|
Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
OzDean
Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 3
|
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2004 10:46 pm Post subject: What's it like to work for ECC? |
|
|
My wife and I have applied to Geos, Nova and ECC.
We have our interviews for GEOS and Nova pending but like the sound of ECC (the whole six hours a day and seven weeks holiday being a big drawcard).
Just have a couple of questions though:
1) On their website ECC list 60 hours initial training at a fairly low rate so that in the first month your pay is quite small - is this correct?
2) I am of the understanding that the apartments provided are furnished - any idea on the cost of rent and does this include utilities?
3) If anyone can let me know what my wife and I can expect to pay in a Nova supplied apartment - I know they have a sort of scam, cramming 3 singles into an apartment and charging them 60,000 - 80,000 yen a piece - is this the same for couples? (We are looking at being located in Tokyo)
4) If someone could provide a general overview of a working day at ECC (clothing requirements, teaching requirements, socialising with students, etc...) this would be greatly appreciated. (the websites from the big four tend to supply fairly glossy descriptions)
I look forward to your replies! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Xerius
Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Posts: 29
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 4:16 am Post subject: ECC |
|
|
I work for ECC in Nagoya, and have really enjoyed the experience so far. The work is not particularly demanding - not much preparation time is required and the hours are fairly light overall. Sometimes the free time lessons can get a bit repetitive and boring, but the students more often than not are the most important factor in that. Addressing your questions:
1) Training lasts somewhere around two weeks and is paid at a markedly lower rate than teaching hours. The first check will probably be somewhere around 80,000 yen. That's enough to add a little to the coffers, but make sure to have sufficient funds to carry to the first REAL check (usually between one and two months after you arrive).
2) I've only dealt with ECC Chubu, so I can't say exactly how things are in Osaka, Tokyo and Fukuoka. Apartments here are standardly furnished and will run anywhere from 40,000 to 69,000 yen a month. The difference is dependent upon whether you want a roommate or not. I pay 62,000 a month for a single, but I live within 10 minutes walk of the center of town. Rents in the Osaka area are probably marginally higher, and Tokyo would definitely be a jump up (forget about singles unless you want to pay upwards of 100,000 a month). No clue about Fukuoka - ECC's Kyushu branch is small and notoriously difficult to break into.
3) Never worked for NOVA, so I can't comment here (although I've heard about the 'scam' too).
4) A standard teaching day at ECC runs - as you already know - around 6 hours (as far as I know, never more). Clothing is standard shirt, tie and slacks for men and a sort of "business casual" notion for women (needless to say, they have a bit more flexibility here). Classes themselves consist of kids classes (anywhere from age 2 to 13), regular adult classes and free time lessons. The regular classes are divided into upper and lower levels, the former being a little difficult to get into as a new teacher (I lucked out though). There is no 'non-fraternization' clause in the contract. On the contrary, ECC encourages their teachers to become friends with and invite students to social activities (but I will add that they prefer that it's done without exclusivity to others). There is a catch: dating students is not technically permitted in the contract. This is not to say that it doesn't ever happen (it does), but teachers who do so should be quiet about it lest they risk being let go. It's not taken to the extreme of NOVA, but the company doesn't approve of it and will give you a talking to if they find evidence you've done so.
All in all, it's a pretty good job - certainly better than the ones I had back home. The vacation time's a huge plus, although I will add that most of it coincides with the standard national holidays so getting away can be pricey (a common gripe). Even so, it's far better than the standard in some other countries. Hope this helped. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
BenJ
Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 209 Location: Nagoya
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm also in Nagoya with ECC and I second everything said by Xerius. I find the workday short - 6 hours of teaching, then away you go again - especially as my entire day including commute is less than 8 hours.
The training is a bonus if you haven't worked with kids before - very helpful. The pay for it is abysmal of course, but I've heard with others like Berlitz, the training is unpaid...
The apartments are found through a real estate agent here in Nagoya and I am under the impression they are not actually ECC apartments - so ECC assist you to find one, but after that they have nothing to do with you. I didn't ask for ECC's help, so I could be wrong. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
kiracle
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 65 Location: Gifu, Japan
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Wow! Seven weeks vacation is pretty good. Do you work 5 or 6 day weeks? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
BenJ
Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 209 Location: Nagoya
|
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 12:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
5 days - generally Sunday and one other day off
shifts are pretty much always from 3pm to 9pm though |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
kiracle
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 65 Location: Gifu, Japan
|
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 12:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
That's pretty good. I get six weeks vacation which I considered quite good but I work 6 days a week. Saturday only in the morning so it's not so bad still.... |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|