gulam2
- 2010-04-01
I really had a bad time at Berlitz in Istanbul.Violence by teachers and stolen property were oart of the nightare. AVOID Berlitz
Cameron
- 2008-09-25
This is too late for you I am afraid Marty but others can read it.
I also found only this one negative reference but nonetheless took a summer position with EF Istanbul through the HR guy (Michael) who I also found to be forthright and helpful. My job was in Bursa however - a new franchise of EF Istanbul which Istanbul recruits for and signs the contract.
There were some problems in Bursa. One being that my contract to teach for two months over summer was not honoured. After a month I was given "2 weeks notice" as the owner in Bursa said there was not enough work for the rest of the contracted time. In the event I quit as at the same time I was instructed, without prior notice from the school, to leave the great apartment they had originally put me in for a squalid and cramped downtown hovel (I'm still holding back on the adjectives here).
Marty
- 2008-07-01
So, are we talking about EF China or EF Istanbul?? I am currently corresponding with the head of HR at EF Istanbul regarding possible employment and he has been more than forthright and helpful. Who are these people who were let go recently and why were they let go? This is the first an only bad review of EF Istanbul that I can find and I would like to have some concrete evidence to back up your claims. Otherwise I would say that your 'opinion' should simply be ignored as generalization and/or hearsay.
Marty
Choatle
- 2008-03-20
Yo, dude, were talking about English first here man. Had you done any research on this outfit before you went to work there you would know that, by in large, they are the worst chain school in China. While some schools are franchises, the one thing that seems pretty consistent is their lack of quality and their poor treatment of foreign teachers. Don't you have access to google? Why some people don't just do a search is beyong me, there is more than enough info out there about english first, most of it bad.
Beware indeed, whether it is a franchise or not, I'd advise steering clear. While some franchise schools will be ok, the majority are not, and the almighty yuan reigns supreme here in China, not quality of education. Be wary indeed, no school I can think of has more complaints or bad press then this one, that should tell you all you need to know.
There are six EF branches in İstanbul, all owned by a Turkish couple.
The students are generally very pleasant.
There seems to be, however, a lack of organisation and also a lack of structure in the programs. This means the teacher is often under a lot stress. Although when you are hired they will guarantee reasonable schedules, the majority of teachers have schedules that can change on a weekly basis and that often consist of split-shifts starting around nine and often ending at nine.....but blocks of spare time in between. Weekends can easily be off. You will most likely be teaching five or six random levels of general or business english. The class never ends so you continue on with students as they progress which means you rarely get the chance to re-use your materials and there are no set holidays in the 'semesters'. Normally eight holiday days are offered in your package.
There have been cases of initial offers not being respected once the employee arrives at the school from their native country. The contract has been broken by the employer on several occassions. Additionally, several people in the past couple months have been let go for reasons unclear to most everyone. This has created a feeling of grave injustice amongst the staff members directed towards administration.
Administration has difficulties with their English which make communication often a complicated and lengthy procedure.
Beware.