Job Discussion Forums

[iverin]

Well my CoE was mailed yesterday from Japan and I should expect it Friday or Monday then I have to head to the Consulate to drop off the paperwork for the Visa. I leave in 43 days. My countdown started at like 158 days so time has really gone by quickly. I've also had some contact with the current foreign teacher at my school and have been told that teachers in Tokyo would be jealous of the size of my apartment (but I do not actually know what it looks like or anything about it). My school branch seems to be really friendly and nice and I'm expecting a letter from them in the mail to arrive soon.

One question, for those of you who went to Japan with Aeon, what can I expect from training for Aeon East? I've talked to some teachers but they've been pretty mum about what actually occurs in training (apart from say a few hours on how to do prospective interviews, how to teach private lessons etc) so I really have no idea what to expect. I know that a few people who arrived on a Saturday were given Sunday off and started training on the Monday, so if I arrive on a Friday would training start the next day (Saturday), Sunday, or the Monday? Just curious, not that it really makes a difference.

Also, for flights, this is my first time flying (yes, ever!) and I have a "stop" in Vancouver that was added post-purchase of flight. Do you have to get off the plane for a stop? I purposely picked a straight through flight so I wouldn't have to worry about getting onto the plane on time more than once. I picked a window seat, allbeit over the wing so I can't take window pictures, but I figured it would be best so I'd have the wall to lean on.

Any suggestions on the best ways to pack? I have to pack two suitcases, one for training week and one to be forwarded to the school so would I be better to pack to large cases to forward to the school and keep a smaller one for training and just pay extra for that (I have no idea what the Canadian costs are for extra luggage or being over the weight limit (which I think is 50 lbs??))

Sorry for all the questions. The time has gone by so quickly and departure date seems to be creeping up on me too quickly

[Glenski]

Can't help you with the first question about AEON training.

Flights. Ask the airline about being allowed to get off the plane at the layover. If it's short, you won't be.

Packing.
Plan for a year, pack for half. Yes, pack for the first 2 seasons, have the rest in a box at home that someone else can mail to you a month in advance.

Do not pack atrociously heavy items in your bags. This means books more than anything else. Mail them to the office before you go.

Think about meds.

Clothes. Depends on what sizes you are, but bring a nice dark suit (for various reasons), and whatever AEON recommends for its classes. Probably nothing more than business casual. A few shirts and pants to coordinate. Where are you being placed? That will determine your winter wear needs. If you are fairly large in shoe size, perhaps pack an extra pair. Figure on slipping in and out of shoes a lot, so have appropriate ones.

Bring recipes, family/friend photos, addresses (including email ones), and enough cash to live on for 2 months (or to fly home on in an emergency).

As for the rest, just pack as if you were going on vacation. You can buy most things here.

Ask the airlines for weight limits before you pack.

[Yawarakaijin]

Congratulations. I'm sure you are really going to enjoy Japan. My first year here was a blast, nothing will ever compare to your first year in Japan.

I don't have too much information on Aeon but I imagine your training will start on a Monday and therefore if you arrived on Friday you might have the weekend to get settled.

What city are you actually going to be based in? If Tokyo, and your apartment would make a Tokyoite jealous then count your lucky stars. If you are anywhere outside of Tokyo I wouldnt put too much faith in that comment. Anything bigger than your bedroom back home would make a Tokyoite jealous.

You will probably have to disembark if you arrive in Vancouver. Your ticket should tell you how long of a layover you have. It's nice to get off for a bit before the long haul to Tokyo. I'm originally from Oshawa and I always try and arrange a layover in Vancouver as I moved there at around 22. It's a lovely city and a pretty good airport to spend a few hours in, some good restraunts and even a few bars.

Good luck, enjyoy the adventure!

[iverin]

thanks for the info guys. I'll call the airport for info on weight limits and "stops".

As for my city, I'll be in Fukushima-shi. I've come to the conclusion that my Japanese apartment will probably be the size of my bedroom + the toilet and washroom. My room right now is probably about 15 by 10 (it fits a single sized bed and a double sized pull out bed plus about three feet for the length of the room and then it's probably 8 to 10 feet wide). I had hoped to get in contact with the outgoing teacher but he didn't respond to my request in the letter and the other teacher has never been in what will be my apartment so he didn't have any information about it really.

[Hoser]

This thread has the potential to become the next "Teaching at Osaka Nova MM branch" thread or whatever it was called by John whatever his name was.

[stillnosheep]

Aeon initial training: One week, unless you are to teach kids and adults in which case one week and one day.

Aeon East: Utter psychos (compared to Aeon West) but don't let that put you off at initial training, just smile, pretend to agree, and let the corporate BS that'll be thrown at you in training week when you are far from home and surrounded by happy smiling 'trainers' about how, now that that you are in Japan, you must fit in (= forget your rights, toe the line, and become a company drone) float right over you (or straight out the other ear if you really cannot stop it entering the one).

Aeon, relative to the other chains, tend to treat their teachers reasonably well, but have a somewhat cultish attitude to the 'Aeon way' This fake-Confucian ideology-lite has nothing to do with 'the Japanese way' and everything to do with Aeon's wish for docile employees, so just smile, smile, smile, and ignore that corporate BS. Just pretend that you've been abducted by the Moonies for a week and you won't go far wrong. Once you get to your branch you'll have time to think straight again.

And never ever ever back down to an area or central 'trainer' or any other company yes-man (and it will be a man) once you are at your branch. If you know that you are a good teacher and Aeon don't like you then say a quiet thank you inside to uncle Aeon for all of the time and money he spent getting you a visa and organising that apartment for you and take that visa straight out of the door.

Or you could just tell the 'trainers' that they are fuckwits (but only after you have started working at your branch). That'll get you a month's salary in lieu of notice (to ensure that you don't upset the 'wa' (harmony) of the branch, = that you don't burst the bubble of Aeon's image in their students' minds) which is yours to keep even if you line up another job the next day, although you'll have to quit your Aeon apartment before they'll release your owed wages and month in lieu.

Packing: You won't need a grammar book or books on methodology; large suitcase ahead to branch, small holdall with enough for a week with you to initial training - you'll have a washer and dryer so not much is needed. Travel light remembering that Japan is dearer than Canada. Follow Glenski's advice about packing for your first two seasons (in your case winter and spring) and having the rest sent later if you need it.

Again, don't worry about the content of your initial training - the important thing is to forget it as soon as it's over.

Good luck and ...

Enjoy!

[The Dutchess]

Hey Iverin, I know exactly how you feel. I leave for Osaka in exactly 3 weeks from today. My flight is Toronto to Osaka via Detroit where I have a 2 hour layover and plane change (don't worry, changing planes is not that stressful if you have a fair amount of time to get your bearings in the airport). I will be arriving around 5pm Friday Nov 7. In my welcome letter from the training department I was told that there will be a few hours of "training" (probably paper-work, meet the trainers, etc) on Saturday but then will have the rest of Saturday afternoon and Sunday off to check out the area. Then, training begins Monday morning and goes until Friday. Saturday, it's off to the branch in Kobe where I'll be teaching.

Have a safe journey, and if you're half as excited as I am, I know you'll have a blast!

[stillnosheep]

Enjoy KIX (they are there in their white gloves polishing the banisters for you even as I type - and no I'm not joking) and the Shinkansen to Okayama Nederlands girl. But watch out for those Moonies...

[jeanie78]

Ievrin,

I was wondering if you could give me some insight about your interview with Aeon. I will be attending a group interview in a few weeks and I'm getting anxious about it. Does everyone do a sample lesson? What types of lessons were taught? Any info you could relay would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jean

[stillnosheep]

If you use the search function here you will find many accounts of Aeon group interviews. Just type in "Aeon' 'group' & 'interview'. You may also want to check out gaijinpot.com although that caters more for those already in Japan and is not orientated so strongly towards EFL teachers per se.

Don't stress about the interview. You will have to teach a short 10 minute or so segment to a small group on your first day (prepare something really really simple that is high energy and fun, preferably with a prop (e.g. a ball to throw to indicate who is to reply/speak next?) and those called back for the second day will need to prepare on the spot and teach a 15 min or so lesson on a given simple grammar point to an interviewer pretending (in a condescending, if not outright racist manner) to be an elememtary or very low intermediate Japanese student. The interviewers will not be looking for linguistic knowledge or teaching ability so much as for positivity, energy, all round genki-ness and a willingness to take criticism, so smile, smile, smile and take the criticism of your first day's effort which you will be given before your second day's 'lesson' very conscientiously. And don't forget to smile, and be positive, and humble, and accepting of criticism, but relentlessly cheerful and positive. And did I mention the smiling.

Whether or not you are offered the job will depend more upon the image you create than anything else. And Aeon are looking for happy smiling people who can be moulded to become "Aeon people' and who will not rock the boat. So be happy, smile, take criticism, appear malleable and don't rock the boat, for now.

Give my regards to uncle Aeon and...

Enjoy!

[iverin]

well I got my CoE today so I'm off to the Consulate next week to drop off the paperwork for the Visa. It's only a matter of a few weeks now until take off

[stillnosheep]

Yeah yeah, keep ignoring reality because it doesn't fit with your Japanese fantasy:

[stillnosheep]

double post

[stillnosheep]

[iverin]