Job Discussion Forums

caliguy · Joined: 30 Jun 2003 Posts: 5

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or experience with any of the big 4 language schools in japan? I am debating on which company to go with. Nova, Geos, Aeon, or ECC? From what i've read and heard, Aeon seems to be the best from my perspective. Any advice please......

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Have you compared their FAQs from each place's web site? I have found that a direct comparison that way often helps. In fact, I made such a spreadsheet on Excel to compare the big 4 and JET if you're interested.

[email protected]

Otherwise, I can understand wanting to get firsthand opinions here, but you may have to ask specific questions because nobody has worked for all four places.

Guile · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2003 10:41 pm Post subject:

They all have their good/bad points of course... I worked for Nova for a year, then came back home and have applied/interviewed with Aeon and ECC, hoping to head back to Japan within the next few months. The only place I didn't consider was Geos, just based on prior knowledge and what I've heard about their working environment and interview process...

Aeon seems like they really take care of their teachers the most, and seem like they have a great working environment (i could be wrong of course tho). I'm hoping to go with ECC tho just because they can place me where I want to go a lot sooner, and have a slightly shorter work-week, and a bit more vacation time. If I had offers for the same city with the same departure time from both ECC and Aeon, then I'd have to think about it a lot more... would be a toss-up...

Nova can be good too in terms of social life... you'll probably have a lot more fellow foreign teachers living with/near you to hang out and party with if you're into that. The work environment there can be a bit busy with very little planning time, but the lessons are more laid-back and u can have a lot of fun with them without worrying about missing teaching points and veering off a set course schedule like u might at Aeon or ECC (then again i've never worked at either of those 2 so i'm not really sure), so I'd guess Nova's work environment might be better for the less experienced/less confident or dare i say, less 'serious' teacher. On the other hand, u won't have much vacation time, and might get jacked with [edit]crappy[/edit] days off like Tuesday+Wednesday, which will suck compared to having weekends off... Also, they won't tell u where you're being placed until a couple weeks before you get on the plane (of course you've signed your contract by then too).

That's just my 2 cents... there's a lot to consider tho depending on what kind of job/lifestyle you're looking for. Hope that helps a bit. Good luck Smile

FierceInvalid · Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 9

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Becuase if you are coming form overseas, only have two or three companies that you can realistically choose from, you have little or no teaching experience or qualifications to your name, you have student debt hanging over you, and you are also dead keen to get apaying teaching job here- you really have no choice where they send you.

Once you get here and get some experience, you can look around and see where you want to work and live. In the meantime if you are still outside the country you take what you are given, go where you are sent or where they most need people, or they will simply give your job to the next guy.

nakanoalien2 · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 52 Location: Nakano, Japan

I think PaulH is spot on regarding the placement. It's not something to worry about really, though. The majority of new teachers have never lived in Japan before and in many cases have never been there, so what's the difference if you are told, "We couldn't place you in Machida but you'll be in Shin Yuri!".

It's also not brain surgery - most of the work is in Kanto. I'd love to see a kind of demographic map of the eikaiwa teaching population. The biggest concentration must be in the urban sprawl that runs from Tokyo proper, through Kanagawa to Yokohama.

nakanoalien2 · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 52 Location: Nakano, Japan

I think PaulH is spot on regarding the placement. It's not something to worry about really, though. The majority of new teachers have never lived in Japan before and in many cases have never been there, so what's the difference if you are told, "We couldn't place you in Machida but you'll be in Shin Yuri!".

It's also not brain surgery - most of the work is in Kanto. I'd love to see a kind of demographic map of the eikaiwa teaching population. The biggest concentration must be in the urban sprawl that runs from Tokyo proper, through Kanagawa to Yokohama.

ryuro · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 91

Howdy,

Just throwin' in my two cents on this. I think Glenski's comparion spread sheet sounds like the best way to compare the actual "nuts-n-bolts" of the Big 4.

So without getting bogged down in details and comparisons I guess I'd just like to say it really is a bit of a crap shoot regardless who you choose.

I worked for GEOS for a little over a year and honestly had a great time. Naturally, there were things that I didn't like and found downright absurd, but that's life. I was fortunate enough to have great Japanese managers and co-workers (western and Japanese). I had numerous friends who worked for the other Big schools who had similar great experiences.

On the flip side, I had alot of friends at GEOS, AEON, NOVA, ECC, etc... who had horrendous experiences largely due to the atmosphere of the actual school in which they worked.

So my point again; you can compare all you want, but when it comes right down to it- it will always be a bit of a crap shoot- so good luck.

Cheers,
ryuro

FierceInvalid · Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 9