Yay or Nay

[Foxfirety]

So I have been reading about Nova for about a month now and I can honestly say that I am scared to work for them. I start working for them this summer and I am feeling like I took the wrong job. :(
I have taught High School for the past two years with the worst students in America, I have an education degree (not in English though) and I have worked in corporate America all through college full time. I have experience with bosses pushing you & back stabbing co-workers.
I guess my question is: Can I still have a positive experience with Nova? I am going to Japan mainly to travel & learn Japanese. Plus I need a new adventure. :souka:

[Mike Cash]

Yes, you can have a positive experience.

You just have to remember that you will by and large be pretending to teach English to people who are pretending to learn it and working for a place which (barely) pretends to care.

Keep in mind that you're starring in a farce in order to facilitate your off-duty enjoyment and it is possible to have a marvellous time.

[yukio_michael]

I've never taught at Nova, they require a bachelors degree to teach phrases like the big cheese, nature calls, and holy cow!, which I am lacking at the moment, but what Mike says is apparently the word on the street, concerning Nova.

I have seen their study materials, I do know what they teach, I do know how they advertise, and if this is your first time teaching, this may be your first shot at work in Japan... as long as Mike says, you pretend to teach questionable English to people who pretend to learn it, you'll be able to focus on your free time.

I'll say, if you do plan on staying in Japan, make sure you have backup plans, as I haven't read very good things about contractual obligations to English teachers.

[Brian Boyko]

Here's my question: If for whatever reason you're dismissed from the job, you may not get end-of-contract bonuses but do you still get paid? I'm not so worried about losing my job after 3 months so much as I'm worried about being stuck in Japan without a way to get home because I haven't gotten paid enough for the flight back!

[yukio_michael]

Here's my question: If for whatever reason you're dismissed from the job, you may not get end-of-contract bonuses but do you still get paid? I'm not so worried about losing my job after 3 months so much as I'm worried about being stuck in Japan without a way to get home because I haven't gotten paid enough for the flight back!You won't be able to enter the country without proof that you can leave via a return trip home. That is, you have to fly there on a round trip ticket anyways...

[Brian Boyko]

You won't be able to enter the country without proof that you can leave via a return trip home. That is, you have to fly there on a round trip ticket anyways...

Yes, but that round-trip ticket will be purchased for a year in the future. I'm worried about the costs if I have to leave before that plane ticket comes due - in other words, if I have to buy a new ticket.

After reading some of this stuff I'm seriously beginning to reconsider this as a plan of action.

[nice gaijin]

I believe you can only purchase return flights around 10 months in advance, and that if you wish to change this you'd have to get a ticket that you can change, for a fee. If you go so far as to talk to a travel agent, make sure that they understand your worries, and that it's important for you to be able to make at least one change in your return flight plan without breaking the bank. It could mean the difference between an $800 ticket and a $2800 one.

[yukio_michael]

I believe you can only purchase return flights around 10 months in advance, and that if you wish to change this you'd have to get a ticket that you can change, for a fee.I'm not sure about this, but I'll take your worn on it.... I'd add also, that a round trip ticket w/ a return flight farther in the future than say 3 months may wind up costing more than a ticket you make for three months and then adjust (usually around $150.00 USD).