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TECO
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 7:32 pm Post subject: NOVA Non-Socialization Policy - Does Korea Have This? |
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In Japans largest EFL school, teachers get fired if caught socializing with students.
Do any Korean English schools have such policies?
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Thursday, February 26, 2004
Foreign teachers shun the language of love
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
One of Japan's largest chains of English-language schools has
rejected calls from a lawyers' group to rescind a ban on its foreign
teachers fraternising with students.
The company, Nova, says it will continue to fire teachers who "cause
trouble".
The Osaka Bar Association is advising an Australian teacher, who has
not been identified, after he was dismissed from his job in April
2001 for dating a student.
The association sent a letter to the language school's management
stating that dismissal was too harsh a penalty.
"We are sorry that the lawyers' group does not understand Nova's
policy," the Osaka-based chain said.
"This company made the policy to avoid problems between foreign
instructors and students. Outside lesson hours, lecturers meeting
students can cause trouble."
Nova operates 561 schools across Japan and last year reported income
of US$600 million.
The company has declined to reveal how many of its teachers have
lost their jobs under its no-fraternisation rule.
"It goes on all the time and in every school," says former Nova
teacher Robert, 29, who asked for his last name not to be used.
"It nearly happened to me. I went for a coffee with an older, very
wealthy woman after she invited me out but it quickly became clear
she wanted more than coffee.
"I said I didn't want anything like that and she complained to Nova
that I was racist.
"She also threatened to have my working visa revoked because she
knew someone in the immigration department."
Because he was able to convince the company - who "came down on me
pretty heavily" - that he had gone for a coffee at the student's
instigation, he was only reprimanded and moved to a different
school.
Several former Nova teachers suggested the 10-year-old rule was
introduced in response to complaints from angry parents that their
daughters had stayed out partying all night with Nova teachers.
A teacher at a Tokyo school said she was unaware of instructors
dating students at the Nova institutions she has worked at, but
agreed that it probably went on very quietly because most of the
staff were concerned about keeping their jobs.
"For many of them, they're fresh out of university and it's their
first job so they do as they're told," Ann, 34, said. "Lots of men
come to Japan because they can't get a girlfriend back home and I
suppose Nova has this rule simply to protect its own interests.
"They're trying to avoid lawsuits and students leaving Nova to study
privately with the teachers." |
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FierceInvalid
Joined: 16 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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I've never heard about a Korean hagwon with the no-socializing rule. Going out for drinks with students seems to be the norm.
I was talking to a Japanese friend of mine and he told me that two teachers recently took NOVA to court over the rule and won. He said it was in the news in Japan a couple months ago. Could spell the end for the policy... |
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animalbirdfish
Joined: 04 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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I've heard of this NOVA policy, but people I've know who worked for them said that such 'fraternizing' was common but must be kept on the downlow.
For Korea, I'd say it's quite the opposite, sometimes going as far as compulsory socialization. That is, go out for drinks with your co-workers or risk ostracization (not so much for westerners, but definitely for Koreans).
I rather see where NOVA's coming from, insofar as romantic dalliances are concerned. I never date students (just as I wouldn't date coworkers), but I've known coworkers who did and the school generally lost both people when the imminent split finally came down. Romance aside, though, I don't see the harm in going out for dinner or drinks with students. It really helps the atmosphere of class IMO. |
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mourningclam
Joined: 27 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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| I used to work for NOVA and every teacher would socialize with the students in one form or another. For my position in Korea, I think I would get arrested for contributing to the deliquency of a minor if I went to the bar with them. |
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 4:51 am Post subject: |
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When I was training at CELTA I went out for drinks with 2 of my turkish students, hot chicks i can tell you. I got wrecked into oblivion.
Don't do it. |
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spliff
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 6:03 pm Post subject: well |
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| just testeing |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 5:06 am Post subject: |
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"Lots of men come to Japan because they can't get a girlfriend back home ..."
Ha put the knife in and twist it why dontcha! |
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