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kanjizai
Joined: 29 Jun 2003
Posts: 69
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 Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 3:19 pm Post subject: How to make NOVA work for you. |
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I've heard the horror stories of NOVA , so I understand fully what I am going into. Poor admin, even worse teaching material, etc.
What I would like to do is be sponsored into Japan and recive my Visa, set up in an apartment, have a back account opened for me, and build a strong network of privates. I do not want to get caught up with any bad vibes from co-workers or the admin, but I am willing to to play "the game". Also, I do not want to be totaly immerseed in NOVA. Meaning I dont want to work with the same people I hang out with. And most importantly I do not want my co-workers to know what I am doing on the side with my privates, for obvious reasons.
If anyone on this board has a ideas,stratagies, or advice for me, on how to make NOVA work for me I would be very appreciative. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 12:17 am Post subject: Re: How to make NOVA work for you. |
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| kanjizai wrote: |
What I would like to do is be sponsored into Japan and recive my Visa, set up in an apartment, have a back account opened for me, and build a strong network of privates. I do not want to get caught up with any bad vibes from co-workers or the admin, but I am willing to to play "the game". Also, I do not want to be totaly immerseed in NOVA. Meaning I dont want to work with the same people I hang out with. And most importantly I do not want my co-workers to know what I am doing on the side with my privates, for obvious reasons.
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Kanjizai
If you are talking about being set up in apartment I assume you mean the apartments that NOVA rents to its teachers. In such a case you will be forced to share with room mates working for the company , whether you like it or not, and you may not even know them at all. It will be pretty hard to escape NOVA when you are living with other teachers as well and have little privacy. They may introduce you to real estate agents in which case you would probably need key money and a guarantor for your apartment, if you want to live by yourself.
As for socialising with NOVA teachers after work, the simple answer is if you don't want to, DON'T. No one forces you to go out drinking and partying with work mates after work but they may think you are just being a bit antisocial, thats all. They may also think you are a bit strange if you want to go off and study Japanese or go home etc instead of sinking a pint after work. If you want to go off and do your own thing, just DO it. It's a free country and you dont have to mix with other teachers in your free time if you dont want. IMO its probably better to 'have a life' outside the company anyway.
As far as teaching privates is concerned, it may mention in the contract you can not teahc privates but in Japan, etaching privates is not illegal, and to my knowledge, you wont get fired for it. as long as you are discreet, dont steal your students from your employer you can teach on the side. After an 8 hour day in the trenches, though, Im sure you probably wont feel like working in your free time as well, though.
There are several websites you can go to find students, such as http://www.findateacher.net , without needin to approach students at school about teaching them 'on the side' and undercutting your employer. |
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foster
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 485
Location: Honkers, SARS
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 12:29 am Post subject: |
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Despite my somewhat less than positive Nova experience, I think you can make it work.
I was nice to people at work. I would talk with them, eat lunch with them, and occasionally go out for a quick drink together, but otherwise, I did my own thing. I had privates..some very nice ones I might add. I arranged my work schedule so that the priovates were after work or during a split, thus leaving my weekend as my time, since I desperately needed it.
The apartment you get with Nova may make it tough to get away from them, as there is usually someone else in your place., You can request a single room apartment if you are in a bigger city and they may be able to accomodate you.
In Osaka, Nova no longer helps you get a bank account. They give you the papers or a suggestion of which bank (I think) but they no longer do it for you.
It is possible to have your privacy. Just do your thing and dont worry about the others. |
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FierceInvalid
Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 4:08 am Post subject: |
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They may introduce you to real estate agents in which case you would probably need key money and a guarantor for your apartment, if you want to live by yourself.
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Does anyone have experience with this? If you don't want the NOVA apartment, will they act as guarantor? |
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foster
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 485
Location: Honkers, SARS
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 4:15 am Post subject: |
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Yes, at the MM center, they did do some guarantor work for some people, although I would imagine it is all rather discretionary. (sp??) Sorry, it is Monday morning here! 
I was lucky and did not need to get a guarantor. I do know that one person asked out office staff about realators and was given names. Although, in the Kansai area, the Kansai SCene, Kansai Free Market and Kansai Time OUt are better sources of information. |
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ruggedtoast
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 81
Location: tokyo
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 8:34 am Post subject: |
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| I was told no guarantor until youve worked for them for a year. |
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