Job Discussion Forums

72308 · Joined: 01 Sep 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Hey people, hope you're all enjoying your Sunday evening. I just had a quick question for anyone working the 'per lesson' contract at Berlitz:

Can you choose which lessons you work or does Berlitz dictate to you when you will be working?

Thanks in advance.

nightsintodreams · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 558

You might be able to negotiate your days off, but Berlitz decides when you work and gives you the schedule at around 6-8pm the night before.

jtea · Joined: 22 Apr 2014 Posts: 69

72308 · Joined: 01 Sep 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Can you say when you want to work and then they give you lessons within that time frame? Or do they dictate to you exactly when and you have no say?

Thanks.

nightsintodreams · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 558

If you're not full time then you may be able to do so, that's for you to discuss with them in the interview.

jtea · Joined: 22 Apr 2014 Posts: 69

72308 · Joined: 01 Sep 2010 Posts: 38 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Sorry, this is my fault for asking a vague question without any background: I work for the Gaba branch the General Union. There's always a massive debate about our itaku status, and I have a feeling that Berlitz teachers on itaku contracts get treated very differently from us. I was just wondering if you guys have any say over what schedule you work? If so, how much of a say.

jtea · Joined: 22 Apr 2014 Posts: 69

I can't answer the question entirely since Berlitz will be the first company I work for but from my research, in terms of flexibility, all eikaiwa's run the same. You work when there is work. The most flexibility you get is you can choose what type of job you want to do. Want weekends free? Work at a public school. Not a morning person and want to work later in the day? Work for an eikaiwa.

You can always email Berlitz and ask them how their pay per lesson plans work. If I have any say over my work schedule, it'll probably be which weekday I get for my days off but even then its a matter of when they need me to work.

nightsintodreams · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 558

I worked at Berlitz for two years, as far as an Eikaiwa company goes I get the impression they were pretty good. But the holidays are terrible, you don't get paid for national holidays and when I asked for some flexibility, they always did whatever they could to screw me over. On one rare occasion I asked if I could swap a work day with another teacher, no problem you'd think, but they wouldn't have any of it.

I tell anyone coming to or already living in Japan to avoid full time eikaiwa at all costs. You get terrible holidays, have to work nights and weekends meaning it's near impossible to find part time or private lessons, work in an English bubble meaning you won't have as much chance to improve your Japanese or learn about Japan, have to do way more lessons and have to work much harder than an ALT gig and on top of all that probably only get paid the same or maybe ever so slightly more than a bog standard ALT job.

Avoid them.