Job Discussion Forums

[nawlinsgurl]

I am feeling truly miserable in Japan right now. For a lot of reasons, but mostly because of Nova.
Even though people told me all the bad things in advance, I figured I would come have fun in Japan, see the sites, meet cool students, and have a great experience. So far, I have just got a headache from all the bureaucracy and am completely frustrated.

The No-Solicitation Policy is strictly enforced where I am and I worry about job-security if I talk to a student outside of the Nova walls. I have applied at other places but have had no luck b/c I am a. too young (22) b. too inexperienced (only 4 months here) or c. no reason at all.

I love kids and mainly took the job b/c I knew I would be likely to have tons of kids classes, but this turned out not to be the case. When I asked if I could have more kids classes (which is not usually a request Nova teachers make) I was told by Japanese staff that it would be impossible to organize and that I HAD to teach all ages and levels. I only have three kids classes a week and even now Nova has created a new system that deletes any imagination or creativity on the teacher's part.

I'm really thinking about going back to the States but I don't want to break a contract b/c I think it will look bad and I wouldn't have even stayed here for a year. My family isn't being supportive either by saying that I would have "failed this job" by leaving, even thought Nova would have no trouble at all replacing me, probably in the same day.

And my husband is in the military and can't get transferred over here b/c he's a reservist. If I stay, I can be miserable, maybe find some happy medium and save a lot of money (which will probably be of no value when I return to the US thanks to George W) or I can pack up leave now and hope that I can find a job in States with my B.A. degree, but no experience other than this conversation school in Japan (which will no doubt give me a bad rep for breaking contract).

I know it sounds like I'm just complaining, but I am feeling really crappy. I think I'm a generally easy to get along with person. I don't like to make waves or cause trouble. I go to work and on time and haven't had any student complaints. I'm not perfect, but I have truly tried to give this job all I can. Now I am staying here solely to pay off credit cards and loans, and that's not what I planned in the beginning.

I think I just need a little bit of happiness, but this job is making my life hell and I can't seem to find another one. Any advice?

[bearcat]

If its kids classes you want, see if ECC is hiring in your area as they love to get people who want kids classes as thats the mainstay of their schools.

[blue jay]

[Sadken]

Did you enjoy it at first? I hate to quote NOVA literature at you but might you not, after 4 months, just be going through "stage 2"?

[Gordon]

You could very well be going through some tough culture shock. We all do it, if people say no, they are lying. Some get it worse than others and a 22 year-old who misses their hubbie would have a lot of culture shock. Try to pick up a hobby or class somewhere where you can meet some locals. Don't hang with the other foreign teachers or you will just b*tch and moan about work.

[nawlinsgurl]

Thanks for all the advice. I think it may be a bit of loneliness and culture shock, plus most of the teachers do just drink and bitch about work where I am. I appreciate all the advice. Thanks again!

[Mike L.]

Heck Spring is around the corner and many and there's lot's of hiring.

If you like teaching kids why Peppy Kids?

They have a good reutation. Don't seem to work you too hard and the pay well I have no idea.

There's more info here if you do a search.

Oh well here it is. Here's some info:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=18063&highlight=peppy+kids

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=14028&highlight=peppy+kids

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=17998&highlight=peppy+kids


Here's the link to Peppies: [url]

http://www.chuoh.co.jp/english/index.shtml[/url]



Let us know what you think.

If you're looking for more jobs try this site out:

http://www.tokyoconnections.com/

*The Ohayo Sensei and Jobs In Japan site are the most usefull on that link.

Other than that well since you're new to Japan you'll invariably go through some rough patches. Hang in there!

IMO though bailing on NOVA would be toatlly accpetable! Legally, you only need to give them 2 weeks!

[Celeste]

Okay, you are in one of the toughest grinds going, and it sounds like your culture shock low is coming a little ahead of schedule. Nova is not for everyone. Do you have a day schedule? If not, you need to start courting ALT work. You are here and you have a work visa and April - start of school term - is just around the corner. Get in touch with some ALT companies. ALTIA is supposed to be good. Tell them that you are mostly interested in teaching kids, the younger the better. There is a shortage of women teachers who are willing to teach young kids, and they will probably give you a chance despite your age and relative inexperience.

[Gordon]

To be honest, I am a little surprised at much of the "advice". Personally, I don't think nawlinsgirl should bail on Nova. Perhaps I'm old-fashioned, but I don't see anything glaringly wrong with them in her situation. Nova seems to be everyting they promised, other than fewer children's classes. I AM NOT DEFENDING NOVA, just that many of the problems she's going through could be with ANY school. Changing schools won't change the fact that you're away from your husband, in a new culture, teaching kids may not be as good as you think it will be. You may work for a new school and this could be very expensive to change schools. You may have to furnish your own apt and from the sounds of things, you have limited japanese skills which would make everything that much harder to do.
I say stick it out a while longer with Nova. Most of us have stuck it out in far worse places and it made us better teachers and wiser individuals. Personally, I'm glad I had some tough circumstances in my past, it made me who I am now. I'm not promoting a martyr's complex or anything, just I don't think the situation is all that bad, at least from what has been stated here so far.

[Celeste]

I think that the reason I think there is no shame on bailing out of Nova is because they set themselves up for it. With such long teaching hours and such little personal consideration for employees and customers, it is the equivalent of quitting a job at Wal-mart. The administration really seems to see it's teachers as little cogs in the corporate machine and doesn't do much of a job of trying to maintain them. If the OP wee at a smaller school or one with a better reputation for treating it's employees with respect and consideration, I would advise her to stick it out. Who ever heard of a school NOT wanting to slate someone in for more kids classes???? That sounds like laziness on the part of the person doing the scheduling. The end of March is the tiem when a lot of schools do hiring. She would be fool to wait until her contract is up (in October if I calculate correctly) to look for a different job. Nova will survive without her. It certainly can't hurt to try and improve her situation.

[guest of Japan]

I'm with Gordon.

It doesn't sound like the OP has things that bad. Maybe she could land a better job, but it's just as likely she'll walk into something far worse. Smaller doesn't always mean better.

As for justification of whether or not to quit a job like NOVA, I think it is safe to say that we are all cogs in one big machine. Some gogs have it better than others, but we all serve one common purpose - to enable someone or a group of someones to make money. English is a product and we are the face of the product. NOVA is not a good job, but it is a job. It is very unlikely that someone who is 22 years old will make more money in their native country. It is also very unlikely that they would have a satisfying job in any country. You have to work. It's not fun, but take the best you can get. Just don't expect to wake up every morning happy to go.

[Rorschach]

Nova is a machine and it does treat its teachers as expendable assets because management knows it can just get fresh teachers to come over and do the same work for less money. It can be disheartening at times working for such a company but you really have to treat like a job, not the be all and end all of experiences in Japan. I'm a professional and I treat my work that way, I go in and do my 8 hours and then come home. You really have to emotionally detach yourself from the Nova bubble.

Get out and explore more, I found it helped me a lot to find out more about my city and the surrounding areas (Osaka is great for that, not sure about Shizoka but you are near Mt Fuji). Also, find something that makes you happy during your day to day life, start up a hobby you had at home and continue with it. I loved boxing and mountain biking in Australia so I do both here in Japan, gives my life here a sense of normalcy. Try and start studying the language as well, it feels good when you can actually read a menu and street signs - you don't feel like such an outsider.

[Captain Onigiri]

I hope this helps because what I want to say is really difficult for me to put into words. I'm 35 years old and I've had way too many jobs. One of the things I've learned going from 22 to 35 is that if a job has gotten you down then you've let it have too much of your soul. The real you isn't what you do to earn money. The real you is what you decide to do with yourself when you leave the office. While some jobs are better than others, all of them have piles of crap. When I was 22 and just out of college, I was a perfectionist and wanted to do what I did for a living perfectly. I got so wrapped up in my job that I would let it take up the time I had to nourish myself. Even when I didn't stay late, I would still come home exhausted and sit infront of the TV and think how I could have done things at work better. If there was a blow-up at work, I would go into overdrive and be so much worse for the wear for days. It is a vicious circle because the more you worry about your job, the more miserable you are, the more miserable you are, the worse your performance is at work, ad nauseum. This cycle would happen until I would decide some other job HAD to be better and I would go get a different job and start the cycle over again. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't let your job define who you are and don't let it be a measure your worth. If NOVA is a sh*t job, don't let it make you feel miserable because it is a reflection on them, not you. This post is probably much too personal but I hope someone who reads it can manage to avoid the mistakes I made. If anyone has any ideas on implementation, please let me know because I still struggle with this.

[guest of Japan]

Hey Captain, I think you want to say "except" instead of "expect" in your tagline.

[worlddiva]

Hey nawlinsgurl!

I feel you girl, i do....

I also left my boyfriend of 7 years in Canada and miss him terribly. I am also considering breaking my contract. I am also very miserable.

well,........what can I say. I don:t think you should feel bad about thinking about breaking your contract. My opinion is that is it a great machine, a money making machine, and if for some reason they didn:t like you they would probably drop you in a heartbeat.

The important thing is to be happy. the world is not going to look out for you, you have to look out for yourself. Now, that said.....I am also considering leaving so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

I came here with the same qualifications as you...a B.A. I know that in Canada I probably won:t get a very good job and i do have 40K of student loans to pay off. This is the only reason why I am staying for now but if things don:t get better for me in 3 months, I:m outtie! ciao! sayonara!

Sorry, I don:t want to offen anyone who may think that breaking a contract is the end of the world.

As for what you parents think I don:t think it is fair for them to use guilt to motivate you to stay. But, I would try and be realistic...you will still need $ when you get home. How about applying for a job online in your home city? This would solve your prob of money, a job, and your parents.

anyways, hang in there, you can do it....this coming from superdepressodiva in Kochi! If I can stay, you can stay!

how long have you been here anyways?

WDD