Well. It was a humbling experience. I thought that given how difficult, spoiled and disrespectful the students at Istanbul’s Beykent University English language school are, I thought getting a job teaching there would be a matter of me choosing them, not them choosing me.
Well, to my surprise I was told that my observed lesson — which I thought went really well — revealed my inexperience as a teacher, and they do not want me for the fall. The director who observed the session said I lacked a student centered approach. that is all fine and good, but how does one be student centered when the students don’t give a shit? That’s is what you learn when you get a CELTA, the director, Michael Hardern, replied. Got me there. Though I have my doubts about how right he is in regards to Beykent.
A CELTA is a more prestigious ESL certificate than the TESOL variety that I have, and one can earn it in Istanbul. I did a three day trial there last week and disscovered the above truths about the students, as well as the fact that morale among teachers — who are really cool and interesting people for the most part — is low, many of them aren’t returning. for the fall.
” You can just check that TEFL-tastic shit at the door pal,” said one bitter teacher after I asked him if he does any warmups with the students. To hear that and then to hear, one week later, that I don’t have the training to teach there suggests a cognitive dissonance.
So for now, I am going to continue working at Ihlas News Agency and tutor part time. You can imagine how much I wanted to tutor English the evening after I found out about the job I didn’t have — teaching English.
Mooks.
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