Job Discussion Forums

[Madman]

Can anyone offer any comments/info about the following language/conversation schools in the Kobe area? I have tried the search function here with little success. I am interested in their reputation, suitability as an employer for a noob. Many thanks in advance!

Word English School
PES/Perkins & Co.
Infinity
Voss
Kumon
Cl� �cole

[Symphany]

In a word, Nova. It doesn't have the best reputation, but you take what everyone says with a grain of salt. My findings are that 3/4 of the Nova bashers have never even worked for the company. I'm not a Nova lover either, I just know from my experience that its the easiest way to get set up in Japan.

Like any other job -- if you feel that it is just not the right fit for you after you've tried it for a reasonable time period (you define reasonable) then you may decide enough is enough. I tried it for a year and in my experience anyhow, it was good for someone like myself -- a non-JET who was a first-timer in Japan.

[Symphany]

Ooops sorry I mistook those schools as a part of your signature, madman. I don't know about those institutions but you may wish to check out Nova or another Eikawa anyways.

[kitano]

I live in Kobe but this is all second hand info so take it for what it is worth.

Cle Ecole-forget it, they want you to suddenly appear when a student phones for a lesson, make no guarantees and only 2500 an hour. Useless.

Kumon is a Japanese Juku, although they teach English I have never heard of them hiring Eikaiwa teachers.

Word Eng School-never heard of it.

Perkins and co- seem to always be advertising for teachers but I have never met anyone who worked there.

Voss and Infinity- heard moderately good things. Infinity is established but Voss is very new.

Good luck
You might want to live in Kobe but still consider jobs from Akashi to Umeda instead of limiting yourself to Sannomiya.

[Madman]

Many thanks for the replies - are there any Business English schools in this area?

[kitano]

I haven't really encountered any exclusively Business English schools. Usually dispatch companies send you to the client company to teach. Most of these business dispatch companies are based in Osaka and advertise in the usual publications. They are usually short of teachers in Kobe and especially west of Kobe as most of their teachers live in Osaka. Really you need to apply for full time jobs where ever, get a visa and a place to live and later look around for something better. All the good jobs are through contacts so you are very unlikely to get them without being here at least a year first.

[Madman]

Many thanks for the replies - in the end I went with the money and moved to Abu Dhabi. Glad I didn't go for NOVA!