Job Discussion Forums

Evil Giraffe · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 32 Location: Kofu, Japan

anybody know anything about this company? my brother ran into a girl who used to work for them. she said it's better than JET (whatever that means).

www.berlitz.com

Sunpower · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 256 Location: Taipei, TAIWAN

A lot of teachers eventually leave JET and go to Berlitz.

There are sh*t loads of ex-JET teachers working all over Japan with Berlitz.

Berlitz has it's problems/challenges too, though.

Just don't let Berlitz try to put you on a 50 hour Minimum Guarantee contract.

Paid per-lesson status is the way to go, if you get on with Berlitz.

However, last I heard was that they were forcing people to go on a Minimum Guarantee contract (there are 3 types: 20 hours, 35 hours, 45 hours and the secret 50 hour contract).

They recently modified their teaching materials and now use CD/DVD technology in the lessons.

NOVA doesn't have 'classrooms', as you would know them. Sometimes they use plants, like in Kichijoji or Tokorozawa or Kawagoe to separate tables of students and teachers.

Really cheap. Really unprofessional - NOVA.

At least with Berlitz, each class room has a TV, white board, CD Player and DVD player.

If you want lots of lessons, proper equipment and classrooms I would suggest getting on with Berlitz in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Akasaka, Ikebukaro, Yurakucho, Omiya or any of the other big schools along the Yamanote Line.

Check out: http://berlitz.generalunion.org/

Berlitz does have somewhat of a good, strong Union. Something that NOVA, last I heard, didn't have - although NOVA Instructors are trying to organize.