Job Discussion Forums

TOBrian · Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Toronto

To All,

I was just wondering, has anybody gone through the "NOVA" group for attaining work in Japan? My girlfriend and I hear great things as far their ability to help with the acclimation into Japan. If there is anybody who is working with "NOVA", please drop me a line and let me know some of the in and outs? Do you like it? Was the transition reasonably simple? etc.....?

Sincerely,

TOBrian

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

You should post this in the Japan forum.

NOVA is the largest conversation school chain in Japan.

Pros
Furnished apartment set up for you. You pay ~70,000 in rent which includes utilities.
Lessons are pre-planned for you.
Clean facilities near major public transportation lines.
Visa sponsorship.
Interviews from abroad (mostly).
Salaries are based on location. Also, depending on qualifications, you might get a very small increase compared to base pay.

Cons
Some illegal clauses in their contracts, but mostly ignored (drug testing, nonfraternization with students).
Rent is per PERSON, so a simple apartment can actually cost more than it would if a person were to rent it on his own.
Apartments are shared with strangers. (Couples may have an option to get one by themselves, though.)
The teaching system itself is not the best format (pretty repetitive and boring, and you are not permitted to deviate). Students choose who and when to go, so you may never have the same students twice.
You teach 8 classes a day with only 10 minutes between them.
You (probably) don't get copayments into health insurance and pension.