Meet Volkan – An Experienced ESL Teacher in Uzbekistan

In this article, we’ve had a chat with World TESOL Academy graduate Volkan from Turkey—an experienced English teacher currently working in Uzbekistan. He’s been kind enough to share his best insider tips and insights on how to launch a successful English teaching career in Uzbekistan.

Ever thought about packing your bags and setting out on an exciting new adventure that takes you thousands of miles from home? That’s exactly what Volkan Tahir Arinci, a seasoned English teacher from Turkey, did when he decided to expand his career through an exciting initiative from the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

With a career spanning over 20 years, Volkan has provided us with valuable perspectives and insights into the challenges and joys of teaching English in an up-and-coming teaching destination.

Let’s hear more about his best tips on what you should keep in mind if you wish to follow in his footsteps and start teaching English in Uzbekistan—the heart of Central Asia.

Volkan’s interview:

💬 How long have you been teaching English?

“I have now been teaching English for more than 20 years. It really is my dream job!”

💬 What made you decide to pursue an English teaching career?

“During my childhood, we had lots of Americans stationed at the Incirlik American Air Base close to my hometown. Whenever I heard them speak, I always wanted to be able to communicate with them. This is where my passion for the English language started.”

💬 Where do you currently teach, and how did you find your current teaching job?

“I currently work as an English teacher in Tashkent through the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of Uzbekistan. I found this opportunity through World TESOL Academy’s ESL job board.”

💬 What is the job like?

“In terms of teaching, it is great. The students are very respectful and they have a curiosity about what the foreign English teacher might bring into the classroom.”

💬 What made you choose Uzbekistan as your teaching destination?

“As a victim of the earthquakes in Turkey on February 6th, 2023, my family and I were looking for options where we could settle as a family. What has been offered to us here in Uzbekistan is really great. Also, the local culture is close to mine, so I thought it would be a great opportunity for my son and my wife as well.”

💬 How does Uzbekistan compare to your previous teaching experiences?

“I’ve previously taught in my home country Turkey. Compared to Turkey, teaching in Uzbekistan is challenging but in a good way. The students are hardworking and always looking for ways to improve their English skills. IELTS is also a big thing here. The students aim to get high marks, and to achieve that you need to continuously work hard and prepare well.”

💬 What’s the best thing about living and working as a teacher in Uzbekistan?

“The food, the culture, and the approach of the people. They are always very respectful and kind. No matter where you come from, if they can see and understand that you are doing your best to learn about their culture, you will be greatly appreciated.

Another great thing is that the standard of life in Tashkent is high. What has been offered to us in terms of accommodation, is a great benefit. Also, the social life is great here.”

💬 Could you tell us a little about your initial experience of arriving in Uzbekistan?

“My first impression was a bit shocking. The only languages I spoke when I arrived were Turkish and English. I quickly found out that actually not that many people know English. Thankfully, on the first day of our arrival, we received a warm welcome at the airport from our district directors. After that, we were taken to our hotel. They were really kind and helped us with everything.

At the hotel, I had my first real encounter with the language barrier which was related to my morning habits. I am a coffee person and without drinking it I can’t wake up. During breakfast on the second day, I was asking for coffee, milk, and sugar. Not only were the people at the hotel looking at me in a confused way, but my wife and son did as well.

I said to my wife ‘what’s wrong?’. She said, ‘Honey, we are not in Turkey anymore, and you are asking for everything in Turkish’.

It was at that moment I woke up and said to myself, I need to learn the Uzbek language. Actually, Turkish and Uzbek are similar. We have a few similar phrases, and the way verbs are used helped me adjust a bit.“

💬 What kind of teaching qualifications do you possess?

“I’m a graduate of the Faculty of Education – English Language Teaching department in Turkey. I also have my TOEFL and IELTS certificates, as well as my 120-hour TESOL/TEFL certificate from World TESOL Academy. These certificates have added extra value to my resume, and helped me develop a better understanding of various types of learners you encounter as an English teacher.”

💬 Is there anything from your TESOL/TEFL training that you’ve found to be especially useful while teaching in Uzbekistan?

“I found the recommended methods for teaching pronunciation to be especially useful. Overall, all of the guidelines, strategies, and teaching techniques provided during the TESOL/TEFL training have been really helpful.“

💬 Would you recommend others pursue English teaching certifications like TESOL/TEFL?

“I definitely recommend people to get their 120-hour TESOL/TEFL certification. If they really want to improve their teaching skills and broaden their knowledge about ESL education, then they will definitely find it useful.

💬 Could you give us a glimpse of what a typical week would look like for you?

“I start teaching at 8 o’clock in the morning every day. I work 5 days a week, and each week I’m assigned 20 hours of teaching with each class lasting 45 minutes.

I do not go to these classes alone; we all have a co-teacher with whom we teach together as a team. I divide my classes into groups, and while my co-teacher is teaching, I’m assisting the students who might have issues with the topics of the lesson. I am teaching 8th, 9th, and 10th grade students, and the classes consist of around 20 students.

All the students have their books and materials with them when they arrive. Most of the time, the students are very eager and motivated to learn. Some of them even have a great command of English.

Apart from teaching my regular classes, I also conduct master classes for the other teachers, and I have my speaking club for 6 hours a week. I definitely love speaking clubs because it creates a great atmosphere for the students to express themselves and their motivation.“

💬 How do you maintain your work-life balance while living and working in Uzbekistan?

“As I mentioned previously, we moved here as a family. Most of our time is spent with our teacher friends. We go out for lunch or dinner twice a week, and we attend some workshops as well. Tashkent has a lot of facilities for recreational activities, so you always have a lot to do.

The nightlife here is also very nice. Uzbeks are traditional people but Tashkent is more like a cosmopolitan city. The newly made constructions show that it is developing at a rapid pace. No matter what your religion is, you are respected. I was also shocked when I saw that they really care about New Year’s celebrations here.

We haven’t had much time to travel around but we did go to the mountainous region where you can be on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The view and the historical caves were amazing. As a family, we attend pottery courses on the weekends. They speak good English and it is really cheap.“

💬 What is something that you wish you knew about teaching in Uzbekistan before going there?

“The only difficulty I’ve encountered so far is the eagerness and curiosity of the students. I’ve had the great opportunity of getting to know many of my students, and I soon realized that they need someone with a great knowledge of the environment, daily subjects, and also their local history.

So be ready for students who are always willing to ask you challenging questions about your opinions on various topics.“

💬 Do you have any tips for teachers who wish to do the same thing as you and start teaching in Uzbekistan?

“For people who wish to start teaching in Uzbekistan, there are a few important things that should be kept in mind:

📝 The visa process: As my position was provided through the Ministry of Preschool and School Education in Uzbekistan, the visa procedure was conveniently handled by the government in Uzbekistan. However, if you were to apply for a position through different channels, it’s best to thoroughly research the visa process before applying. For some countries, there is an online visa option and that procedure is faster than going to the embassy in person.

🏡 Daily life: Before arriving here, please keep in mind that Yandex works better than Google in Uzbekistan. So I highly recommend that you install Yandex-related apps such as Yandex Go, Yandex Maps, Yandex Translate. Also, in Uzbekistan using taxi is the cheapest means of transportation and also the best.

📱 Phone registration: One thing that can be good to keep in mind is the phone registration, specifically the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) registration. If you plan to stay for more than one month in Uzbekistan, you need to register your phone’s IMEI code. When you arrive here, don’t force yourself to register your phones at the airport. There is a website for it in English, and they just charge you 5 dollars per IMEI. If you do that somewhere else, it can be up to triple the price.

🏛️ Government registration: The most important thing of all when first arriving is the government registration. Upon your arrival, you have three (3) days to register with the government. If you miss that date, you may face penalties or even worse—the danger of being deported.

Besides these important processes, it can be good to consider if you want to bring any specific items that may be difficult to find locally. From our personal point of view, we wish we would have brought our coffee maker with us. However, it’s not a major issue as the variety of food and cuisine here will blow your mind.”

💬 What’s next in store for you?

“After having experienced life as an English teacher here in Uzbekistan, I realized that being here has broadened my outlook on life. Working abroad and connecting with people from all around the world, has boosted my will to work in different countries.“

Final thoughts – Teaching in Uzbekistan

Volkan’s teaching adventure in Uzbekistan embodies the essence of international teaching: embracing new cultures, adapting to diverse educational environments, and making lasting connections. His experience underscores the importance of proper qualifications, like a TESOL/TEFL certification, which not only opens doors to teaching opportunities worldwide but also equips ESL educators with the skills necessary to thrive in various classroom settings.

As Volkan plans to continue exploring new horizons, his journey serves as a valuable guidepost for teachers looking to broaden their professional careers and explore the world as certified English teachers.

If you are interested in following in Volkan’s footsteps by pursuing a teaching career abroad, then now is the perfect time to take the first step and start your teacher training.