Job Discussion Forums

CaseyG · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Los Angeles, CA

I have recently applied to NOVA, GEOS and AEON. I have already heard back from two (NOVA, GEOS) for interviews, and I am interested in opinions of and experiences with these three companies. I have read a lot of other threads that touch on NOVA individually, but most of them were somewhat dated, and I am interested in specific comparison of the three.
I am a youngster, new to this place, never taught overseas before, so I am looking to the salty dogs' well traveled, wry opinions. I have enjoyed reading the caustic replies to other posts, so canuck, furiousmilk, jimdunlop, etc... let me have it.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 6:21 am Post subject:

Welcome to the board CaseyG and congratulations for using your very first post to beat this old dead horse.

There have been similar threads on this very theme as well as polls. I think if you do a search for "Like a Rolling Stone" then you can find a number of them.

The problem with polls such as these is that they are almost impossible to respond to given that few people will have worked for two let alone all of your poll options. The wry opinion of a salty dog is that none of the eikaiwa schools are places that one would wish to work, so the best option is "other". Unfortunately, being new to this game you probably won't have the experience or qualifications to work in those particular "other" places.

If you have a degree and are eligible for a working visa then I suggest you put the names of the big four eikaiwa companies in a hat and then randomly pick one out.

CaseyG · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Los Angeles, CA

Haha. Thanks milk. Just what I wanted.

movinaround · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 202

AEON.

The only two downsides compared to the others is that the vacation (while roughly the same amount) HAS TO be taken on the three major breaks (Golden Week, Obon and New Years). The other one is really depending on your taste. It didn't bother me. But NOVA schools "tend to" have a lot more foreign teachers at their schools (as they are bigger schools). If you have any specific questions, I will answer them, but if you want the who spiel, you will have to search. I can only write it out so many times.

CaseyG · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Los Angeles, CA

Thanks movin. I was tending toward AEON, partly because they offer single occupancy apartments, while NOVA tends to have shared apartments. And I think AEON pays a little more. Being a beginner, I might prefer a school/company that provides a more regimented lesson plan and curriculum. After I have some experience teaching I'm sure I will prefer more of a hand in creating my own lessons.
Guess my question is truly rote, but I expected that response. I know specific questions would be best, but having no experience, I am stuck in the realm of generalizations.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

CaseyG · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Los Angeles, CA

Haha. Thanks canuck. I am honored to be dishonored in your eyes.

seastarr · Joined: 22 Sep 2006 Posts: 76

Hi,
I worked for Nova for a year in 2005/2006. It wasnt as bad as people tend to make it out to be. Here are a few good points. Some say Nova stands for No Vacation...I didn't find this to be true for a couple of reasons. You do get ten days of paid holiday to use as you wish, and about 8 days over xmas/new years. The ten days may not seem like a lot, but, Nova also allows shift swaps, which are days you trade with other teachers in order to get the most out of your vacation. Most of the other schools also give their holidays over Japanese public holidays, which tend to be the most expensive and busiest of times in Japan. With Nova, you can take them whenever, as long as you give a couple of weeks notice. See a great seat sale? You can go with Nova, this is not the case with most other language schools. I also applied and was accepted to go with Aeon as well...I chose Nova