Job Discussion Forums

olive eyes · Joined: 22 Jan 2009 Posts: 14 Location: Canada

Hi everyone! I was wondering if anybody has ever worked for AEON, and if so, how was your experience with them? I've read posts about the interviewing process, but I was unable to find any posts on people's experiences wroking for them. I heard that teachers who work for AEON must constantly promote the company by wearing the school's pin whether at school or not. Some more information given to me was that teachers quite often have to hand out flyers of the school at shopping centres, universities etc. to recruit new students. Also, teachers do not have much free time outside school hours, because they must attend functions such as dinners, fairs etc. Does anyone know if this piece of information is true? Thanks for your feedback!!

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

Most of the stuff that should sound ridiculous to you is probably not true. The rest of the stuff probably is.

Asher · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 47

http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=2189

Worth what it costs you.

My best guess is that like any job, it mostly depends on the particular school you work at.

Ia2day · Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 20 Location: Kyoto

Yeah, I work for Aeon...The thing to recognize is that each school will be different. Sure there are some head office mandated meetings and such, but for the most part it really depends where you go.
Personally, I have never once had to hand out flyers or attend any "dinners".
But I'm at a relatively laid back school...

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Your pin is given to you on completion of basic training. I stuck mine on my suit but never wore my suit after day 1 unless it rained (I left it hanging up on a coat hanger at the office in case of shower at end of day) According to head office you may be asked to hand out advertising/put up posters. I helped the deputy manager take posters around to a few local businesses once.

Dinners: Staff tended to go out for dinner twice or thrice for each new teacher. Once as staff to greet newbie on first evening of their arrival, maybe once a few days later to say goodbye to old teacher and once more a few weeks later with staff and students as official welcome of new teacher. That was it. Many schools have two teachers, so that makes 2 or 3 dinners for you, 2 or 3 if the other teacher is replaced, and 1 or 2 for your replacement. Probably a couple more for christmas etc. Not onerous.

elkarlo · Joined: 08 Dec 2008 Posts: 240 Location: Maryland

I think everything that is not JET gets beat up real hard on the net, deeservingly so or not. You can ask about any company and get bi-polar reviews. Maybe becasue a lot of these comapnies have such a high turnover that ESID is the rule basically. Agent Mulder got screwed over by Interac, but others didn't have a bad time there. Some people may get forced to hand out flyers, while others may be allowed to do what ever.

The Dutchess · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Kobe, Japan

First of all, just to echo what's already been said, Every Situation Is Different. As such, I can only tell you about my own experiences so far. I currently work for AEON and am quite happy. I have never had to pass out flyers, vacuum, scrub toilets, stay past my scheduled time, or been made to feel like a "salesperson". Customer Service Representative is perhaps more apt. Eikaiwa are businesses and students are paying customers, make no mistake. But have I ever had to push something on a student or try to coerce them into buying something I didn't think they needed nor wanted? No. That's what the Japanese staff are there for. I don't have quotas, nor is my contract renewal contingent on sales figures. As long as I can teach lessons which are fun and provide students with the sense that they learned something (and had a good time in the process), then I'm golden. As for practically no free time outside of the classroom (meetings, dinners what-have-yous), total nonsense. I have the odd farewell/welcome party when a new foreign teacher goes or comes and Halloween and Christmas parties. Other than that, I work 8 hours a day 4 days a week and one 9 hour day (Saturday). The rest of my time is exactly that, it's my time.

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

I occasionally had to hand out flyers when I worked for Aeon, but my school was directly above a train station. It didn't happen too often and I never had to do it for long periods of time - an hour at the very most.

There weren't that many social events either. As others have said, there was the occasional party or gathering, but nothing that would really eat into your free time.

You do have to wear your Aeon pin while you're at work, but certainly not outside work!

manamaorigirl · Joined: 04 Apr 2009 Posts: 13

I worked for AEON in Osaka and had a great time doing so
I was in a really laid back school where we never handed put flyers
but we did share housework in school like vaccuming and cleaning
whiteboards.
I NEVER wore the pin and we were a sociable bunch of stuff so of course we went out alot together.
The school you are placed in makes the difference - especially the managers
Two of my other friends at other branches had hectice schedules
It all depends on how you handle yourself - if you are well liked and a good "teacher" you won't have any problems
Furthermore, I'm a person who doesn't take any crap so if you have problems - don't hesitate to communicate them
I really enjoyed my time with AEON and living in Japan. I would recommend it to anyone

vancouver_syndicate · Joined: 09 Sep 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Canada

Overall, it was a good experience for me. Didn't like the fact the lessons were so rigidly structured. I guess if you don't like planning it's alright, but repeatedly doing the same thing was boring.

On handing out flyers, my last month there they made me do it a lot, a few times a week. Guess it was because business was down. Hated it after a while.