Teaching in Turkey

Although more than 70 of the teachers at the Koç School are foreign nationals and the school offers a bilingual medium curriculum, candidates should note that the Koç School is a national school and that almost all of its students are Turkish. Thus, the environment is quite different from that of most international schools, and much more representative of the national culture than one generally finds in an international school. There is virtually no student transiency, and teachers have an opportunity to work with students over a period of years.

Teaching in a Turkish private school can be both challenging and rewarding. It is definitely not for everyone. Because of the high demand for good schools in Turkey, Koç students are for the most part very bright, and there is a high expectation of their teachers from both parents and students. Turkey’s culture holds teachers and the teaching profession in very high respect but, at the same time, Turkish children are outgoing and exuberant, making good classroom management skills essential.

There are two dominating realities that overshadow teaching in Turkey. The first is the Ministry of Education, which sets and/or approves all aspects of the country's educational program, including curriculum. Ministry requirements can be very demanding and may seem to be unduly bureaucratic. The goals, as well as the methods, of the Ministry are often mysterious to a foreign teacher and the suddenness with which decisions and changes of policy can be made is sometimes frustrating.

The second reality is the university admission system. Students who wish to attend university in Turkey must take a rigorous national examination, the score of which is virtually the sole determiner of where they will go for post-secondary education in their home country. Thus, there is a national preoccupation with preparation for this examination which places a tremendous pressure on students, their families and their school. Cram schools and private lessons, attended in the evenings and on weekends, are the norm for seniors. The method of preparation places primary emphasis on rote learning and drill. A foreign teacher here feels a constant tension between a western-style critical approach to teaching and the dogmatic expectations of the university system.

An experienced, capable teacher with a good sense of humor, strong classroom management skills, and clear command of his/her subject material will encounter little difficulty in working here. The rewards far outweigh the disadvantages and the extraordinary cultural and historical richness of the country make living and working in Turkey a delightful opportunity for many.