Job Discussion Forums

festerc · Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 1

Has anyone worked for the Nova Group? They are advertising for teachers all over Japan. If you have any info I would appreciate your feedback. They advertise through the Japanese Embasy. This would be my first overseas teaching position. I have taught high school here in the U.S.

Also, they offer many locations in Japan so if anyone can help guide me where the best locations to teach are. I'm interested in money, safety, nice location with adequate housing. I don't really care if it's in the city since I really want to get some savings accumulated.

Thanks for all feedback.
Chris

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

You'd get a better response if you posted in the Japan forum, but here is a little info to get you started.

NOVA is the largest of the conversation school (eikaiwa) chains in Japan. The parent company is a loan company. You'll hear lots of complaints about NOVA, some warranted and some unwarranted, but mostly because it has the largest number of teachers (and because it's easier to complain online than to offer rosy thoughts).

Look here for some honest and fair assessments of the NOVA experience.
http://markcity.blogspot.com/teaching.htm
http://vocaro.com/trevor/japan/nova/level_up.html
http://www.grassrootdesign.com/articles/nova.asp

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

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

My advice about NOVA would be "don't believe the hype".

I have worked for them for 8 months now and know other teachers who have worked with them for up to 10 years. People will tell you this is a nightmare job; it is not. Working in a factory assembly line is a nightmare job.

NOVA is a spectacularly easy job and you get out of it exactly what you put in. Despite what people say,there is room to be creative in your teaching methods. The hours are reasonable, as is the pay. The people are the same mix of people you find absolutely anywhere in any job in the world. Don't take it too seriously and you will be fine.

They organise everything for you and will even sub you some money if you are short on cash. The only downside to my job is the feeling I am working for a corporation and not having Saturdays and Sundays off. Bearing in mind some of the real nightmare stories peoplehave to tell about this line of work, that is not really so terrible......

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

My advice about NOVA would be "don't believe the hype".

I have worked for them for 8 months now and know other teachers who have worked with them for up to 10 years. People will tell you this is a nightmare job; it is not. Working in a factory assembly line is a nightmare job.

NOVA is a spectacularly easy job and you get out of it exactly what you put in. Despite what people say,there is room to be creative in your teaching methods. The hours are reasonable, as is the pay. The people are the same mix of people you find absolutely anywhere in any job in the world. Don't take it too seriously and you will be fine.

They organise everything for you and will even sub you some money if you are short on cash. The only downside to my job is the feeling I am working for a corporation and not having Saturdays and Sundays off. Bearing in mind some of the real nightmare stories peoplehave to tell about this line of work, that is not really so terrible......