Job Discussion Forums

bcc5151 · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 3 Location: VA - USA

I have gone through the interview process for both NOVA and AEON and feel blessed to have been offered by both. They each offer very similar benefits packages. As a first time international English teacher I am looking for some candid advice.
NOVA can...
get me to Japan in September when I want to leave
an apartment with roommates (sounds good)
allegedly permits teachers to transfer between cities
more likely to send me to a more urban area but will not disclose my assignment until 2 weeks prior to departure
AEON ...
get me to Japan in mid October 40 days after I want to leave
offers a 1 bedroom efficiency apartment (sounds kinda depressing)
does not permit transfer and has assigned me to a more rural placement (Yamaguchi) than I would like
has a much stronger reputation.

I would greatly appreciate any information you can provide on any of these topics (and Yamaguchi in general).

Thank you in advance for your candor,
Bernie

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 11:25 pm Post subject:

That really depends on what you are after. To me, the AEON placement sounds more attractive as the reality of sharing a NOVA apartment may not be as fun as you may think. A lot of the time these apartments are like student accommodation in which a family-sized apartment has been partitioned into three rooms using flimsy sliding doors. If you end up in the middle room then it is best not to be fond of windows or natural light and it's a good idea to be close to your roommates as when they bring their girlfriends home at night you'll easily be able to have a conversation with them through the walls.

The AEON apartments at least give you your own space.

Another thing you mentioned is that the AEON placement is out in Yamaguchi ken and in the sticks. The big difference that this placement will make to you is whether or not you are interested in learing Japanese and getting into Japanese culture. If you go with AEON you will have far more incentive whereas if you are living with housemates in a big city such as Tokyo or Osaka you will probably learn very little Japanese and fall into the trap of the "gaijin bubble".

Anyway, it's your choice.

japolak · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 40

do you mind me asking how old are you?

nonsmoker · Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 12:35 am Post subject:

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I have never seen a Nova apartment like furiousmilksheikali describes. I have been inside quite a number of them, and they were all standard 2DK or 3LDKs, the 3LDKs often having two 6-mat sized rooms and one 4.5-mat room, or three 6-mat rooms, all with windows.

Perhaps in some areas the apartments are as he described but I've not seen any like that.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 1:00 am Post subject:

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

Do you really want to share with stranger who will have nothing different to talk about except NOVA work all the time?

NOVA apartments usually run 70,000 yen/month, while AEON caps its rent much lower (around 42,000 last time I checked). It may be smaller, but it's cheaper and ALL YOURS.

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

The reality of it all:

In the end you'll want your own place.
You aren't going to be able to transfer to another branch with Nova, at least not to a more desirable location. It's all propaganda.
The average stay of a foreign teacher at Nova is 6 months.
The average stay of a foreign teacher at AEON is a year and a half.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend working at either places, but they're both a foot in the door, which is better than nothing. AEON seems to have a higher rate of teacher satisfaction.

You aren't allowed to associate with students at Nova. (Not a valid clause in a contract, but still a source of stress) I worked at AEON for a year and had a terrible experience (the other foreign teachers were really great people, and so were the part-time Japanese teachers, but the head teacher and managers were probably some of the worst people I've met in my life), but it all comes down to what branch school you're at, and even within that branch school a change in staff can mean an instant change in the work-environment, for the better or worse.

Gypsy Rose Kim · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 151

The advice about not learning Japanese in a big city was quite good. There is indeed a gaijin bubble. Not everyone gets caught in it, but except for those who've worked abroad before, I bet nobody thinks they will.

The housing thing? I'd go with NOVA. You can move out of your NOVA apartment at any time. And some people DO like having roommates at first, cuz hopefully they can show the ropes at work. You will have a much bigger place if you have roommates. Some people love it, especially those who are young. I don't know about AEON, whether you can move out.

I transferred to the exact branch I wanted. I know tons of people who transferred back when we all started and were working at NOVA.

I know nothing about AEON. But sounds like NOVA is offering you more of what you want.

Oh, and not being able to socialize with students at NOVA? I see that as a benefit of working there. Who wants to feel obligated to hang out with students after they finish working? At my last job we were expected to hang out with them, and I found it a drag. "Oh, teacher! You can use chopsticks! Ha, ha! You are eating sushi, but Americans can't eat sushi! Tee, hee, you are DRINKING a beer!" Please. You can find plenty of Japanese people to make friends with who aren't students.

bcc5151 · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 3 Location: VA - USA

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 1:33 pm Post subject:

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

If you take the NOVA position, you aren't necessarily stuck in the apartment they provide. If you want your own place, and when you have the several hundred thousand yen you'll need to get into one, you're free to move. If you'd prefer a dorm-type situation to a shared apartment, you can forego the NOVA apartment and move into a gaijin house. You'll probably save about �20K a month. Just be sure to get details about the amenities, because gaijin houses range from pleasant to really awful.

If you do start off in the NOVA apartment, consider lining up other living arrangements as soon as possible. Most NOVA teachers don't finish their first contract, and you'll of course have to leave the apartment when you leave NOVA. You don't want to deal with a move when you're also starting a new job.

japolak · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 40

I have a question: Say you live with 2 other roommates in your NOVA apartment...and then say both of your roommates move, would you be still paying around 70K a month still for a 3 bedroom apt?