Quitting a big eikaiwa

[person]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

You don't have to leave Japan until your Visa expires. The funny thing is that employers will tell unknowing people many things: they can take away their Visa if they stop working for them; they'll notify Immigration once you quit (implying you will then have to leave); etc. The reality is that you're free to stay until your Visa expires...even if you're no longer working for the company who originally sponsored it. Now, there may be some exception to this. However, the vast majority of people who wish to stay in Japan do so even after leaving their company. So, I guess the only answer to your question that I can give is...as long as you can afford to stay here without a job (assuming you don't get another one).

As a sidenote - I wouldn't leave Japan just because of a bad experience with GEOS. It's one thing if you miss your family/friends back home. However, if you were in a better work environment/situation, do you think you would be missing them as much? Of course, you're going to miss them; but, did you achieve what you came here to do? If not, look for a better position...undoubtedly easier now that you know a bit more about what to ask, etc. Good luck.

P.S. I got out my Passport to look at what my documents say. My "3-year Permission to Reside in Japan" says "Visa" on top. So, Trip Hop and I are referencing the same thing.



Post Edited (05-15-04 21:52)

[Guest]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

Snowy,

I had the same kind of time at GEOS you did. I still think it is irresponsible of the company to place new teachers in that kind of situtation. I was a split teaching at two different schools 20 minutes apart on the Tohoku shinkansen line. I never got any help from the other teachers in the schools (Japanese).

GEOS is pretty hurting for teachers at the moment because they have been interviewing in Japan, something they said they never do.

I agree with person, don't give up on Japan only because of GEOS. You can find a better job if you want.

Your final pay is paid in cash at the end of your last working day. I was always worried my manager would not have enough money to pay me. It was ok though.

BTW I quit GEOS almost 3 years ago and am still in Japan.

[Pocky-man]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

GEOS hiring in Japan, so where can I call to find out more info???

[dango]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

actually, I like it when parents of small children stay in my class... they can see I`m a good teacher, nothing`s my fault, and the children are much easier to handle when the parents are there.

[Guest]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

I work for Kodomoko too, and like you I want to leave GEOS but I'll stay in Japan. What's your school? You won't get penalised at all but you may find that you lose tha payment of your days off that you have accrued. I think they want four months notice but who cares. If I were you I'd call Stu/Helen and talk about how you feel about it.

[Guest]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

Hey nick, what school u at? I'm in the ibaraki area.

[Guest]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

I don't understand!
Why don't you call the mother in, if she is watching and tell her this is unacceptable and not fair on all the other kids. If the other mothers are there use them; Explain they are paying good money and are they happy paying if you spend most of your time not teaching; but controlling behavior in class. The manager may not listen to you but she will listen to other parents.. I find if you are strict from the begining you can always ease up; however it's very hard to change once you let them get away with it.. I always tell the mothers in the classroom you can have only one boss, you are more than welcome to watch from the window.

PS I use to work for Minerva What a have.. most of there Japanese teachers have received no training some students have been in Minerva over 3 years (aged from 10,11,12) don't know there ABC, can't count to twenty or write their name, answer basic question I like etc. Everything is based on small packs of different cards verbs, nouns and adjectives ( make sentences) they try to compress a lot of topics with no review. All classrooms are very sterile you are not allow to use anything that doesn't have a Minerva sticker on it. You must use only the playing cards every lesson.

I feel sorry for the kids and the Japanese teachers most of who want to learn but the company won't spend money on training..

These are my own comments and are based on children classes from babys to 15 year olds.



Post Edited (05-18-04 06:24)

[Guest]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

no need to search ... address is www.generalunion.org. They have a section for EFL teachers and seem to be doing very good work with NOVA teachers.

[Guest]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

Thanks for the good advice everyone. Today was another dreaded friday and the B, 2 I classes and CL classes actually went very well. There was a couple of students who got sick of activities and went and did their own thing but they are the students who usually end up distracting the other kids. I think I chose the right activities to do for the class and I was pretty stoked after the CL class. But get this, I talked to my manager and told her I was so happy with the way it went and she told me the parents werent happy and they wanted me to make sure noone speaks any japanese in the class whatsoever.

I was so goddamn shocked. They stand there in the window and _____ about every little mistake I make after I finish, even things hich are obviously accidental like one of the kids forgot to give me one of their books for homework and subsequently I didnt mark it. My manager relayed a phone call from the kids mum that said 'he has to make it more clear that hes marking the homework and to ask her for it directly and to make sure i mark the homework every class'. I thought the fact that the first thing I do when the kids come in is ask for their homwwork might be a dead giveaway or the fact that im getting homework from every other kid in the class.

It makes my blood boil that I work my ass off and put up these kid, tryin my best to control them and I get more whinging from the parents. Well as of next wonth Im out, I dont care about their 4 months notice, they are getting 2 weeks.

[madeira]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

Snowy, I have a few questions... Please don`t take them the wrong way! I`m just curious about a few things.

1) Are you a trained children`s teacher or early development specialist or something like that?

It just sounds like you aren`t... I`m sure you`d have learned about disciplining kids from various cultures in University and from practicums.

2) Did you CHOOSE Kodomo school? If so, why?

3) You said you started at Kodomo in February.... Is that the extent of your GEOS experience?

It would take a far braver soul than I to willingly sign on to a kids only school.... without some professional training.

Even though I knew I would be applying to `adult` GEOS/other Eikaiwa, I took a two-year TESOL program beforehand...

However, the program didn`t prepare me for kids at all. When the moms complain to me, I always tell them I have NO IDEA what to do, and ask them to join the class to help. Kodomo classes are cheap, and I figure I`ve got an arsenal of trained disciplinarians sitting in the lobby. In the LOBBY, though... not watching through a window... Yikes.

I think it could help other new teachers if you replied!

Otherwise, I`m sad you`ve soured on the company, and possibly on the country.
My experience has been quite positive with both.

[Bearcat]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

You're better off out of there. That is a typical bad staff school deal. You're manager simply doesn't have the balls to handle the parents nor the ability to support the teachers in a difficult situation. In otherwords, they are trying to make every parent happy and then placing blame on the teacher. That's a revolving door teacher system since teachers quit out on that pretty quick.

Since you have mentioned that you are quitting the soon, does your manager know? If so I suspect they may as well be setting up for making your replacement "shine". In otherwords making you look like crud and when you leave giving parents good justification for a "great" replacement. Typical in Eikaiwa.

Parents that peer through the window then moan and _____ about every little thing are class killers. They petty to death a teacher. And if they sniff you are weak or not in control, they (as well as the kids) will eat you alive. Put the parents IN the class a day or two and make them participate in the class. Treat them like the rest of the kids... including if they are talking to other parents (or their child) when conducting class. Embarrassment goes along way to shutting them up. Im only recommending this to you since you're leaving soon anyhow. Otherwise it might not work.

But I feel for you, you've basically been railroaded by staff parents and the students. Its a shame that you had to go through this but I promise you its a good learning experience for handling kids or others.

[Guest]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

Madeira: I'm not a trained teacher at all, besides the 'training' that kodomoko gave me.... my degree is in commerce so no, I didnt have any idea about child discipline prior to the job.

On the second question, I was under the impression before I came to Japan, that the only teaching jobs for non japanese speakers was teaching children. I thought that to teach adults you would need either a good level of japanese and/or a degree in english or similar.

Yep since february I have been with GEOS.

Bear: they have no idea Im quitting, but Im waiting til i take my holiday next month before I break the news. Unless they have a hunch.... I have been looking really pissed off lately... not that they ever made much of an effort to talk to me much anyhow, too busy being salesmen.

I know what you mean about the petty parents... however I can't really put them in the class... it's an 8 student class and the room is about 3x5 meters and contains 3 desks and many chairs.... so any more in the class and you seriously wouldnt be able to move.

I certainly think it's been a leraning experience for me, and Im really happy to have taught my favorite classes, I have some awesome kids, but just that feeling of dread on a friday makes me wanna run away before the start of the class!

[Bearcat]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

Snowy,

I've taught in smaller rooms and had parents come in. Since, I've taught at kindergartens, I've also taught as many as 80 kids at once. Thus 8 feels like a breeze after that. Its all perspective.

Desks and chairs can be stacked and put in the corner to give more space. I've rarely every used chairs in desks teaching kids.... especially little ones. They need room to move and be silly etc. Seriously, where there is a will there is a way. I know in some respects you have pretty much given up on trying to deal with them due to leaving soon but it could be done to have a few or all parents in the class as needed.

Teaching jobs in Japan are pretty varied. Some with kids and adults, all kids or all adults. But Im sure you've picked up from that already hehe.

It is a shame you didn't get better training nor support training from native english trainers per need/call if you have a situation. Some other big companies do this. ECC would be a good example. You're experience in Japan could have come across differently had the conditions for your job been different. But you are by no means a rare situation.. many situations have similar endings.

[Pocky-man]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

talking about giving notice, what's the minimum amount allowed?? my contract says 2 months notice. I'm only part time...would this be correct...

Welesley, I asked the question before, GEOS recruiting in Japan!!!!

do tell more info...

Yesterday I had a great class, 9 kids with 9 mothers plus their own kids, I asked the mothers to join in, they did and enjoyed... by the way the classroom isn't big enough to swing a cat...
The Japanese teacher was great, she wants me to come back but the bosses don't. Now, I decided to look for another post with kids...generally they are great fun.

[Guest]

Re: Quitting a big eikaiwa

according to the labor standards law you are required to give one month if you are in the first year of a renewable contract and two weeks if you are in the second or consecutive years. You are supposed to abide by the term written in your contract but as far as I can tell this this is not enforceable. Dont know about part time but I think 2 weeks is sufficient.

A month is plenty and if they can not find a teacher in that time to replace you it ceases to become your problem.