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milesdenman
Joined: 16 Mar 2006
Posts: 42
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 Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:26 pm Post subject: NOVA vs AEON |
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Hi, i'm trying to decide who to work for out of NOVA or AEON. I cant make up my mind so would appreciate any feedback.
AEON offers more holiday than NOVA, which is a real bonus, but the NOVA working week seems more appealing: 30 hours compared to AEON's 36.
Also the shift times seem to be a bit more varied with NOVA, ie: some days starting and finishing early.
So should i go for NOVA's shorter working week, or AEON's generous holidays?
Also, does the fact that you're working 30+ hours a week at AEON entitle you to health insurance? |
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milesdenman
Joined: 16 Mar 2006
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry, ignore my last inane comment, i just had a look on AEON's web site and their working week is 29.5 hours as well.
That clinches the deal then, AEON it is! |
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wolfman
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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| In general, AEON has a better reputation than NOVA. |
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Inflames
Joined: 02 Apr 2006
Posts: 486
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| Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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| AEON has a better reputation than Nova (IIRC same students, a fairly decent schedule, arguably a better apartment deal), but at the same time they're both not particularly good (overall, especially when compared to being in an actual school). |
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wolfman
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:19 am Post subject: |
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| Inflames wrote: |
| AEON has a better reputation than Nova (IIRC same students, a fairly decent schedule, arguably a better apartment deal), but at the same time they're both not particularly good (overall, especially when compared to being in an actual school). |
They may not be good overall compared to an "actual" school, but teaching at an eikaiwa is certainly the best way to go for teachers who are just starting out. They sponsor your visa. They find you an apartment. They do all sorts of things that are much harder for a teacher to do on his or her own. |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 826
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:10 am Post subject: |
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Syphillis or clamidia?
Hmmmmm...
Dependent on the school both could be good or terrible. Aeon usually has a lighter schedule I suppose, so syphillis it is. |
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Inflames
Joined: 02 Apr 2006
Posts: 486
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:14 am Post subject: |
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| wolfman wrote: |
| Inflames wrote: |
| AEON has a better reputation than Nova (IIRC same students, a fairly decent schedule, arguably a better apartment deal), but at the same time they're both not particularly good (overall, especially when compared to being in an actual school). |
They may not be good overall compared to an "actual" school, but teaching at an eikaiwa is certainly the best way to go for teachers who are just starting out. They sponsor your visa. They find you an apartment. They do all sorts of things that are much harder for a teacher to do on his or her own. |
Certainly eikaiwa that recruit overseas are very helpful in those respects, and I wouldn't advocate that the OP come over to Japan without a visa or a job (or leave their job without another job waiting). My point was that, overall, Nova, AEON, and other chain eikaiwa aren't particularly good places to work for and I don't think anyone (heck, I even had a former eikaiwa owner say this to me) would/should work at one long term. Jobs at smaller eikaiwa and teaching in high schools (not necessarily dispatch companies) are often viewed as better jobs to have. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:47 am Post subject: |
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miles,
The 29.5 hour work week allows AEON (and any employer) to duck the copayments on health insurance.
You should also know that NOVA provides housing at about 70,000 yen/month (which includes utilities). You are bunked in with 2 other teachers. With AEON you get housing at 42,000 yen/month, but if you choose to find your own, you will still have to pay AEON that 42,000 on top of the rent you pay for the other housing. |
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wolfman
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:12 am Post subject: |
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| Inflames wrote: |
Certainly eikaiwa that recruit overseas are very helpful in those respects, and I wouldn't advocate that the OP come over to Japan without a visa or a job (or leave their job without another job waiting). My point was that, overall, Nova, AEON, and other chain eikaiwa aren't particularly good places to work for and I don't think anyone (heck, I even had a former eikaiwa owner say this to me) would/should work at one long term. Jobs at smaller eikaiwa and teaching in high schools (not necessarily dispatch companies) are often viewed as better jobs to have. |
I don't disagree that people who are serious about teaching probably shouldn't teach for eikaiwas long term (though there are undoubtedly people who may find a grove in this type of position). I just think that it's a perfect way for a fledgling teacher to get his or her bearings if they have no experience with living and working in Japan. |
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The_Hanged_Man
Joined: 10 Oct 2004
Posts: 224
Location: Tbilisi, Georgia
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:31 am Post subject: |
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| FYI, the 29.5 hour work week at AEON is just classroom time. The real work week is closer to 42+ hours. However, it is still not too bad considering you won't have any planning/grading/paperwork to do on your own time. |
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ironopolis
Joined: 01 Apr 2004
Posts: 379
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
You should also know that NOVA provides housing at about 70,000 yen/month (which includes utilities). You are bunked in with 2 other teachers. With AEON you get housing at 42,000 yen/month, but if you choose to find your own, you will still have to pay AEON that 42,000 on top of the rent you pay for the other housing. |
The accommodation with Nova sometimes works out cheaper than that depending on where you live. I think if you're in one of what they deem to be more expensive areas of the country they give you a "regional allowance" roughly equivalent to the difference in your rent. I've known Nova teachers in Kyushu who were paying 50 odd thousand for their accommodation (including utilities) and who transferred to the Tokyo area - there they paid about 20,000 more for housing but also received a regional allowance of about 20,000 as opposed to a regional allowance of zero in Kyushu.
Personally, what I would hate about Nova accommodation if I was arriving as a newbie would be sharing the place with others and I'm very glad I've never had to do this in Japan. Some people find that a good thing though. The big plus about Nova for housing is the lack of any obligation to take what they offer. You can have your own place or make other arrangements of your own and you pay them not a single yen. But you can still later change your mind and decide to take their housing if you wish.
As glenski pointed out, I believe AEON will have money off you still if you get your own place, and I know of quite a few other eikaiwas who make it quite difficult for people who don't want to live in school provided housing. I've even come across cases of people who were told that they would not be offered the job or have their contract renewed unless they lived in the housing provided. |
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milesdenman
Joined: 16 Mar 2006
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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| The_Hanged_Man wrote: |
| FYI, the 29.5 hour work week at AEON is just classroom time. The real work week is closer to 42+ hours. However, it is still not too bad considering you won't have any planning/grading/paperwork to do on your own time. |
Really?! The info on their website stipulates a 29.5 hour work week, 25 hours teaching and 4.5 admin/planning etc.
+ 25 hours teaching is paid at 3000 yen ph.
Do they really have you working 42 hours per week? |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| FYI, the 29.5 hour work week at AEON is just classroom time. The real work week is closer to 42+ hours. However, it is still not too bad considering you won't have any planning/grading/paperwork to do on your own time. |
| Quote: |
Really?! The info on their website stipulates a 29.5 hour work week, 25 hours teaching and 4.5 admin/planning etc.
+ 25 hours teaching is paid at 3000 yen ph. |
Either way, this still gives them the option to declare you as a part-timer to the government and to dodge making copayments. |
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Perpetual Traveller
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 651
Location: In the Kak, Japan
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| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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I currently work for AEON and this is my schedule:
Tu: 2-9
We: 2-9
Th: 1-9
Fr: 2-9
Sa: 11-8
Each day I have at 1-2 hours break and 1 or more hours preparation time within that schedule so I would say that 42 hours is grossly overinflated, however I am at a smaller school.
AEON provides full health insurance for its employees and you are covered the minute you land in Japan.
As for the apartment thing, I don't know why everyone makes such a big deal about this. If you are new to Japan, which most AEON teachers are, it's a great deal, you pay 42,000 yen per month, which comes straight out of your pay so you don't have to faff around with it. They are totally upfront about the fact that they expect you to live in their apartments and in my case I would have no reason to want to move. I am near the school in a pretty new building and the flat has everything I could want. I didn't have to worry about key money, furnishings or anything like that. Furthermore if I did decide to move into somewhere else then AEON would have to store all those furnishings and then try to re-let this flat or somewhere else when I decided to leave.
I am not saying that working for AEON is the best job that you can get, because we all know that it's not. But in my situation, very little experience, short term stay etc, it fits the bill.
One last thing, don't forget that it's the company that chooses you and not the other way around! 
PT |
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bornslippy1981
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 271
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| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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| ironopolis wrote: |
Personally, what I would hate about Nova accommodation if I was arriving as a newbie would be sharing the place with others |
This can be good or bad.
I arrived 18 months ago, and one of my roommates arrived a day earlier. We both live in different cities now, and work for different companies, but we have been best friends since day 1.
The other roommate was the AT at my branch, and the only person I have met in Japan that I can truly say I hate. Was it his lack of cleanliness? His drunken threats that he'd get me fired? His jealousy that I had a girlfriend after a month, and he had gone a year without a date? Maybe it was hearing him say "Good job" every 15 seconds during his lessons? It could have been how he thought he was a university professor as a "nova sensei."
It's been so long, I don't remember exactly why I dislike this guy so much.
It is nice though to arrive and have an apartment waiting, and luggage arriving the next day.
Sometimes roommates can work both ways. |
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