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| Which would you choose? |
| AEON |
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23% |
[ 3 ] |
| Westgate |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
| GEOS |
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7% |
[ 1 ] |
| NOVA |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
| ECC |
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7% |
[ 1 ] |
| other |
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61% |
[ 8 ] |
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| Total Votes : 13 |
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| Author |
Message |
bobcat
Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:19 pm Post subject: Which company would you choose? |
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| I'm new to this site and I've found it very helpful. But I need more help, please! My boyfriend and I are currently looking for ESL positions in Japan. I have a TEFL certificate and three years teaching experience with both adults (including TOEIC and TOEFL preparation) and kids in France. I also teach Spanish. He has a CELTA and several years experience as well. I've done quite a bit of research so far, but I'm having a hard time weighing my options. I would like to be able to SAVE the maximum amount of money, not be treated like a slave and have the time (some) to profit from my stay in Japan. I've read that NOVA can pay up to 320,000 yen a month - that's the highest salary I've found - but I've read some horror stories. Is this true? Is there anyone out there actually earning that amount? Finally, does anyone know about living arrangements for couples? Thank you! |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:37 am Post subject: Re: Which company would you choose? |
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| bobcat wrote: |
| I'm new to this site and I've found it very helpful. But I need more help, please! My boyfriend and I are currently looking for ESL positions in Japan. I have a TEFL certificate and three years teaching experience with both adults (including TOEIC and TOEFL preparation) and kids in France. I also teach Spanish. He has a CELTA and several years experience as well. I've done quite a bit of research so far, but I'm having a hard time weighing my options. I would like to be able to SAVE the maximum amount of money, not be treated like a slave and have the time (some) to profit from my stay in Japan. I've read that NOVA can pay up to 320,000 yen a month - that's the highest salary I've found - but I've read some horror stories. Is this true? Is there anyone out there actually earning that amount? Finally, does anyone know about living arrangements for couples? Thank you! |
Bobcat, the minimum amount that NOVA pays to sponsor a work visa is 250,000 yen a month and this is what the average new teacher gets. Higher pay is available in Tokyo because of higher living costs and higher expenses. I believe pay is about 275,000 yen a month (gross) in Tokyo while the average is about 250K a month in Osaka etc.
With overtime and perhaps working nightshifts at the Osaka Media center (they use interactive TV where students study from home) it is possible to make more, but keep in mind you could be working a night shift from 11pm to 7am in the morning.
As for being a slave, the average language teacher at the big schools works 8 hours a day, one hour off for meals, 5 days a week with split days off. At NOVA teachers teach 6 or 7 forty-five minute classes a day or about 27 contact hours a week with students. For this you get 250,000 yen a month which works out at about 1,400 yen a hour for your time. You may not get the same days off as your boyfriend.
Such onerous working conditions might seem like being a slave to you, but real slaves dont get paid anything, they dont get paid holidays after 6 months and accomodation or health insurance provided. Transportation to work paid for. Everything that employers here provide is regulated under the Japanese Labor standards law, and though there are employers that will pay peanuts and try to rip you off and cut corners on salaries, you really have to do your homework on what each of them offers and talk to people about their experiences. NOVA has something like 250 branches and 4000 foreign teachers working for them at the moment.
To save money here you have to earn more or spend less, and you can do this but working at extra jobs in your free time or on your days off, or teaching privates. Some schools will say you can not do extra jobs but legally this is unenforceable, as they can not regulate what you do in your free time. Teaching privates for example is not illegal in Japan. You can earn higher salaries in Japan depending on your job experience skills etc. A high school job for example may pay as much as 350,000 yen a month.
Some companies provide accomodation for couples but you would both have to be working for the same company as they will charge both of you rent, and the employer will not let an apartment to a non-employee SO. If you get a job together you will probably not be placed at the same branch. You really dont want to work together all day and then come home to each other as well and talk about work.
For more info on working at NOVA go to
http://www.vocaro.com/trevor/japan/nova/level_up.html |
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