Job Discussion Forums

DoctorPayne · Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:45 am Post subject:

I hate to ask the typical comparison question, but here goes....ECC vs. Aeon? I you had to choose, which I do, what would it be? ECC has a much lighter schedule plus more vacation time while on the other hand Aeon has lower rent, medical insurance and a bonus at the end of the year. Am I missing something important in my decision making?

Li-ka · Joined: 21 Mar 2004 Posts: 52

You've got all the major stuff. There's one thing I would say. I teach at five different schools a week, and I have NO problems with any of the Japanese school directors or staff I work with. There's absolutely no pressure on me to sell anything, well, other than the idea that being a good teacher sells lessons. I help with making advertisements (as in folding and stapling) when I have some time, but I'm not required to do any interviews with potential students or call students who have missed a lesson. All in all, I do my teaching, say "hi" to everyone and "have a good night" or "see you next week" and I go home with no worries.

I don't really know how teachers at Aeon feel, but from what I've read they are responsible for more of the business aspect of the conversation school than I would be at ECC. It's something to keep in mind as you make your choice. It definitely made a difference in which school I chose.

Good luck to you!

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Mishark · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Osaka

Hey

I'm a newbie here, but I was reading the posts and found them really helpful. I will also be going to Japan in early 2005 with ECC (in the Kinki District). Since I haven't gone yet, I can't say how their policies are once you get to the country but I can add a bit about the interview and post-interview process.

I had an interview with both ECC and Nova. Besides the fact that ECC pays slightly higher wages (252 000 yen vs. 250 000 which works out to about CAD$20 more...big deal Rolling Eyes

), about 4 weeks more vacation time Very Happy

, and a couple less hours per week in the teaching schedule, I found that I did not feel like the ECC personnel were trying to give me a sales pitch. Don't get me wrong. I'm sure there are good points about Nova. They are one of the biggest companies for a reason, I guess. The recruiter made sure to let us know the good things and bad things about going to Japan. He also brought up the fact that I, as a Chinese-Canadian, may bear the brunt of some discrimintion (i.e. My English abilities may be thougt by some to be inferior to my Caucasian peers). He made sure to let me know that it was not necessarily common but to be prepared for it and that that attitude was not shared or supported by the company.

The atmosphere was also much more relaxed during the interview process. Again, it didn't have that feeling of them trying to sell themselves in the same way that Nova did.

If you are a shy person, you may not be crazy about the interview process or the job, for that matter. The demo lesson was fun (for me anyways). Keep in mind that you WILL probably look like an ass. The grammar test is pretty brutal too if you haven't recently brushed up on your identification of parts of speech. I used to be an editor for my school newspaper and a coach for a debate team and all I know is that they do NOT teach all of those things that were on the test in the Canadian curriculum!

Once I was accepted, the personnel that is responsible for the new recruits kept in contact with me via email fairly regularly. Any questions I had were promptly answered.

At this point, I don't have anything else to add but if anyone else is heading over in early 2005, it would be great to talk to you!
Very Happy

Mishark

DoctorPayne · Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 6:13 am Post subject:

Actually, I've just accepted the offer with ECC. I am still at the early parts of the process so it is good to hear some encouraging info and opinoins.

Mishark, I will also be headed to the Kinki district (as far as I've been told) so maybe I'll see you there next year.

Dominique · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Juso, Osaka

I'm going to Osaka March 2005 with ECC.

I was accepted to go in November to Okayama, but I really had my heart set out on Osaka, which was great since ECC had no problems with that whatsoever. I'm not clear on my exact whearebouts but I was wondering, if you are stationed in Osaka with ECC.. how much are you paying in rent?
Are you able to find a roomate to cut down on the cost or do you end up paying the same amount if you are alone?
I'm trying to save money myself, not because of school debt, but because I am still responsible for half the rent of my apartment in Canada since i'm leaving my furniture there.

SA_Massive · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Aust

Bearcat and Domonique. I am also headed to Kinki District with ECC. However I have now been told to wait until January for my exact starting time and place. They have also stated that demand for new teachers is less than last year due to a decrease in teacher resignations.

Although I trust the company I am slightly worried about them saying 'sorry' in January leaving me in the lurch.

Have you guys received a 'concrete' offer with a starting place and time?

Cheers, and hopefully see you in the training course!

keep us posted.

Birdog3344 · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 126 Location: Osaka, Japan

Another future ECC employee, here. Actually two; my girlfriend and I recieved offers to start training in Osaka in Feb. 2005. As far as our ultimate destination, we will not know where in the Kinki district we will be housed untill 2-3 weeks before arriving in Japan. Apparently needs change rapidly and they like to wait as long as they can to see what areas require new teachers.

In regards to the question about "moonlighting", the hiring coordinator made a point to spell out their policy. Basically, you are free to teach private lessons outside of ECC as long as A) the extra work doesn't effect you're ECC classes and B) you do not steal students from the company. Pretty straightforward. Not that this will be an issue for newbies for quite some time. From what i've heard, it takes atleast 6 months to become comfortable enough to take on, not to mention recruit 'privates'.

Good luck to all and if anyone is interested in forming a support group once settled in Japan, feel free to PM me, perhaps closer to arrival dates.

Mishark · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Osaka

Kimura · Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Toronto, ON

I actually have an interview with ECC on the 9th of December. I feel pretty confident that I will impress the interviewer, however, my grammar skills are poor. For those of you who have taken the ECC grammar test, could you give me a general idea of what the grammar test entails.

Birdog3344 · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 126 Location: Osaka, Japan

Kimura,

The test consists of a section on spelling (be sure to study ie/ei words), a section on identifying parts of speech (verb, subject, gerund, etc.) and a section where you must pick out what part of a sentence or paragraph is incorrect (ie., run-on sentence, double negative, etc). In addition, you're asked to matchup a list of teaching terms with a corresponding list of descriptions of those terms. For example, one list will have "magazine and newspaper articles" and you match that with "realia" from the other list. Some of these are intuitive and others you either know or you don't.

From what I gather, the only way to ace the test is if you're an English major, you've taught before or you study extensively in preparation. If you don't fall under any of the above, don't worry, you're not expected to know it all. They just want to know if you have a basic understanding of the English language and can spell at about an 9th grade level. This ain't rocket surgery!

As for the teaching exercise, it is intimidating at first but it's truely a piece of cake. Just keep it simple, speak slowly and loudly and emote, emote, emote! You'll feel silly, but that's exactly what they're looking for; people who aren't shy and aren't afraid to act like a bit of a clown (the kiddies will be more apt to pay attention).

Good luck!

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

How you interact in demo/group interviews will determine you chances of getting hired more than the grammar test, but if you completely tard out on it, it may cause you to not get hired.

Energy and outgoing personalities go a long way. Volunteer to go first on this or such as well if the opportunity arises(for demo or talk about yourself or exampling etc). Don't shy away.

whickma · Joined: 18 Oct 2004 Posts: 1 Location: Southampton, England

My wife recently put in an application with ECC, she has teaching in Japan experience and is a teacher at the moment, so we thought she would have a good chance of at least getting an interview. but was told that they no vacancies at the moment.

We are in England, i noticed that most people in this thread are from Canada, do you think they have recruiting quotas for each country or that they concentrate their recruiting on one country then move onto the next?

Sage · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 144 Location: Iwate no inaka!

Hello.

I love working for ECC... then again I love kurage (Jellyfish) so maybe you should just ignore me...

If ECC says you are hired then you're hired. I have yet to hear of a story of someone being hired but then told ECC decided not to hire them (Unless they had a good reason of course) Though, your start date might be pushed back (or like me) pushed foward a few months.

As for Osaka... its a big smelly city... but I guess most people want to live in the city. Boose and girls.. yeah... you'll love it in Osaka. Try Shinsaibashi... ~_~

As for me, well, I'll be hugging my kurage and keeping clear of that dreadful nature-free city.

ECC is great - you were lucky to be hired by them :) Welcome to Japan! :)

Dominique · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Juso, Osaka

My training starts March 19, but I'm coming to Japan March 5 to sightsee before I begin work.

I have no idea where I am going to be exactly as of yet. I just purchased my plane ticket yesterday!

I guess that's good news that people are renewing their contract, it shows that they really enjoy what they are doing.

I just wanted to live in the city since I'll be closer to variety and within walking distance of stuff. I love nature, but without a car, I heard it can be pretty hard to get to nice places.

OoOH.. the grammar test was HARD... and I studied a lot... however, once i stared at it, answers started to come to me because when you first read those sentences you would think they all sound correct.
On a good note, the guy sitting across from me, was talking during our test writing, telling me he can't spell, he doesn't have good grammar, plus he wrote ON the test.. which is a NONO.... He was honest and told our interviewer and right now he is in Okayama with ECC.. so i guess they aren't that anal with your marks.