Job Discussion Forums

originaloli · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject:

Oh yes, and thanks for the useful advice from the people who gave it. Some of it I already knew and am considering, some of it I am looking into.

It's nice when people feel they can be helpful/explanatory rather than just sarcastic.

Oli

fluffyhamster · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject:

Good luck Oli, and keep us posted as to the outcome (likely a good one from the sound of it!). (Sorry for not posting any advice myself, but I haven't worked for ECC or indeed any chain eikaiwa, just a reasonable if ailing independent eikaiwa once. The general work conditions that you outlined are however no worse, in fact, probably work out better than what the dodgier independent eikaiwa, and certainly most dispatch AET jobs, offer).

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

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

Get an ALT job. That way you'll have weekends and evenings free, and maybe school holidays as well. If you come on the JET programme you'll get a decent salary and flexible holiday, plus you can get sick pay if you get a doctor's note.

People on here tend to bit ch about despatch company ALT jobs for their low salary or whatever, but you in Tokyo you could make a fair bit from doing private evening classes.

Good luck eh.

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:40 am Post subject:

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

And all those car companies that could make cars that don't require petrol/gasoline as fuel. They've got water-powered cars kicking about somewhere, they're just waiting until the last drop of oil gets squeezed out of the earth or the atmosphere goes to pot, whichever happens first.

Eikawa teaching can be a soul-destroying place if you get anything out of seeing your students learn. When they still can't answer 'how are you?' after three years, just look over your shoulder. Your boss will be there, rubbing his/her hands together with glee.

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

Originaloli, I'm glad things are looking up. I do agree with Glenski, though, that you shouldn't get your hopes up just yet. The warning about the switch between the Army recruiter and drill sergeant is also appropriate.

Surely things have changed since I worked for ECC, but my experience was that they were good about scheduling teachers close to home and working with them within reason. They had a good grasp on who the teachers were (no faceless cogs), and, just like at any employer, those who didn't make life hard for the school or HQ staff were treated accordingly.

I too have heard lots of ugly things about GABA. I wouldn't risk it.

Dipso · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 194 Location: England

I worked for Aeon and what you were told by ECC all seems pretty much par for the course to me. I had to wait five months between interviewing in the UK and arriving in Japan.

At Aeon, we all had to arrive in Japan at a specific regional airport on a specific day, regardless of any inconvenience or extra expense incurred. It is also worth bearing in mind that your visa begins the day you enter Japan. If you arrive early, your visa will expire before your year-long contract does. This is why ECC don't want you in the country ahead of time - it means more paperwork and expense down the line.