Job Discussion Forums

[Canadian_Krista]

Does anyone know anything about this 'Education through Communication for the Community' program? I've just filled out the on-line application. It looks like a pretty sweet deal-7 weeks paid vacation, you work 29.5 hours per week. Has anyone had any experience working for them? I just wonder because there are a few things that seem abnormal to me (although I'm just beginning the job search so perhaps they're normal and I just don't know it). For example-you may often start teaching at 3:00pm, they offer you loans to help finance your flight over/relocation expences, you could be scheduled at a different school each day, they'll find you an apartment but you may be sharing with someone, etc.
What do you all think? Do you have any advice on doing an independent search (just approaching the schools yourself and applying for jobs)? Does that usually work out better than going through an agency?
One last question-anyone know how to find employers willing to pay for your flight over?
That's a lot of questions in one post-can you tell I'm new at all of this?

[canuck]

ECC is one of the big four...like NOVA, Berlitz etc. They are probably the best of the bunch. Yes, they are legit. Just like most employers in Japan, they have their positives and negatives. If you took the time to search the forum, you will find lots of information about ECC, NOVA, Berlitz and the rest. Good luck.

[Hoser]

[Jazz1975]

I'll be applying here as well. http://www.japanbound.com/.

[PAULH]

[Sour Grape]

Actually Shane pay for it as well. Take your point, though - it is not the norm.

[PAULH]

Found the ECC link. Its one of the better Big 4 schools. Be careful about what they dont tell you.

http://www.japanbound.com/contract.html

Teachers are supposed to be enrolled in the National Health Insurance. What ECC doesnt tell you is that by law ECC has to pay 50% of your insurance premium and you pay the other 50%. Its cheap in the first year for new teachers but in the second year you may be paying up to 15,000 yen a month for insurance premiums. This is quite a divisive issue for many teachers in Japan as it amounts to a pay cut as schools try to pay you less to cover the extra premium payable. Many conversation teachers dont like paying extra for insurance as it means less in their already small pay packet.

Check with ECC what their policy is on having national health insurance.

PS just checked. the health insurance issue is now under review with the GU.

Four hours a week for preparation for 25 hours a week of teaching time amounts to less that an hour a day of non-teaching work time, or about 10 minutes between lessons.

[canuck]

[PAULH]

Check out the link regarding ECC on the General Union page

http://www.generalunion.org/

[PAULH]

[callmesim]

The housing agent ECC uses in Osaka is Apollo Properties. They have both shared and single apartments which are fully furnished. From bed to cutlery to sofa and TV/DVD player. If you want to find your own apartment then you most certainly can. I know someone who did exactly that.

The 7 weeks holidays are ALL paid.

Also, the 29.5 hours are complete working hours. It's just under 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. Obviously they do that to avoid paying 50% Health Insurance because the law is if you work 30 or more hours but weigh up the hours vs. holidays vs. insurance and decide from there.

[Ravlen]

Just wanted to post that Callmesim has it all correct, according to what I've been told. I've recently been accepted by ECC (not in Japan just yet). The work week is 29.5hrs total, with around 25 hours teaching and 4.5 hours a week office/prep. The vacation is paid, and it is around 7 weeks, but not overly modifiable. There are all the national holidays, 2 weeks around christmas time, golden week, and 5 paid vacation days that you can use as you want. All totalled up it makes 7 weeks I guess.

From what I could tell, I think ECC has a higher number of kids classes than the other big schools, but I can't confirm that (this is my first time to Japan). ECC's big marketing point is that they offer full year classes where the teacher does not change. This is great, because you teach the same kids/adults, get to learn their strengths and weaknesses, and really feel like you are teaching (compared to Free Time Lessons). You still will have some FTL lessons though, and possibly "sub" days, where you sub where you are needed (until you get placed in a permanent class). The downside to this is that there is ZERO shift trading. Nada. Zilch. Nil. If you have a class of kids that you teach *every* monday, then you teach 'em *every* monday (not counting your paid vacation).

The other downside is that there is no guarantee of consecutive days off in a week. Your days off could be wednesday and sunday. They schedule the best way to fill their needs, and once your schedule is set, that's how it remains for the rest of the year. You might get your days off together, but they won't guarantee anything.

Overall though, the teaching environment sounds pretty good. Regular classes where you get to follow the progress of your students is a huge boon... There's also web lessons that they are starting (like the NOVA multimedia center). You also aren't locked into the apartment they find for you, I think you usually need to stay there for the first 2-3 months (changes depending on the placement people), but you can then find a place with friends. Also, they have no problems with their teachers having their own private lessons, as long as you aren't taking students away from the school (find them yourself).

Ravlen

[Firestarter]

[wangtesol]

[Firestarter]