Job Discussion Forums

ranmawoman · Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 64 Location: San Francisco, CA

Hey all,

Question. I have now missed the deadline for JET and now NOVA is full and will not be hiring till Aug / Sept for Jan-March 2005. I am now looking at AEON, ECC and GEOS, although it doesn't seem like they have offices for AEON out in the West Coast (United States).

Any input on why or why I should not apply to AEON, ECC and or GEOS? Any horror stories? Which one should I apply for? Which one should I 100% stay away from due to past experience. thanks!

Laura C · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 211 Location: Saitama

Hi,

Check out the Job Information Journals -- they're where I got most of my info when I was deciding who to come to Japan with.

I've interviewed with GEOS and personally wouldn't recommend them. They are very focused on teachers getting their students to renew, meaning that even if you have a few minutes off you could have to 'interview' a prospective student -- there's loads of paperwork to fill out as well. I was also really put off by the idea of having to phone students at home if they miss a class. Saying that, the people I interviewed with knew people at GEOS who were having an OK time. It all depends on what you want from your job -- money, experience, location etc. My current post pays less than GEOS would have, but I wanted an ALT post with decent work hours, and weekends off. I knew I wouldn't be happy working 1-9 pm Tues-Sat.

I'd figure out what you want first, eg do you want to live in a city, how much money do you want to be able to earn via overtime, what type of teaching do you want to do etc -- and then look for the company that suits. Good luck,

L

ranmawoman · Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 64 Location: San Francisco, CA

Thanks for responding to my post and providing me with feedback in regards to GEOS.

I was about to post an apology here because I just realized that the job journal had a lot more comparisons between all the companies that I listed above.

I guess the company that I'm looking to work for, I would like..

1. Large city
2. Decent pay
3. Supportive staff (since this will be my first real teaching experience)
4. Training that will actually help
5. Fun teachers to work with
6. Decent apartment (not a old *beep* house or crack house in some back alley way)...

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Ranmawoman, sorry about the delay but a JTE (them) is a japanese teacher usually paired with an ALT (us) in the classroom. The concept is called team teaching.

Cheers

Mtnkiwi · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 67 Location: Osaka

I worked for them for a year and a half (maybe more?). The training was pretty good, fairly decent staff etc. The salary is pretty good and the holidays kick NOVA's butt. Very Happy

Li-ka · Joined: 21 Mar 2004 Posts: 52

T-Bone · Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 33 Location: Phnom Penh

Aeon has offices in Los Angeles and Vancouver, BC. I called to check if it's a problem to be an American and interview in BC (the BC office is closer to where I live). You can interview there if you're American. (Seems like kind of a dumb question, but then I'm a dumb guy.)

I worked at Nova for a year and moved back to the US. I've been considering returning to Japan, and I've been researching the other big schools. Personally, I would plan on using one of the big schools to get my foot in the door and then move on to something else.

I've been considering Aeon, because the hours are better and you have more creativity with lesson planning. Plus they subsidize your housing (apartment by yourself) so you only pay 420K a month. That's pretty keen.

So, does anyone know if the eikaiwas frown on you if you've already been over and want to come back? I reckon they'll ask why I left in the first place, but no biggie there. I wouldn't apply to Nova again, because of all that goes with that organization, and furthermore I know they prefer newbies so they can price-gouge them on rent and otherwise take advantage of your naiveitee. Specifically, does Aeon also prefer newbies only? It seems they want candidates who are more into teaching than other schools, but that's just from reading their literature...

T-Bone · Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 33 Location: Phnom Penh

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

ranmawoman · Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 64 Location: San Francisco, CA

Based on the Japan Job Journal and through emailing some people off that site, it seems like AEON likes newbies, although someone that I contacted did AEON and then is now doing JET. There seem to be a few that do NOVA and then go to AEON as well.

Through contacting the other people, AEON tests via asking you to prepare a lesson plan. The experienced people are telling me that the less experienced people ended up getting the jobs. Maybe when or if they test you, don't come up with lesson plans that are too hard to make yourself look too experienced. Dumb it down a bit.

Canuk girl · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 60

I guarantee that Nova is lying to you about not hiring at the moment.. they told me they weren't hiring a single person full time when I was hired, that I had to start part time at first, only to watch seven other people waltz in as full time staff for the past seven months, as I sat and waited for their promises to come through. Nova will say anything to you depending on how it suits their mood at the time. As for not hiring anyone right now.. I know LOTS of people who have left, and are leaving, and let me tell you, we are understaffed at our branch, as they can't fill positions fast enough.
big liars Nova are.. it's probably a good thing they turned you away while you still have life left in you. I could tell you a horror story, or three, or five, or ten if you'd like.
I've heard from other teachers, and I'd say go with ECC, or Aeon, as your foot in the door. If it wasn't for my boyfriend not having a degree, and now my plans to go home, then I'd be with another school in a second. Mad

frances · Joined: 19 May 2004 Posts: 13 Location: toronto

canuk girl, what city are you working in? my boyfriend just started with nova in osaka and i am working in matsumoto for another company but we are trying to get him transferred as soon as possible or to get me a job in osaka with him (although i really don`t want to leave my company). do you have any imput on that?

Mark-O · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:29 am Post subject:

frances · Joined: 19 May 2004 Posts: 13 Location: toronto

you are oh so paranoid!

canuk girl does not have to answer my question, sorry! it`s just that nova told me this week that they have no available positions in osaka and i wanted to know if they were lying to me.

maybe you can just tell me what your opinion on trying to get a transfer is? are there any ways better than others of going about it?

Mark-O · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:59 am Post subject:

Call it 'paranoia' if you like ... I call it 'lateral thinking'.

Listen, several people have been stitched up on this forum for painting too much 'colour' when it comes to the eikaiwas. It's common knowledge - though maybe not to you if you are indeed a genuine newbie - that company spies patron this forum to keep a handle on its employees.

I could be wrong with you of course. And if I am then I genuinely apologise. But from Canuk Girl's comments I would suggest that she keeps her location private, at least if she wants to keep her job at the school/company.