Job Discussion Forums

[Doglover]

This was in Australia's Sydney Morning Herald newspaper about NOVA

[Hoser]

What a terrible article. Someone obviously got burned to write such a one-sided report. It makes me wonder why the hell I came to Japan when I could have gotten a much better job publicly offending Muslims in Iraq somewhere.

[PAULH]

[chirp]

Hey guys,

I am not saying that I disagree with you but I would like to open up the discussion so that those of us who are soon to be on our way to Japan get another side to the story. It is definitely one-sided and manipulates the reader, but what points specifically would you argue?

Chirp

[D.O.S.]

[Henry_Cowell]

[chirp]

D.O.S.,

You're right - I should have been more specific. I believe the article is manipulative, as indeed all articles of this nature are, by the fact that the writer has control over which quotes and what parts of them are used and the reader is always unaware of the context in which they are given. The intent of the writer (IMHO) in this case, was not to demonstrate all possible experiences of English teachers in Japan but to discuss only negative ones. I have no problem with this.

What I was hoping to encourage was some discussion of the issues mentioned in the article, especially as they relate to teaching English in Japan as a whole given the highly negative portrait Ms. Cameron has painted of teaching English in Japan overall - not just with Nova.

I have many friends who had positive experiences in Japan, as I hope to, but I am going into it with what I hope are realistic expectations.

I thank you for your contribution and look forward to further debate.

[D.O.S.]

I think the article was quite good. I was especially happy to read about Kara Harris. It wasn't the usual fluff that gets published about EFL in Japan.

What exactly did you find wrong with the article? What do you want to discuss? That the author didn't spend 50 words on the wonders of saki and shabu shabu?

[PAULH]

here is what they are saying about the article on Gaijinpot. Kara Harris is herself contributing to the thread.

[TokyoLiz]

The article confirmed a lot of things that I've heard from other NOVites. Namely, that NOVA is a mill, that the experience isn't representative of teaching (either adult ed. or ELT), there is little room or incentive for professional development, the hours are late and you have little time to socialize outside of your peer group, you're placed in NOVA housing, creating a gaijin ghetto mentality that separates you from the larger society, and there is no support for learning the language of your captors, and a non-socialization policy outside of sanctioned employee functions. All this at a starting wage of what, Y240,000? On that wage, it's hard to afford travel within Japan, or pay off debts and/or save for future educational goals.

I've never worked in a so-called eikaiwa in the four years I've worked in Japan. I came originally on the JET Program after 10 years of ELT experience and post-graduate ELT training in Canada, and have worked for private jr/sr high schools via recruiters.

IMHO, NOVA and their ilk are the products of an immigration policy that lacks rigour. Why does Japan still allow schools import people with no teaching credential (Bachelor of Education, TESOL Diploma, CELTA, etc.) and no teaching experience?

Are there any aspiring teachers still left at NOVA? I would worry that working in such an environment might dull your desire to continue in the education industry.

It sounds like such a raw deal, unless you scrimp and save and consider the experience just that - an experience of a year abroad in exotic Japan.

The only other reason I can imagine coming to Japan on a NOVA visa sponsorship and contract is to get your foot in the door and then change to another industry. I've met a few people who've come in on NOVA and then moved into IT or publishing after a year.

[wangtesol]

Jesus, one sided?

When the voice of labour is heard it is called one-sided. When the voice of management dominates it is called fair, I guess.

[chirp]

Listen, "one-sided" by definition means favouring one side or group, in this case, negative experiences of English teachers who worked for Nova. It does not imply that the information presented is wrong or invalid, just that it is not a balanced article. That's all. If it were extolling the virtues of working for Nova without addressing any of the criticisms, I would call that article one-sided as well.

Everyone's experience is different. I have never worked nor do I intend to work for Nova. I was just hoping to hear something positive (about teaching English in Japan in general) since I will be heading over to Japan shortly and the decidedly negative turn this discussion forum has taken lately is not encouraging for those considering a move to Japan.

[wangtesol]

This article is a warning about the pitfalls of working in Japan. It not some Keidanren sponsored fluff about "how when lose your wallet on the train, someone will take it to the lost and found." I actually saw a news story on this one time. Pure manufactured consent.

Many people are just too ashamed of having been ripped off to tell others what really happened. So, a warning article like this is very rare since Kara Harris is an unusually strong person.

Chirp don't you have management interests with Altia? Why are you saying that you are just about to come to Japan to work?

[chirp]

Wangtesol,

For the record, I am not even in Japan at the moment. I have only been there on vacation. Now that I have cleared that up for you - and thanks for the laugh by the way - I will just stop watching this thread since the unpleasantness is wearing on me.

Chirp

[D.O.S.]

Chirp,

Some situations don't have two sides.

Again, what aspects of the article do you dispute?