Job Discussion Forums

ohahakehte · Joined: 25 Aug 2003 Posts: 128 Location: japan

know anything about em'? good? bad? ugly?

ERINJK · Joined: 26 Feb 2005 Posts: 25 Location: In Gifu-ken, Japan

I've had four friends work for them.

They aren't bad. Just a regular English School. They may not help you change from a Working Holiday Visa to a regular visa though. This was the case with one friend.

I was told the training was quite boring and you have to sit through lectures and stuff like that.

That's all I know. Check out their website for more details on employment info.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

No idea about the school itself... I just knew one of their recruiters -- he was a real d!ck. I wouldn't judge them by that though... I just vaguely seem to remember that they had some strange rules governing their company.... Long since forgot what it was though....

ohahakehte · Joined: 25 Aug 2003 Posts: 128 Location: japan

pjm · Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 17

I work for American Language School right now. They're fine as an employer. There are never any pay issues. All of the apartments I have seen are alright. They're still small enough that the head office staff will act on your behalf if you have a serious employment related issue with a franshise owner. I don't know about the visa thing in the previous post. They won't have you work illegally, if that's the concern.

ERINJK · Joined: 26 Feb 2005 Posts: 25 Location: In Gifu-ken, Japan

I haven't heard anything bad about ALS... I'm just saying that with the one person I knew, ALS didn't help change the Working Holiday Visa to a regular Working Visa so they had to leave Japan. Of course, this would probably be different in every case.

das · Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Posts: 15

ultimately from what I gathered from here, GP, and ELT, ALS is pretty much a hit or miss, "misses" being more associated with the franchise school instead of branch school.

DNK · Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 236 Location: the South

Just finished interviewing. They are adamant about not helping with work visas. I pressed them a few times on it, but no give. They want tourist visa -> come work -> process work visa. That constitutes illegally working, unless I'm missing something?

P.S. Sorry to dig up a few posts like this, but the info is useful for the future, no?

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

It's pretty clear. Don't take a job from this company. You might not get paid and get deported! Twisted Evil

nomadder · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 2:28 pm Post subject:

That doesn't sound good.

I had dealings with them a few years ago. Didn't get a good vibe from the recruiter either. At first I was told I'd definitely get an interview after their summer vacation and to hang on. When I didn't hear back a few weeks later, I sent an email and was told unapologetically to apply again later. I noticed a few months later they started requesting more complicated things for the initial application as well.

Put in the category-too big for their britches.

nonsmoker · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 2:37 pm Post subject:

Whatever you do, never leave your country without the proper visa. If the employer states that they need you ASAP, just tell them the truth. Tell them that you would rather not work illegally and have to go through the hassle of worrying about immigration. Tell them you'd rather focus your energy on teaching. If it's a good company, they'll understand and work with you.

Ai · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 154 Location: Chile

I know several people that have worked for ALS and some that still do. All of the people I know who work there like it and feel that they are treated fairly. But most of the people that I know work for branch schools and I think that the franchises may slightly less reliable.

They do help you with visas. But I don't know about the working holiday issue specifically. It is pretty common now to come to Japan on a tourist visa now and then apply for the working visa. I believe that it is legal to work once you have started the application process. But I'm no expert.

I think that, especially if you are at a branch school, ALS is a good company to work for.

ohahakehte · Joined: 25 Aug 2003 Posts: 128 Location: japan

[quote="nonsmoker"]Whatever you do, never leave your country without the proper visa. [quote]

whats the alternative? getting hired by NOVA or AEON and then quitting as soon as you get the work visa beacuse you realize how crappy the company is?

nonsmoker · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:24 pm Post subject:

[quote="ohahakehte"][quote="nonsmoker"]Whatever you do, never leave your country without the proper visa.

GWUstudent · Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Washington DC

I am going to apply for a position in Japan in the near future and was wondering if someone could give me the Link for ALS's website. I couldn't seem to find it with a google search.

Thanks!