tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28338254.post62653962842171007..comments2023-07-04T11:12:40.312+08:00Comments on The TEFL Blacklist: Wall Street Institute Istanbul, TurkeyInspector Mchammered of the Lardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06124087462269859696noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28338254.post-61789081862423464792008-10-14T17:42:00.000+08:002008-10-14T17:42:00.000+08:00I worked for WSI Turkey for quite a long time and ...I worked for WSI Turkey for quite a long time and I agree with the original poster's comments. When I began working at WSI we were being paid 1500 YTL a month, which at the time was OK. They didn't raise this much and in the past few years, that starting salary was a JOKE when we tried to hire new teachers. So the quality of teachers/teaching went down drastically during my time there. As the most expensive language course in Istanbul (and Turkey!) you'd think that they would be able to pay their teachers (Native and Turkish staff) a decent, respectable salary. However, even with the current raise, it still puts WSI far under many of the other schools in Turkey. Istanbul, in particular, is getting to be an incredibly expensive city to live in. Living on the salary of WSI and being expected to work 6 days a week (and try to teach privates on the side) is not an easy feat. <BR/><BR/>Regarding the teaching method, yes... it's different and easier than classical teaching. Students spend hours doing listening, reading, and repeating exercises in a computer lab or at home. After they finish a level, they have an "encounter" with a teacher. The teacher is then leading them through some exercises for 50 minutes and evaluating whether or not they learned and can use whatever the target language was in that lesson. Is that "teaching"? Yes and no. I found that only the people who were really disciplined made real progress. A lot of people thought they could just "plug in" and English would somehow magically enter their brains. We were teaching though and our Service Manager (Head Teacher) gave us a lot of freedom to do the lessons in the way we wanted. Our SM also encouraged us to create our own classes and outside activities, and really supported us and tried to keep things interesting for the teachers as well as the students. That SM is gone now though. <BR/><BR/>My main problem with WSI was with the sales team -- completely agree with the original poster -- and the Turkish management. They are out of touch, rude, arrogant, and don't give a sh*t about the Native staff. The sales staff LIES and always get away with it. They pay on time, but that's about it. If you don't have a good Service Manager in your center or Director, then good luck. <BR/><BR/>Good points: small classes and great relationship with students. With the small class size, after a year I felt like I knew everyone in the center. You easily get to know "the regulars" and a lot of former students are now really good friends. Paid on time, work permit (although you have to pay 1/2) for those who want to jump through the hoops, and then health insurance if you get that. <BR/><BR/>It's not a bad place to spend your time, but don't expect to be able to save money and live the life of a king in Istanbul. It's a good place to get some experience and then move on to something better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28338254.post-29495603693939656772008-09-13T23:49:00.000+08:002008-09-13T23:49:00.000+08:00I was not employed with WSI in Istanbul, but I did...I was not employed with WSI in Istanbul, but I did interview with them. Here's my take about WSI in general - I didn't like two things about the structure of the teaching system, which is why I didn't take the job: 1.) There is too much technology involved, the teacher appears to be secondary, and the technology seems to be heading in the direction of, ''eliminate the yabanci in 5 years''. The computer lab at all of the branches I visited houses about 30-40 computers in one room; I could see all of this switching to internet based instruction in the future with only a virtual instructor and headphones. 2.) The teachers are expected to keep doctor's hours. This means you may never have the same student or group twice. You are required to show up at certain hours and teach whoever is in the center. All of this gave me the impression of McWSI; so despite having a great affinity for the Turkish people and the great Istanbul culture I decided to say no. As most Turkish school owners they appear to be afraid of male management figures, hiring young Turkish women or ex-pats who are married to Turkish men; to the experienced this can be quite a drag being caught up in the British ''nanny'' mentality, instead of providing a culture of progressive business planning. I was most disappointed because I did want to stay in Istanbul but Berlitz seemed to be the best of a bad lot with WSI running a distant second. Any serious teacher should avoid English Time, which we in the teacher community affectionately called, ''English Crime''. Its like a high school taught by the most immature and inexperienced with the worst written books you will ever see in ESL; it is truly shameful having to explain to your students why their books have 10-25 spelling errors per page. The head teacher was by far the worst ''nanny'' in the Istanbul yabanci community. Her interest went beyond instruction into creeping into every aspect of your personal life. It was by far the most creepy experience I have ever had in my life. While Berlitz Istanbul will lie to you about everything, they are the best package you will get, and most importantly they will leave you alone in your personal time. However, if anyone tells you from ANY Istanbul school that the housing is good, that medical insurance and pension are included, or that your teacher permit is coming - they are lying! This simply doesnt happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com