Did NOVA pay its teachers yet?

[mr.sumo.snr]

Does anyone know if NOVA coughed up the dough today? The teachers were promised October 19th.

--

[SmithAUS]

No they didn't. At the moment it feels a bit like a sinking ship, the question is not if but when.

[Mike Cash]

Reminds me of my previous employer, who had a nasty habit of being late with our salaries. At the end of the year he paid us part of our December salary and announced that we would be off until near the middle of January. Upon which news 2/3 of the drivers (okay...so that only meant four people) quit en masse, which effectively spelled the end of the company.

There's bound to come a point where a critical mass of Nova teachers just don't show up and they'll be forced to close their doors.

[xerxes99]

There's bound to come a point where a critical mass of Nova teachers just don't show up and they'll be forced to close their doors.
And that may happen tomorrow.

[ET_Fukuoka]

Most of my friends still working for NOVA are very well set up in Japan so they are just waiting for the company to go out of business. That way they get unemployeement right away instead of waiting a couple months. I feel sorry for the newbies that are living paycheck to paycheck and in NOVA apartments.

[SmithAUS]

Yes well I guess i am a newbie and in a way I'm up **** creek. However in reference to wilde's quote above it is all good...I know I'm going to stay and the only way I'll leave is if I'm beaten, sedated and dragged across the pacific.

[Broadshaw]

The company may in fact fold. What's interesting in the interim is how the Japanese government sits idly by and watch some 350,000 plus of it's citizens (a sizable voting block) loose significant money for up front paid lessons. Meanwhile the owner of NOVA..that lying cockroach..hides out and have his cronies send midnight faxes to the branches ..after the fact with his pathetic promises to make things 'right' pay salaries and oh how sorry he is for the ..get this..inconvenience. He finds two month of not paying staff and instructors, inconvenient. I think what's needed here is the international press to become involved. Then the government would no longer shelter this owner and do something albeit too late for most. Unemployment is only a last resort, helpful, yes! but should not be driven into accepting employment because of the criminal acts of one man.

[Ewok85]

Lets not forget that NOVA has been dodging tax obligations for years (shakaihoken, NHI, and only 'recently' began paying koyohoken fees).

The company is going to fold - there has been too little movement at the top, which is where the changes need to be made. Its just a matter of how many people it takes down with it - employees and customers alike.

[orochi]

I'm starting to see NOVA schools around me close. I hope they turn into Burger Kings.

[Ewok85]

I'm starting to see NOVA schools around me close. I hope they turn into Burger Kings.

Now there is the best idea I've heard regarding NOVA in a long time!! :cool:

[xerxes99]

The newest pay date they've given is tomorrow. I'll let you know if it happens, but don't count on it.:okashii:

[ArmandV]

The newest pay date they've given is tomorrow. I'll let you know if it happens, but don't count on it.:okashii:

You can take that to the bank. (Not counting on it, that is.)

[ET_Fukuoka]

Yes, keep us posted!! If I could leave now I would go open a school in Fukuoka. I know I could get a gang of students from Nova, and there are plenty of teachers that need work. The smaller English school owners must love this.

[bakaKanadajin]

Said it before I'll say it again, I'm so glad I got out when I did. But, for me it's a shame to see Nova die. For all its evils I have to say, a lot of good teaching went on at my little school and when I think about it I was largely unaffected by the BS that occurred at larger branches. I'm not defending their practices but I guess I just don't have the same (justified) visceral hatred some have for Nova.

I hope the Japanese who study at language schools see this as a step in the RIGHT direction and are happier knowing that only reputable schools will be permitted to operate. Perhaps it will cause them to develop a more renewed sense of trust and interest in their teachers and lessons. I'd hate for Japanese society at large to become disenfranchised with the whole English thing. Many of the students genuinely enjoyed it provided the quality was there.

[Mars Man]

Please forgive me for butting in, but I just had somehow always thought that novas were the endings, of suns that lost it anyway. . .

Maybe they had chosen the wrong name? Geos...now that sounds more down to earth!

(hee, hee, hee...Amerikan joke...cold as ice....sorry...hee, hee, hee....I'm just trying to make someone's day better ! maybe put a smile on their face !!)

[ET_Fukuoka]

@bakaKanadajin: I don't like the company per say but I did like the J-Staff and the students. Had a blast working there. All companies have their BS to deal with, even the best of them. I think NOVA's model was great but they just didn't put enough importance in the students and staff. They were too concerned with expanding and over selling packages.

[ArmandV]

It ain't dead yet, is it?

[Sparky]

This is why I opened my own school! No more worries!

[xerxes99]

It ain't dead yet, is it?
Nope. Not yet.:okashii:

[Ewok85]

So how are the bank accounts looking? People been paid? Not paid? Are we all going to go get in the life rafts or are we going to continue to believe that the good ol' ship NOVA is unsinkable?

[tokapi]

Latest reporting on NOVA ....

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/flashnews/

[ArmandV]

"English-language school chain Nova Corp., saddled with debts estimated at close to ¥44 billion as of the end of July, filed for bankruptcy protection Friday."

Just what kind of bankruptcy protections can NOVA get? Immunity from creditors?

I am gathering that the staff didn't get paid again. Right?

[Glenski]

Of the gazillion thread about NOVA on gaijinpot.com, this one seems most relevant for the JRef thread.
http://www.gaijinpot.com/bb/showthread.php?t=44098

[Ewok85]

Chapter 11 by the sound of things - they might come back as a "new" NOVA, or they might be forced to liquidate if their debts outweigh their assets. This is where the fun begins :relief:

[tokapi]

A union representing foreign instructors working for Nova has said the firm has delayed wage payments to some 2,000 Japanese employees since July and to about 4,000 foreign instructors since September. October wage payments have been delayed indefinitely beyond the scheduled payment date of Oct. 15

Full detailed online news article ....

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20071026z1.html

[Kirirao]

saw something new when I went to school today, at the Hello Work Shinjuku branch, "NOVA相談窓口". What will happen to the teachers if NOVA get liquidated? I'm guessing those with work visa will be sent back home to their home country?

[masaegu]

It now looks like it's officially going down.

NOVA has now been granted court protection from creditors! The debts are estimated at 43.9 billion yen. All of NOVA's 900 or so schools will be shut down temporarily. Many of its 420,000 students fear that their tuition money may not be refunded.

On top of all that, NOVA president Mr. Nozomu Sahashi, who has been fired by the board of directors, is now missing.

[Glenski]

saw something new when I went to school today, at the Hello Work Shinjuku branch, "NOVA相談窓口". What will happen to the teachers if NOVA get liquidated? I'm guessing those with work visa will be sent back home to their home country?
Why should they be sent back? Their visas are valid until they expire.

[Mars Man]

Filling for a chapter 11--as is said in the USA--shows that they are finished for now. As far as I know, they can restructure under a new set-up, be bought or merged, and perhaps something else, but otherwise, are finished. My heart goes out to all investors--students and most teachers, especially--who will hit a financial brick wall.

[Mike Cash]

This is part of the reason I always advise Japanese who ask me about language schools to only go to places that let you pay by the month instead of asking for huge sums up front. The primary reason, though, is that they have more incentive to keep students happy that way and will work harder to make sure the student comes back next month. I wouldn't have advised my worst enemy to shell out for a system like Nova, regardless of what I thought about their quality (or lack thereof) when it comes to delivering educational bang for the buck.

I notice that the Japanese language version of Yomiuri Shinbun carried the bankruptcy as their front page above-the-fold lead article today.

[Iron Chef]

I am already starting to see an influx of new student prospects inquiring about my lessons, many of whom are NOVA students. Even had a few unsolicited inquiries from out of work teachers looking for a new sponsor and some guaranteed pay. Gotta feel bad for the students and teachers I guess, they got the short end of the stick as a result of this whole fiasco.

[Mars Man]

One of my friends, a Japanese, asked me if I had heard about the NOVA thing; this was yesterday. I told her that I had had some information about the possibility that such would be the case--even some four weeks ago or so.

She replied by saying, "I paid last week. Do you think I can get my money back?" to which I said, "maybe, but it's very, very slim; you'd best not even think about it."

I feel sorry for those who lost.

[ArmandV]

It is pretty tawdry of NOVA to take peoples' money knowing that they are closing schools and all. Refresh me on this, how much is the fee that these people are losing?

[Andy-San]

Hi everyone, I hope your problems with Nova are fixed soon. However, if the problems with their bankruptcy can’t be resolved, are you going to look for new jobs in Japan or are you going to look elsewhere?
I’ve moved to Korea and think it’s great. It has all of the perks of Japan and more. If you think it might be for you, you can look at eslchoice.com.
Good luck!

[Elizabeth]

One of my friends, a Japanese, asked me if I had heard about the NOVA thing; this was yesterday. I told her that I had had some information about the possibility that such would be the case--even some four weeks ago or so.
She replied by saying, "I paid last week. Do you think I can get my money back?" to which I said, "maybe, but it's very, very slim; you'd best not even think about it."
I feel sorry for those who lost.
I feel bad for them also. On the other side, of personal responsibility, handing your money over to a company under investigation for misleading advertising that had been barred from accepting new students since June probably wasn't the wisest move in the world either...

[Uncle Frank]

I’ve moved to Korea and think it’s great.


Better change your flag from Japan to Korea to show your new home. Hope it works out really well for you there.

Uncle Frank

:cool:

[bakaKanadajin]

Hi everyone, I hope your problems with Nova are fixed soon. However, if the problems with their bankruptcy can’t be resolved, are you going to look for new jobs in Japan or are you going to look elsewhere?
I’ve moved to Korea and think it’s great. It has all of the perks of Japan and more. If you think it might be for you, you can look at eslchoice.com.
Good luck!

Man that would be tough, especially if you'd spent the last X number of years studying Japanese and now you have to start over and learn a third or fourth language to get by. I think only a few teachers could just trade in Japan for Korea, not that Korea isn't cool but I get the feeling many people explicitly chose Japan and will probably pack up and go home.
I feel bad for those who didn't save up and have to wire home for plane fare.

[tokapi]

One Japanese online acquaintance has a batch of NOVA's VOICE tickets valued @ 70,000 yen,not sure if she can get reimbursement.

[Ewok85]

Spotted someone who had 200,000 yen worth of lessons unused... ouch!

[xerxes99]

They haven't actually filed for bankruptcy yet. Nova has filed for protection from creditors, but thats not the same as bankruptcy yet. They have until November 5th to find a sponsor, supposedly theyre in negotiation with Aeon, Yahoo and others. If that doesn't happen, and it probably won't, then bankruptcy will be filed and all teachers and staff will be fired. Then we can get unemployment and hopefully some of our unpaid wages. I'm just angry about the whole stupid thing.

[Calchas]

I feel bad for them also. On the other side, of personal responsibility, handing your money over to a company under investigation for misleading advertising that had been barred from accepting new students since June probably wasn't the wisest move in the world either...


Yeah I agree. When paying large sums of money or working in an industry long term. It's just smart to research the companies and industry to make sure you know what's goin on.

Though I can feel for those outta work now, trying to buy food or pay rent. As an adult it just makes no sense to me to be caught unprepared for the worst case event and from what I have read NOVA has been broadcasting its demise for a long time.

[undrentide]

It seems that NOVA still cannot find any sponsor, and it looks very likely that they'd proceed for bunkruptcy...
I feel very sorry for the people who came to Japan to teach English at NOVA and got in this situation... Really it is a shame (literally) that NOVA is causing so many problems for both students and teachers.
Following is the information I found on the net, for those who are interested.
Osaka Labour Department commented that the estimated amount of the unpaid salary to the instructors of NOVA would be at least several billion yen, and that NOVA is rather irresponsible toward their employees.
OLD is going to request the preservation administrator to fix the amount of unpaid salary and get the contact details of the instructors including those who are leaving Japan.
[source]
http://www.nikkansports.com/general/f-gn-tp0-20071029-276305.html

Q&A for instructors from NOVA website:
http://www.nova.ne.jp/information/to-staffs.html
Q and A
1. Regarding the application for reorganization proceedings.
Q. What is happening?
A. On Friday October 26, 2007, the company applied for reorganization
proceedings and an order to preserve assets. On the same date, the Osaka
district court issued the order to preserve assets. The Osaka district
court appointed the lawyers Toshiaki Higashibata and Noriaki Takahashi as
interim trustees.
Q. What are ‘reorganization proceedings’?
A. ‘Reorganization proceedings’ are one form of bankruptcy procedure.
However, for companies in difficult circumstances but with the possibility
of restructuring, the purpose is to restructure and maintain the business,
coordinating creditors’, shareholders’ and other stakeholders’ interests.
This is different from normal bankruptcy procedures where the objective is
not to continue the business of the company and all assets of the company
are liquidated, and is considered a restructuring procedure.
Q. What is an ‘order to preserve assets’?
A. This is where the court appoints an interim trustee for the purpose of
assessing whether the company can be restructured according to the
reorganization proceedings. All payments are frozen and the state of
affairs of the company is investigated. The authority of the company
directors is transferred to the interim trustee appointed by the court.

2. Regarding procedures and lessons from now on.
Q. What should staff and instructors do?
A. For the time being all branches will be closed and instructors and
staff should wait at home for instructions.
Q. How should I respond if students ask questions?
A. Information regarding Nova’s ‘order to preserve assets’ is posted on
the Nova homepage for students.
Q. What will happen to branch operations from now on?
A. It has been necessary to close all branches temporarily to avoid
confusion and to check whether restructuring is possible. All branch
lessons, MM lessons and Nova Kids lessons are suspended. We can not
provide lessons to the students for a while. Lessons which have already
been booked are also cancelled.

3. Regarding salaries
Q. Will salaries be paid?
A. It is with regret that we have to inform you that Nova does not have
sufficient funds to pay salaries at the present time. We are unable to
give an assurance that the company will pay salaries.
Q. Why are you asking us to stand by at home when you can't guarantee that
salaries will be paid?
A. As a trustee, appointed to maintain the company's assets, it is
necessary for me to close all the branches so that we can immediately
investigate whether it is possible to reorganize and reconstruct the
company by looking for an appropriate sponsor. Therefore, we ask you to
wait at home and stand by.
Q. Will you be able to find a sponsor and then will the salaries be paid?
A. We regret to say that at this point due to the company’s situation and
the limited time to negotiate with potential sponsors it is not possible
for us to comment on the likelihood of being able to find a sponsor that
will be able to pay salaries.
Q. What will happen if a sponsor can not be found?
A. If we are unable to find a sponsor to take over the company soon,
regrettably we will have to commence bankruptcy proceedings.

4. About procedures from now on.
Q: What will happen to the company?
A: Government administrators are ceasing business in all the branches
immediately to secure the company assets. They will research the
possibilities of rehabilitation of the company business by recruiting
appropriate sponsors. For a while, instructors and branch staff are to
stand by at home.
Q: How will information be given out from now on?
A: Supervisors will contact you, or please check the company homepage on
which information will be continually updated.
Q: How is employment insurance processed?
A:. For instructors who wish to resign please submit a resignation in
writing to the Foreign Personnel Quality Control Group in Osaka or Tokyo.
Later the headquarters will send the documents necessary to receive the
unemployment allowance, such as the ‘Rishoku-hyo’, to the person.

[pipokun]

A Nagoya-based company, G-communication, will be the sponsor of NOVA.
1. Transer of operations of 30 schools
2. Transfer of about 200 schools in the proposed plan in the future
3. No transfer of debt

ＮＯＶＡスポンサーにジー・コミュニケーション内定
名古屋市北区に本拠を置くジー・コミュニケーション（稲吉正樹代表取締役）は6日、会社更生法手続� ｫの申請をした英会話最大手のＮＯＶＡのスポンサー企業として内定したと発表した。
まず30教室を譲り受け、授業を再開。その後、200教室� ﾌ制を当面の目標とするとしている。
http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/main/20071106AT5D0603V06112007.html
I do not know if Nova and its employees paid the unemployement insurance.
All employees hired in Japan have to join the scheme, but it seems that employees who signed the contract overseas do not have to.

[tokapi]

Nova teachers start lessons for food

TOKYO — A labor union representing former teachers at failed Nova Corp launched a program on Saturday to enable students to have language lessons from instructors by buying them meals instead of paying tuition fees. At a Tokyo park on Saturday afternoon, teacher Kristen Moon, 23, gave a lesson lasting about an hour based on topics in an English-language magazine to 32-year-old Yasuhiro Kawatani, and afterward they went to a nearby restaurant.

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/421688

Some former NOVA English instructors are in dire financial situation

[Mike Cash]

Thanks for the link.

Reading the comments, I found:


For eikaiwa or nihongo-silent-kaiwa, the price of 1 unique hour of dispatch lesson, without advance payment is 7000 yen to 10 000 yen, plus transportation cost. Yasuyaro is getting it cheaper than at any other companies that could employ the girl. He is not helping her : he is making it more difficult for her and others to find a *legal* job somewhere.
Anything under 5000 yen is insulting.
Plus, she did one hour *hostessing* the guy, which is not cheap either. I guess you guys know the rates better than I.
She should have got out of the restaurant with an enveloppe containing 2 to 4 notes of 10 000 yen.
This guy is a thief, and proud to be one. The promoters of *lessons for food* are doing like the yakuza.

Japan is getting very low. That used to be a decent country like others, but these days, I am not sure.
I worked at Nova years ago, students paid me hundreds of meals. As a tip.
They all always paid the lesson fees besides,and I never had to entertain them during the meal. They d bring me the wine and other goodies in a Daimaru bag
or an omiyage package, for me to enjoy at home with friends. And in exchange, they expected nothing (but were glad to receive my homeplace s omiyage at new year). I make presents to teachers I appreciate particularly, in Japan,like in my home country. Of course, I pay the fee for any teacher or worker I respect, for anyone that works for me. Why not ?

Needless to say I don t have much respect for those that take advantage of others misfortune to obtain services under the price.

There are whores of the spirit as well as whores of the flesh, and anyone who manages to develop the inflated entitlement mentality that guy did while whoring out his gaijinity certainly qualifies.

[White-Hexe]

It kinda sucks that NOVA is probably going to be shut down for good (by the looks of things anyway) I want to be and English teacher over there, NOVA was good because you didn't have to have a minimum level of japanese proficiency (Or so I heard...) so that was going to be one of my options when going over there. Now it may be a little harder to get a job, even if I take Japanese in University.

[Mike Cash]

Lamenting the loss of Nova is like lamenting an a$$ pimple that finally cleared up.

[dblbstrd]

Nova teachers start lessons for food
TOKYO ― A labor union representing former teachers at failed Nova Corp launched a program on Saturday to enable students to have language lessons from instructors by buying them meals instead of paying tuition fees. At a Tokyo park on Saturday afternoon, teacher Kristen Moon, 23, gave a lesson lasting about an hour based on topics in an English-language magazine to 32-year-old Yasuhiro Kawatani, and afterward they went to a nearby restaurant.

Some former NOVA English instructors are in dire financial situation
That's nice, but does it pay the rent?
The smarter NOVA guys should already be giving private lessons to a few students under the table for a buck here and there, no?
If you find the right students (admittedly this is a rare case), it's actually possible to come close to supporting yourself. A couple years back a buddy of mine (who was not especially qualified to teach, still an undergrad at the time) was teaching a rather wealthy guy, who was asking for a rather large number of lesson hours per week, and eventually proposed that my buddy pretty much follow him around all day and chat with him in English, for full-time-ish pay.
So, there's still a good amount of money that can be made this way, I imagine. And if there are a lot of would-be NOVA students out there who still want their lessons, maybe even more so.
Food for thought (pun intended)

[bakaKanadajin]

I've known a few teachers who were able to 'retire' from Nova and live off private students exclusively, but it took them years to accumulate that pool of students and narrow it down to those who pay regularly, study, and will not suddenly disappear due to lack of interest or what have you AND collectively satisfy the need for full time pay. The thing about Nova students I'd imagine is that most of them were trapped into going because of the points system. Now that they're free they may not even be interested in continuing their studies. To try and suddenly accumulate enough private students to live off is probably near-impossible.

Any teachers who haven't gone home will probably be best served by joining any school they can find no matter how small and just get some kind of steady pay going, then try to pick up private students on the side. Their success will depend on just how much they took away from Nova. Even if it's not the height of English instruction Nova did have a plethora of resources available for those who cared enough to improve their teaching repetoire, it's just that most unfortunately didn't care to do so.

A couple of my friends did end up moving to South Korea, I wonder how they're doing!

[tokapi]

Latest scoop .....

As for NOVA former students, can't get any refund. If they pay additional 25 percent tuition month by month, they can take remaining lessons and VOICE at New NOVA.

[ArmandV]

Latest scoop .....
As for NOVA former students, can't get any refund. If they pay additional 25 percent tuition month by month, they can take remaining lessons and VOICE at New NOVA.

There's already a "New" NOVA? If I were those students, I'd be leery about throwing 25% more money into NOVA'S coffers.

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!"

[xerxes99]

My school reopened yesterday, and there was a line of students an hour before we opened.

[Iron Chef]

There is a NOVA kids school that went under but is scheduled to reopen in my area near Kurume under new ownership and management. I've only heard the details secondhand but it would seem they are doing a promotional offer for *free lessons for the first three months* in order to drum up business. Not entirely sure what ties the new group that is taking over has with NOVA but needless to say, some others in the business aren't too happy with that. Personally I find the whole thing amusing.

[Pepe]

Any update on what has happened to NOVA? Seems all hot news feeds have now gone cold.

[Buntaro]

Any update on what has happened to NOVA? Is there anyone here who lost their job at Nova?

[Buntaro]

ＮＯＶＡ元外国人講師、６００人の再雇用中止

2007.12.24 22:56

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/life/education/071224/edc0712242257000-n1.htm

ＮＯＶＡの一部事業の譲渡先のジー・エデュケーション（名古屋市）は２４日、来年１月以降に再雇用す る予定だったＮＯＶＡの元外国人講師約６００人を雇え なくなった、と発表した。既に採用した１４４７人（日 本人含む）で再雇用を打ち切る。

　ＮＯＶＡから引き継ぐ教室が目標の２００校に対し最 終的に１２６校にとどまることが主な理由としている。 ジー社は希望する外国人講師の全員を再雇用すると表明していたが、 見通しの甘さに批判が集まりそうだ。

　ジー社によると、ＮＯＶＡ教室の多くに長期の家賃滞納などがあり大家との交渉が難航。２４日までに再開した のは１１６校。そのほかに１０校を順次開校するが、そ のほかの教室はほぼ再開不可能という。

　また、テレビ電話による「お茶の間留学」事業のコス ト削減のため、講師のセンターを大阪から北米など海外に移すことも決定した。そのた め日本で必要な講師の人数が減るという。

　ジー社によると１月以降に再雇用を希望する外国人講師は約８００人。２５日から面談を実施し ２００人程度は追加雇用したい考え。再雇用できない講 師については同業他社などに採用をあっせんする。

[Glenski]

The latest in English on NOVA recovery... whoo, boy!
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-b...0071226a1.html

[nyouyaku]

It is amazing how many Japanese people pay money like 8000 yen for one hour of talking to some farang for 1 hour. I am glad that in Thailand, I had the opportunity to speak to farangs for free on Khaosan Rd, and really improve my English. I think that Japanese people should just come down to Thailand via Air Asia and interact with many farangs here for free.

[Dutch Baka]

It is amazing how many Japanese people pay money like 8000 yen for one hour of talking to some farang for 1 hour. I am glad that in Thailand, I had the opportunity to speak to farangs for free on Khaosan Rd, and really improve my English. I think that Japanese people should just come down to Thailand via Air Asia and interact with many farangs here for free.

8000yen for an hour... never heard about that. I think the average is about 2000/3000 yen for an hour... Maybe if you are a movie star you can pay 8000... but I guess that's the same for people in other countries who want to learn Japanese and want a very good teacher.

Regarding the word Farangs. How about just using the word foreigner!?! First of all, people need to search the meaning of Farangs, secondly the meaning can be used in a mocking manner or as an insult. (source wiki). Thank you in advance.