Hi! This is my first post here so I apologise if anything like this question has been asked before, but I really would like people with different experiences from different companies to give me sone insightful information on these teaching programs!
I’ve done a bit of research myself and have obviously found the JET program one of the most popular and esteemed choices. One of my parents worked for Nova Japan, so I have some insight for that too -although they did work there almost 25 years ago.
The thing is, I have one requirement: that I get to choose where I am placed, for personal reasons. I really would prefer to be placed in Osaka or around the Kansai area, and I’m pretty sure you don’t often get placed where you choose with the JET program. I like the idea of working for Nova, but I’ve heard mixed reviews about it.
In conclusion, I’d love to hear about more of the variety of Japanese teaching programs that anyone here works/has worked for, your experiences with placement and choice of placement, and your experiences within the program (teaching kids? Teaching adults? Friendly staff? Pleasant bosses?)
Again, sorry if this is not the kind of question asked here, or is a question that has been asked before but I would really appreciate the help. Thank you 🙂
5 comments
Aeon and ECC will give you Kansai if you interview well and insist. There are kindergartens that might hire overseas after the pandemic but you’ll need to be a stronger candidate than usual.
If you want to go for an ALT position from overseas it’ll be pretty difficult to choose Osaka. Almost impossible. The companies do hire specifically for those positions but usually in country from what I’ve seen. If you can stick it out, most companies let you transfer to your desired placements after some service.
Your best bet is to try but be happy with a less desirable place in the beginning. You can always break contract or wait it out and move once here.
I’m not really sure what you mean by “teaching program”, since JET isn’t really a teaching program nor is really esteemed in actual teaching professions here. Things like JET and Nova, ALT and eikaiwa work are more like exchange programs and short term/entry level jobs people use to enjoy living in Japan for a bit, or to get a visa to transition to something else.
Are you looking to become an actual teacher, and have a career here, or are you just looking to live here for a bit with a low stress/responsibility? Those are two very different paths.
JET is the only program. It has a time limit and when your time is up, it is time to leave Japan. Some people manage to move on to other work but most leave.
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>One of my parents worked for Nova Japan
NOVA is a notorious black company that scams it’s employees. Most for profit “teaching” companies are a scam. They hire unqualified, inexperienced English speakers to sit in a room and talk at people. The wages are lower than what most university graduates start at and there are no pay increases. The absolute best you can hope for is about $30k a year but most make less.
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The only other choice is ALT dispatch. The pay is extremely low but it’s generally easy. You won’t survive more than a few years without assistance.
The NOVA your father worked for is very different than today’s NOVA.
NOVA went bankrupt in October 2007: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_(eikaiwa)