Job Discussion Forums

katk · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 52 Location: Atlanta, Ga

I just got offered a position with AEON, and i must let them know tomorrow 2/28/05. I will be teaching Amity in Hiroshima. I have read good and bad about AEON, many good, some of the negative sounded like winney kids that have never really worked before.... but if anyone that has worked for AEON let me know about their feelings or advice? Thanks
~K

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Having read both good and bad things as you say you have, I'm surprised that you should ask such a question.

Every job is what you make of it. Including (and especially) the "Big 4." This genre of question is sort of like asking whether Coke is better than Pepsi. I dunno. What do YOU think? The only person who can dictate whether your job will be enjoyable and worthwhile is YOU.

No one else can determine your job satisfaction. I guarantee that if you put 10 ex-AEON employees into a room, you will have 11 opinions.

If it makes you feel any better, AEON is NOT evil.... They have both good and bad things going for them. Can you do better? Yes. Can you do worse? Yes. In addition, your branch of AEON will likely have a different work atmosphere and procedure than a branch in another city... Even though they have the same working conditions/contracts/policiees/procedures/etc. Hiroshima IS a nice city. If you want to work in Japan and feel that you can live with the demands made on you in this kind of position -- go for it!

JD

Nagoyaguy · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan

...uh, Jim, I think the "whiney kids" reference was meant to discuss the STAFF at various AEON schools, and not the customers. Talking about the unstable bitchy teachers whom one may or may not run into.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Nagoyaguy... Yer right... Thanks for the heads-up -- I guess I misread that portion. Embarassed

I've edited my post accordingly. Rolling Eyes

As for whiny co-workers... I had my fair share of those when I worked eikaiwa... Then again, back home in Canada there were enough of them in most of places I worked.... The key was not to hang out at the water-cooler and b itch about work or the boss with the ones whose purpose in life was to live negatively.

juliebearjapan · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 13

Having worked for Amity for almost 3 years I would have to agree with the above post that a job is what you make of it, and only YOU can decied what you want to do.
The whining KIDS remark DOES in fact as stated above,refer to some of the just graduated people who come over her and treat working in Japan as their own one year vacation not realizing it is a JOB for sure.
However, this is a generalization. I think MOST of the people who have been on this forum lately are commited to their jobs it seems and they have a lot of really good advice to give about the experience of living in Japan and working!
YOUR YEAR WILL BE WHAT YOU MAKE IT< BUT FOR WHAT ITS WORTH AMITY IS FUN< BUT HARD WORK!!! just keep that in mind! Good Luck!JBJ

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Aeon's reputation is better than that of the other eikaiwa chains. They charge more for lessons and, in effect, pay more by subsidising rents (for single apartments) to 42 000 yen and paying commuting costs to and from work.

Contact (teaching) hours tend to be lower than they are with Nova or Geos but this depends upon the individual school. Your school should be are bright, clean and well equipped.

You will get a bonus and your fare home (or yen equivalent) if you stay with them for 12 months or more.

The set-up is very professional. You will probably be met at the Airport and ferried to the training centre and on to your school by Shinkansen and put up at a decent hotel whilst you take-over from your predecessor at the companies expense and on full pay. The whole training and take-over process can take up to a fortnight.

They are generally acknowledged to be the best of the big eikaiwa chains.

Enjoy!

worlddiva · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:36 am Post subject:

Hey katk!

Although I am in Kochi city, I went through training with 4 other people , 3 of which are in Hiroshima and they love it.

They are really nice people and if you do decide to go, I can put you in contact with them. They all work for AEON, but not directly with Amity.

I only teach 3-4 kids classes a week and personally find this enough for me. However, the children are very cute and if you get them on your good side they will be your best friend.

Sorry, I can:t give you exact info on Amity though.

As for the training and set up, I agree with the previous posts that AEON is very professionl and arranges everything for you. The only thing you will have to pay for during your training is food.

Good luck, let me know what you decide. PM me if you like.

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Hi worlddiva

I guess you're Von's replacement. How's life in Kochi-shi?

katk · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 52 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Thanks for the feedback guys, i just am very scared about making my choice... i feel like i should go but i have cold feet the day i have to let them know, now i am second guessing everything....... i just want to make sure i am dedicated for a year.... everyone says a year isn't long but they aren't leaving everything behind them! so that is why it is good to talk to people that have done this sort of thing

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

If ever you were to find work in Japan - the offer you've been extended is relatively top-notch. Sure, you could do better - but there is also a lot of competition for those jobs (ALT through BoE). Hiroshima is a wonderful place. I have a friend living on a small island off the coast of Hiroshima at the moment, teaching through JET. He loves the location.

Whatever you do, don't base your decision solely on what people on the internet tell you. Don't even weigh it as 5% of your decision. Take it all in and then sort out your own decision in your head. Some great questions to ask yourself:

Will I ever be able to take an offer like this again?
Am I ready to live in a foreign culture?
Can I foresee myself having to leave the job early?
Am I the type of person who can put up with unfulfilled expectations for a year?
Where does this path take me in terms of a life career?
Am I doing this for money, experience, or location?

Just a few to think about. I hope you make the right decision today.

katk · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 52 Location: Atlanta, Ga

I told them yes, so I will be in Japan June 17th, now i am just searching for all the things i need to take, i am trying to find a laptop, not too expensive just for saving pictures on and dvds and stuff like that
I think i made the right choice. i am going as a learning experience, to grow and be on my own to try something new and very different and to better myself, it it sucks then i will be that much stronger in the end and hopefully i will learn more about myself in that one year than i could in then years here.... I have taught before and i love kids, i love the asian culture and i should be fine.... just nervous

juliebearjapan · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 13

Katk,
Congrats!! As many people have stated AEON has a very good reputation and i think you will enjoy working for them. I think also you will find the training staff for amity to be very helpful in tough situations, it tends to be a little more pro-active then the Aeon staff from what I heard from my Aeon friends!!
I signed on for longer, but I went to the same training period as you, and you are ACTUALLY going to replacing someone from MY training group so PLEASE PLEASE feel free to PM me if you have ANY questions at all!!
And good luck with everything, please pm me if you have ANY questions!!!
juliebearjapan

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Aeon's reputation is better than that of the other eikaiwa chains. They charge more for lessons and, in effect, pay more by subsidising rents (for single apartments) to 42 000 yen and paying commuting costs to and from work.

Contact (teaching) hours tend to be lower than they are with Nova or Geos but this depends upon the individual school. Your school should be are bright, clean and well equipped.

You will get a bonus and your fare home (or yen equivalent) if you stay with them for 12 months or more.

You will probably be met at the Airport and ferried to the training centre and on to your school by Shinkansen and put up at a decent hotel whilst you take-over from your predecessor at the companies expense and on full pay. The whole training and take-over process can take up to a fortnight.

They are probably the best of the bunch so if you want to come to Japan to teach kids then go for it.

They can be a little cultish and the observed lessons system is sometimes (mis)used as a disciplinary measure. You will probably find the poster in the office with sketches of a teacher in various skirts and tops embroidered with such comments as 'This skirt is too short' and 'This top is too revealing' hilarious.

Enjoy!
_________________

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

deleted message

worlddiva · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 1:37 pm Post subject:

Hey katk!

I think you made a good decision as far as which company to go with.
Like I said if you want contacts from Hiroshima let me know.