Job Discussion Forums

bailey35mm · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:56 am Post subject: Heart School

Hey, has or does anyone here work for Heart School? I have been offered a position with them, but have only 3 days to decide, and only until the 27th to rearrange my life and move to Japan. They have hired me, but they still require an interview at a public school after I arrive, so I have no idea where I am going. They seem to offer no details as to where I will live until I have a school to go to. Also the salary structure seems a bit sketchy. If anyone has any info or could give me a link to any previous threads on this, it would be much appreciated.

sethness · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hiroshima, Japan

So, where are they locatesd, in Japan ?

If it's a chain-school, I've never heard of 'em. Maybe they're not in my prefecture (Hiroshima Ken).

If they ARE in Hiroshima, and that's where you're headed, go on over to www.ChatHiroshima.com as well as hanging out here. ChatHiroshima's the English language forum that Hiroshima folk use (in addition to Dave's ESL cafe', of course.)

bailey35mm · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 1:08 pm Post subject:

They place ALT's in and around Tokyo, so its understandable that most outside the area haven't heard of them.

nugget31 · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 19 Location: London, UK

Hi

I am finishing a contract working for Heart School

Whether you should go with them depends on what you are looking for..

I chose them because I was looking for a shorter contract than normal and they provide 7 month contracts with Visa sponsorship

If you are just looking for money then you can earn more elsewhere...
The pay structure they provide is very confusing but generally you should get about 200,000 yen or thereabouts for the ALT role

If you are looking for an easy working life compared to some other teaching schools then the ALT role you perform is not too taxing, you have plenty of free time although unfortunately you have to stay in school when you are not working... You will have plenty of time to learn Japanese, read or do your own thing, on average about half your day could be preparation time with actually not too much needed to prepare for

If you get easily bored when you have nothing to do then you might have a problem.. If you are ok at filling your time then all will be ok

If you are a sociable person then I would ask if you can stay in a guesthouse rather than an apartment and work in central Tokyo

Hope this help, any questions please feel free to ask...

bailey35mm · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks for info. I have decided against going with Heart School. They seemed to lack details on exactly what happens when I arrive in Japan. Besides not knowing where I will be placed, they expected me to find a place to stay for several days after I arrive. Thankfully my fiancee is Japanese and could easily manage this. I was very concerned with being able to budget our finances without knowing my pay in advance. After I informed them of my decision, they seem to be trying to reconvince me to come, but without changing any contract stipulations, not that I expect them to. My fiancee and I will be married before we move, and I will likely attempt to teach on my own for awhile as I already have many of my fiancee's friends and family willing to pay me for english lessons. Thanks again for the info.

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

Do us a favour and post the contract here. I for one would like to see it. 200,000 yen a month for full time work seems pretty low, especially in the Tokyo area. Do they provide any other benefits- housing assistance, car/transportation, etc.?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

das · Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Posts: 15

bailey35mm · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:33 pm Post subject:

The pay is on a scale based on how many hours the school you are placed in decides to use you. Here is the pay scale they sent me.
2,748,000 for the year(annual school schedule up to 8 hrs per day ) 229,000 x 12 times
2,576,288 for the year(annual school schedule up to 7.5 hrs per day) 214,691 x 12 times
2,548,000 for the year(annual school schedule up to 7 hrs per day ) 212,334 x 12 times
2,348,000 for the year(annual school schedule up to 6 hrs per day ) 195,667 x 12 times
2,360,000 for the year(for185days at school schedule up to 7hrs per day ) 196,667 x 12 times
2,175,000 for the year(for185days at school schedule up to 6 hrs per day 181,250 x 12 times.
2,235,000 for the year(for175days at school schedule up to 7hrs per day ) 186,250 x 12 times
2,060,000 for the year(for175days at school schedule up to 6 hrs per day 171,667 x 12 times
2,001,144 for the year(for170days at school schedule up to 6 hrs per day) 166,762ｘ　12 times

If anyone want to see the contract I can try and post it, but I think the file is too big to post in text form.
Any advice anyone can give me on teaching on my own is helpful. Thanks for all the help so far.