Teach English in Turkey with LanguageCorps' TEFL Certification

When I was a child I had the good fortune to take a vacation in Istanbul with my family. It struck me then as a wonderful, beautiful city and remained that way in my memory and imagination for many years.

There is little to say that has not been said a thousand times about Istanbul, travel brochures already expound on the huge domed mosques, the vast modern shopping malls, and the wonder of the Bosphorus by ferry at night. I was drawn to a place at the crossroads of the world, a fulcrum on which history rested and a meeting point for many cultures. When I found I had the opportunity to return and teach here I did not hesitate, and I have never regretted my decision.

More practically, Turkey's visa process is relatively straightforward and teaching jobs are abundant, particularly if one is willing to live outside of the center of the city.

Well, obviously the magnificence of the city itself has defined my time here. It is a wonderful place in many small ways, I have learned the simple pleasure of tea in tulip glasses, sipped while perched precariously on tiny stools in a cafe.

However, the great unsung virtue of Turkey is undoubtedly the Turks themselves. They are friendly, welcoming, and outgoing. The citizens of some countries may be prone to view foreigners with distrust and suspicion, but that has never been my experience in Turkey. People are never anything but pleased when they learn they are dealing with a foreigner, even when it means they will have to go out of their way to help me understand an unfamiliar system.

While Istanbul in an undeniably ancient city it feels young, full of life and bustle. It is full of talk of improvement, expansion, enrichment, and modernization. Some parts of Turkey may be described as sleepy, but not Istanbul which almost overflows with vitality.