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Gaba Corporation and I
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micchan



Joined: 07 Sep 2010
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:31 am    Post subject: Gaba Corporation and I Reply with quote

I'd just like to share my ongoing experience with others here on the board.

I applied through their website (26th Sep) and received their auto-response e-mail saying they'll respond within 10 working days - which they did.

The e-mail (3rd Oct) contained links to their website with more information regarding the overseas recruitment process as well as...
1) Recruitment form to be filled out and sent back to them.
2) Letter of consent listing what they will use your information for.
3) Brochure

The interested applicant (myself), is then given three days to reply (6th Oct) if he/she wants to apply for the position.

Things to submit:
A) Recruitment form
B) Cover letter
C) Resume / Curriculum Vitae
D) Recent photo taken within 6 months

ALSO NOTE: You have to submit a minimum of 2 reference letters from your previous employers within 2 weeks of the date stated.

Example: Due date for submission of A, B, C and D is 1st February. Reference letters must be submitted by 14th February.


After submission, I received another email (6 Oct) with a date and time for my 1st interview via Skype.
Attached to the e-mail was an Entrusted Contract Form, stating the terms by which Gaba employs their instructors. Gaba instructors are contractors and do not work full or part-time for the company.
You have to reply to this email to confirm the time or contact them to arrange a better time if what they picked for you is not convenient.

My 1st interview's tomorrow (11th Oct). I'll update as I go =)

EDIT

Gaba contacted me on Skype and the interview lasted 32 minutes. The interviewer didn't have a camera but I switched my camera on anyway. I was dressed in a suit and put on makeup.

Questions asked were the norm. Why Gaba? Why Japan?
He also referred to my CV and asked a few questions regarding my experience. He then went on to ensure that I have understood the terms by which Gaba would be employing me and went into a little detail on how the booking system works.

Instructors are expected to have an average of 160 lessons per month over 4 months. A certain number of top instructors are advanced to the next "belt level" (meaning a pay increase) at the end of an evaluation.

Questions are then put forth to the interviewer near the end of the session.

I must have passed the first interview as the interviewer said that he'll me e-mailing me a task.


About half an hour later, I received an e-mail with the task attached.
Task submission deadline: 15th Oct 12 noon. (Japan Time)

Failure to submit the task on time would result in a cancellation of the application.

Quote from e-mail:
"After receipt of your completed task, we will review your application documents. Successful applicants will be offered a 2nd Interview to be conducted via telephone/Skype call. "

The tasks consists of eight parts.
1) Write a creative story
2) Grammar - conjugate, and write a description of how you will teach the difference between Look, See and Watch.
3) Create a lesson plan
4) Vocabulary - explain how you will teach and elicit a word from a student.
5) Idioms
6) Case study
7) General Q&A
Cool A detailed timeline of what you will do before coming to Japan.

EDIT:

I completed everything and submitted them on the 13th of October.

One reference letter still pending...

EDIT:

I got invited to an Information Seminar on 20th October in their main office in Shibuya. My 2nd (and final, I hope) interview will be conducted after the seminar.

One letter still pending...


EDIT:

Letter received and sent!

20TH OCTOBER.
I SCREWED UP! I got a bit lost and was late for the information seminar. I was told to wait outside for thirty minutes. After waiting for about forty minutes, a recruiter came out and introduced herself. It was a middle-aged Japanese lady who spoke quite fluently.

She started the interview with questions regarding my resume, and again highlighting the itaku contract differences. She also asked me whether I would be prepared to stick it out for the first few months to build up my student base. All throughout the interview she used lines like 'if we do hire you' and 'in the event that you'll be employed by us' and 'hypothetically', etc etc.

Then she asked for my passport and original degree, asked me to fill up a form... and then it was time for the demo-lesson.

I had 7 minutes to teach 'look', 'see' and 'hear'. The lady posed as a student and pretended to be a low-level student.

She said she liked how I elicited conversation from the student, but my demo was missing some key words. ( I was actually trying to make her say them, but... oh well) And she liked how expressive I was with all the gestures and actions I made. Though... she pointed out that the students will most likely all be adults and my approach would be excellent for kids... OUCH.

She then asked how I would handle a student who'd rather do something else than the lesson for the day. I can't remember what the hell I said.

Then she went on to ask me to pretend that she was a businessman who goes to America a lot and finds it tough to say no to aggressive Americans. I had to tell her/him? how to disagree.

I think she was quite satisfied with my performance and when she asked if I had any questions my mind was a blank. After thinking for a bit I asked what should I do if I wanted to keep working for Gaba after my contract ends. (Hoping to show her that I am willing to work, and work long-term.)

I'm now waiting for an answer... The being late thing there got me really on edge. AAARGH.

What do you think my chances are?
I have...
1) Bachelor of Business
2) TESOL Certificate
3) 7 months of teaching experience in Poland
4) A confirmed ticket to Tokyo (Arriving 15th Oct 2011)
5) Confirmed lodging
6) An asian face with lots of smiles


Last edited by micchan on Mon Oct 24, 2011 4:13 pm; edited 5 times in total
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deadzenpoet



Joined: 06 Aug 2010
Posts: 71

PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 12:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your chances are fine.

Expect some negative feedback about Gaba from the seniors on here for good reason.

At least they beefed up their website.

I'm also curious about the Visa.

Gaba offers the Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa.

From Gaba website:


Quote:
What is a Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa?

The Specialist in Humanities visa is commonly held by language teachers working with private enterprises. It is different from the Instructor visa which is issued to teachers working at public institutions such as junior and senior high schools. Applicants need a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university where instruction was in English (the degree can be in any discipline). Alternatively, three years of full-time, verifiable English as a Second Language teaching experience is acceptable. This visa is valid for 1 to 3 years and is renewable. Applicants outside Japan should apply to Gaba 3 to 5 months before their intended arrival date.


I wonder if 2 1/2 years of experience are acceptable?

I probably already know the answer knowing the structure on rules in Japan.

Good luck micchan! Let us know how it goes. You might be able to tell us more than we can. Very Happy


Last edited by deadzenpoet on Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:04 am; edited 1 time in total
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 1:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
This visa is valid for 1 to 3 years and is renewable.
Poor and inaccurate wording. There is no visa for 1-3 years. It's either 1 year or 3 years.

deadzenpoet wrote:
I wonder if 2 1/2 years of experience are acceptable?
No. If you don't have a degree and are going solely on the basis of related work experience, it must be 3 years of provable FT work.

If you have education related to that in your background, you might see if that will substitute. No promises in the land of case by case.

My opinion, yes, your chances are as good as any, micchan. Just know what you are getting yourself into. Pay per lesson (and not by the hour!), plus a very tiring one-on-one lesson layout.
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micchan



Joined: 07 Sep 2010
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 6:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the well wishes guys =) My interview ran for 32 minutes on Skype. He said he'll send me an interview task to be completed before the 2nd interview.
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Apsara



Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan

PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 9:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glenski wrote:
a very tiring one-on-one lesson layout.


We've debated this before, but having actually worked there, with most students the one-on-one lessons were for me far less tiring than teaching fewer lessons to large classes in other jobs I have had.

It all comes down to personal preference really- whereas I would rather poke myself in the eye with a pencil than teach groups of teenagers, teaching one-on-one lessons to mostly adults at Gaba was with very few exceptions a walk in the park, although I'm sure some people would think the opposite.
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rxk22



Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629

PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Apsara wrote:
Glenski wrote:
a very tiring one-on-one lesson layout.


We've debated this before, but having actually worked there, with most students the one-on-one lessons were for me far less tiring than teaching fewer lessons to large classes in other jobs I have had.

It all comes down to personal preference really- whereas I would rather poke myself in the eye with a pencil than teach groups of teenagers, teaching one-on-one lessons to mostly adults at Gaba was with very few exceptions a walk in the park, although I'm sure some people would think the opposite.


I teach privates on the side, and they are for the most part pretty fun. Splitting your attention is what makes teaching hard. That and if half the kids don't care, makes it even harder to have an actual lesson.

I wonder what it would be like to do 8 private lessons a day? I only did that with kids, and those were in groups, so it was pretty awful.
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micchan



Joined: 07 Sep 2010
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I should be so lucky to get 8 a day. Not going to bet on it since lessons are all free booking. Crying or Very sad
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Apsara



Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan

PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 12:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's pretty normal to get 8+ lessons a day once you have been there a couple of months and built up a student base. Being only 40 minutes they go quite quickly, so it's nothing like teaching 8 hour-long group lessons.
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deadzenpoet



Joined: 06 Aug 2010
Posts: 71

PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 7:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

But do they give out working visas at all?
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Apsara



Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan

PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As far as I know they can sponsor working visas, provided you meet Immigration's criteria.
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micchan



Joined: 07 Sep 2010
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm in Tokyo now =) Still waiting for Gaba...
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micchan



Joined: 07 Sep 2010
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

they responded =) Updating main post now...
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micchan



Joined: 07 Sep 2010
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 4:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Aaah! I was late! Japanese people hate late people! Does this affect my chances?
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Most employers don't like people who are late. It's pretty universal.
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Apsara



Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan

PostPosted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 12:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

With eikaiwa classes (not only Gaba), a teacher being late really puts the Japanese reception staff on the spot- the student has made a reservation and is usually paying quite a lot for each lesson so the staff have to do a lot of bowing and apologising. This usually means the teacher isn't going to be their favourite person for a while, so being late to the interview isn't the best of starts unfortunately.

They may just put it down to you being new in Japan and not knowing your way around so well, or if the recruiter isn't so generous then it might be a big black mark- you'll just have to wait and see I suppose.
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