Job Discussion Forums

[ellethecat]

Hello. I am looking at applying to Ecc and have a few specific questions.
For instance, I know that children can sometimes be a challenge. Where I work now, its a club-like setting and the children run around and throw things and yell. It is similar at ECC? i understand that the children are taught in a classroom type setting with desks.BUt i see on their websit sitting on pillows on the floor. Im sure there is some acting up, but how much? Does the company have rules for dealing with this.

Would ECC employees say that they are relatively independent from the managment. I mean, you work in schools, not at a main office. Do you haved alot of office duties or contact with the supervisors?

I see NO mention of a contract bonus on their website. Is there none? *contract completeing bonus*

Any specific tips on the grammar test would be helpful.
Thanks

[bearcat]

Kinder aged kids through elementary school age are taught on the floor or on occasion you can set up tables as needed. Junior high kids classes might use desks but in most cases its likely to be tables. You have to remember some branches are pretty small and space is limited.

As far as how the system works: You get little to no "leeway" in what you teach. Be it kids or adults its pretty much scripted lessons. For kids classes they actually produce a lesson by lesson blow of what you have to do. Some small amounts of deviation occur but if you encounter problems with your classes and its discovered you had deviated from the lesson... well I think you get the picture.

As a teacher you'd be traveling to the same schools all year. 2-3 schools usually. Each day being a different school.

When I say school though I mean branch of ECC.

Each branch as japanese staffers (usually 1-3) plus the Branch director. These folks run the day to day operations of the branch. You'll see them once a week or so and thats it. They'll see tons of teachers throughout the week.

They'll expect you to follow what your training taught you. They'll expect that your qualified to handle your students and classes within the guidelines of your training. If situations arise from complaints or from other things, they will try to resolve it with you, and then turn to the trainers at the region HQ (Native English folks) when that doesn't work. But this is if such are related to your teaching skills. If the problems are related to more of managerial or personal problems, then usually native or Japanese personell staff will be contacting you about it... if the director can't resolve it.

In general, directors and staff stay busy and pretty much you both mutually stay out of eachothers ways... as long as procedures are being followed. You can literall go the whole day with just basic hello's and good byes and not much else depending on how smoothly things go.

To be blunt, ECC pretty much expects you to stick to what they tell you to do. If you can thrive in that and don't mind it, the job is pretty darn easy.

If however, you prefer more flexibility and freedom to teaching/working, then you're probably going to encounter friction working at ECC. But I'd venture to speculate that you'd encount the same or worse at many other places as well.

We can go overboard on the analysis till the cows come home about what they do, but teachers in general working for ECC pretty much have little to worry about if they just follow the books and keep a decent disposition while at work.

Hope that helps.

[bearcat]

Also,

There is no completion bonus with ECC. A raise might be given but its so small that its almost laughable. But working at ECC isn't exactly a hard job.... especially when you compare its 29.5 hour schedule to that of other schools working you 40 hours a week for the same pay.

As far as the grammar test is concerned, its not the sole or main consideration for the job, your interview is paramount and how you interact.

But as well, the recruiters(if you're applying overseas) and the interviewers that hold such here in Japan have set profiles of the type of people that they want for the job. Whether you fit those profiles is anybody's guess. It changes based on need and perceptions.

But overally, you need to be energetic, willing to try to show initiative (as in volunteering to go first and not last in mock lessons etc), show that you've got a balance head on your shoulders and not a social misfit(course this is debateable with some of the folks I've seen pass through their doors), must look professional/presentable, and you must be able to convey that their hiring you will not result in someone who is high maintenance through out the year or who bails early.

I'd say how you speak as well would be a factor but I've seen some really thickly accented folks be hired, so that blows that outa the water .

A tall order it would seem, and to be sure it can be for some but again there is no way I nor anyone else can determine with accuracy your chance or ability to get the job.

If you're overly worried about the grammar test, just simply know your parts of speech and even give a go at some online trivia style grammar tests and see how you fair. If you're hurting on that, then you might want to brush up. But again, I've know folks to bungle the grammar test yet get hired because so much else of their personality and mannerisms were what the recruiter was looking for at that time. As well, with most teaching at ECC, you're not going to be required to explain grammar points etc as again the lessons are scripted.

[Mark]

There's no contract completion bonus at ECC. Raises are also virtually nonexistant.

It's true that the workday is short, but bear in mind that you'll be going to different schools and some of them may require a long commute. If you have one school and live a 5 minute walk away and work 8 hours, that's one situation. At ECC, your days are 6 hours, but you might have to commute an hour to work and an hour back, making it more or less the same thing.

Also, ECC includes virtually no prep time, but you teach classes that require prep. NOVA doesn't include prep time either, but NOVA doesn't offer classes that require any preparation. So, if you want to be comfortable with your kids' lessons and prepare things for your regular classes, you'll be prepping outside of work (or at least on the train).

The kids generally aren't bad. If some kid is a huge problem, you can talk to the staff and something may be done. They're generally fairly well-behaved though, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Teachers are very much left alone at ECC. If no one complains about your classes, then you're pretty much entirely left alone.

ECC's a weird job, though. The bulk of your classes will be kids and Free Time Lessons. KEW (kids) classes are extremely scripted (down to the gestures you should use for particular vocabulary), so it's sometimes time-consuming to try and memorize all the little things in the lessons. But, as for other things, you don't have to do exactly what the book says as long as you do more or less what the book says. If you substitute a game that you like for a game that you think doesn't work well for your group, nobody's going to get upset. Some of the lessons are better-written than others, but generally they're ok. They all follow the same general format.

FTLs are basically robot time. You can try and personalize them and whatnot, but basically you're just performing a script. Personally, I strongly dislike these lessons for a wide variety of reasons, but you have to do them. They are, basically, your most common class.

Regular classes are much better (depending on your students, of course) but you probably won't have too many of them as Free Time Lessons are much more popular.

[Sage]

I kinda disagree.

Kids� classes are scripted but you can change the plan a lot. In fact, as long as you teach them the vocab. and the structure of the day, you can pretty much do whatever you like. If you don't know, stick with the plan but you need to experiment as you learn the ropes of teaching at ECC. Some of the stuff in the books are mind-bogglingly complex and/or - eh?? - pointless.

If you want your classes to be good you need to be fun, funny, active, and try to be like a friend over a teacher. Learning through fun - it works if you care about your kids and like doing the teaching.

(I wish ECC had kids' only shifts - I'd sign up for that in a heartbeat. Kids' classes pass the day so quickly and you aren't glued to a chair for six hours. (How is it that anyone would want to do that? I'll never understand....))

No leeway in kids� classes!? I find that beyond amusing!!

Next� There are no bonuses and no raises at ECC. Don�t ask or expect one because you won�t get one. The funny thing is that most ECC teachers don�t quit after a year like other schools. I was in my yearly training last April and we all were asked to introduce ourselves and most of the people said they were on their 3rd � 5th contract. None of the teachers in the room were on less than their second contract. ECC won�t work for everyone but there must be some reason so many teachers stay at ECC for such a long time, yes�.?

As long as you don't fumple the pass, no one will bother you. Also, no one will talk to you at the big schools. They are wayyyy to busy to deal with you. However, at the small schools you will get a lot of interaction between you and the staff. And, for the most part, the staff at the smaller schools are damn cool. There are exceptions but mostly my expirences have been good - or great. Keep away from the big schools unless you need to have interactions with other teachers (Something I want nothing to do with - and they agree with me - ha ha!)

I wish you the best of luck!

Kids� classes� rock and FTLs are the suck. If you don�t want your kids� classes I�ll take em, trust me!

----
That evil Sage guy :/

Watashi no jinsei wa meccha muzukashi na�

[ellethecat]

Thanks for the fantastic info. Where I work now, behavior problems are very common and is the most frequent reason teachers quit.
I kind of have a strange personality. I get on great with most kids, but I probably wont fit in with many of the other native teachers, and I hate grumpy/anal bosses. I mena, i cna be cordial with other native teachers, Im just not a drinking buddy. I want to teach my kids, feeli like ive done a great job and go home and play civilization.Where I work now, theres lots of pettiness .
thanks millions guys. I have an interview soon. Im really ambivalent because I like my job now, but ....
pS. if you like only the kids classes, sage, why dont you switch to ecc junior?

[ellethecat]

[
If you're overly worried about the grammar test, just simply know your parts of speech and even give a go at some online trivia style grammar tests and see how you fair. If you're hurting on that, then you might want to brush up. But again, I've know folks to bungle the grammar test yet get hired because so much else of their personality and mannerisms were what the recruiter was looking for at that time. As well, with most teaching at ECC, you're not going to be required to explain grammar points etc as again the lessons are scripted.[/quote]

I love grammar. ive already gone and checked out osme online tests. Im pretty good at it, but i thought id ask for tips anyway.
Im a good presenter, ... I guess the biggest knowck against me is that Im touchy about my boundaries. I really want to have other adults *peers and bosses* stay our of my way, and vice versa. Kids, are fine. And...even though I say that, I get alon pretty much with everyone except two people at my current company...so im not a TOTAL social misfit. I just like space.

[Sage]

You can't work for ECC Jr full time like you think. It's at best a side job.

[ellethecat]

I see. well, a variety sounds good to me.
thanks for the info/opinions

[Sage]

If you wind up in Kyoto / Osaka let me know.

Me might get along.

[ellethecat]

Thanks for the tips. I had an interview today... I wasnt at my best because it was short notice and I was a little wound up from too much caffine. I also am a bad speller, but the grammer was ok.

[Dominique]

I'll be glad to give up my 14 kids classes to you! I prefer FTLs!

[bearcat]

[bearcat]

[Sage]