Job Discussion Forums

[jc1977]

I ship out for Tokyo in a few weeks and will be training at AEON East in Tokyo. Does anyone have any experience out there with that specific headquarters? Can you give me a rundown of what will go on at training and what to expect during the week-long session?

Thanks in advance. Also, if this is too vague (or specific) feel free to PM me.

[Like a Rolling Stone]

I bin readin dis forum mon. I tells you many peeps have big problem wid East Aeon. Put it in da Search an you find whole new world o horror mon.

[earthmonkey]

[guest of Japan]

I trained there a long time ago, so the actual training may be different, but I believe many of the same trainers are still there.

I give it to you straight. Training sucks. You have long days with a lot of work to do afterward. You will be overloaded with information. You will find yourself wanting to strangle some of the trainers. You will be suffering from jetlag, and you will quickly grow tired of your food choices from the nearby convenience store. You'll find the living conditions cramped and may have the best roommates or ones from hell.

The good new is that it is over in a week and you will be in a completely new world. While at training be very attentive and eager to learn. Take notes of everything even if you don't need to. Be careful of you body language and posture. Dress professionally during the workday. Give it your best. Ask questions. Don't be a know it all, and don't act defensively. If you are called out for something, apologize and ask how you can improve.

You'll likely develop really close friends during the training, though those relationships aren't likely to last for more than a few months depending on proximity.

The training is worthwhile for the most part. It won't seem enough when the real teaching starts, and it will seem overwhelming as you do it. Just consider it an opportunity and a challenge and leave your ego at the door.

[seanmcginty]

I did training with AEON west in Okayama about 5 years ago. I had a great time, the training was useful and the trainers were really nice.

From what I've heard, training in AEON East is completely different. Pretty much what Guest in Japan says above, absolute nightmare.

[jc1977]

Hey, all right! Nightmarish. Just in time for that legendary Japan humidity. I have read some tales of horror from other members who have trained at AEON East ... that's why I wanted to put some feelers out and see if I could get recent info firsthand. Sounds like I'll be walking on eggshells.

It's OK to be specifically vague, but not vaguely specific.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

[womblingfree]

Don't panic!

The Aeon East trainers are indeed knobs...BUT...you shouldn't have to even think of that for at least a few months. Personally I found that despite the corporate cultishness of the operation it prepares you quite well for being launched into a classroom with no experience.

You may well never have to see a trainer again except for at follow up training. Trainers only visit schools that have a problem which the Japanese staff don't want to deal with.

If anything the trainers will be going out of their way not to appear like the the corporate hatchet men they are, bad for business see.

If your training group gets along then you will also be making some friends with whom you could stay in touch for many years.

Rules for training

1. Don't take it too seriously

2. Don't be a smart arse

3. Do nod, smile and say that you like selling books and they will try to help you out as much as possible (in the short term at least.)

Just try not to turn into a slimey spying yes man. (Emergency Teacher )

Omiya seminar house is quite a nice place to hang out. When I was training we arrived on the Friday and had the whole weekend to ourselves to get to know each other. I think those days are gone now though and you start training almost immediately.

[shikushiku-boy]

Well, jc1977, do you remember that creepy boy/girl at high school?
The one who got elected to everything. The one all the teachers
trusted. The one all the parents admired. Sensible hair cut, shiny
shoes, liked Christian music, etc., etc.

For the 5 days your in Omiya pretend to be that creepy kid.
Everything will be sweet.

Trust me!

[womblingfree]

[seanmcginty]

[womblingfree]

Double post.

[womblingfree]

[The_Hanged_Man]

Wow, I have to agree that the gaijin training staff for AEON East were one of the biggest collection of obsequious smarmy weirdos I have ever met. The Japanese staff for the most part were pretty cool though. All of the previous advice seems solid. Just do what they say and keep your head down. It will be all over in a week. After that you'll only have to see them a few times a year for the occaissional training session.

[dudelebow]

Mark and Lars and company. Hilarous. Total twits.

I was railroaded by my AEON EAST branch school. It was pushed forward through lies, rumors, and plenty of backstabbing. In a helpless effort of self-defense, I searched my personal file and found documents in Japanese (which I had translated) to prove it. I brought evidence to HQ (i.e. Mark, Jim and company) to show I had been deceived, but it was to no avail. It didn't matter. Those twits took the side of my branch staff enemies and I didn't get a new contract. Its over and in the past, but new and current AEON hires must know what they might encounter. I never dealt with a lower level of professionalism from a bunch of hypocrits in my life.

The most dispicable thing they did was change my performance scores on my sales of AEON self study materials and fudged results of student satisfaction surveys (using graph charts) to justify a non-contract renewal decision. This was not just sanctioned by HQ, they worked on it together! I have evidence in documents and recorded conversations to prove it. Their case against me was so weak, but they took extreme measures to carry out their undertaking.

Luckily, I'm in a much better place making even better money. I'm happy I left, but I hope things change for teachers there. They don't deserve the sun light that shines on their arse just because Nova is perceived to be worse. AEON needs a union methinks.

[womblingfree]

What's depressing is the number of Aeon teachers who leave angry and absolutely estranged by the actions of the trainers. This causes what may well have been a great experience into ending on a very sour note.

Trainers desperately need a course in interpersonal relations. As it stands they are unfortunately just former non-qualified 'teachers' who have climbed the greasy pole. It's like Stevie Wonder showing Ray Charles how to cross the road.

Staying in Japan a long time does NOT constitute professional knowledge or certification. Although at eikaiwas, it does. Depressing