ITP - 86: Teaching in Turkey for 19 Years

Greg: This is Greg from the International Teacher Podcast. I’d like to welcome you to our new episode and our guest today. But before we get to the guest, we’re missing Kent. I don’t know where he is. He’s probably taking a cat bath or something. But we do have JP. How you doing today, JP?

Jacqueline: Hey, it’s midnight in Mexico.

Greg: Woo hoo. That late? I’m so sorry we did this so late.

Jacqueline: That’s all right. I’ll do this because we’ve got a friend of mine—well, the whole world knows JP Mint.

Greg: Okay, Tracy is coming to us from Istanbul. It’s not Constantinople, it’s Istanbul. And her name is Tracy Zimmerman Sakala. I have never met Tracy before, but let’s get to know Tracy. How you doing, Tracy?

Tracy: I am well, thank you very much. Thanks for having me on the show.

Greg: What time is it there? It’s like 9:00 AM in the Middle East and midnight for JP. What about you, Tracy?

Tracy: It’s 9:00 in the morning here as well.

Greg: Do you have school Sunday through Thursday like the Middle East, or what’s your schedule?

Tracy: No, that’s your weekend.

Greg: Okay, I thought I’d ask because around the world we have different work weeks. I know in the Middle East we work Sunday through Thursday and have Friday and Saturday off. I was a little bit late this morning—I got my days mixed up.

Greg: Can you get us started with an elevator version of your story of going overseas?

Tracy: When I was in university, there was a big push for teachers to go to New Zealand. That was always a goal of mine, although I never made it there. I think that planted the seed for wanting to explore the world. Another influence was my uncle Terry. He lived in Japan as a professor and married a Japanese woman. He’s been there nearly 40 years. If I’ve been in Istanbul for 19 years, he’s been in Japan even longer.

Tracy: My grandparents were also adventurous. If you lived in Saskatchewan in the early 1900s, you had to be. So I think that spirit carried through my family. I taught in Saskatchewan for six years and got bored pretty quickly. I spoke with a colleague who had a friend teaching in Taiwan. I connected with her and ended up going to Taiwan for two years.

Tracy: Then I returned to Canada for a year, got bored again by November, and went to the Search job fair in Toronto. That’s where I got my job in Istanbul. I’ve now been at four different schools in Istanbul over 19 years.

Greg: Wow. So what were you teaching back in Saskatchewan?

Tracy: I was an English teacher. I also taught French—let’s not go there.

Greg: Was that secondary level?

Tracy: Yes, high school.

Greg: And then when you went to Taiwan, what were you teaching?

Tracy: I taught at a Taiwanese national school with a special program for students who had foreign teachers for English and French. In my first year, I taught English and one Grade 10 French class. In my second year, I became the English department head and taught upper-level English classes.

Tracy: It was a fascinating experience. The people were kind, the food was amazing, and the weather was mild near the Tropic of Cancer. Riding a scooter in the rain at night wasn’t ideal, but overall it was a great way to start teaching overseas.

Greg: Did you ever pick up any Mandarin?

Tracy: A little bit, but not intentionally. I taught private classes every night, which helped me earn extra money and build relationships. Families were incredibly generous—they shared food, and I had students from different backgrounds, including Korean students. So I picked up some Mandarin, but not enough to be fluent.

Greg: You’ve been in Turkey for 19 years. Would you say you’re fluent in Turkish? And can you walk us through that Search job fair experience in Toronto?

Tracy: Oh, I hated the job fair experience. I’m sorry, Greg, if you enjoy it—I’m not a schmoozer. I didn’t like the cutthroat aspect of it. That’s not how I operate. That said, I did meet John Chandler. A colleague from Taiwan told me, “Just go talk to him—he’s a nice guy.” So I found myself hanging out by the food table and said, “Hey, John Chandler, Lisa told me to talk to you.”

Tracy: We chatted a bit, and next thing I knew, I had a note in my mailbox asking me to meet with him. We had a relaxed interview, and I ended up getting the job. He was very personable, and that conversation led to 19 years in Istanbul.

Tracy: But overall, I found the Toronto Search fair pretty intense. People were competitive—almost aggressive. It didn’t feel like a supportive environment. I did attend another fair in Atlanta focused on Central and South America, and the vibe there was completely different. People were supportive and genuinely happy for each other. It was a stark contrast.

Tracy: I realized that job fairs aren’t where I shine. I’m better at demonstrating my skills than selling myself in that kind of environment.

Greg: So you landed at the Koç School. Let’s talk about that experience.

Tracy: Koç School is a bilingual international school with the IB Diploma Programme. Certain departments—like English, math, science, and foreign languages—could hire international teachers, while others like history, geography, and Turkish studies were taught by Turkish nationals. The language of instruction was mostly English, especially in those departments. It was a really strong academic environment.

Greg: And there was something about traffic classes?

Tracy: Yes, every student had to take traffic safety classes at certain grade levels. It’s part of the national curriculum—learning road safety, signage, seatbelts, all of that.

Greg: That’s wild. Do they get graded on that?

Tracy: Yes, they do.

Greg: So can foreign teachers teach subjects like social studies in Turkey?

Tracy: It depends on the school. In fully international schools like Istanbul International Community School, yes. But in national or bilingual schools, those subjects are usually taught by Turkish teachers.

Greg: So how long were you at Koç School?

Tracy: Ten years.

Greg: Ten years—that’s a long time. Did you get any kind of recognition for that?

Tracy: I missed the plaque. You had to stay into your 11th year to receive it.

Greg: That’s brutal.

Tracy: Some schools offer small incentives—like gold or plaques—but it varies. It’s more symbolic than anything.

Greg: What roles did you have there?

Tracy: I started in middle school, teaching Grade 6 and 7, then moved into high school and eventually taught IB Diploma classes. The school was very supportive of professional development—they brought in trainers and sent teachers to workshops. It was a great place to grow professionally. The campus was incredible, and there were lots of opportunities to pursue your interests.

Greg: And Turkey has something unique between Grade 8 and 9, right?

Tracy: Yes, it’s called Lise Prep—a preparatory year for students who need stronger English skills before entering high school courses taught in English. Students receive intensive English instruction along with subject-specific vocabulary to prepare them for subjects like science and math in English.

Greg: And the students coming through that system are strong?

Tracy: Very. Especially scholarship students—they’re incredibly motivated and quick learners. They absorb everything.

Greg: So after ten years at Koç, what was your next move?

Tracy: After Koç, I moved to another school in Istanbul. I’ve actually worked at four different schools here over the years. Each one has been a little bit different in terms of structure, expectations, and student population.

Tracy: One of the things that’s kept me in Istanbul is the city itself. It’s incredibly dynamic—there’s always something happening. You’ve got this blend of Europe and Asia, history and modern life, and it never really gets boring.

Greg: Yeah, Istanbul seems like one of those places where you can stay long-term and still feel like there’s more to explore.

Tracy: Absolutely. Even after 19 years, there are still neighborhoods I haven’t fully explored, restaurants I haven’t tried, and historical sites I haven’t visited.

Jacqueline: That says a lot, because most international teachers tend to move every few years.

Tracy: It does. And I didn’t necessarily plan to stay this long—it just kind of happened. I found opportunities within the city that allowed me to grow without needing to leave.

Greg: So what’s kept you in the classroom all these years?

Tracy: The students. That’s always the answer. Every group is different, and there’s always something new to learn from them. I also enjoy the subject matter—I love teaching English and literature. And I think being in an international environment keeps things fresh. You’re constantly interacting with different cultures, perspectives, and ideas.

Greg: Have you ever considered moving into leadership?

Tracy: I’ve thought about it, but I really enjoy teaching. I like being in the classroom, working directly with students. Leadership has its own rewards, but it’s not something I’ve actively pursued.

Jacqueline: That’s refreshing to hear. There’s often this assumption that the next step is always leadership.

Tracy: Exactly. And for some people, that’s the right path. But for others, staying in the classroom and continuing to grow as a teacher is just as valuable.

Greg: So for teachers listening who might be considering staying long-term in one location, what advice would you give them?

Tracy: Be open to change within the place you are. You don’t necessarily have to move countries to find new challenges. Look for different roles, different schools, or different ways to grow professionally. Also, build a life outside of school. That’s been really important for me—having a community, hobbies, and connections beyond work.

Greg: That balance is huge.

Tracy: It is. And it’s one of the reasons I’ve been able to stay in one place for so long without feeling stuck.

Greg: All right, Tracy, as we start to wrap this up, I want to thank you for sharing your story. It’s really interesting to hear about someone who’s built such a long-term career in one place.

Tracy: Thank you. It’s been great talking with you.

Jacqueline: Thanks, Tracy. This was really insightful.

Greg: And to our listeners, thank you for tuning in. We’ll see you next episode.

All: Thank you.