Job Discussion Forums

suley25 · Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 2

Hello one and all.

I am strongly considering applying to ECC, I have read their website over and over, they seem like a professional and good company to work for.........or is that just good marketing?

The term "the big 4" is used alot, however in comparison with the others ECC is spoken about very little, especially considering the amount of information there is about NOVA and GEOS.

I am making the assumption this term derived from their ability to recruit internationally, however on this forum I have also seen a similar term in the form of "the big three".

Why is ECC so enigmatic?
Is it as good as it sounds?
Please could any current or previous employees give me any information, I also openly welcome any information in general, the grapevine is a very reliable form of informal communication.

Thank You very much and I look forward to recieving any input.

Yours curiously.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

my Japanese girlfriend thought that the training in Osaka was good.
But she used to complain about the Chinese students she had to teach.
What made it hard was that the class was multilevel.

Brooks

Ben · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 31

I`ve been offered work with ECC as well... they do sell themselves very well, and seem very professional. I`m a 21 year old, second year uni student, and so I dont have a degree, yet they are still asking me to work in a high school.... Im not sure if this is legal, Im going to call them back and ask them about it... but Im worried that they may lie to me or something... I dont want to end up being deported! Does anyone know anything about this? if its legal to teach in a high school without a degree... see I was at another school today... they seem a little scary actually, its called ZIAC I dont know if anyone has heard of this company... they sell themselves pretty well too, and come on all professional like, but they dont pay very well compared to other schools, (10000yen a day) they actually point this out to you, and try this "do it for the children, satisfaction, watching kids grow up" line on you. They also kind of bully, and push you a lot to get you to sign up... they give you training, but you have to pay them 10000yen security deposit so you dont do a runner they said, when you complete your training, but as soon as you start working for them, they promise to pay 50000yen....but they will ask for it back if you terminate the contract before the date is up... and they pretty much told me that they own my ass as soon as I sign the contract, almost those exact words...heh, they`re my other option besides ECC... I was (maybe stupidly) talking to them about ECC...and they seem to be rivals... this guy at ZIAC was telling me how they have all the junior high contracts, and ECC have all the senior contracts. And that ECC dont have enough teachers to fill all the positions that they have bought, and as a result will end up having to pay heavy fines... (apparently it was in the newspapers or something...yesterday?)and that is why they are so desperate for teachers... and why in turn they will employ me with out a degree... this is where I was stupid, see this guy has all my info on file, he knows I dont have a degree, and he said something like this to me... "You do know if you started working for ECC without a degree that you will most probably end up being reported, not by me of course, I_wouldnt do such a thing, but if this happens you will then probably end up being deported...".......hahaha... it rhymes... maybe I should`ve gone into rap music? it seems like a safer industry even if I do end up dead like tupac, or shot nine times like 50cent! @_@
so in the end, I either work for ECC 3 days a week, right next to my house, 8:30 - 4:15, making 40500yen, and risk being deported maybe? orrrr 5 days a week, for scary ZIAC 8:30-5:00, 1 and a half hours travel away and earn 50000yen a week.... and maybe a 50000 bonus, well 40000 when you take back the dodgey 10000 I have to pay ZIAC...and they own me apparently.... anyone have any advice??????

Ben · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 31

oh yeh, heres ZIACs URL if anyone wants to check them out
http://www.zenken-inc.co.jp/

Ben · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 31

oh, and I failed to mention that the job with ZIAC is with a sectin called BI-Lingual kids, where I would be looking after 1-2 year olds in an english speaking enviroment..... ? more work then a senior high teacher? with ECC I`d be working in a team with a Japanese teacher....

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

I posted in another thread that I worked for ECC for a few years. It's a solid company. Most complaints about ECC are minor compared to those about other conversation schools. At ECC, the teachers rooms in some of the schools are very small (in newer schools, you get a small section of counter space in the staff's office). Free Time Lessons bore you out of your mind after a few months. Actually, it's not so much the lessons, but the students. To be fair to them, most of them don't like the Free Time Lesson books. The trainers will tell you it's the lackluster way that lessons are too often taught, but that's crap. The book is old, and the repetition is mind-numbing for the students and the teachers. Other than that, it's a good place to work. Out of the Big 4, ECC is the one I'd recommend. But, as with any other language school, don't put all your eggs in their basket. If TEFL appeals to you, do some formal schooling in the field and move up to better things as soon as possible.

Junicus · Joined: 04 Jun 2003 Posts: 2

I've been with ECC for almost two months, and it's been a great experience so far. They are one of the big 4, but only have schools in Nagoya, Tokyo, and Osaka. They give you almost 3 weeks of training which prepares you fully. Most teachers have between 5 and 10 kids classes/week, and the rest adults. Everything is already planned - you just follow the manual. You work at 2-3 schools, which gives you a nice variety, and the opportunity to meet many more people than you would at just one school. You do have two non-consecutive days off, a Sunday and another weekday. However, I have Mondays off, so it's like having a weekend off. Most don't mind the non-consecutive days off as it breaks up the week. If you stay for another year, you can can give a preference for your other day off. And 7 weeks of vacation is a lot more than the competition. 30 hours/week from 3:30-9:30. Can't complain!

malibubarbie · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Posts: 7

ECC`s been pretty decent so far- as for the multi levels, I don`t know how that would happen, students are supposed to be placed at the correct level and in my experience this has happened. i haven`t taught anyone other than japanese students so far.

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

Malibubarbie, Brooks said that it was his Japanese girlfriend who had the problem with multilevel classes. Japanese teachers often get crapped on in ways that the company wouldn't dare try with the native speakers.

I knew a Japanese teacher who was basically native. A student complained that he taught and acted too much like a native English speaker, and management called him in to explain his actions.

An amendment to my earlier post: I recently heard that at least one of the districts is losing teachers fast. A guy who recently quit told me that a lot of people are unhappy. The school directors have gotten distant and cold and like to put the lower staff between them and the teachers. Seems pretty arctic compared to what I remember.