Job Discussion Forums

wangtesol · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 280

Does anybody know what this ogranization does and what its powers are? In my contract it says if I quit then my name will be reported to this association. Is it some sort of de facto blacklist like they have inn Taiwan?

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Its a farce. No such association has any sort of power or authority as there are no regulations or standards of the industry. They're blowing smoke up your rear. Most schools do not communicate with the others because they're competition. Its just bullying by your current school/company. If they get into it with you tell them you'll go warn people on most ESL forums in Japan and outside of it of their practices such as this and watch their house of cards come crashing down.

But seriously though, that association mess is bunk

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

Other than being an obvious scare tactic that can be safely ignored, let me say that the reason why I doubt such an organization really even exists is because most foreign language schools are MUCH too busy trying to keep afloat and take care of their own affairs. The last thing they want to do is help a competing school, let alone associate with them when they'd be just as glad to see them go out of business and take their students.

It's not an industry that co-operates with itself. The eikaiwa owners I've met and the few that I know wouldn't dream of joining such an association. They wouldn't be able bear sharing the same room with other eikaiwa owners long enough to sit through a single meeting.

wangtesol · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 280

So nobody really knows what this organization is?

Would anybody know the Japanese name of this organization?

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Is this what they are referring to?

http://www.zengaikyo.jp/

Association for the Promotion of Foreign Languages. Is somehow connected or supported by AEON though.

wangtesol · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 280

Thanks Paul. I have been asking around and it is some sort of similar industry association. I would like to know how it operates though. I have no phone number or website.

I have a suspicion it is one place that has lent itself for ALT outsourcing companies to network and collude in perpetuating the illegal gyomu itaku (service) contracts with boards of education.

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367