Job Discussion Forums

skomand · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Philadelphia, PA

By "substantial" I guess I mean JET is purely educational, since you're working for the schools, not a profit-seeking company.

PAULH, you've made your point already. Please cease posting on my topics!

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

As far as I know you can't declare topics off limits to certain people, whether you started them or not. I have to agree that you really should concentrate on getting a job rather than deciding where you do or don't want to work. NOVA will give you the option of requesting a city and that's about it. And even that isn't guaranteed. If you tell them you want to work at Shinjuku Honko then they might laugh in your face.

Also, there is a constant turnover of staff at these schools and I'm reffering to teachers. managers AND japanese staff. For example, I am the only person at my branch (both teachers and japanese personel) left from those who were there in September. So there's really no point in asking what schools to avoid.

In the words of my old Master Corporal, it would behoove you to not worry so much about where you're going but just concentrate on getting there.

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

skomand · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Philadelphia, PA

I have warmer feelings about JET since I have 3 friends who did it and loved it. With the conversation schools, I'm more worried about having to be a salesman all the time -- that's pressure I don't like. I would rather be the best teacher I could be, and let that sell itself. Will they actually fire you if your sales numbers are low?

And PAULH, there shouldn't be any "heat" at all. People answered honestly and that's fine. What bothers me is what you assume about me, and the snide tone you take when answering. It's unnecessary. It's not a fact of life. It's something in you.

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

skomand · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Philadelphia, PA

I wouldn't tell you to take a hike, since you're giving reasonable advice at this point. But please consider my position -- recent college grad without a lot of time or money to spend on CELTA certification. This is why I'm considering the eikaiwa. GEOS even splits the cost of CELTA after one year. BUT I think you have to admit that the social experience of running a class, even without "real training," is invaluable.

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

Skomand I think is what you need more than anything.

Check out the bottom links on Culture Shock and teaching in Japan. it may surprise you.

http://www.thejapanfaq.com/

Chris21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Posts: 366 Location: Japan

Actually, I had a buddy who worked for GEOS and he said that they did have sales quotas for teachers (whereas Nova, ECC, and AEON don't).

He had to spend a lot of his free time fraternizing with students at social events, encouraging them to sign up. Quite weird to have a company that encourages fraternization (unlike Nova).

I've never actually worked for GEOS myself, just what I heard. I think he was in a small town too, so the situation might be different in larger cities.

skomand · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Philadelphia, PA

Thanks, PAULH. That link contains tons of valuable information. I'll make my way through it over the next few days.

Also, I would just like to point out that, on the Teaching in Japan FAQ you linked me to, I found this bit of advice:

"It is very important to try and find out what place is somewhere you'd like to be. Talking to other teachers (especially outside their workplace) who're at the school you're looking at can give a lot of insight. Is the boss a petty Napoleon?"

That's what this post was all about in the first place, and what you criticized me for.

Like a Rolling Stone · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 872

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

skomand · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Philadelphia, PA

I posted couple of things that I am looking for/want to avoid, listed the companies I want to work for, and then asked a forum for, among other things, experienced eikaiwa teachers in Japan. OMG, WHAT WAS I THINKING????

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

Perhaps so, but remember that most people on here are the ones who have stuck around. They've seen people come and go and come and go. So when someone comes on with a list of conditions before he's even gotten here then they might be forgiven for thinking that it's just some guy in need of an attitude adjustment. When I first came here, the last thing on my mind was "what school should I avoid?" You should stop worrying about it. Instead of choosing a school, which if you're going for the Big 4, is a really ridiculous thing to be doing and instead focus on a company. Like I said before. If Tokyo is where you want to be then you should be happy if they put you there. Asking for a particular school really is pushing it a little.

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

A school is just a group of buildings. A job is what you do within those four walls, has to do with the people you work with, the students you meet and your interactions with human beings.School rules and conditions dont have feelings. No one can predict what kind of person you have as a manager whereever you work. I have worked with some difficult people as co-workers, not to mention students. Even if you are at a 'good' school, all you need is one person to spoil it for you.

It all depends on how you deal with the situation, whether you have a thick skin or even whether you like teaching as a job. You may get here and be bored silly in three months. Learn to like your job and what you do, for if they have you working 8 hours a day you wont have much choice whether you like it or not. You just stick it out until you find a more agreeable situation but you cant 'plan' where and who you work with 3 or 6 months down the line.