Yay or Nay

Foxfirety · Apr 26, 2006, 22:23

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.

Mike Cash · Apr 27, 2006, 01:31

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 · Apr 27, 2006, 02:57

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 · May 21, 2006, 17:00

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 · May 21, 2006, 19:27

Originally Posted by 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!

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 · May 21, 2006, 19:31

Originally Posted by yukio_michael

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 · May 22, 2006, 04:45

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 · May 22, 2006, 05:06

Originally Posted by 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.

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).

Apr 26, 2006, 22:23	#1
Foxfirety Junior Member Join Date: Apr 13, 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 28 Posts: 6	Yay or Nay 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.

Apr 27, 2006, 01:31	#2
Mike Cash Delusions of Adequacy Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Location: Japan Posts: 5,417	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. __________________ Kiva: Loans That Change Lives

Apr 27, 2006, 02:57	#3
yukio_michael Koyaniskatsi Join Date: Mar 8, 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, Penn. Age: 38 Posts: 1,990	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. __________________ (flickr: pgh, japan & korea, santa cruz ) (blog: eyesonthewires) (j-rock) Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there. -Eric Hoffer.

May 21, 2006, 19:27	#5
yukio_michael Koyaniskatsi Join Date: Mar 8, 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, Penn. Age: 38 Posts: 1,990	Originally Posted by 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! 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...

May 21, 2006, 19:31	#6
Brian Boyko Junior Member Join Date: May 21, 2006 Posts: 3	Originally Posted by yukio_michael 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.

May 21, 2006, 17:00	#4
Brian Boyko Junior Member Join Date: May 21, 2006 Posts: 3	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!

May 22, 2006, 04:45	#7
nice gaijin Resident Realist Join Date: Aug 8, 2005 Posts: 3,688	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.

May 22, 2006, 05:06	#8
yukio_michael Koyaniskatsi Join Date: Mar 8, 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, Penn. Age: 38 Posts: 1,990	Originally Posted by 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. 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).

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