F.A.Q Frequently Asked Questions by Teachers
Following are the answers to the frequently asked questions by teachers who are considering working with New York Studio of Languages as a potential candidate for posted positions.
INDEX
- Work Hours and Working Conditions
- Compensation Package
- Work Visa, Residency and Work Permits
- Arrival to Istanbul, Lodging and Housing Accommodations
- Cost of Living and About the City of Istanbul
WORK HOURS AND WORKING CONDITIONS
- What are the teaching hours?
Our centers are open 7 days a week. Classes run from 8:00 am to 9:30 pm. Even though we want our teachers to be available for work five days a week between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 pm to teach, most of our classes will be held during the evenings and weekends. Obviously, you will not be working from 08:00 am till 22:00 hours. Working with you, we will prepare a schedule for you. Your teaching hours depend on your schedule. We will try to give you either morning or evening classes. Some executives would like to have their lessons early in the morning. Hence, some of your classes start at 08:00 am and finish about 10:15 am. Then, evening classes start about 18:30 or 19:00 and will end at 21:30 or 22:00 hours. Because our customers decide on their hours, someday you may have morning and some days evening classes. So, you may be free during the day. You are expected to teach minimum of 36 lessons per week which is about 24 hours a week. If you want, you can teach 40 or 45 units a week. Typically, you will teach four evenings a week and the weekends. You may have one or two day classes. If you want to work more hours, we will be glad to assign you more.
Teachers may be asked to teach at the center or at the client’s office. You will be compensated for the cost of transportation and some of the time spent on the road. Two days off in seven is guaranteed by New York Studio, Istanbul.
1.2 How and when do I sign the contract?
When both sides agree on the terms and conditions, you will be asked to sign an employment contract. You are going to be asked to sign, scan and e-mail us the employment contract or asked to come over to our central office in 4.Levent to meet the staff and sign your official papers upon your arrival. Employment contracts are made for one year. At the end of the period, contracts can be extended by agreement of both sides.
1.3 Can you tell me when do you want me to start if you offered me a job?
New York Studio generally hires for fall and for spring terms. Depending on the demand in our markets, we may hire during the year. We will be glad to tell you your starting time after you sign and send the contract.
1.4 When do I sign the contract and do I sent it as an attachment?
You may sign the contract whenever you are ready. You may print, sign, scan and e-mail us the contract that we will e-mail you or choose to sign it upon your arrival to Istanbul.
1.5 Can I earn extra money by teaching more units?
The teacher can set up his/her own schedule. Teachers can be offered up to 10-15 units per week (one unit is 40 minutes) and may be assigned to teach 4-8 units per day as they prefer. All teachers will have at least two days off.
1.6 When do you change the teachers?
Teachers are assigned to regular groups or individual students. As a New York Studio policy, groups’ or individual students’ teachers are changed from time to time. In case of sickness or emergency, they may be asked to cover other teacher’s classes. Teachers could learn their schedule by calling our Center by 19:30 a day before for the next day.
1.7 Who can teach at New York Studio?
It is a general New York Studio policy that teachers teach only in their native language. Only the target language is spoken in the classroom.
1.8 What do the teachers’ teaching assignments include?
Teachers’ teaching assignments include preparation for the classes, teaching the class, grading of the exams, writing monthly progress reports for the students and attending teacher’s meetings. In order to prepare for the classroom properly and to be on time for the classes, teachers are recommended to come to the Center about half an hour before the classes start.
We have monthly staff meetings which take 1-1,5 hours. It is mandatory to attend these meetings unless you have a class at that time. You will be paid for it. On the job training workshops once or twice a month which takes 1-2 hours for which you won’t be paid for.
1.9 What is the class size?
New York Studio is a customer oriented language school. Its class schedules are based on our customers’ needs and demands. Most of the students are from business world hence teaching takes place during the evenings and weekends. Class sizes, generally, are maximum 9 students at our centers and 12-15 students at company sites.
1.10 When do I qualify for my holiday?
Two days off in seven is guaranteed by New York Studio, Istanbul. 2 weeks of paid vacation is provided to the Teachers who have completed their first calendar year of full time contractual employment, and sign a contract for an another year.
We prefer our teachers not to take vacations until the end of their contract period. Nevertheless, there are national and religious holidays during the year. But, our customers would like to continue their classes during these holidays. We could accommodate our teachers 3-4 day holiday needs when their schedule permits.
1.11 What can I do in my free time?
Istanbul is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and has a lot to offer. If you want, you can use your free time by teaching extra hours at New York Studio to make more money or go to sightseeing or whatever you want to do in Istanbul. It is up to our teachers.
1.12 Where are your centers?
New York Studio is an expanding organization in Turkey. Our centers are located in the heart of the art & culture centers 4.Levent, Bagdat Cad. and Kozyatagi of Istanbul where you can find many shops, restaurants, bookstores, art galleries, museums and theaters.
1.13 What do you teach at New York Studio?
In addition to General English, Business English, English for Law, we teach TOEFL, GMAT, GRE, SAT1, SAT2 and other ESP classes.
- COMPENSATION PACKAGE
- What is the compensation structure?
Our compensation structure is based on payment for per 60 minutes of teaching. A unit consists of a forty minutes of actual teaching time. The employee will be paid according to number of actual teaching hours worked which will be will be calculated according to number of unites taught. An hour is defined as 60 minutes of teaching time. A unit pay may vary depending on the level of education, teaching, business and life experience of the teachers. The full-time teachers teach 144 units a month. A competitive salary is paid to the teacher for it, net of taxes. The full time teachers are guaranteed minimum 144 units per month. Monthly wage starts with 3000TL and will go up. If you teach special classes like TOEFL, TOEIC, BULATS, you will be paid extra.
2.2 How much does an instructor expect to earn?
The workload preferred by our teachers directly influences the teacher’s monthly income. Teachers can earn between TL3000 to TL5.000 or more per month. One can live comfortably with this amount in Istanbul. Payments are made on the 21th of the month in Turkish Liras or USD equivalents basis.
You will be treated and paid as a part time teacher for the first and last month of your contract. That means you will be paid according to number of units you teach.
2.3 What Benefits New York Studio will provide?
New York Studio pays the income taxes of its teachers and provides national health insurance and health care benefits to all of its full-time teachers, once they obtain work visa and residency permit. Moreover, international contract completion bonuses of USD 400,00 for the teachers who comes from the US and € 100,00 for the ones who comes from the UK is given to our teachers when the contract for first year is successfully completed. Two week paid vacation is also given upon completion of a one year contract and signing for another year. New York Studio also pays half of the expenses made in Turkey by the teacher in obtaining work visa and residency permit upon successful completion of the process.
2.4 Can I buy Health insurance in Turkey?
New York Studio will register the teacher with the Social Security Administration of Turkey (SGK), after the Teacher obtains work visa and residency permit. Thereafter New York Studio will pay the SGK contributions. Hence, The Teacher can use free or low – cost public health services.
Group or individual health insurance can be purchased as a part of a group or individually, which costs about USD 150,00 a month.
2.5 What is your policy for sick days?
If the teacher lets the management knows before his/her class, another teacher will be arranged as a substitute for the teacher’s assigned classes. The weather in Istanbul is very mild. Most of our teachers are very healthy. If you want, you could purchase health insurance as a part of our Group Health Insurance.
- WORK VISA, RESIDENCY AND WORK PERMITS
- How will I get my Turkish visa?
When you arrive to Istanbul, depending on your country of origin and country of the passport you carry, you may be given a 3 month or 1 month tourist visa. The work permit process takes about 3-4 months due to the paperwork involved. In order to be eligible to apply, one must have a BA or BS degree and a CELTA, TESOL or TEFL certificate. You can come to Turkey with tourist visa and apply for work permit while you are in Turkey. Upon your arrival, an application for your residency permit will be made. It takes only 3-10 days to process the residency permit. Meanwhile, pre-authorization from Ministry of Education should be obtained. Ordinarily, it takes a couple of months to get it.
3.2 How will I get work visa and residency permit?
Work visa, work and residency permits can be obtained while you are at your hometown from the Turkish Consulate closest to you or you could arrive to Istanbul with a tourist visa and can get your work and residency permits in Istanbul.
Doing the paper work related to work permit, work visa and residency permit takes minimum three months. It is a cumbersome tedious legal work. Instead of you trying to deal with the Turkish bureaucracy at your hometown, you may want to come to Istanbul. Our people can work on your papers and can get your work visa and work and residency permits. There are rules and regulations we have to abide by in order to get you a work permit. Ministry of Education requires us to send them the teachers’ diploma whether they have a BA or MA in English Literature, Teaching English as a Second Language or a BA, MA or MBA along with approved teaching certificate such as TEFL, CELTA or TESOL. The teachers’ transcript is needed if they had taken courses on Teaching English. Ministry of Education needs to see the original of your diploma showing the faculty and department you are graduated from.
3.3 Which documents are needed for work permit and residency application?
Following documents are needed for work permit.
- Original of your passport and its notarized translation
- Originals of your diplomas / transcripts and their notarized translation
- Originals of your TEFL / CELTA or TEFL certificates and their notarized translation
- Who pays for work and residency permit?
Half of your work and residency permit expenses, such as translation cost, amounts paid for notarizing your documents to notary public and visa fees will be paid by New York Studio. Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labor wants to see the original documents. Hence please bring in the original documents. We will do the paper work and follow it up for you if original documents are given to New York Studio.
3.5 What is the chance of denial of these permits?
If the applicant has the necessary qualifications i.e. BA or BS degree and TESOL, CELTA or TEFL certificate, then it is almost automatic to receive the Work and Residency permit. None of our teachers’ permits have been denied before.
- ARRIVAL TO ISTANBUL, LODGING AND HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS
- Do you provide housing? Who qualifies for free housing?
Housing is provided to our teachers at a cost. New York Studio has number of company operated guest apartments for qualified teachers on both Asian and European sides. These apartments are walking distance to our centers. Depending on teachers’ qualifications, seniority at New York Studio and availability, the teacher may be able to rent a room at one of these furnished housing units for TL700 per month.
Housing provided for our teachers are clean and furnished. You will be living with 2-3 other colleagues as flat mates at any given time.
Upon your arrival to Istanbul, you will directly be taken to the apartment where you will be staying. Your room will be ready before your arrival.
4.2 Where do I go when I arrive at the airport? Do you pick up the teachers from the airport?
One of our office staff will pick you up at the airport. We will make necessary arrangements as soon as you inform us about your itinerary. As soon as you learn your itinerary, please let us know. We have to make pick up arrangements and assign you to one of our apartments.
4.3 Who pays for the utilities and the management fee?
The teachers are responsible for running of their apartment. They will share all utilities and management related to the running of the apartment. Your share of cost of electricity, water, natural gas, telephone, ADSL connection and other expenses should range between TL150,00 – TL300,00.
4.4 Which airport should I arrive?
Depending on the center and housing you assigned, you can arrive at Ataturk or Sabiha Gökçen airports. Please ask us about it.
4.5 Where exactly are the houses located?
All of our apartments are 5-15 minutes walking distance to our offices. Hence, you don’t have transportation cost either.
4.6 Is there land line telephone in the apartment?
There is a land line phone in apartments. You can make local calls and receive local and international calls. The land line is closed to make international calls. We recommend Skype and other internet connections because of their cost.
Everybody in Istanbul has a mobile phone. You may want to have one for yourself upon your arrival. We strongly recommend getting a mobile phone.
4.7 Will I have access to a computer or an internet connection?
Most of our apartments have online or wireless ADSL connection. So, if you have a laptop, you will be able to connect from the apartment. If you do not have a laptop, then, you could come to our centers and use the computers at our centers to get online.
4.8 What is the furniture provided?
Our guests will have a bed, two sets of linens, a pillow, a study desk, a chair and a wardrobe. There are washing machines, ironing board and an iron in the apartments.
4.9 What kind of kitchen facilities is available?
All of our apartments have kitchens. We do provide some dishes, cutlery, pots and pans. At some of our apartments, residents like to cook, others prefer to eat outside. Cost of a good meal ranges between TL 15,00 to 30,00.
4.9.1 What if I want to rent my own apartment?
Good quality housing at reasonable prices is available in the neighbourhood. So, you can rent a flat of your own or share an apartment with expatriates or locals. If there is no availability at the apartments or the teacher chooses to live in his or her own flat. We will be glad to recommend real estate agents who will help you finding accommodations in the neighbourhood. Flat rentals range from TL 1.500,00-2.000,00 and up per month depending on the neighbourhood you choose in Istanbul.
The Teacher has to inform New York Studio of his/her address changes within a week while he/she is working at New York Studio.
There are quite a few nursery schools in the neighbourhood and in other parts of Istanbul. Their cost depends on the hours and other factors.
- COST OF LIVING and ABOUT THE CITY OF ISTANBUL
- How is the food in Istanbul?
Vegetables, fruits, fish and meat are fresh, plenty and relatively cheap in Istanbul. American, Turkish and international cuisine and fast foods are readily available in the neighbourhood. There are self service restaurants and classic restaurant as well. Cost of a good meal ranges between TL 15,00 to 30,00.
All of our apartments have kitchens. We do provide some dishes, cutlery, pots and pans. At some of our apartments, residents like to cook, others prefer to eat outside.
5.2 How safe is Istanbul?
Istanbul is the commercial center of not only Turkey, but also of the region. It has excellent air, land and sea connections. About 250.000 foreigners live and work in Istanbul. It is the safest city in the world among cities of comparable size.
5.3 How is the climate in Istanbul?
The weather in Istanbul is mild in the winter and not hot during the summer. Istanbul is one of the safest and beautiful cities in the world to live in. The historical and cultural diversity makes it a very interesting site to see.
5.4 Can we learn Turkish at New York Studio?
There is a discount for our teachers at our centers if they want to learn a foreign Language(Turkish).
5.5 How about shopping?
Istanbul is a shopper’s paradise. Some of Istanbul’s shopping malls are selected to be the best in Europe. You can buy toiletries perfumes, jewellery etc. at these malls. Most of the things you can buy in New York, Paris or London, you can buy them in Istanbul too. Clothing and foods stuff are much cheaper.
5.6 What is the average cost of living in Istanbul?
The base salary for a fulltime teacher is TL 3000 a month. It is paid for the minimum 36 forty minute lessons a week taught, will be more than enough to cover your living expenses.
5.7 Where could I get more Information about living conditions in Istanbul?
For further information about Turkey and living conditions, life in general in Istanbul, please visit web site of the Ministry of Tourism at www.turizm.gov.tr,
5.8 How much money do I need to be comfortable during the start-up period?
It would be wise to bring about $1000,00 cash with you or a credit card.