Job Discussion Forums

Don Lorenzo · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Toronto, Canada

Hello everyone,
I am new in here and I am very excited to join not only this board but also the exciting world of Travelling English Teachers. Smile

Tomorrow, I have my interview with Nova in Toronto. I did my research on this forum, (which is by the way a wealth of information and tips, kudos to all for sharing your experiences and all!!! Cool

) but still a few questions still remained unanswered:

a) On the application, questions # 4 is :
"Was this education in an English language setting?"

I was lucky enough to grow up in 2 different education systems, the French and the Canadian one. As a result of this, I had about half of my education in French and half in English and I am equally fluent in both of these languages. So to that question, should I answer no to the question and then explain that I did half in English and half in French? Or should I just say it was all in English as to not affect my chances for being selected? Which would be the best answer? I really really want to go to Japan.

b) Since I am fully fluent in English, French, Italian and Portuguese, I was wondering if I could also offer courses on the side in these languages, mainly private ones? How is the market/potential and demand for these other languages in Japan?

c) Given that I have never been to Japan and speak no Japanese at all yet, and not knowing anything about Japan other than what I learned in the past few days while browsing this site and doing some personal research, which area/town in Japan would you recommend? Which area/town to avoid? Based on what I read, It seems that I should rather avoid Tokyo as it's very expensive there but at the same time, I'm also intrigued by all the non-stop never sleeping buzz that one finds in a megalopolis as Tokyo. I would be more interested in a city where it's not that cold and not too far from the beach, hence it seems that the south of Japan would be a good choice. Am I mistaken to be feeling that way? How about the coastal cities of the Kyushu island? How are the beaches there? And the people there? The cost and quality of life?

I would really appreciate any feedback and tips on the above mentioned questinons. Laughing

Cheers.

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

For the Specialist in Humanities visa,

Don Lorenzo · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Toronto, Canada

Thanks Nismo for the reply. Cool

And I thought that being multi-lingual would be an advantage and not a set back... Shocked

Oh well, I am tempted to just not mention my French education...
Do they also ask transcripts or diplomas from high school and elementary school? Do they contact those schools as well or not?

midnightpariah · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 85

The only thing they ask for is a copy of your college diploma. When you fill out the application that they sent to you, make sure that you have all 12 years filled out. It really shouldn't be a problem that the schools you went to were 1/2 French if you don't mention it! =o)

gaijin4life

Don Lorenzo · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Toronto, Canada

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Just apply to be an English teacher. On your resume, mention your high school and university, along with your degree etc.

You're going to have to do your own research about places in Japan you wish to be in. Start by deciding if you want to live in the city, or don't mind being in the countryside. Then, think about the weather. Adjust your expectations accordingly. Or, you could increase you chances with NOVA by saying that you don't care where you're placed in Japan, and let the adventure begin.

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City

[quote="Don Lorenzo"]

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

From the NOVA homepage.

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

To the OP, Nova (and some of the other big eikaiwa) do indeed offer other languages, however they only employ native speakers to teach them. If you're going to convince them that you're an English native speaker, I think that would rule you out of teaching French or anything else there, no matter how fluent you are. You could even be qualified to teach a language in your home country, but as far as the language schools here are concerned, still not a native speaker - and it's "native speaker instructor" that is their big selling point.

As someone else pointed out, you will possibly find a demand from private students wanting other langauges in bigger cities, but don't expect to find lots of these.

midnightpariah · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 85

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

My degree is from the Facult� St. Jean at the University of Alberta... Hence, when they saw my degree parchment, it was all in French. I was required to provide a translation of it and that was all.

Bonne chance...

Don Lorenzo · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Toronto, Canada

I had my interview today. The first part was the usual presentation about the company and Japan in general. Then on the interview part, the guy that was supposed to interview me, once he saw that my elementary school was outside of Canada in a non-English setting, he said that "because of the requirements of the Japanese government, I don't meet the requirements of having 12 years of education in an English setting and that there was no need to go ahead with the interview. We could still do the interview but if I were to send your file to Japan, they would turn it down due to the 12 years requirement not being met."

I tried to tell him that this was an English school then he requested me to have the school send an official letter saying that the language of instruction in the school is in English. He said he would put on hold my application until I can provide such a letter from the school.

Now I have to get a letter from a very small school in a very small city in France. Not a piece of cake... Rolling Eyes

All my other requirements are good, just that one little bummer... Evil or Very Mad

One question to those who had successful interviews and were hired by Nova, does Nova contact the schools you mention on the application, specially those in the lower level like Elementary and Secondary levels?
To me honesty is paramount in everything and that's why, despite some wise suggestion from you lots in here to just lie and put English Canadian schools for my elementary and secondary schooling, I decided it would be better to just tell the truth. Seems that these days, honesty is not highly regarded.... Rolling Eyes

Oh well, lesson learned I guess... Sad

So ladies and gents, I reiterate my previous question once more: does Nova (and the other big ones in Japan and also in Korea) contact the schools you put in your application or not? Does anyone know or can anyone in the "know" shed some lights into this issue?

Much appreciated, the hunt to get into Japan or Korea continues... Wink

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

Hi don,
I'm pretty certain they would NOT contact the schools on the application form, the ones before university level anyway. In fact, in many cases, I doubt they'd even contact your university - unless you'd actually given someone there as a referee - they would just rely on your degree or diploma certificate and perhaps transcripts.

But I have never in either Japan or Korea had one of my pre university schools contacted, nor heard of anyone else who has.

I know this is slightly different, but in my case due to my parents moving about an excessive amount when I was a child, a full and accurate list of all the schools I attended wouldn't fit on any application form. So I always just put down one primary school and one secondary of the several that I attended. This has never once caused me a problem.

midnightpariah · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 85

Don:

They didn't contact my schools. They didn't even ask for the phone numbers. You should of just made up some school names...