Job Discussion Forums

[Jazz1975]

I'm new to this forum so am not sure if anything has been posted on this or not so please bear with me. I am in the process of doing some research on three of the "Big 4" schools-NOVA, AEON & GEOS-and one of the things I've looked into is their interview procedures. I have printed off information for both NOVA & AEON and was wondering if anyone had any information re. interview procedures for GEOS. All I know right now is they interview for three days, but don't know what they ask you to do. If anyone can give me some input, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Jazz1975]

Add ECC to that list. I know they have that dreaded grammar test that I've heard a few people talk about on here, but I haven't seen an actual interview process posted on here. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[LHanks]

Here is a website that gives you good info on Nova.

http://www.teachinjapan.com

[Jazz1975]

Been there, done that @ NOVA site. Thanks anyways .

[Firestarter]

You can see ECC's interview info here: www.japanbound.com (Don't let the crappy website throw you off too much!).

There interview process is a one day gig - at least in Toronto - pretty standard I suppose. A lot of info about Japan more so than teaching I found, but informative nonetheless. I went through it last summer and have been here since the fall.

The grammar test is hard - as everyone attests - but I found the teaching demo to be most stressful. But apparently I did just fine.

[Jazz1975]

Thanks for the info. Firestarter. I've gone to their site already and printed it off. However, I don't see much in terms of interview information aside from the fact that it's a one day gig. Am I missing something? To be honest, I'm more worried about the demo than the grammar test. Not actually too worried about the grammar test at the moment. That'll come later I'm sure

[Firestarter]

In addition to the test and demo, there is a lengthy information session about Japan, ECC and teaching. At the end of the day there was a brief one on one interview (the group information session also serves as an interview I'm sure - he asks questions, participants ask questiens and the recruiter is able to judge you in many ways based on how you participate throughout the day).

There was nothing odd about it. Did you have any specific questions? Also, there is a lot of pretty useful info about ECC on this site....not sure how much you've searched.

[Jazz1975]

I agree with there being a lot of useful info on the ECC site. I've read through it. It was more the interview info. I'm looking for and you provided that. Thanks. Does anyone have info. about the GEOS interview session and what's involved?

[Glenski]

I've copied what various people have written about their Big Four interviews and posted them on this site many times. At the risk of posting a huge message, here goes onemore time. NOVA first.



NOVA
Here is what someone wrote:

"I interviewed in San Francisco.

I was given a little company overview. And was given a very casual group interview (with some random questions on the spot). There were individual interviews. I was asked my goals. What I want out of the experience. How would I cope with silence in the classroom.

I thought it was fairly simple. I think it's about showing enthusiasm and willingness to learn. I think being outgoing is important (but I think that's naturally part of the job)

I felt the interview was a chance to ask general questions (try not to get to negative on this) and also to find out how you cope with being nervous in front of strangers."


and another person's experience...

"In Australia, only people in NSW and Queensland are interviewed by NOVA Australia. Recruitment from the other states is outsourced to another company, so what I've written below might not apply.

When I interviewed in Jan, I had a 30-40 min grammar test and 30 min interview - but they didn't test general knowledge of Japan. If you can show you have a reasonable understanding of what you're in for, cultural difference, language problems etc, then you will be fine. They will want to gauge that you won't freak out when you arrive.

I didn't have to do a demo lesson or anything, but they did show me the "Quest" textbook and ask me to tell them what I thought the language point was, and which words I thought a student might have difficulty understanding. I think I was also asked to explain a difficult word in simple terms while the recruiter pretended to be Japanese."

and another...

"whatever you do, **don't be late** They sent a girl home (ie refused to let her into the information seminar and interviews)because she arrived at 8:05 and we had started 8am exactly. I would recommend getting there around 20 mins early. (I was interviewed in Sydney)"

Another interview experience
I did my interview in NY too. I think it was on Lexington and 50th? I remember thinking they had a building or office in Manhattan and that was a good sign. Then I entered the bldg. and nobody had heard of Nova, but...they were there. They rented the place for X time period for recruiting, I guess.

Anyway, it could even be the same recruiters so here's what to expect:

-Sit in a room for an information session. They'll tell you the truth but enhance the hell out of the good side. Like they play up all the culture you'll soak in and not say much about how you always work on national holidays and aren't allowed to fraternize with students.

-Wait for interview with everyone. I think there was a lunch break in between. I remember a bunch of people with no real work experience all kind of nervous an posturing. Like trying pose as being "international" when their big intl experience was a semester abroad in London. Then there were the 1 or 2 oddballs that were a little older and obviously running away from something and giving us way too much info about their personal lives (yeah, I was a chemical engineer for the past 15 years, but got a divorce and felt a change was needed, yada yada). Scary.

-The interview lasted 30 minutes. They asked me why I was interested in Japan, and how I thought I would adjust to the culture. Asked if I knew anything about Japan or had read books and why Japan, not China. Then they asked me to describe the difference between:

I play golf -and-
I am playing golf

I think they asked me a slightly harder question related to grammar and how to teach it. I bombed and then they told me that they would teach me how to deal with various grammar points anyway in Japan.

Good luck. I have to say the interview was fairly easy but prepare anyway. Look professional too. There were people there without suits - geez! For all the garbage, I have to say that it was fun working there for a year.

Another experience (April, 2003)
I went for an interview in Australia a few months ago expecting it to be a quick and simple interview, with little real testing about the English language. Do all the things Glenski says and brush up on your grammar (in Australia we only get taught grammar until about grade five then it is all 'creative writing'), as we had a test and then had to pick the grammar point in a lesson out of their teaching manual. We also had to describe how we would explain certain everyday situations to our class in simple terms. We were also asked a number of questions about ourselves, which we could answer in only three words or less. Eg What is your greatest achievement? What do you want to teach English in Japan?

Another experience (May, 2003)
I interviewed with Nova last year and I am now working for them.

In terms of the interview, be personable and energetic. People are mainly hired for their personalities. Try to project yourself as energetic, personable, fun-loving but responsible. Come across as an interesting person. If you are not interesting, exaggerate or lie outright.

Looks count. Dress professionally but not too severe. You don't want to come across as a stuffed shirt.

Smile. Tell polite jokes. Participate during the info sessions. Volunteer answers. Try to take a leadership role, but don't be pushy.

Check out Japan and make a wish list of places that you want to go and things you want to do. Be excited about the possibility of working and living in Japan. Be knowledgeable.

Tell them you are "creative." They're big into creativity--or at least my interviewer was.

Another experience (Sept. 2003)
I interviewed with Nova recently at their Boston office. I do not think you need to shave the goatee, as long as it looks neatly trimmed. You will have time to stress that you want to live in Iwaki, but there's no guarantee you'll get it. I asked to be put anywhere in Hokkaido but was placed in Osaka.

The interview began with a two-hour presentation about Nova. We got a chance to look through teaching materials, sample schedules and student evaluation sheets. It was all handled very professionally. The presenter described the Nova dresscode: suits are optional, but men must wear ties and aren't allowed to wear earrings. Women must wear business attire, including stockings and closed-toe shoes. Absolutely wear a suit for the interview.

After the group presentation were individual interviews. The interviewer had a copy of the online application I filled out; if you apply online, you might want to keep a copy and go over it beforehand. I was asked about my location preferences, and how I felt about working with kids. I was asked to answer 15 questions quickly and briefly. Some were:

What would you do if all your students were quiet?
What do you think of smalltalk?
What's something you accomplished recently that you were proud of?
What would your current/last employer say about you?
How are you at handling criticism?
What one word would your best friend use to describe you?
If you saw someone you thought you knew, but weren't quite positive you recognised, what would you do?

Based on these answers and the information on my application, the interviewer then asked more probing questions. What do I like and dislike about my current job? Would I be able to adapt to living in such a highly populated country? What problems do I think I might face in Japan? We then talked at length about what makes a good teacher. Since I have studied several languages, I was asked what challenges students might face in learning English. I was asked to be very specific about this, with linguistic examples. Then, I was asked how I'd explain an assortment of concepts, like the phrase 'find out' or the word 'prison', without resorting to lengthy verbal explanations. I was also asked several other grammar-related questions.

I think the most important thing is to look professional and act enthusiastic and outgoing. Play up your interest in teaching; remember that you're being interviewed for a job, not a vacation. The interview is actually fun if you let it be, so relax and enjoy it.

If you get the job, you're notified by mail about a week later.

[Glenski]

ECC
One opinion
The test is 100 questions multiple choice. I think there were 10 questions at the end dealing with teaching terms. I didn't know any of them but still passed the test. Part of the grammar section was given in passages with words and phrases underlined and you had to know the term for it. Just study basic grammar and parts of speech for that.

For the presentation part, we went around the room and selected topics like: colors, numbers, animals, etc. We had about 7 minutes to come up with a plan and were given blank sheets of paper for props which we could draw on and which left little time for really thinking about what to do. They want to see lots of energy and a naturally outgoing personality. The interview process was a piece of cake.

Another experience
just got back from my ECC interview... it was a pretty long day (11 am till about 6:30pm). Everything went pretty well I think. Had to teach a kids lesson for 7 mins... the way he introduced the task and explained his expectations made it pretty stressful during the 15 minute prep time... seemed like he was going to be expecting a lot, but we realized later that that wasn't really the case. The demo was ok, aside from the fact that I had to go first (since I was the only one with previous eikawa experience). The grammar test was right at the end, as were the personal interviews (which were only 9 mins each). The test was a lot more difficult than I expected, but I think I did ok

Another experience
Ok, I'm back from the interview!

First thing to say is relax. It's not at all scary or horrible!

The grammar test is 100 questions and the pass rate is 70 so there's a big margin for error. It's broken up into 5 sections. The first consists of sentences with different parts underlined. You have to say which of the underlined parts is incorrect or needs changing. Even if you don't know why, it's instinctive. It's just things like a verb in the wrong tense, or a word spelt incorrectly. The second section consists of typical problem words spelt two different ways - eg vaccum / vacuum. You say which is the correct spelling, a or b. The third section consists of a word followed by five definitions. You have to choose which one goes with the word. The fourth section is the most difficult. A paragraph has about 15 words / groups of words underlined. There are an equal number of terms at the bottom (adverb, past progressive tense, preposition etc.). Just match the terms to the right parts of the paragraph. Even if you only know a few, it's basically a process of sensible deduction.

The final part consists of about 10 teaching terms like 'introducing a roleplay' and 'realia' and there are 10 different examples of things a teacher might say to a class. You just match the two up. It's common sense, even if you're not familiar with the terms, you'll work it out!

The teaching demo was relaxed - you got 15 mins to prepare a 5 minute lesson and were given guidance. The skill level was complete beginners so you just need to teach 6 or so words of vocab. Topics chosen were colour, animals, fruit, numbers etc. I did body parts and taught 'head, shoulders, knees. toes'. I think it was a good choice - the interviewer complimented the choice and said my demo had been good during the interview itself so I was pretty pleased. Just have a quick think about it beforehand if you're worried.

The interview was brief and friendly with the usual questions.

Another person (referring to the demo lesson)
The idea for the presentation is to act as if the audience understands ZERO English. So practice using short, catchy phrases. If you can sing or say things lyrically, it will come off well. Keep it very simple but try to fit in 2 or 3 little activities. Get the group to talk, with you only talking a little bit. Get them to stand up and wave or jump or walk around. That is what they'll advise you.

More on the demo lesson
Always try to go first. It shows confidence and you tend to be scored higher for doing it without seeing other models. I've never worked for ECC, but this is a pretty universal truth. Of course don't appear to be too over-eager.

Also a benefit of going first is that you don't get the opportunity to over-think your lesson. If you are not well prepared, don't go first.


A view of the test and demo
Just got back from mine. The English Test was pretty hard, I think you guys lulled me into a false sense of security. Exactly half the people there failed the test (8 people), and were asked to leave before the teaching demo. My demo was a bit rubbish, I was quite disappointed with it. The other people (pretending to be 7 year old Japanese kids) were not genki at all, so it was a bit of a struggle to get them to do anything. I was assigned "Actions", so I did stand up, sit down, clap, jump, spin. I can't really blame the other people for not liking me getting them to stand up and sit down again 5 times in a row...

We'll see. It wasn't a disaster (I got through the test..), but it wasn't great either.

More demo experience
as for the demonstration , its a piece of cake. they put you in a children�s class room and ask you to demonstrate a lesson to kiddies. You pull a card out of the interviewers hand. You have 5 minutes too think about what your going to do.
basic 10 minute demo, make sure they know exactly what your trying to achieve in teaching the lesson. EG > fruits, big things little things, colors, numbers or whatever it may be

just to clarify
they put you into a REAL KIDDIES classroom to teach to PRETEND kiddies (which are the other applicants on the day)

Just ECC experience
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.

More ECC experience
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!

Another ECC experience (August, 2004)
Well, I just got back from my interview with ECC...I think it went well, gotta wait 15 days for an answer.

As there isn't a lot of info, recently posted, on this interview process, I figured I would give you an idea of what goes on...as others in this forum have been so helpful.

My first piece of advice is RELAX! It's not as big a deal as I had made it out to be.

The interview process was only 1 day that consisted of the following:

The morning was a general information (Q&A) session re:ECC. TIP: read the website thouroughly and prepare some questions.

Then we had to prepare a lesson plan (we had about 30 minutes to prepare). We were assigned a specific structure and theme with specific vocab. TIP: try to be as creative as possible, energetic and smile!!! The lesson had to last 7 minutes. (topics included: fruit, animals, emotions, food,etc.-level: beginner to intermediate) I had never prepared a lesson plan in my life and I think i did ok...so don't worry too much but do try to get some ideas from the web before you go.

Then we a had a test which consisted of: sentences with underlined passages, you had to select which one was incorrect, some were not that obvious. Then there was some vocab (you had to identify which one was correct). The grammar section which followed was a little bit harder.TIP: brush up on your basic grammar and verbs.The last section was teaching term associations such as: realia, roleplay, chaining, introducing a dialogue, etc. TIP: even if you don't know any of them, you can pretty much go by process of elimination.

Then, we had a quick interview, don't sweat it...they just ask you stuff re: where you want to live and when you can start.

[Glenski]

GEOS
First experience
I originally came over to Japan with GEOS and went through their 3-day process, however, that was more than seven years ago so I'll give you the basic gist as I remember it- it may have changed since my days.

DAY 1- Usually the shortest of the three. A couple hours long with a series of different interviews with different people- both individually and in groups. In my opinion this is basically a personality test- they just want to see if you've got the right attitude for them. However, I do remember taking a short test of grammar and international trivia, but basically if they like ya, they'll invite you back for the next day's "interview".

DAY 2- If you got invited back, this will be a FULL DAY of GEOS indoctrination- the company, the business side, the methodology materials, etc... etc... If I remember correctly it will include a lot of activities, more "interviews", etc. Again this day they're still trying to weed people out.

DAY 3- Again by invite only, at the end of day 2 you'll probably be asked to plan a lesson and then "teach" it to a "student" on this day. If you make it through, they'll extend a provisional offer of employment.

That's basically it as I remember it. Others may have gone through this process more recently and are welcome to correct or add to anything I may have forgotten or glossed over.

Although it sounds like a lot but it's really not that daunting. As with any job process, if you go in looking professional (wear a suit and tie), acting professional, use some common sense and display the right type of personality you shouldn't have any problems.

I had ABSOLUTELY no teaching experience or qualifications prior to coming to Japan so don't sweat that too much. I think most on this board would agree with me, that attitude and personality can more than make up for the lack of practical, hands-on teaching experience.

On another note- I worked for GEOS for a little over a year before moving on to better things in Japan. Naturally there were things I didn't like, but overall I really had no issues with GEOS. I was fortunate to have a great Japanese manager and fantastic Japanese and western co-workers- makes a HUGE difference. I had friends who worked for GEOS that had horror stories to tell. I guess my point is, whether you go with GEOS, AEON, NOVA, whatever- it'll always be a bit of a crap shoot so good luck.

Another opinion (July, 2003)
Sounds like the process hasn't changed much then: I did the interview a few months ago.
Day 1
Very short intro to Geos and Japan
English grammar and general knowledge test
5 minute teaching demonstration
More Geos info

Day 2
Even more Geos info, including video
Assigned lesson subject + given planning help

Day 3
Teaching 20 minute lesson
1-on-1 interview


Day 1 starts with a very short introduction to Geos. You then sit a "test" on English grammar and general knowledge for about 15 minutes. The first half of the test is questions like name the word type (noun, verb, etc.); tenses (change this sentence into perfect perfect simple, etc.); and spellings. The second half of the test is pure general knowledge, like capital cities, identifying the former or new name of countries (e.g. you are given Ceylon and have to identify it as now being Sri Lanka) - I really loved this part of it because I love general knowledge. I say "test" with the quotation marks because when I did the interview anyone who failed got to do it again on the second day. People who failed were encouraged to team up with people who passed to get the answers before the re-take (teamwork practice).

Next on day 1 you are given a very open subject to teach a five minute lesson on. You have 15 minutes to prepare the lesson, then you teach it to one of the recruiters (1-on-1).

The first day ends with lots more detailed info about Geos. During this time they'll also get you to do team-building stuff - the usual name learning games, etc. Be enthusiastic at these points; if you're asked to do a forfeit because you've lost a game or something, do it without question. Day 1 is over.

The whole of Day 2 is basically the same as the end of Day 1 - learning stuff about Geos and doing team-building, role playing, information gap exercises. The day ends with everyone getting a sheet from a Geos textbook with the basic outline of a lesson, on which you base a lesson that you plan overnight. You get a bit of guidance on this at the end of Day 2.

Day 3 starts with you delivering your lesson. You are told to plan for a 30 minute lesson, but then, in a "surprise" twist, they only want you to teach 20 minutes of it - i.e., can you adapt at short notice to changes. After you've done your lesson (to the other interviewees) you have a 1-on-1 interview with one of the recruiting staff, and fill in a questionaire.

That's it really. Be prepared to do the team-building stuff as I mentioned above, and lots of the tasks you have to do end up with you parroting the Geos way of working/teaching. Although, to be fair, they do point out some of their weaknesses and the strengths of other companies. I'd say the most important things over the course of the three days are: look professional (suit, tie, jacket, etc.) at all times and be enthusiastic. Some nice flash cards or pictures in your Day 3 lesson go over well also, so stock up on some coloured card, glue, etc. before the three days start. You are closely watched for the entire three days.

Another experience (June, 2003)
I interviewed with GEOS just last weekend and have been given an offer with them. The 3-day long process was perhaps the most organized, efficient, grueling, and intense (yet somehow, fun) interview I have ever been through. In a way, it was like being on a reality TV show, where you are thrown together with a group of strangers from all over and are given various tasks. You don't know how many positions are available and you're doing your best to not get eliminated. Do not expect to relax during the weekend (except Sunday night or unless you get cut), and definitely do not plan on any activities for Saturday night if you make it past the 2nd cut.

Friday's session starts at 9 am or 11 am depending on which time slot you signed up for. If you are part of the 9 am group and you make the first cut, you will need to wait until 2 pm for the afternoon session which combines the candidates from both the 9 am and 11 am groups.

You should definitely review your grammar before taking the 20-min quiz. The quiz is the first thing they administer to determine your English skills. They use the results to make the first cut. After grading the quizzes, they will discuss your results during one-on-one interviews.

During the afternoon session which runs from 2 pm until 4:30 - 5 pm, they will formally introduce you to GEOS by giving you some basic information. They will explain their company, philosophy, history, salary, vacation, teaching methods, etc. You are allowed to ask any questions you have regarding Japan, teaching, or GEOS. You then do some pairwork and group activities such as a 5-min group demonstration.
At the end of the session, they make the second cut. If successful, you are invited back to continue with the rest of the weekend.

Saturday's session starts at 8:30 am or 9 am, depending on whether you need to retake your quiz. It ends around 3:30 - 4 pm. During Saturday's session, training officially begins. You are given a handbook which exposes you to even more information about GEOS. Here, they cover the basic information they gave you yesterday in more detail. Expectations, dress code, schedules, apartment furnishings, training, company organization, career opportunities, their teaching format, the business side, etc. are all discussed. They demonstrate the GEOS teaching method and even give you their evaluation form so you know exactly what they are looking for. You are required to make your own teaching materials for your 30-min demonstration on Sunday. It definitely helps to have scissors, glue, tape, construction paper, etc. to construct your teaching materials. Many out-of-towners had to purchase their own supplies. Since the Japan head office evaluates you by your materials, everyone I knew, including myself, stayed up until 3:30 am working on them.

Sunday's session begins at 8:45 am sharp and lasts until 12 - 1:30 pm. You form pairs and take turns delivering your teaching demo to one another. Afterwards, you are called in one by one to discuss the results of your demonstration and interviewed for any final remarks. By the time you are through, you should have a good idea of whether or not they will give you an offer. The entire process was similar to a GEOS bootcamp. There was a high degree of comraderie among the interviewees because we were all going through the same thing. The results of the interview will be given to you in 2 days. Their response time is amazing compared to most American companies.

I am not sure about whether all GEOS interviews are held over the weekend, but I'm thinking they probably are since most people have to fly in for the interview.

I also would appreciate hearing about any recent GEOS experiences firsthand. After the interview, my impression of GEOS is quite favorable in that they were extremely professional, organized, and efficient for such a large company. They were very clear, open, and upfront with their expectations. The interviewees were all really cool people that I'd like to work with. However, since GEOS was the first company I've interviewed with, I'm not sure if I should hold out for JET, Aeon, or ECC

Another experience
I worked for GEOS for two years, and left in the late 90s. I would agree, yes, they do work you very hard. There is a business aspect too, and you are expected to sell texts, and also get new students to sign up or existing students to renew. This was the least pleasant part of the job for me.

On the teaching end, they had good resources available, some decent training, and good support from the trainers if you need it. Expect to teach all ages - I was told in my pre-departure training that I wouldn�t teach kids, only to arrive and find out that 30 percent of my classes were with children. The manager had requested someone experienced with children, and she got me, so I�m not too sure about their recruitment and placement process.

The Japanese teachers - most of whom are `part time` and make terrible pay for a lot of work - were great, and helped me out a lot with everything from recommending restaurants to helping me make reservations for a holiday. Teachers at other GEOS schools said the same thing about their Japanese colleagues. GEOS always paid on time, and the apartment was in good shape when I arrived.

My class load varied from 8 /day during a very busy summer, to 5 or 6 a day most of the rest of the time. I enjoyed it, but know some who didn�t, primarily because of the heavy teaching schedules and the sales expectations. GEOS is also cheap about some things, and was getting cheaper by the day when I was there. One Japanese friend who left GEOS and went to another job told me how surprised she was to be given stationery supplies on her first day at the new job - at GEOS you generally had to bring your own.

The only thing I can say about the interview is look professional and be enthusiastic. Look very professional. I interviewed with a different format, but noticed that those of who were called back for the second interview were the ones who had worn suits to the first interview.

Another experience
As far as I can remember day one eases you in. There is a lot of talk about GEOS as a company. You have to present a very short lesson, at this stage they will just want to see that you can stand up in front of people and speak clearly. You may have little or no choice on what you teach. There's also a written test on grammar, general knowledge and stuff. Also a small one on one interview on the first day I think. Day two is a lot more about GEOS policies and you will find out about GEOS methodology. On day three there is a longer interview and you will teach a GEOS lesson. They will want to see that you've planned your lesson well, made some nice props (flash cards or something) and applied GEOS methodology. Don't plan anything for the evenings because you will be preparing for the following day and make sure you are prepared with card scissors and coloured pens before day one.

Follow-up message by same person
The fact is that GEOS is not an easy company to work for and I think it's useful that they let you know that before you sign anything. GEOS is hard work and they try to sort the workers from the holiday makers in the interview. About two thirds of my interview group did not turn up for day three, I guess because they were required to put some work in the night before and plan a lesson. I don't think it's too much to ask for that you can demonstrate what you'll be employed to do

Another experience, January 2005
The GEOS interview took 2 1/2 in total. At the San Francisco site it took place on the first day within the Pan-Pacific Hotel on Post St. near Union Square. There the recruiter gives you a test that includes not only basic english grammar knowledge but also general knowledge on music, Japan, history, etc. Shouldn't be too hard to pass. Just know what certain words are; for example "fight" is a verb, "and" is a conjunction, etc.
If you don't pass on the first try you'll get a chance again to retake it tomorrow. Don't try to do too badly on either the test or the interview with your resume or they might not ask you back for the rest.

The first day is the shortest with a general info session and then they'll hand out envelopes that let you know if you got to the second stage or not.
The second day is the most intensive one, so bring a notepad for notes or even a recorder. When they do the examples of the GEOS method make sure to take good notes during the recruiter's demonstrations. You'll also be made the student or teacher during the demos.

Finally you'll be asked to do a teaching demonstration for 26 minutes at the end of the day according to the GEOS method. I tried to come up with different games than what the teacher did but I went a bit too far. This is what got me in the interview. Make your little activities and games as simple as possible. Plan out your presentation and try to practice it the night before. Get plenty of sleep too because the demonstration starts at 9. Or you might get lucky and sign up for the 11 start time (There's fewer slots available for the later time).

Basically, show them you can do their method as confidently and seamlessly as possible You're gonna' be working hard the night before the demonstration so be prepared. Also bring pens, construction paper, poster board, blank cards, and colored markers. These will come in handy big time for props you need to make for your presentation.

Smiling and a vivid personality are crucial. The SF recruiter is a strict and business-like, plus she's good at observing multiple people at once. Good luck. If you don't get the job you can apply again later if you want to. But if you don't like how they do things try other programs like AEON, ECC, NOVA, or JET.

Another experience, January 2005
I had an interview with GEOS last month.....

I drove about 500 miles to get to the interview, got a hotel room for 3 nights, basically spent a lot of money.

Okay enough of my complaining. The last person was pretty close to how it went at mine as well (I had the interview in Vancouver, B.C.).

We started with 8 people in our group. The dress is formal, you must be in a suit (girls, if you wear a skirt, wear nylons). As soon as we got there we too the grammar/knowledge test. This is a test that is designed to intimidate you and make you nervous, so just take it calmly. The knowledge portion may cover things you have never heard of, like name 3 members of the Warsaw pact, or give the current names to these countries, Siam, S. W. Africa, Berma, etc. They do give you a chance to take it later.

Then they give each person an individual interview and let you know if you are invited back in the afternoon. They cut 1.

The afternoon just started to explain what the company did and what we would be doing. Then they gave us a letter before we left to let us know if we were invited back tomorrow. They cut one more.

Down to 6. We went through a full day of the "Teaching Method" (I say that with quotes because I'm a certified teacher, and it's not a method). I was the only person that was an actual teacher there. One of our presenters was explaining the teaching method, and it seemed similiar to another teaching method called "Constructivism", so I asked if it was the same. They had never heard of it. I was really um... let's say... not impressed with their knowledge of teaching. Their method is so dumbed down that any 15 year old idiot could follow it (if they had 3 hours to prepare for every 30 min. lesson). Also, what type of ENGLISH class is it when you are NOT supposed to SPEAK TO THE STUDENTS IN ENGLISH!!! I think the best way to learn is to be immeresed in it. I learned Spanish that way in high school, I was totally lost the first week and then I caught on!

After knowing how many props and stupid little cards you have to make for each lesson, I'm glad that I didn't get the position. But it would have been nice to get some feedback; "they didn't need anyone", "you sucked". Whatever, just something besides "no". I was the most qualified and tutored 2 of the others the whole time, and I rocked the lesson.

I hope I helped a little, thanks for listening to my ranting in there too! ha ha

[Glenski]

AEON
Interview experience 1 (April, 2003)
I was just hired by Aeon last week and I'm heading to Japan in a couple of months.

I found that the essay never once came up again during the 2 day interview process. Try to do a good job, but don't sweat it too much - make sure of your spelling and grammar though. Spellcheck isn't enough.

The interview process is two step. One group day and one individual day. For the group day I was one of 8 applicants. You'll have an info session and then be asked to teach a 5 minute lesson. You are expected to 'just go'. You can't be stopping to say: 'And now the students will do such and such' You can't stop the charade and ask questions. So just do it with as much confidence as possible.

On the second day you'll do another lesson, but this time, instead of applicants acting the role of students, the recruiters will. This is not as stressful as it sounds.

Remember that the recruiters are under pressure to find qualified candidates. I can't say for sure but I think the odds are stacked in the teachers' favor if you think of supply/demand at the present time.

Recruiters want:
Lack of immigration issues.
Lack of health issues.
COMMITMENT to do it for a year at least.
Some understanding of English grammar (there is a light quiz)
The ability to make small talk/be personable. -

I hope this helps. I researched a bunch of companies and interviewed for a few. I was offered employment by all of them and I chose Aeon because by all indications, they have the best official record, the best reputation and most importantly, the least disgruntled employees. Good luck. No need to be nervous. Let them know that you made an effort (such as by bringing teaching materials to your lesson) and that will go a long way.

Interview Experience 2 (March 2003)
My boyfriend just got a job with AEON, and I think he was hired because he showed that he was a 'people person' - He didn't have any teaching experience or TEFL qualifications or much knowledge about Japan, but he made sure that he showed an real interest in living in a different culture and learning about it whilst he was there.

When they asked him to do the on the spot lesson plan he messed it up but still got hired - because he didn't panic and admitted he had failings but expressed an eagerness to learn and become good at the job. He was friendly and open and I think that worked in his favour.

Interview experience 3 (March 2003)
I went through the lengthy interview process about 6 months ago.
Just go on the internet and pull up a lesson plan, maybe format it to the allotted time, level you choose, etc. Then, take 5 minutes of it and just practise it. Maybe make a handout or something. What's more important is to SMILE. Sad, but true. In my group of eight, I saw some truly sad performances and I'd bet they got a second interview. And I'm sure they understand if you're nervous. Plus, you don't necessarily have to teach them grammar -it can be another skill - speaking, for instance. so maybe type in your search engine - 'conversation lesson ESL' and see what comes up. Also, vocabulary lessons are very interesting.
Also, be prepared to write a short grammar quiz. They leave the room though, so you can cheat [though the stick in the muds I was with didn't talk].
But I'll warn you of something which caught me by surprise: at the second interview, they give you their textbook and five minutes to prepare a section to present to the interviewer. One of the only criticisms I got was that I wasn't smiling like an idiot [not their words].
Relax, have fun, and don't forget to SMILE!

Interview experience 4 (April, 2003)
If you would like a job in Japan, go for it. But choose a different avenue than AEON. Their two-day interview process is an adventure in tedium. The first day consists of an informational session during which they tell you what a wonderful company they are and what an honor it would be for you to work for them. "Experience Japan," they say, though they don't tell you how you're going to find the time to do that with their 36-hour-a-week work schedule. And of course, that's 36 hours a week wearing a little AEON pin: another warning sign that this is another purely financial endeavor that likes to use dedicated, intelligent people as stooges for their K-Mart version of language teaching. The second day consists of an additional ambush lesson you must give on a topic the interviewer will choose before you walk into the interview. The interviewer acts "like a Japanese student," trying to trip you up with obdurate questions and behavior. Never mind that they are engaging in the Mother of All Stereotypes. Questions from the interviewer will then consist of every question out of the blue you can imagine; "Well what do you think about working for a Japanese company?" A little bit difficult to answer since I've never worked for one before. "What other companies have you applied to?" Like that's any of their damn business! "Are you financially able to take on this experience," referring to the 1200 USD they recommend you bring with you to Japan to tide you over till the first check. Gee, I didn't know I needed to be rich in order to get a job! And of course, "Why do want to go to Japan," which I thought I had answered in their silly 1-page essay about WHY I WANT TO LIVE AND WORK IN JAPAN!!!!!! I guess they forgot what I had written! Another way they try to trip you up and find the slightest inconsistencies.
And all this for a job that pays 12-14 USD with outlets inside subway stations. Yes, "Experience Japan for 2 Minutes on a Pittance" ought to be their slogan. And in the end, they denied me while selecting an acquaintance with a lesser degree and no language-teaching experience. So if you don't care about wasting your time and money (especially if you're flying to an interview from a distant location), then go for it. But personally, I'd recommend searching Japan on your own and making arrangements individually, rather than relying on a snobby sweatshop to smooth out your journey to Japan.

Interview Experience 5 (January, 2005)
I�ve recently failed an AEON interview after giving a presentation. I was prepared, and I thought my presentation was OK at the time. People say that getting a job in eikaiwa is easy, but don�t underestimate it.

Don�t count on some small group, half of which are immediately disqualified due to not wearing a suit, not being prepared, or showing up late or with a hangover. In the session I went to, the room was packed. There must have been 40+ people. There were lots of people who flew in from out of town. Everyone was wearing a suit, well prepared, and seemed to be very hungry for the job. I�d say it is certainly a buyer�s market right now for AEON.

Looking back, I think my presentation was too complicated, boring, and I also spoke too much.

The more effective presentations seemed to be very simplistic. Also, there were people there that were going crazy with energy, enthusiasm, and goofiness. I would recommend smiling as much as possible, and you can�t have too much energy and pep.

Also, I�ve heard the goal is to get your students comfortable and talking, rather than you just giving a lecture. A presentation that gets your students talking with each other is probably best.

I can�t comment for the interview after the presentation stage, since I was cut after that point. I�d say the most important thing you can do to prepare is practice giving your presentation to friends and family.

[Jazz1975]