Job Discussion Forums

Neddy · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 4

Sorry PaulH, but I don't think I can agree with this at all.

"For a balanced account about working at NOVA go to

http://www.vocaro.com/trevor/japan/nova/level_up.html "

(Paul H)

I've got to say: I didn't find this account very balanced at all. To me, at least, it read more like an advertisement for Nova. In some respects, it is blatantly misleading.

In the "Myth: Nova always tries to rip off it's employees" section, the focus is on Nova's JMA insurance policy. This sidesteps the whole issue that Nova breaks the law by not enrolling its full-time employees in shakai hoken. Instead of paying half of its share for company insurance, Nova actually gets its employees to pay the company for the company's chosen insurance. This has scam written all over it.

"It's true that Nova's contract provides only ten paid holidays, available any time after your first six months of employment. It may not be much, but two weeks of vacation is pretty standard, at least in America. (Maybe Nova employees from Sweden have something to complain about.)" (From "Level Up...")

"Two weeks of vacation time is pretty standard"?!

The author manages to compare Nova's holidays to America's (and Sweden's) but fails to make a reasonable comparison with other Japanese business practices:

How's this for a comparison to other Japanese companies: Nova is the only language school in Japan that doesn't provide days off on national public holidays or compensate its employees in some way. (from) http://www.generalunion.org/nova/

I'm not suggesting that Nova is like working in a coalmine, but it has a well deserved reputation as a poor employer. Ask Robert Bisom about the nature of Nova.

I also don't understand the antagonism to people having a "whinge" about Nova. If my company was breaking the law in several respects (I don't work at Nova), I'd want to whinge too.

Perhaps this quote from "Level Up..." is the most humourous:

"Nova's union seems to have gone extinct. Their web page hasn't been touched in over four years, and I never heard a word about it when I was in Japan. I suppose that's a good thing; perhaps it means all of the major complaints against Nova's practices have finally been resolved. Until I hear otherwise, I'll assume no news is good news."

A person who honestly thinks Nova has no more major complaints against it should be embarrassed for putting out such an article. And you, PaulH, should be embarrassed for offering it up as "a fair account".

Neddy

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

King Kong Bundy · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 76

PAULH wrote:

[As for being an ignorant bigot, I beg to differ. Japanese wife of 12 years, kids born here and more years in this country than you have had hot dinners.

Thank you very much for proving your ignorance!!!!
About Pual writing prejudice comments, it was on another thread that I don't want to lower myself to his state of mind that is why I did make any comments on it.

Again I was only writing what had been told to me when I called to make a complaint! I thought it was strange for the lady to assume that I worked for NOVA. Also when I lived in Tokyo I meant a few past students and teachers of NOVA no one had anything good to say. Again Pual just because I disagree with you you don't have to lower yourself to name calling!

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

King Kong Bundy · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 76

[quote="Mike L."]To the OP NOVA is good for a visa. I'd say you should get a job with them starting in March (just before the Spring hiring season) then once you finish your contract a year later you would be ready to move into a better job..

I disagree! Try to get a job with Interac! Much better working conditions! However, I do admit I do not know how NOVA is throughout Japan. I only know what I have been told.

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

More blogs on working at NOVA (reasonably unbiased, or balanced, as far as I can tell).

http://www.jref.com/practical/teaching_at_nova.shtml
www.grassrootdesign.com/stuff.asp
http://markcity.blogspot.com/teaching.htm

King Kong Bundy · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 76

I guess it is all perspective! Each person creates their own experience. I just read a thread with so many complaints about Interac! I work for Interac and have had no real complaints.
My final advice is not to listen to anyone on this board. Do your own research. If possible ask to speak to present teachers. Check out newspapers from Japan. Get as many resources as possible to learn as much as possible about NOVA or any other school.
Good luck to you! King Kong Bundy out!

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

King Kong Bundy · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 76

Glenski wrote:

[So, what is the difference between getting info from past or present people with NOVA on these forums vs. talking directly to an employee of NOVA? I don't see the logic between trusting one and not the other.

Common sense which you must lack! Anyone can write something on this board! I could write that I taught for NOVA but in reality never did! Now NOVA of course would refer the person to a happy employee so again the person must take the infor with a grain of salt. Now I now you lack commen sense but can you read? I did also wrote to get as many resources as possible!

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

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

King Kong Bundy,

No need to get so riled up. It was an innocent question, and I can see that you are the type of person who would pretty much pretend to be someone you are not on these forums.

By the way, do you really believe everything you hear from people? That is, if you ask someone working at a school, do you truly think he/she is going to give you 100% of the real scoop? That grain of salt is pretty relative. Talking to such a person is probably a degree better than what you'd find on the discussion forums, but at least HERE, you will have the advantage of other people saying how much BS a person is trying to shovel if he/she is lying.

Spelling mistakes, Sadken, don't bother me on these forums, especially from someone who uses a "professional" wrestler's name for his avatar handle. How original. How quaint.

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

King Kong Bundy · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 76

[quote="homersimpson"]Regarding my comments about the Japanese and perversion, I suppose I should have clarified (although I thought it obvious) that they are perverse from a Western - or more specific, American - standpoint.[/quote]

You are too funny for words! Japanese are pervers to a Western point of view, especially American! The only difference between Japanese, Americans and Westerners is that Japanese are more honest about it and don't hide it!
The sex industry in the U.S. is a billion dollar industry and the largest in the world. Someone has to be buying porn! Oh yea and the porn in the U.S. makes Japanese porn look like a G movie.
Sex crimes in the U.S. are second to no country!

blue jay · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:22 am Post subject:

You need to learn how to quote in black rather than white..it makes it very difficult for people to read what you've quoted..

King Kong Bundy · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 76

[quote="Glenski"]No need to get so riled up. It was an innocent question.

Okay maybe I did get riled up! Please understand, I don't want to happen to me to happen to anyone else, especially someone new to Japan. I thought that you were trying to mislead the job seeker. Someone coming here for the first time to work should be very careful!
I really do love this country, this culture and Japanese people. There will always be a bad apple. I was misfortunate to find that bad apple in Japan. I hope to save others from having a similar experience!
Even though I was in a very bad situation, not getting paid and having to make a long commute, I was still lucky! I had been in Japan for a long time so many friends helped me out proving that most Japanese are kind and good people. If not for their help I would of either left Japan feeling hate for this culture or I would of been homeless.
What concerns me about this thread:
Many people have posted positive comments about NOVA and on another thread many people have posted negative comments about Interac. Yet when I did call the labour board to make a complaint the lady asked me if I worked for NOVA instead of just asking me who I worked for. This gave me the impression that the lady only gets complaints about NOVA. Also every person I know that was either a student or teacher at NOVA had nothing good to say. I live in a small town now and so I hardly ever meet any English teachers other than colleagues.
I remember one major complaint was about the living arrangements. Often the had a roommate they didn't like and/or something was wrong with the apartment like it had mildew.
Anyone coming to Japan for the first time! Do as much research as possible! Don't just jump in blind folded!