I've moved

Hi all, thanks for dropping by. To make things easier, I've decided to merge some of my blogs, which, including this one, can now be found at ELT World. I've been getting off my backsides and writing recently, so come over to the new URL and leave lots of lovely comments.

TEFL Europe News Latest

Just in case you're short of something to do today, take a look at this lot. Is it really possible that all these people around the world are having to deal with our language? It just doesn't seem right, does it?


United Kingdom: The Struggle to Cope When Children Do Not Speak Any English

Surprising as it may seem, schools are struggling to cope with an influx of students from abroad, with many teachers facing classes in which a third of pupils do not speak English as their first language, teachers’ representatives told the Times Online. The number of pupils who did not have English as their mother tongue had risen by 66,000 in a year, the conference of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers was told.

Read the full story…



Switzerland: English seen as "most useful" foreign language

Not just British tourists, also a majority of, er, Swiss reckon that English is the most useful foreign language in the country, although it is not Switzerland's "lingua franca" as commonly believed.

Read the full story…



United Kingdom: Not Enough Cash to Teach English

Whoooaaaa… you misread, the headline doesn’t in fact read not enough cash to teachers of English. Headteachers have said the £2-million spent on teaching English to immigrant children in North Lincolnshire is inadequate, according to the ever influential This is Scunthorpe website. Schools say they have less to spend, even though the number of students whose first language is not English has risen.

Read the full story…



Estonia fears English too dominant in its schools

Education authorities in Estonia Thursday warned that the hands-down dominance of English in its schools is depriving the Baltic state of the language specialists it will need in the future.

Read the full story…



Turkey: English Time Celebrates Its 10th Year

Scourge of English teachers throughout Istanbul, the English Time language school celebrated its 10th anniversary recently with a reception held at Istanbul's Divan Kuruçesme. Speaking at the reception English Time founder Fethi Şimşek stated that when they established English Time 10 years ago their concern was to raise the quality level of English education in Turkey (no, really, that’s what he said). He said they have been achieving this aim without making any concessions since 1998.

Read the full story…



United Kingdom: £10m Bill to Teach Migrants English

Town halls in Greater Manchester are spending more than £10m a year teaching immigrants to speak English, the Manchester Evening News declares. The Department for Schools says a growing amount of taxpayers' money is being spent on teaching English as a second language. Your point?

Read the full story …



Scotland: International Rescue for City School Pupils

Language specialists (and not the Thunderbirds) are helping non-native speakers improve English as different cultures get along: excited chatter fills the room as the pupils work on their science project. What isn't immediately obvious is how many youngsters discussing a recent visit to a butterfly farm are not fluent in English. They are all reading the same books, but alongside some sits a specialist teacher – armed with flashcards picturing insects and their name in English – ready to prompt when necessary.

Read the full story …



United Kingdom: The Primary School Where Every Child Learns to Speak 40 Languages

Welcome to Newbury Park Primary School in Redbridge, north-east London, where its 850 pupils will have learnt phrases in 40 languages by the time they transfer to secondary school, notes the Independent. The school has adopted a policy of teaching each language spoken by the 40 ethnic groups among its pupils.

Read the full story …



Iceland: Bilingualism: Why Not?

Last week it was reported that the fabulously named Bifröst University in west Iceland would become the first university in the country to offer a Bachelor’s degree in business taught exclusively in English. While there is already a range of courses offered in English at several of Iceland’s universities, Bifröst says that by offering the degree in English, it is responding to the needs of students planning to work in the international arena.

Read the full story …



Russia: Language Learning Popular as Ever

In a statement that may well bemuse anyone who’s ever taught there, the St. Petersburg Times reports that the thirst for learning English and other foreign languages continues as Russians travel more and seek international business partners.

Read the full story …

Stick poking remains a national pastime in Russia

Belgium: Language director defends EU's costly translations

A high official in the European Commission's translation branch has said that despite discussions and fears in recent years about mushrooming costs for translations and interpretations in the EU, the principle of granting each citizen the right to communicate with Brussels in their own language should not be altered, no matter the number of member states in the future. Mmmm… there be money in that there Brussels.

Read the full story …


Ukraine: All in English

When foreigners visited Kyiv some ten years ago, language was the main problem in adapting to the local environment. The situation is now somewhat different, proclaims the Kyiv Post. Although not everyone can freely chat with you in English, the majority of citizens can understand you and will try to help you in any way possible. Apparently.

Read the full story …

Upcoming TEFL Conferences in Turkey

Listed below are the forthcoming English Language Learning and Teaching Seminars and Conferences in Turkey. Please click on the links for further information.

FLORYA COLLEGE- ELT CONFERENCE- PARTNERSHIP FOR PROSPEROUS PERFORMANCE- MARCH 22, 2008

Florya College is organizing an ELT Conference which will take place on March 22, 2008. The topic of the conference is “Maximizing Learner Performance”. Deadline for registration is March 10, 2008. The deadline for proposals has expired. Please contact Belgin Öğrek for more information.


BEYKENT SCHOOLS- THE ELT CONFERENCE- 29 MARCH 2008

The English Language Department of Beykent Schools is organizing an ELT Conference on March 29, 2008. Details about the content and the deadline of the conference will be coming soon. Please click here for more information.


KULTUR PRIMARY SCHOOL- EXPLORING ELT TRENDS II- RESPONDING TO INNOVATIONS- 5 APRIL 2008

The English Department of Kultur Primary School would like to invite you to the 12th ELT Conference which will take place on April 5, 2008. Deadline for registration and proposal is March 5, 2008. Please click here for more information.


ATILIM UNIVERSITY - 2ND ELT CONFERENCE- 19 APRIL 2008

The Preparatory School and Departmental English Language Studies Unit of Atilim University would like to invite you to the 2nd ELT Conference "Golden Implementations to Enable Learners'' Productive Skills to Flourish: Speaking and Writing" which will take place in Atilim University Campus on Saturday April 19, 2008. Deadline for registration is by the end of February 2008. Please click here for more information.


EDIRNE COLLEGE- ELT IN GLOBALIZED WORLD- 19 APRIL 2008

Edirne College is organizing an ELT Conference “ELT in Globalized World” on April 19, 2008. The Conference aims at reaching teachers around Marmara Region. For more information please contact Deniz Bozkurtlu.


MEV PRIVATE BASINKOY SCHOOLS 6TH ELT CONFERENCE - "HEY TEACHER! KEEP YOURSELF UP-TO-DATE" - 12 APRIL 2008

The English Department of MEV Private Basinkoy Schools’ 6th ELT Conference will take place in MEV private Basinkoy Schools Conference Hall on April 12, 2008. Deadline for registration is March 21, 2008. Please contact Oksan Yagar for more information.


MIMAR SINAN SCHOOLS- 3. SCHOOL-HOME COOPERATION CONFERENCE: "LANGUAGE THOUGHT"- 26 APRIL 2008

Mimar Sinan Schools’ “3. School-Home Cooperation Conference” will take place on April 26, 2008. The conference will question "Is language a reflection of thought, or is thought a product of language?”. The theme of the Conference is “Developing Children's Language and Thinking Skills". The deadline for registration is February 29, 2008. Please contact Selda Mansur for more information.


CANAKKALE ON SEKIZ MART UNIVERSITY 5TH INTERNATIONAL ELT RESEARCH CONFERENCE- BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THEORY AND PRACTICE IN ELT- 23-25 MAY 2008


COMU’s 5th International ELT Research Conference will take place on May 23- 25, 2008. The theme of the conference this year is "Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice in ELT". The registration deadline is April 29, 2008. Deadline for proposals is February 22, 2008. Please click here for more information.


THE 12TH INTERNATIONAL INGED ELT CONFERENCE- PUTTING THE BEST FOOT FORWARD, OCTOBER 23-25, 2008

The 12th International INGED ELT Conference named “Putting the Best Foot Forward” will take place in Eskisehir on October 23-25, 2008. For more information please click here.

All that Glitters is not Gold: Istanbul TEFL

Istanbul is a truly great place to live but, just like anywhere else these days, you’ve got to be really careful before accepting an English teaching job here. Ashley Perks has written a really nice checklist of things that anyone thinking of teaching in Turkey should consider:


All that glitters is not gold

If you are a teacher who has just arrived in Istanbul with your TEFL diploma fresh from the printer, or a long-in-the-tooth teacher flying in from some other exotic location ready to experience this great metropolis, or whether you are simply ready to change schools for one reason or another, some guidelines might be useful to find your way through the maze of language schools on offer.

If possible, it would first be useful to consider what kind of school you want to teach at and whether you have all the requisite qualifications. Bear in mind that state schools and universities insist on at least a BA in English; TEFL, CELTA or DELTA are an added bonus. If you want to teach young children, you will also need what in England is called a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). You will also need to get a residence permit, which they will often not help you to do. On the other hand, you should find the private sector easier to get into. Unfortunately it can often be too easy. (If they don’t insist on at least a TEFL type diploma, don’t accept, unless as a last resort before moving up to a “better” school.)

Trawling through the ads on the various Internet sites gives you some choices but no idea of what the school is really like. Top of your list, therefore, will be international language schools accredited by the British Council. Pay and conditions are usually good, but watch out for restrictive clauses in their contracts. Alternatively, there are dozens of Turkish-owned schools, but this is where it becomes a little more bemusing.

Learn more at the Turkey forum

Many of the smaller schools are owned by businessmen who have an eye on the easy cash to be made selling English language courses. The demand is so high that it takes very little effort to get a “school” up and running. In general, however, these places are to be avoided like the plague as there are no guarantees that they are even authorized by the Ministry of Education, and one official inspection will catch you in the net as an illegal worker along with the rogue boss or bosses.

Then there are numerous medium-large-sized language schools that have been working more or less successfully for a number of years and have something of a “name” for themselves, so their reputation, whether good or bad, will be known around town. It is easy enough to check by asking around in the bars and cafés frequented by expat teachers. (Just follow the sound of loudly spoken English, laughter and orders for more beer -- “bira” in Turkish!)

Read the full article in the online edition of Zaman Newspaper.

21st Century Teacher Training: ITI Istanbul

The International Training Institute (ITI) specialises in teacher training and development. They have been conducting teacher training courses since 1988 and boast one of the highest success ratios worldwide. ITI is internationally recognised as a leading centre for the Cambridge CELTA and DELTA courses and is the only approved UCLES centre for both of these courses in Turkey. The institute is run by Tom Godfrey, who, along with Sally Hirst and Brigid Nugent, was kind enough to answer several questions about teacher training in the early twenty-first century. Here’s part one of the interview:

Image courtesy of www.picturesfree.org

What are the main priorities in teacher training?

TOM

To ensure that training is participant centred. In other words it meets the developmental needs of the individual and does not attempt to espouse a methodology or standardisation.

SALLY

For the trainees:

-To achieve ‘unconscious competence’, or at least to see it as a viable and desirable goal, especially to understand the importance of ‘doing ordinary things very well’.
-Simultaneously (and it is not necessarily a contradiction in terms) to understand why they are doing what they are doing and why it works.
-For them to realise that if they are not enjoying it, it is highly likely that no one else in the room is either.

For the trainers:

-Do as you would be done by.
-Make sure you are still on the receiving end of some kind of education – language / training for training / anything, but something that reminds you sharply and frequently of how it feels to be a learner.
-Do what you would have them do.
-Don’t let schedules stop you from teaching language completely. If you are helping other people to develop their teaching, you should be teaching language to students too – training is not the same thing – even if, because of other demands, it is only a couple of hours a week.
-Your sessions must reflect what you are asking the CPs to achieve in their lessons – you should never have to turn round and say it is different for trainers in sessions.

BRIGID

Learning how to give good positive helpful feedback and having the ability to impart knowledge - it's not enough to 'have' the knowledge

Do you think the demands in teacher training have changed in recent years? If so, how?

TOM

In the days when 'methodology' was considered 'key', training was more straightforward. Now, as in teaching, we realise that training is actually more to do with personality, identity and is context specific and there is no 'right' way.

SALLY

Not especially. I think all the things I’ve just written for question one (of the DELTA exam) would have been true twenty years ago (though I don’t know as I wasn’t training 20 years ago).

I do think some things are changing in education generally – both my trainees and my language students seem to expect delivery via technology – they (as Steve Darn said in one of the HLT articles this month) want everything written down and printed off for them, so having lost the interaction that they would have from making their own notes on content, one then ends up devising on line quizzes etc to make them go over content again. But that’s swings and roundabouts – the end amount of effort and the end result is probably the same (for trainer and trainee and for teacher and student).

BRIGID

Yes, with the online/blended courses, teacher trainers need better computer skills and need to be trained to give feedback online if that is part of the course. The latter seems to me incredibly important.

Read part two of the interview here.

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Turkey: questions and answers

This article by Adam Simpson can be found in full at the One Stop English online Magazine:


EFL in Turkey

TEFL in Turkey is a still thriving industry, though not quite as big as the boom years of the 1980s. There are of course many new private language courses opening, but the real growth area is private English-medium high schools and universities. There are also positions in state schools and universities, but these are hard to get and, furthermore, do not usually pay well.

So, what kind of qualifications do you need?

A degree is (technically) a minimum requirement for any teaching job, but the subject of the degree is not important. Nearly all schools also require RSA CTEFLA or the equivalent. For the better jobs a few years' experience is necessary, and a DTEFLA or MA is a big advantage/ necessity, particularly for university jobs.

Note of caution: If your potential employer isn’t bothered about qualifications, it probably means that they aren’t going to be worth working for!

Nevertheless, the Turkish middle classes are very keen to learn English, and they really want to learn it from a native speaker of the language. If you speak English as your first language, you are almost guaranteed a job teaching English in Turkey. The number of students wanting to learn English far outweighs the number of English teachers, which means that many schools will hire someone without the proper qualifications.

How about getting a visa?

Visas are something of a problem. In the past, the usual procedure was to get a tourist visa, which you can buy on arrival in Turkey, then the school would get you a work and residence permit. However, the laws have changed, and you now have to apply for a work permit from your home country. Consider this before leaving! The truth of the matter is that most schools want you to stay for one year, but few schools are willing to pay work permit fees, or do the required paperwork. This means that you must leave the country every 3 months to renew your tourist visa. This is crucial, if you try to leave the country with an expired visa; you will be charged a hefty fine. However, without a proper work permit, your contract is not valid and you can leave at any time. It sounds a bit dodgy, but it happens all the time.

Where are you going to live?

Most schools provide furnished accommodation or a living allowance for teachers, in fact you should insist on it, as rents can be very high in the big cities, especially Istanbul. Usually you will be expected to share with other teachers, but some of the better schools provide individual accommodation. All schools have to provide basic health insurance (SSK) which allows you to be treated in State hospitals, however, you'd be better off shelling out for private treatment. Some of the better schools provide private health insurance, which is a definite bonus and something you should ask about.

Where are you going to find a decent job?

A lot of schools advertise in the Guardian and TES, and a few advertise on the internet now. Generally, if applying from home, go for schools which have an English name, and avoid 'Lycees' and 'dersane’s' - some of them are actually OK, but it's impossible to tell if you're in your home country. The names of Lycees usually end in "Lisesi", and dersanes in "dersanesi". Actually there are some very good State Lycees (e.g. Galatasaray Lisesi and the Anadolu Lisesi's) but they tend not to advertise abroad. Dersanes are cramming courses for the university entrance exams - there are some good ones, but the pay is generally low. Schools with names ending in "Kolej" are usually upmarket private lycees - some of them are very good, others so-so. Pay and conditions are generally better than language schools, but the students can be rather bratty. I would suggest looking at the Turkey section of the International job forum on Dave’s ESL Cafe website; this contains input from teachers regarding good and bad places to work. Some of the better schools will also give you a return airfare every one or two years. There are numerous English schools in Istanbul that cater to adult students, and these are definitely easier to find a job in than the primary schools. This means that you will likely work evenings and weekends, but this leaves your day free to explore this diverse city. There are language schools in other cities, such as the capital, Ankara, but Istanbul is the cultural, historical and social centre of the country.

So, are there any cowboy schools?

Yes, though it's not as bad as in some countries. I suggest you check the housing and insurance position before you accept a job, as these are often indicators of the general quality of the school, and ask plenty of questions about the syllabus; if they don't seem to have one, or are just following a textbook uncritically, this is usually a sign of a poor school.

What is the pay like and what's the cost of living?

Generally the pay is not wonderful, but enough to live reasonably well on. About the maximum you can hope for is about 1000 US per month (after tax) in a good private university, going down to about half that for a small language school. A lot depends on your lifestyle -- basically if you spend most of your cash on having a good unhealthy time, your wages will go a long way. Alcohol, cigarettes and eating out are much cheaper than in Britain, Canada, Ireland or the USA. On the other hand, if you are into nest-building, Turkey is not so good – electrical goods are generally more expensive, and even clothes, which used to be dirt cheap, are getting up to Western prices. As for saving money, only the most stingy teachers manage it, since the exchange rate is poor and inflation is high. One thing you must definitely ask about is whether your school gives a mid-year pay rise in line with inflation – if not you will need to convert some of your earlier pay packets into foreign currency to tide you through the lean months later. You can open a foreign currency bank account, which will pay a fairly good rate of interest. Some of the better schools will pay some or all of your salary in foreign currency, which is a definite advantage. In short, don’t go to Turkey to teach English expecting to make a lot of money. The salaries are reasonable, and the cost of living is very low, but you aren’t likely to leave with a huge savings account. Any extra money is usually spent on exploring Istanbul, trips around the country, or maybe on a Turkish carpet!

What are the students like?

For the most part, Turks are a joy to teach - friendly and enthusiastic. In the private high schools and universities you do get some "rich brats", but they're no worse than rich brats from many other countries.


Do I need to be able to speak Turkish? Is it an easy language to learn?

You can get by without learning much Turkish, but the more you learn, the better. A small amount of effort will give you the basics you need for shopping, ordering in restaurants etc., but conversational fluency will take several years to acquire. Turkish is generally considered to be an easy language to learn, but a difficult language to use: the grammar is very simple and logical, but it can be difficult to follow all the suffixes in conversation, especially since Turks have a habit of all speaking at the same time.


How about transport?

Buying cars in Turkey is expensive unless, as a foreigner, you buy a car from another foreigner. However, the bureaucracy, as in most aspects of Turkish life, is a nightmare. Unless you speak fluent Turkish and are extremely patient, you should get an agent to sort it out for you. You also need to deposit a bond in a bank, which you will get back when you sell the car or leave the country permanently. Unless you feel naked without a car, though, you'd be best off using taxis, which are reasonably cheap, or public transport, since the traffic is truly horrific, especially in Istanbul. Apparently (and I can well believe this) Turkey has more accidents per kilometre of road than any country in the world. Public transport in cities is cheap, but crowded and uncomfortable. For travelling around Turkey, there are plenty of good bus companies. It's worth paying a bit more to travel with a reputable company, since you will have a more comfortable ride and are more likely to arrive in one piece. Apart from the Istanbul-Ankara line, trains are very slow. Domestic flights are good but a bit expensive, although the situation is improving.

Will I be able to give private lessons?

Many teachers supplement their incomes by giving private lessons, but a lot of schools forbid this. Look at your contract, and pay close attention to how serious any clause about private teaching is (some schools ban it in theory, but don't mind if it's done discreetly). The going rate for private lessons is flexible, but is usually about 15 US per hour. It's best to arrange money in advance -- see if you can get your student to cough up for several lessons at a time. You cannot get a work permit if you are only giving private lessons.

What are the government rules/regulations?

Turkish bureaucracy is nightmarish, so insist the school handle anything to do with work/ residence permits etc. There are hundreds of regulations pertaining to schools, but that's their problem, not yours. Customs can be complicated; they will allow resident foreigners to take electrical goods etc. without paying duty, but you need to have them stamped in your passport to make sure you take them out again. The same goes for cars, and if you leave the country without your car you need to get half a dozen different people to stamp the appropriate forms. Most bureaucratic regulations can be got round with large quantities of charm and "consideration". I guarantee that you will need more passport photos in one year in Turkey than you have used in the rest of your life.

Is religion a problem?

Not at all. Islamic fundamentalism has increased somewhat over the last decade, but in general the Turkish version of Islam is very liberal and tolerant, most urban Turks are not very religious, and the government is militantly secular (Turkey has only ever had one religious party in power, and that was in a coalition government which collapsed fairly quickly). The basic position is "you respect our religion, and we'll respect yours." In general, expect the same social mores as you would find in a rather conservative European country. You can even buy bacon in some supermarkets! Note: attempting to convert people to another religion is technically illegal in Turkey, and doesn't work in practice anyway.

Is there anything I might do that would be considered really rude?

One thing which could catch the Westerner unaware is going onto the street with wet hair! Muslims are supposed to bathe after sex, so going out of the house with your hair still wet implies you've just had a quickie. Other than that, there's not much in the way of completely unexpected social pitfalls. Turkish society is pretty easy going, and in general European standards of politeness will do fine in Turkey. Blowing your nose in public is considered rude, and belching and farting are a social disaster. Being clean and presentable is important, especially at work or when visiting someone's home. Stinginess is considered reprehensible, so when the bill comes in a bar or restaurant, you should insist on paying. In practice, Turks usually won't let you pay anyhow, but you are obliged to put up a fight. A few other things which are considered unseemly: eating bananas or ice cream in the street; smoking in the street if you're female; in some areas, eating, drinking or smoking publicly during the Ramadan fast; excessive kissing and cuddling in public places; wearing revealing clothing in a mosque. There are a few rude gestures which are not found elsewhere e.g. placing the thumb between the first two fingers, or slapping one hand down on the other fist, both of which have sexual connotations.

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Learn more about teaching English around the World at David’s English Teaching World.
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Do women get hassled a lot?

It depends on where you are, how you dress and how you behave. If you walk into a poor, conservative area wearing shorts and a bikini top, then expect the worst; otherwise you may get some unwelcome attention, but no serious hassle. Avoid magandas -- men with moustaches, open shirts and lots of gold jewellery -- as they consider it a point of honour to sexually harass as many women as possible. Generally, though, harassment is purely verbal, and most women I have talked to say they feel safer here than back home. Basically, it's like Italy, but with less bottom-pinching. Remember that if a man is staring at you, it's probably as much because you're foreign as because you're female, and remember that Turkish culture is very "touchy-feely" - not all physical contact has sexual intentions.

What about food and drink? Is the food and water safe?

Turkish food is excellent, unless you're a vegetarian. It’s not all kebabs, though; there's a wide variety of good meat, fish and, occasionally, vegetable dishes. Basically it's very similar to Greek food. Beer is limited to rather bland lager (though a few bars sell imported beers), but the national drink is raki, an aniseed spirit like ouzo but with a smoother taste. Raki is a part of the culture as much as a drink. As for safety, you can expect to get mild diarrhoea shortly after you arrive, as your system tries to adjust to novel intestinal flora. Apart from that, avoid eating any food from street stalls until you are well used to Turkish micro-organisms, avoid cig kofte (raw meatballs - actually delicious!) unless you're totally confident about the cleanliness of the establishment, and never, ever eat kokorec (intestines). Tap water is safe in most places, but still upsets some people's stomachs because of its high mineral and chlorine content; most people drink bottled water or have drinking water delivered to their homes.


This article by Adam Simpson can be found in full at the One Stop English online Magazine.
(http://www.onestopenglish.com/section.asp?theme=mag&catid=58256&docid=145884)

Cambridge ESOL Teaching Awards centres in Istanbul (2)

The International Training Institute offers the CELTA, DELTA, ICELT and TKT courses. Contact Details are as follows:

Mr TOM GODFREY (CELTA DELTA)
INTERNATIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTE
KALLAVI SOK 7-9 KAT:4
ISTIKLAL CAD
GALATASARAY
ISTANBUL
TURKEY

Tel: 00 90 212 293 0258
Fax: 00 90 212 245 3163
E-mail: iti_ist@yahoo.com
Internet: http://www.iti-istanbul.com/

Awards offered: CELTA, DELTA, ICELT, TKT