Job Discussion Forums

[Eric]

I am wondering if anyone has heard anything good or bad about M.I.L. language school near Chiba or Lingo which is in a city in Shikoku island. I am thinking that I might be happier working for these smaller schools then Aeon, who interviewed me last week. Any information would be greatly apreciated.

Thanks,
Eric

[Gordon]

Avoid Lingo school. I had a friend who interviewed with them last year. When they were offered a contract it said that they had to reimburse the school 1 million yen if they left their contract before the year was up. There were other "illegal" stipulations as well. Needless to say, she didn't accept.

[Glenski]

Lingo school is being discussed on www.teachinginjapan.com.

MIL has a good reputation with the people who have posted here. Do a search.

[Eric]

Thank you Glenski and Gordon. Your help is greatly apreciated seeing as I feel somewhat in the dark applying to jobs that are far away from me. Hopefully I will get a job soon, and it won't be too much of a hindrance that I'm 35.

Aloha,
Eric

[Lynn]

HI Eric,
I found that being from Hawaii was a great help in my job sucess in Japan. I went school in Hawaii, and did the JET Program from Hawaii. More than half the people that applied from Hawaii were accepted into the JET Program. Why? Because they figured it we wouldn't have that much of a culture shock/homesickness and freak out and leave suddenly. Think about: shoes off, musubi at 7-11, shoyu, mochi crunch. Well, you get the picture.

Good luck to you. Too bad Lingo got a bad rap because Shikoku is wonderful.

[Gordon]

[PAULH]

I worked for Lingo School from March 2003 to March 2004. While I was there three teachers were hired in August. One split by October, another was fired by December. A replacement teacher was hired and fled by February. The contract claimed the school could sue you if you gave less than 45 days notice and could sue you if you worked less than 10 months. Communication between teachers was discouraged, even teachers who shared students. Teachers were offered textbooks, cassettes and flashcards. There was basically no school budget for anything else. Students were toddlers to septagenarians - that means a wide variety of needs. I didn't like being bullied. I didn't like being treated carelessly.

[Gordon]

[PAULH]

Gordon

I wrote in the title that it was originally posted in another forum (not necessarily by me) so I kind of assumed people would think it wasnt from me.

Maybe I should have put speech marks or something around it.

[eslteach555]

This is a good school- one of the best. My wife and I both worked there a few years ago and enjoyed it immensely. They give great support to newcomers to Japan, pay on time, and have lots of resources for teachers. I highly recommend MIL.

[Gordon]

Here is another thread about Lingo. I am glad Eric stayed away from this school.