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Unity
Joined: 11 Dec 2004
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2004 7:03 pm Post subject: Varied questions, help please |
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Hi folks. I read all 46 (!) pages of your forum here in the last few days and appreciate all the information it contains. Unfortunately I still have some questions about teaching in Japan, more specifically about NOVA. For background: I am graduating this June with a degree in History. My main purpose in going to Japan is to experience the culture and see first-hand how Japan differs from Korea (where I have been many times). I plan on attending graduate school for a degree in international policy when I return, so I am hoping my time spent in Japan will aid me in this by providing a better outlook into my grad degree. Now for the questions!
- I read all the good/bad stuff posted about NOVA, but I still feel like I want to try it out. What preparation should I make before the interview? I've taught English informally, but it was more conversational and essay editing, nothing serious.
- This is a dumb question, but what's the dress code? Is it coat/tie/blazer? Just coat/tie? Dress shirt/no tie?
- Does living in a big city such as Tokyo or Osaka really cost a lot? Is the extra 20,000 Yen make up this difference (based on NOVA's online salary estimations)? For that matter, what is the best place to live, location to salary-wise (where will I be maximizing my salary at an enjoyable location)? It sounds like I am saying money-money-money, but I just want to know what cities in Japan people have found to be the best for these work positions.
- What is the multimedia position entail? I read several posts on it (in Osaka right?), but is it simply teaching via webcam? Why do these positions get paid more, and is it worth it? One of the reasons I am interested in the teaching position is the interaction with students, doesn't the multimedia position defeat this purpose?
- How many people live together in NOVA's apartments? Is it easy enough to move out to a cheaper location? I read that you are getting ripped off on the rent, but is it worth it to move out even if you are only staying 1 year?
- This is more of a tourist question, but what are the national monuments/museums that I should visit? I am really interested in seeing Japan's view of the WW2 conquests of China and Korea, will I see anything on it?
I'm sure I have more questions, but that's all I can dredge up from my mind right now. Thanks for any and all help. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:20 am Post subject: Re: Varied questions, help please |
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| Unity wrote: |
- I read all the good/bad stuff posted about NOVA, but I still feel like I want to try it out. What preparation should I make before the interview? I've taught English informally, but it was more conversational and essay editing, nothing serious.
p. |
NOVA does not require any formal experience or training in language teaching as long as you have a degree. They look for people who can put in a solid 8 hour day, won't quit on a dime, get homesick or want to go home because of culture shock and loneliness. Be friendly easy going and cheerful and be on time for classes. Teaching conversation is all you will be doing at NOVA as its a conversation school. Its not rocket science but its tiring and gets monotonous very quickly doing the same lessons day in day out.
| Unity wrote: |
- This is a dumb question, but what's the dress code? Is it coat/tie/blazer? Just coat/tie? Dress shirt/no tie?
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I assume you are a man, but men wear a jacket, collar and tie,it doesnt have to be a suit but dress code suitable for working in an office or business setting- no jeans, no pen-toe sandals, no t-shirts or tattoos. Clean hair and fingernails and watch your body odor. It gets hot in summer so i think you can take your jacket off when it gets hot.
| Unity wrote: |
- Does living in a big city such as Tokyo or Osaka really cost a lot? Is the extra 20,000 Yen make up this difference (based on NOVA's online salary estimations)? For that matter, what is the best place to live, location to salary-wise (where will I be maximizing my salary at an enjoyable location)? It sounds like I am saying money-money-money, but I just want to know what cities in Japan people have found to be the best for these work positions.
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Tokyo and Osaka are expensive cities to live in and 20,000 yen is not that much- its about 1,000 yen or an extra $10 a day, enough to buy a couple of beers on the way home. Best place to live depends on your own personal preferences- some like big cities, some like smaller places.
I would worry more about where you want to live rather than how much you will earn as you will find there is not that much difference in salaries wherever you go. If you want to maximise your salary you should increase your qualifications and get a better job which pays more for less hours. Rents are more expensive in the big cities as are food prices and entertainment.
For a link to comodity prices in Tokyo
http://www.pricechecktokyo.com
| Unity wrote: |
| - What is the multimedia position entail? I read several posts on it (in Osaka right?), but is it simply teaching via webcam? Why do these positions get paid more, and is it worth it? One of the reasons I am interested in the teaching position is the interaction with students, doesn't the multimedia position defeat this purpose? |
I havent worked at the Osaka MM though i do know a few people who do. The center is open 24/7 and you get some people working the graveyard early morning shift. You are hooked up to 2 or 3 students who have a camera connected up at home. People I know who do it seem to enjoy it but as you are 'on air' you have to watch your facial reactions etc- no yawning etc. Some guys have tried to use the technology to pick up female students, which is a no-no at NOVa and could get you fired.
| Unity wrote: |
- How many people live together in NOVA's apartments? Is it easy enough to move out to a cheaper location? I read that you are getting ripped off on the rent, but is it worth it to move out even if you are only staying 1 year?
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You will pay 70,000 a month for rent and that is per person, not per apartment, so for 3 people NOVA is making 210,000 yen in rent for an apartment that would rent for 90-100,000 yen privately. You pay no key, your apartment is furnished, if something breaks it will be replaced.
If you get your own apartment you will have to pay 4-5 month key money, agent fees as well as furnish it. Apartments here are BARE when you move in. they dont even have washing machines or lightbulbs. Think how much it will cost you to furnish an apartment from scratch to make it liveable.
| Unity wrote: |
- This is more of a tourist question, but what are the national monuments/museums that I should visit? I am really interested in seeing Japan's view of the WW2 conquests of China and Korea, will I see anything on it?. |
Japan has 1000 year old history and Kyoto is like a living museum, it was spared bombing during the war. If you are looking for war-related stuff you will be disappointed as Tokyo was rebuilt after the war. The Japanese have a kind of cultural amnesia about WWII and its not even mentioned in most of their textbooks. They have a kind of victim mentality that exists today and there are many current issues with China and Korea that are unresolved. Japanese do not talk about the war history in China, and there are also many nationalists in government, including the current Prime Minister. There is a lot of stuff they did they would prefer people didnt talk about, which is why a lot of stuff is shoved under the carpet, though you will get some race-baiting against Chinese and koreans by some politicians. Last year or two years ago the Chinese found some mustard gas from WWII which killed one person who inhaled the fumes.
If you want to see war-related museums I suggest you go to the Atomic Peace museum in Hiroshima and see what the bomb did to that city. Totally levelled it and killed about 600,000 people, including many Korean conscripts and American POWs. |
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Unity
Joined: 11 Dec 2004
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the information. I'll probably end up asking for a Kyoto position. I'd like to be close enough to Tokyo and Osaka to visit, but not too far out in the country. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Unity wrote: |
| Thanks for the information. I'll probably end up asking for a Kyoto position. I'd like to be close enough to Tokyo and Osaka to visit, but not too far out in the country. |
Osaka is 30 minutes away from Kyoto station not including transfers, but Tokyo is 600 kilometers (360 miles) away and takes nearly 3 hours on the Shinkansen bullet train.
There are a few jobs and language schools in Kyoto but they are not often advertised. Often its just word of mouth or knowing somebody that gets you your foot in the door with Kyoto jobs. Its small enough that there are not many openings compared to the number of people who want to work and live there. Looking for jobs in Osaka is a better bet.
Have a look at Kansai Flea Market for jobs
http://www.kfm.to |
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Nismo
Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 520
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 7:48 am Post subject: |
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| Unity wrote: |
| Thanks for the information. I'll probably end up asking for a Kyoto position. I'd like to be close enough to Tokyo and Osaka to visit, but not too far out in the country. |
You may as well just request the Osaka MM center. You have as good of a chance of getting placed in Kyoto as you do guessing the number I am thinking about between 1 and 5000. Osaka and Kobe are very sought after as well, but I've heard you have a good chance to land a position at the MM center (if you don't mind working strange hours). Tokyo is, as mentioned, 3 hours away by bullet train, which is 11,000 Yen one way. |
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