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mrjohndub
Joined: 19 Sep 2005
Posts: 198
Location: Saitama, Japan
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 Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:01 pm Post subject: Beef with ECC |
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Due to a recent post, I've become interested in gathering more opinions on ECC. I didn't want to hijack the other thread, so here goes...
(I've checked their website and searched previous threads)
I'm currently employed by GEOS and renewed my contract, although it doesn't start for another two and a half months. It seems that ECC offers a slightly better package compared to the one that I have now.
I suppose what I'm asking is: What are the distinguishing and good points of working for ECC and where exactly do people have beef with ECC? What's the deal with this whole 'sub-shift' issue? Does anyone have an opinion of GEOS vs. ECC head-to-head?
Thanks for your imput. |
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callmesim
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 279
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 4:01 am Post subject: |
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On the issue of sub-shifts, they're not that common. Of the 10 people in my training group, I am the only one who got a sub-shift and there's just a one hour gap where I have to get from Komyoike to Nakamozu.
In fact, of all the ECC teachers I've spoken to, I'm the only one with a subshift.
I can only speak from that experience. Others may differ. |
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Firestarter
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:00 am Post subject: |
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| callmesim wrote: |
On the issue of sub-shifts, they're not that common. Of the 10 people in my training group, I am the only one who got a sub-shift and there's just a one hour gap where I have to get from Komyoike to Nakamozu.
In fact, of all the ECC teachers I've spoken to, I'm the only one with a subshift.
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I think you're referring to a split shift. A sub shift is where you are a substitute teacher on a certain day of the week and have to call the office in the morning to find out where you're working. These are fairly common when you're new but you get regular work pretty fast - at least I did.
The only beef I have with ECC is that school staff members are too often clueless about the responsibilities of and challenges faced by instructors. It just leads to a lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding that doesn't need to happen. However, I'm sure instructors are equally clueless about what school staff members and directors are dealing with as well.
I guess it's just part of what you'd expect when coming to work in Japan (miscommunication, etc.). I did expect it, but it's still frustrating at times.
Otherwise, I can only speak positively of my experience working at ECC. |
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mrjohndub
Joined: 19 Sep 2005
Posts: 198
Location: Saitama, Japan
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| Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 8:32 am Post subject: |
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Good info, thanks a lot.
Let me ask you this... If you knew me and we were good friends, would you enthusiastically urge me to work for ECC? I suppose if you asked me the same about my current company, I'd have an equal number of positives and negatives to run by you first.
They look like a nice company. And what about placement? Have you known someone who was hired while already in Japan, with experience? Did they have any more influence over their general placement than some green person overseas? |
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6810
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 309
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| Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:18 am Post subject: |
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ABout 4 years ago I worked for ECC.
Decent business, adequate management (at least where I was), not too many meetings, not much waffle and fairly a reasonable working hours to salary to vacation ratio.
If I was going to reccomend a big name eikaiwa, they would be it. |
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Firestarter
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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| mrjohndub wrote: |
Good info, thanks a lot.
Let me ask you this... If you knew me and we were good friends, would you enthusiastically urge me to work for ECC? I suppose if you asked me the same about my current company, I'd have an equal number of positives and negatives to run by you first.
They look like a nice company. And what about placement? Have you known someone who was hired while already in Japan, with experience? Did they have any more influence over their general placement than some green person overseas? |
I think getting hired in Japan is unusual. I'm in Osaka and I don't think I've met anyone who started in the last couple of years who wasn't hired overseas.
I would recommend it to someone depending on their interests and expectations. You're going to have to want to teach kids, work on Saturdays and except an entry level teaching salary. You've got to be energetic, creative enough to avoid tedium but disciplined enough to stick to the system. ECC is also big on teachers being committed to students by being there everyday, not resigning in the midst of an academic year, etc.
If you are or can do all those things, then I'd be comfortable recommending it. |
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mrjohndub
Joined: 19 Sep 2005
Posts: 198
Location: Saitama, Japan
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| Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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| I hear you. The reason I mentioned hiring in Japan is that their website seems to encourage it by pointing out the advantages of being hired here (i.e., faster starting time frame, expedited interview process). |
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callmesim
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 279
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Firestarter wrote: |
I think you're referring to a split shift. |
I am a fool. I did some sub-shifts and they suck arse thankfully they are now behind me.
As for being hired for ECC while in Japan, I was told in my recruitment session (which was about 3 months ago) that they stopped recruiting from within Japan because it's just easier and they get the numbers doing it overseas. That came from Personnel in Nanba HQ. |
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