What’s it like to teach English in Turkey?

Steffanie Zazulak
A teacher showing her students a globe, with her students looking at the globe, one with a magnifying glass in hand.
Reading time: 3 minutes

Alice Pilkington qualified as a CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certified teacher in October 2009. She started working in Rome before moving to Istanbul, where she’s spent the past three and a half years teaching English to “everyone from 8-year-olds to company executives; students to bored housewives”. Having taught in two very different countries to a diverse range of English learners, Alice shares with us the five lessons she’s learned:

1. Don't take things personally when you're teaching English

"I am probably not emotionally suited for this job. I take everything very personally and if a lesson goes wrong or an activity I have taken time and energy to plan doesn’t work, I feel like a complete failure. It’s a trial and error experience but when things go wrong, they can go very wrong, and it really makes you doubt your abilities as a teacher.

Having said that, the lessons that do go well can make up for these negative feelings. I shouldn’t take things personally; the majority of my colleagues don’t and it saves them a lot of sleepless nights"

2. Teaching English is incredibly rewarding

"There are very few feelings that I’ve experienced that compare to seeing a student use a word that you have taught them – it makes you feel like a proud parent. Equally, seeing a student improve over a series of months is so joyful. I have been teaching English university preparation students for the past year.

In September, they could barely say what their name was and what they did over the weekend. Nine months on and they’re capable of reading academic texts and speaking at length about marketing strategies and environmental problems. It’s a wonderful thing to observe"

3. Teach more than just English

"Turkish students love hearing about how you appreciate their food and cultural traditions. Equally, they are genuinely interested in understanding how things operate in the UK and enjoy hearing personal anecdotes. I tend to be very open with my students – even about my personal life. I think it is partly because I have striven from the very beginning of my career to be seen as their equal.

Turkish students are used to having a huge respect for teachers, and there is a hierarchical system in schools here, which I can never go along with. In my first lesson with most students, I tell them that they must call me by my first name (usually you refer to teachers here as ‘hocam’ which means ‘my teacher’ and shows respect) and this can take a long while for them to get used to."

4. Failure to prepare is to prepare for failure... or is it?

"Lessons that you spend hours preparing for generally don’t go as well as you had hoped. There were several times when I’d spend hours cutting and sticking things on pieces of card and placing pictures all over the classroom, hoping it would get some vocabulary action going, only to start the class and receive no response from the students.

Conversely, lessons where you don’t feel very motivated or have no idea what you are going to do until you get into the classroom (which I call the ‘flying by the seat of your pants’ lessons) can turn out to be the best ones. I once had a lesson in which I was, admittedly, rather hungover. On the way to the lesson, I grabbed a book called ‘Taboos and Issues’, full of discussion topics, which I used as a basis for a rather impromptu lesson on addictions, which was very successful indeed."

5. Teaching English isn't easy

"Teaching English is a love/hate profession. There are weeks when you absolutely loathe it and want to quit, but then within the space of a lesson or two, you get inspired by something completely unexpected, rediscover your joy for it and love it again."

More blogs from Pearson

  • Two business professionals loooking at notes together
    GSE, KPIs and ROI (Part 2): Turning language data into business value
    By Łukasz Pakuła
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    In Part 1, we looked at how to build a sensible measurement philosophy for language training using KPIs and the Global Scale of English (GSE). We’ve established that language programs shouldn’t be treated as a calendar entry, but as a strategic lever, and that independence, granularity and credibility are the secret sauce.

    Now it’s time to move from how to why: how these datapoints translate into tangible business outcomes, and how to make sure your investment in English doesn’t just look good on slides but actually delivers value when the CFO walks in.

    From measuring to meaning: translating KPIs into ROI

    Let’s be blunt: only a reckless stakeholder invests without expecting a return. Weighing costs and benefits, however, can get tricky. Without some operational clarity, ROI quickly becomes either a fairy tale or a labyrinth, both of which are bad news in risk-averse corporate cultures.

    From a client’s perspective, it’s vital to include all components in your calculation: direct delivery fees, platform access, materials and, ideally, a provider capable of offering the full package. And please don’t forget the indirect cost of time. Two hours of lessons per week equals more than 100 hours per learner per year. Add the asynchronous learning that every serious learner contributes, and we’re suddenly talking about real numbers.

    If you skip that, the ROI will look spectacular on paper until someone performs a reality check and the budget line gets a little uncomfortable. If you’re an L&D manager reading this, add sensible estimates for coordination and reporting. Ideally, your provider helps you keep those to a minimum. At choices®, which provides language services, we see this as part of the service rather than a side quest. Trust me, it saves everyone time and sanity.

  • Students looking at notebooks smiling
    Get same-day results with Pearson English Express Test
    By Abi Fordham
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    If you’ve ever taken an English test and found yourself constantly checking your inbox, wondering when your score will arrive, you’re not alone. I worked across Pearson’s social media channels for years, and I heard from students every day who were anxious to know how they did, despite it only being an hour into the standard 48-hour turnaround time.

    That’s why I’m so excited about the Pearson English Express Test - because it gives you something most tests don’t: a score in minutes.

    The score that helps you plan

    Let’s talk about the unofficial score. You’ll see it just minutes after finishing the test. While it’s not certified for university applications just yet, it’s a powerful tool for planning your next move.

    If your score is where you hoped it would be, you can start preparing your application materials with confidence. If it’s not quite there, you’ve got a head start on knowing what to improve, and you haven’t lost time waiting to find out. It’s like getting a sneak peek at your future, and it’s one of the most empowering parts of the Pearson English Express Test experience.

    Fast and reliable certified results

    Of course, you’ll still need your certified score to apply to universities. That’s delivered within 48 hours, after a security review.

    • AI scoring ensures fairness and consistency.
    • Remote proctoring and ID checks keep the process secure.
    • Certified results align with CEFR standards and are trusted by institutions.

    You get speed and reliability – without compromise.

    Why fast English test results matter for students

    When you’re applying to study in the USA, every day counts and you’ll have so many things to tick off your list. You might be juggling deadlines, coordinating with universities, or planning your next big move. The Pearson English Express Test was built to support you, not slow you down.

    It’s fast, fair and designed for students who want to move forward with confidence.

    Ready to take the Pearson English Express Test?

    If you’re looking for a test that gives you answers quickly and helps you plan your next step, this is it.

    Take your test today and experience the difference for yourself.

  • A student and lecturer talking together in a lecture room
    Language education trend predicitions for 2026
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Language education has never been more active or challenging. We've experienced significant changes in technology, changing student needs and higher expectations for practical results. Looking ahead to 2026, the outlook is positive: better tools, clearer skill guides and learning that feels more personal and human.

    Below are nine trends to keep an eye on in 2026 for your language teaching. 

    AI becomes your co-teacher, not your replacement

    Generative AI is moving from novelty to dependable support: drafting lesson variants, generating levelled texts, offering initial feedback on writing and speaking, and freeing you to focus on pedagogy and relationships. The emphasis in 2026 is on ethical, transparent use: you set the learning goals and the guardrails; AI accelerates the workflow.

    Try: Use AI to produce three versions of a reading at different proficiency bands, then validate levels using a recognized framework.

    Data-informed personalization with clear proficiency frameworks

    Teachers want data they can trust and act on. Proficiency frameworks like the Global Scale of English (GSE) make progress visible and instructional decisions simpler, connecting learning objectives, materials and assessments across skills and levels. Expect more “micro-mastery” milestones and dashboards that turn evidence into next-step teaching.

    Try: Map unit outcomes to specific "can-do" statements, then build short practice cycles around those micro-goals. Use GSE-aligned resources to set targets and monitor growth.