Job Discussion Forums

MeyeQui · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 24 Location: Japan

Can you guys and gals tell me more about that two month Nova probation?

Is passing the probationary period based more on competance as an english teacher or about going with the flow of the regulations, punctuality, etc. What should I learn or know beforehand that can help prepare to succeed through this probation?

thank you,

MeyeQui

foster · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 Location: Honkers, SARS

You should get off probation in the 2 months provided you don't piss anyone off too much and show some ability to teach.

It is a combo of the two things. Getting along with Nova and teachign as they want you to teach.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Actual etaching ability is not a requirement to get a job with NOVA as most people getting a job with them have no formal training and experience before they start work. They will provide you with a few days of training before they throw you into a classroom.

keep in mind the classes are tightly scheduled, students have paid a lot of money upfront for lessons so it pays not to be late for (50-minute) classes or late for work (they will dock your salary for late classes). Dont complain too much about the long days and heavy schedule or some of the petty rules they have. To not get through your probation would probably mean you have physically assaulted one of the trainers, taken too many days off or made blatant attempts to proposition students. Time and a place for everything. The probation period is really just a time for you to get settled, find your sealegs and to see how you cope with the language, culture, deal with homesickness and let you get some initial training.

Be at work on time, keep your mouth shut and ears open, learn as much as you can about teaching etc. you will be pretty shellshocked when you first arrive in a new culture- not everything will be the same as it was back home. The teaching itself is not that difficult, its just that theres a lot of it, with back-to-back classes and little time between lessons to change files etc.

joncharles · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Beijing

Of course depending on your start date you could end up waiting almost four months for your first full paycheck. Lets say you start in the second day of the month let's say.. July. So you work to August second and then to September second. You say.. Yeah! Off probation and now I can get the full pay. Nah uh! Because your probation ended after the first of the month and therefore after the pay period for that month has started, they won't count you being off probation until the next pay period begins. But then again all the companies do that.

As PAULH said.. just do what they tell you and show up on time and do the classes the way they want.. you will be okay... Once you are off probation then maybe you can begin to slyly modify the Quest lessons (the out dated texts Nova forces their students to buy) with your own ideas..

kanjizai · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 69

[quote]Lets say you start in the second day of the month let's say.. July. So you work to August second and then to September second. You say.. Yeah! Off probation and now I can get the full pay. Nah uh! Because your probation ended after the first of the month and therefore after the pay period for that month has started, they won't count you being off probation until the next pay period begins[/quote]

So does this mean that one can lose money?

worldwidealive · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 84

No, you don't actually lose money, but it depends on how you look at it. To clarify:

The Nova probation is actually two COMPLETE fiscal months. That is to say, that if you start work with them on, let's say, August 15, you will be on probation salary for the rest of August AND the TWO FULL MONTHS of September and October. Come later in August, lucky you. Come earlier, longer probation. So you can't really get off probation mid-month. If all goes well you satisfy your probation requirement at the end of the second full month. You will then be paid the non-probation salary from the next day onward.

Like someone else said above, it is a rare day when someone doesn't get off probation. Just keep out of the sights of any Nova Nazi trainers who have had the title go to their head. The good news is that it's not hard to do, because there seem to be plenty of your co-workers that will do a good enough job of bringing attention to themselves.

Good luck.

kanjizai · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 69

Thanks for the info worldwidealive. CAn I do overtime while still on probation?

worldwidealive · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 84

Well, technically no.

BUT, as it was told to me, if Nova has a choice between canceling a class which angers paying customers and calling in an instructor on probation to fill a teaching seat they will do just that.

However, overtime depends on a few factors. The first is just practicality - how far do you live from the branch(es) that need you. Staff may often have to fill slots with little time to spare and a 30-minute commute won't help them any. Secondly, more experienced, veteran teachers who want overtime will likely get the calls first - especially to fill in for planned overtime (vacation coverage, etc.). And lastly, there may not be a need for overtime at all. Many teachers who want it can't get it because Nova doesn't have as much need for it lately. Some say this is because they are trying to save money and others say it is because they have a surplus of teachers.

I wouldn't depend on overtime as a way of making extra income with Nova as it is so hit and miss. But, who knows, you could luck into a branch or area that would allow for more overtime than you could possibly want.

worldwidealive · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 84

Oh, and I forgot to mention, when a Nova branch class does not have a teacher, it is very common for Nova to put the class in front of a TV and have a Multimedia Center instructor run a class for them. In the MM Center there are teachers who actually sit normal shifts just to fill in for missing instructors all over the country, in any branch. So, maybe it is for saving money after all!

whtaccordrcr · Joined: 20 Sep 2004 Posts: 13

Wait.... I am unclear on something. The pay is actually less during the 2 month probation period??!?!??!? I thought it was merely that you couldnt swap schedules, take vacation days, and stuff in that nature

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

Yes, your salary during probation is lower than after.

From the NOVA web site:

Salary Ranges

Sponsored teachers will start on a salary of between 250,000 and 259,000 yen per month. After the initial probationary period, certain qualifications and types of working shift can increase your salary up to 320,000 yen.

Be aware that "up to 320,000 yen" depends on what city you work in. Look at the web site for details.

BradS · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Well after 2 months you get a trainer to observe one lesson. If you're "on target" you'll get off probabtion. No problem at all. Unless you're swearing at your students, you'll do fine.

melirae · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 145 Location: Korea

Your salary while on prbation will probably only be 250,000 yen unless you are in Tokyo and then it will be a little higher because it's more expensive to live there, so the regional allowence is higher. When you get off probation, your monthly salary will only go up to 320,000 if you work some serious late shifts or if you are in the MM Center and able to get all night shifts- working 10:40pm to 7:00ish am five nights a week. For normal schedules of working during the day, it will probably only go up about 20,000 yen at most, so you're not losing a huge amount, even if you have to do 2.5 months of probation, which is my case because I started work in the middle of the month.

The G-stringed Avenger · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 5:05 am Post subject:

Yeah those titled instructor Nazis are on some heavy power trip! Bunch of jerks - the male ones, that is. The women TI's were without exception totally cool, in my experience.

melirae · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 145 Location: Korea

You also need to show up on time for all your shifts- which one would think would be common sense, but.....
I know of someone who was due to come off probation, but didn't because he managed to no call/no show 3-4 times in his first 2 months. His excuse was that he was out the night before, and he just couldn't wake up early after only 5 hours of sleep.
Not to be mean, but there are some TOTAL idiots at this place. I pity the Japanese who are spending their hard earned money on lessons from some of these people.