Job Discussion Forums

Cyna · Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 20

Which companies NOVE, GEOS etc place couples in the same schools?

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

To the best of my knowledge, none of them will promise you this. The best you will get is a definite maybe.

ruggedtoast · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 81 Location: tokyo

I know that nova place you in a couples apartment, i dont know about schools. Generally its better NOT to work all day with your beloved, doncha think?

olorin · Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 13

Ruggedtoast is right. Nova will place couples in a couples' apartment, but they will most likely not place you in the same branch (school). When I called Aeon, the person on the other end told me that the best they could do was place a couple in the same city, or within so many km of each other, but not in the same apartment. That was definitely out of the question for us.

bohinj · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 30

AEON hired me and my boyfriend (now husband) at the same time to work in different schools near each other. We both had to pay for separate apartments, which was kind of a waste of money for us but they would not bend the rules. Also, I had already worked for them for a year, so they knew me and were willing to help us out being placed near each other. I have to say, I think it was a good thing that we didn't work together in the same school.
I met several couples that worked for small private schools that were happy to employ them because it saves the school from having to rent two apartments.
Another idea is for one of you to get hired and situated and the other one go over a month later without a job--I've seen that a lot, too.
Living in Japan as a couple is a great experience--it really brought us closer together.

nakanoalien2 · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 52 Location: Nakano, Japan

Nova places couples in the same apartment and in the same school. My branch was rather large (Machida - when there was only 1 branch) and there were 2 couples. 1 couple was together at the branch and on the same shifts. The other couple lived together and I believe originally worked at the same branch but later requested separate branches.
It was 1999.

kiracle · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 65 Location: Gifu, Japan

I was goign to try to do that husband comes over a month later idea but now I'm not so sure. He's an English teacher but not native so Aeon wouldn't hire him and won't technically let him live with me either. We were just going to try a live there quietly together but just got a phone call from Aeon who from an private inquiry email I sent to the teacher I'm replacing decuded that we might try that. They forbid me from living with him while at the same time saying that in the second half of the year nobody would care or check. What am I supposed to think? Should I still go?

bohinj · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 30

My boyfriend and I each rented our own apartments as required but lived in one. One manager knew but said nothing, the other manager didn't know and we worried about it although it never became an issue. We kept it quiet and were good employees. I also knew of another teacher whose girlfriend came over a month after he started working and his manager knew about it and was fine with it. I have never heard of a manager doing regular checks--any checks--to see if you are living with someone. If you really wanted to teach in Japan, I would go over there and send for your boyfriend when and if it seems right. You will spend a few months apart but considering you may end up living in Japan a few years, it's not much time.

BenJ · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 209 Location: Nagoya

sorry but I am not sure I understand - why do you have to live apart and rent separate apartments!?

bohinj · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 30

I can only speak for AEON when I worked there although it appears to still be the case...that's the rule. Every teacher must have their own apartment. In most cases each school has long-term contracts on apartments for their foreign teachers. In most cases, this is a really good thing because single teachers can live alone and the apartments are pretty nice. For couples it stinks.

ryuro · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 91

I have to say everything here is true in my opinion- especially not working all day with your beloved. My wife and I work for the same company- quite often in the same office- and it really can put a strain on a relationship. Let's be honest- we love our significant others, but who wants to spend ALL THEIR TIME WITH THEM??? If you do, I'm sorry, but it's a bit strange.

However, the big schools will try to get you close- I know GEOS would do this. Of course this depends largely on what city you're in. The bigger the city, the easier it is a there are more school branches to choose from and often they're relatively close to one another. Unfortunately, as others have stated here, having idividual apartments is something of a rule.

The company I currently recruit for has a standard policy of not hiring couples (particularly the boyfriend/girlfriend combination) simply to avoid accomodation and other sensitive issues that occasionally arise out of couples working together (my wife and I being the ironic exceptions).

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Oh, I wouldn't worry about the co-habitation issue in an apartment that's supposed to be for a single person. In all my years here, I've never heard of anyone being 'busted' for having another person stay in the their place with them.

Cheers,
ryuro