you to wonder how can you get this code.
Most of the government websites are only written in Turkish making it a bit trickier to navigate and comprehend.
You might decide to bypass the PTT office and just purchase an entirely new phone in Turkey that does not need to be registered. The price of a cheap Andriod phone is the same price as the registration fee.
So, unless you really like your phone and want to pay the registration fee, you will have 2 phones in Turkey.
Is Teaching English in Istanbul Worth It?
To answer the final question, will be a personal preference.
If you are looking to make a lot of money, then, no, Istanbul is not the right place for you.
If you’re okay with earning a low salary and being in a slightly unstable economy but having a great cultural experience, then you might want to consider teaching English in Istanbul.
