Job Discussion Forums

chaz47 · Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 157

I am studying abroad in Hirosaki at the moment. My program ends in July and I was thinking about staying on and teaching English. I was wondering what my chances are of picking up the scraps from a midnight run with NOVA? Does anyone have any experience with this? Could I just cold call the local NOVA branch and ask if they have any openings? I know they typically hire from overseas... but thought it might just be worth a try. I really need to get serious about finding a job soon, I only have a landing permit good until August. Please advise and thanks in advance.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If you are here studying, is it fair to assume that you don't have a bachelor's degree yet? If so, you can't get a work visa. Your student visa will permit only part-time work (if you had planned to work on that).

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

The work visa question aside you could also look at building up a bunch of private students.

cevanne · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Osaka, Japan

I'm sure you could give it a try. I know that they're desperately short of teachers in the Osaka area right now and would probably hire a monkey as long as they have a degree (and thus can be sponsored for working visa) or if you have a working holiday visa - Or can aquire one.

chaz47 · Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 157

that is at least my BA, i went back for a 2nd degree in my minor so that i could go to grad school for that instead of my 1st major...

so a cold call would be an OK starter... i don't have my transcripts with me...

i really don't want to go back to the US and the midwest at that...

any advice is much appreciated

hip-hop boy78 · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 90 Location: Hip-hop land

Cevanne,

How come Nova are desperately in need of teachers in the Osaka area? A friend of mine who works for them told me they might not be able to hire Americans anymore, though not quite sure if that's right. Sounds like their business is going through hard times.

cevanne · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Osaka, Japan

I think they went through a hiring freeze and didn't hire enough teachers for this time of year. Also, there have been alot of departures - current teachers leaving for various reasons. Not quitting for bad reasons, just leaving to go home, travel, etc. It's not just Osaka, but the Kansai region in general. Perhaps they were worried about the insurance thing? In any case they don't seem worried about it now. They are currently training up some new teachers for replacements but it will probably be a little while before we are floating at full ship again. They are changing their hiring practices it is true. I have heard on the grapevine that they will no longer be hiring anyone without degrees. When I was hired, Nova hired people on WHV's - which doesn't require a university degree. I have heard this policy is changing. I'm not sure about American hires as I was hired in Canada. I think they're out of the hot water as well. They have introduced some new scheudle changes to handle the number of hours that teachers work. Sort of getting off on a technicality but, I suppose all of the other eikawas will be following suite.

hip-hop boy78 · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 90 Location: Hip-hop land

I wonder how much longer before the market for teaching in Japan becomes completely saturated? Do you guys ever think that one day the large language schools like NOVA, AEON and ECC will go out of business or will be forced to shut down schools therefore drastically reducing their profit margins?

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

No idea but it looks like conditions are getting worse rather than better...seems like lower pay, little or no benefits, and companies trying to evade the law.

I think they'll still be around but they are becoming less and less attractive to work for, that 's for sure.

cevanne · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Osaka, Japan

In NOVA's case the eikawa is not their only source of income. They are truly a corporation with many diverse smaller companies that they run as well. For example the Travel Bureau. I don't know about the other big 5 but I'm sure they have subsidiary companies as well. I expect however that over the years the eikawa side may deteriorate as do many businesses that expand too far too fast. The market is saturated or drops....However I cannot complain too much about the actual working conditions. I think people at eikawa's do get paid a ridiculous amount of money for what they do. Other faults aside.

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

haha, I wouldn't call it "ridiculous amounts of money", especially if you live in the Tokyo area.

Do you really consider 250,000 yen to be a lot of money? It may be good enough for someone who just wants to live in a single room his whole life and go nightclubbing, but for most people living in big city it's not such a great paycheck.

It's certainly not a bad deal but I wouldn't consider a standard eikaiwa gig to be lucrative.

cevanne · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Osaka, Japan

Sorry, I didn't mean that it was alot of money. I meant that for the actual amount and type of work that we do at eikawas the money is really good. Essentially I get paid to talk for 8 hours a day. I do no prep, I take no work home with me, and I don't think about my job at all in my time off. (except to browse forums such as this) I've worked much harder at minimum wage jobs in Canada. Smile

Nova is a cakewalk.

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

Well I'll agree....at NOVA, you don't really do any teaching....I don't mean this in a bad way, but it actually takes very little skill or teacher training to be a NOVA "teacher"

But at other schools, where you actually have to teach, 250k yen a month isn't that much money for the duties you perform.

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

Just to prove I don't harbour any bad feelings, "HAPPY CANADA DAY" Smile