Job Discussion Forums

jezebel · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 53

It seems like the big Japan ESL companies have big good and bad points.. But what about ECC? What are the positives and negatives?

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Sage · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 144 Location: Iwate no inaka!

Ouch... just, ouch... hehe

Birdog3344 · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 126 Location: Osaka, Japan

I'd like to put in a good word for ECC. I've only worked for them for a few months but I've had no major complaints. Although I don't have any personal experience with other schools to compare, I have met quite a few Nova defecters who are very happy they made the switch despite the extra training required to start fresh at ECC. I also get a kick out of watching current Nova teachers' jaws drop when i tell them how much vacation i get and how much fewer hours per week i work (29.5 vs 40).

Again, without having worked at for another company, from what i gather ECC is easily the best of the Big 4 (5?). You may have a few more kids classes than at other schools (some teachers have as few as 3 or as many as 15), which can be a plus or negative depending on how much you like the little ones, but you can request fewer or purposely bomb your kids training session. I have 12 kids classes and although they're a bit tiring they're also more fun than the very structured, formal adult lessons and also give a nice variety to your day. Another difference is that you'll be travelling to up 5 different schools in a week. You'll be at the same schools for the year and have the same schedule every week. Again, this may be a good thing, as you'll get to see more areas of your city, or you may feel its a drag. I, for one, don't mind at all.

Training is a bit more intensive than at other companies; twelve mind-numbing, repetitive, exhausting days. But i think its definately worth it in the long run.

Any specific questions, feel free to PM me. And by the way, i may work for ECC, but i don't do any of the hiring. Wink

kitano · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 86

I always hear the 40 Nova and 29 ECC figures quoted. Is this teaching hours or hours at the school? In my experience at smaller schools 25 teaching hours or less is full time but it could be 40ish hours at the school. Just wondering.

Birdog3344 · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 126 Location: Osaka, Japan

At ECC, you're only required to be at school for 29.5 hours including ten minute breaks between classes. However, preparation for kids classes requires you to get to the school about 15 minutes before the start of your scheduled arrival time. Some teachers can wing it without that prep time and some need a bit more. But you're only required to be at the school for a total of 29.5 hours a week.

inkansai · Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 39

Yes, ECC has have a good holiday package compared to the other companies. But all the holiday periods fall in peak periods, and you only have 5 days which you can use at anytime of the year. you are expected to use these as sick days, or to make your winter vacation a decent length, because there are two days which look like they are vacation days but actually they are working days.

ECC has started requiring their new employees (those hired after 13th April 2005) to be enrolled in the National Health Insurance (kokumin kenko hoken). All employees should be enrolled in Employees' Health and Insurance (Shakai hoken) this saves the company heaps of money. However, if you are staying in japan for more than a year national health insurance (kokumin kenko hoken) is a huge financial burden. Employees' health iand pension insurace (Shakai hoken) is the most realistic option.

I have a 29.5 hours contract as well, good preparation time and 13 kids's classes a week. It is impossible to do a good job and only work 29.5 hours a week. I know that not everyone wants to do a good job- and that is your choice but for me, realistically, I probably work just as much as a Nova teacher.

Working at five different schools has its ups and downs. You never really get to know the student and staff. Not all schools are equal. And not all schools are in a reasonable distance to where you live. Travel is necessary for every job, but teachers joining ECC mid-academic year can be really lucky and have great commutes or really lengthy travel times.