Job Discussion Forums

MagicMichael · Joined: 11 Apr 2010 Posts: 1 Location: San Francisco

Anybody know anything about Mike's English School in Japan? There's a thread about them which has mixed reviews but I wanted something more current. Thanks.

mushroomyakuza · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 140

Now, THIS, sounds like a fishing thread. Seriously, guy, you even picked Michael as a username.

Mr_Monkey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 661 Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu

Never heard of the school before, but it's small - the website is pretty amateurish.

My concern would centre on the way the school offers classes:

mhard1 · Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Posts: 54 Location: Japan

gwynnie86 · Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 159

In my mind, joining fee = automatic scam!

Edit: Ah, wait, that's for the students? Hmmm. It does look amateurish though.

LITTLE PEACHES · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 12:16 pm Post subject:

i currently work there...it's not bad...i enjoy it....the company is a family business, and favors the family always. But, there are pros and cons to every place, i overall have been happy with the experience. i'm heading back home at the end of this contract though to persue my masters. give me some questions and i can answer them. If you are looking for a 9-5 m-f schedule that is not them....we have all ages of students, and work is EASY! you teach 27 classes and work 35 total hours. WE are purely conversation, no grammar and no certification required, but you do need a degree. PM me or ask me here.

Mr_Monkey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 661 Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu

Well, what are the normal hours?

Define "easy" work. Why is it easy?

What are the bread and butter classes? Adults? Kids?

How does the school deal with being so small? What are the expectations of the school with regards to teacher flexibility? Do you have to teach split-level classes?

What do you mean by "the company is a family business and favors the family always"?

Does the school enroll you on shakai-hoken, or do you need the kokumin kenko-hoken?

LITTLE PEACHES · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 3:43 pm Post subject:

Well, what are the normal hours?
37 hours a week....everyones schedule is different, but you will work like 4-8 hours a day in a row, no huge breaks. i have two days in a row off, some others have two days off not back to back, but a weekend day, i work weekends but have two weekdays off...you don't have much say in your schedule....school is open 9-9

Define "easy" work. Why is it easy?
teaching phrases for children, only lesson plan you have to occassionally make is a game....adults a little more work. you teach "text books" that we make for our own classes. Which are sample conversations, 2-4 lines, they repeat then you do conversations from there. Also have classes that you talk about anything in the real world going on. Always teaching new vocabulary as you use it. But nothing that you really have to stress over, when i leave work i'm off and not worried about if i have lesson plans or anything to do, because it's not that much maintanence, and they give you time for text books etc.

What are the bread and butter classes? Adults? Kids?
it depends on your personality...for me kids...but i'm great with kids...and no maintance, only a game. you always have a co-teacher in your kids classes, which they do the disciplining if neccessary (which is occassional, please be quiets) and translations....adults are awesome, and fun to keep your english converstaion good yourself. Sometimes working with kids I feel like i'm dumbing down my english. Some adults are very advanced and fun to teach. Always remember Japanese learned grammar in school, so sometimes you have to be on top of your grammar and they may ask grammatical questions, but i'm horrible with grammar and it hasn't been an issue.

How does the school deal with being so small? What are the expectations of the school with regards to teacher flexibility? Do you have to teach split-level classes?
it's small, but so are your classes. max students is 10, but thats for an elementary class. Different levels have different max students, but you will NEVER have more then ten...for the most part there are always special circumstances that someone will find a loop hole to say something. Flexibility is teaching is huge, and you can do almost anything you want as long as you are teaching the material given. split level classes of a great differences aren't really taught. they group baby, preschool, lower elementary, upper elementary, junior high, high school, and the adults into 6 different levels. you won't have a class that has a huge difference in one student to the next. flexibility to schedule, TOUGH! trying to get time off is difficult, your schedule is pretty set, and they aren't very flexible on it.

What do you mean by "the company is a family business and favors the family always"?
It's a family that runs it, and the family has priority. The native english teachers aren't family, but the japanese staff you work with will feel some pressure from them. Although they are a family business, they don't understand your family problems, only theirs. it's an interesting concept, hard to explain. But i have had no big problems with it.

Does the school enroll you on shakai-hoken, or do you need the kokumin kenko-hoken?
i think thats insurance right? they will help you set up the government insurance. If its your first year here it costs about 1900 yen a month.

seklarwia · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:34 pm Post subject:

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

If the company is small enough (less than 5 FT workers), they are not obligated to offer shakai hoken.

LITTLE PEACHES · Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:13 am Post subject:

they keep everyone just under fulltime except management, which is only 4....

LITTLE PEACHES · Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 2:54 pm Post subject:

they have officially started to look for new hires..if anyone in interested in work, i know they have several openings! i don't know the direct link but look up mike's english school

fmfmctm · Joined: 14 May 2010 Posts: 6

genesis315 · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 116 Location: Japan

Thank you Little Peaches for the information. Wish I could show up in a suit with resumes in hand tomorrow, oh well. I had looked over the website a while back and thought it was pretty good for a small school.

How often does Mike's hire? I am hoping to start applying for any openings towards the end of this year through the peak hiring time next year.

LITTLE PEACHES · Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 5:19 am Post subject:

hahhaha i feel like i'm a recruiter or something for them

they are hiring now and hire every year around this time, once a year. Go online and fill out the application online. Depending on where you live, local or abroad, they do interviews. I did a few skype and telephone interviews. Be prepared for a model type lesson for a few minutes, possibly singing also. We don't teach grammar but occassionally they ask some fun grammar questions to see how you react to things. As I would say with any interview just know your information, be yoursef and have fun! AND any skype interview, although it's just skype make sure you still dress the part!

Goood luck!