Job Discussion Forums

musashi44 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 11 Location: us

I have noticed that most of the posters here and elsewhere have for the most part stated that conditions of at least the main eikaiwas (ECC, AEON, GEOS, etc) depend on the management and region. Now I can see how management can be a complete flip of the coin so to speak, but what does region have to do with it? Are there any characteristics of eikaiwas for one region vs another. Does this also show for cities as well? I'm just curious as to why regions shows up sometimes in why it can make a difference.
Thanks

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

small schools in rural areas might have more stable J-staff and foreign teachers - less moving around during contracts. So this might result in everyone bonding togther a little better. on the other hand i've worked in the biggest schools in tokyo where you can go to work and not talk to any of your fellow instructors. they were big, busy, impersonal places. J-staff were also coming and going and quitting as were foreign teachers and trainers / managers.

if your direct supervisors at the school are cool and easy to get along with, whether they are japanese or foriegn head teachers and trainers, that always seems to trickle down into the ranks and influence the people in the trenches so to speak. but this can be said pretty much for any job in the workforce. the day you stop getting along with your direct supervisors is the day you should probably start looking for a new job.

it's a crap shoot though. you could have a teacher doing great at one branch for 2 or 3 years, yet transfer her to another branch and then things start to spin out of control for her. New head teacher / trainer and japanese managers and staff. maybe a personality conflict or two and things go tits up.

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

Regional quirks would influence the experience (e.g. Osakans tend to be more open than Tokyoites), but I think the advice about regions has mostly to do with regional management. Many eikaiwa, if not most, have separate regional headquarters with management, personnel, and training staff in each.

anne_o · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Posts: 172 Location: Tokyo

All of the managers, if they are foreign that is, are total 'yes' men with the personality of a mosquito and the backbone of a calcium deficient 90 y.o.
I just quit my job and was bit 5 times in my sleep last night.......my ex boss?
We had a meeting once a month and he never once failed to use the statement 'we need to provide the best educational experience possible'.
Give me a break!
The students study English for about the equivalent of 2 days a year and all this guy cared about was taking his paycheck home to mama!
Ewwwww.....I hate working for other people.
Sorry for the rant!

Mapleblondie · Joined: 29 May 2008 Posts: 93 Location: Canada

parrothead · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 342 Location: Japan

If I had believed everything written about eikaiwa in Japan, I wouldn't have come. Teachers who are happy with their work situation at eikaiwa are generally less likely to post. Believe it or not there are some eikaiwa, usually non-chain schools, with long-term teachers and staff who genuinely care about their students, the program, and their pedagogy. Mine often feels like a family, with curriculum development meetings, community events, ALT training, and even pro bono work.
My advice to anyone looking for eikaiwa work is to aim small. Find a local eikaiwa with ties to the community. The chain school behemoths aren't your only options.

ConnDestn · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 17

Good to hear parrothead. I've never worked for one (will start my Japan job searching next summer) but I always just assumed that life might be a little better at the smaller chains and that they may put a little more care into the actual students. I think this is just buisness's in general. Starting with a small school was my plan from the start.