Vantaggi
Training Pretty intensive training. 2 weeks which go over the curriculum. In a group so everyone can learn from each other. These people are great and I’ve made long lasting friendships from my time in training. Curriculum They have their own curriculum and manuals you have to follow. It’s a real entertaining way to teach. Took me out of my comfort zone and I learnt a few things that I use still. The student performances on stage are great if you have students who want to learn. Pay Average. It’s an Eikawa. The starting pay isn’t great. But you get a bonus at the end of the year for perfect attendance and also student numbers. Vacation Four weeks in total. Two weeks over the summer and two over the Christmas holidays. Golden week and some public holidays.
Svantaggi
Training A very odd environment, you are told at the start if you don’t perform well in training your contract you signed will be terminated immediately. So you try hard and socialize with the Trainers outside of working hours. If you miss a training meeting you are “fined” and money is deducted, but you are not paid for attending. Benefits When you first sign a contract you are sold that you can grow in the company. Becoming a member of the office staff, making props for performance days and such. This hardly happens. No pension. No health insurance. Even for a small company I would expect this as a minimum. 27 hours a week but with prep and travel added on top it’s about 35+, no overtime pay. They say you will “get time back” but it’s up to them when they give you days off. If you request a day off, you are questioned/investigated as if you were lying. Sickness. If you are sick you MUST call in between 8:15-8:30 otherwise you cannot take the day off. (You are fined for being sick. It is usually 12,000-15,000¥ per day depending.) Even when you do get the day off the office staff will call you and email you and message you on social media to “check up” on you. Completely intimidating and it’s just one of the methods used to make sure you are at work. Some cases coworkers have been to work sick, with a fever or no voice because “there is no cover.” Japanese staff If you get a great assistant then it’s okay. But if you get someone who doesn’t like the way you teach or “isn’t like the old teacher” you are in for a rough ride. They will constantly spy on you and report what your doing to the head office staff. Who in turn will call you about these things. Even if it’s something small like not turning off an air conditioner or not assigning homework “the way the old teacher did.” Management One of the Trainers is a creep, highly unprofessional and boarding on sexual harassment. They will TRY and sleep with anyone with a pulse. Constantly hounding their employees for threesomes and other sexual things. I was warned by older employees to keep my distance but myself and many other new employees just want to pass training and feel pressured to please when this person comes onto them. When I approached a separate manager about this persons abuse of power they laughed it off and I felt ignored by everyone at head office, and that everyone knows it’s going on. If you are pregnant, you will not get a contract renewal, even if you have been working for the company for years. They can just “not renew” your contract. HR Sneaky and everything is done very hush hush. Working hours vs Payed hours are a lie. Out right lies to your face to get you to sign. Classrooms These are most likely in old buildings. Many have mold which is ignored or painted over and effects the students and teachers. If you complain about the mold, nothing gets done. Other then mold the doors don’t lock properly and wall paper is falling off the walls. Child Safety Teachers are not first aid trained. Neither are the Japanese staff member. Children eat during some of the classes and if something does happen the teacher is on their own.