W5 Staff Service - Whats the deal?

[myselfclueless]

I recently interviewed with them and there are some ???? I have read the previous posts which say they are good and bad.

Okay firstly i was offered the position without question being told that the previous teacher was constantly late and not liked by the school.

Then I was asked to provide cover for a lesson for a sick teacher for the next day.

Now about the contract -
only for 4 months but extention can be offered as new school year starts in March/April.
250,000 per month
up to 15,000 for transportation
School lunch provided which you must eat at 260 yen per day.
Holidays but doesnt state if paid or not.
This was printed directly off the website and handed to me for reference.

Is the contract likely to change?

Position is to start ASAP or possibly 2 weeks depending on what the previous teacher decides to do.

Alarm bells???? Not very professional yes I agree.

Any recent experiences any one presently working for them I would like to hear what you have to say.

Thank you.

[california84]

I worked for W5 for a year. They are hand off. This means no problem from the company for the most part. As long as you show up on time and don't miss work you are good. The vacation and sick day are ok. Vacation is a month in winter and 2 month in the summer. When I was work it was 80% of pay. Now I think it is some ungodly amount like 25%. Housing is "Leo Palace". It is small and overpriced. Best thing to do is get your own place. The pay is about average and the schools are too.

If anyone has any question about W5 please feel free to
e-mail me.


Cali

[Spaceghost]

I work for W5 in the Nagoya area. They're not bad but they're not that great either. I used to teach at an elementary school last year and they were supposed to provide all the materials on their website. It was pretty disorganised so I just ended up making most of my own stuff. They also provided me with some music CDs which supposedly had a whole bunch of songs on it I was supposed to sing (eg. London Bridge, Bah Bah Black Sheep or whatever). WHen I played the CD it was just one hour of this droll elevator funk music. Not much use really. Funny now but annoying at the time.

The other thing which bugged me was the wording in the contract last year. I was told I would have 5 paid days off on top of my regular vacation time (summer and winter vacation). Anyway, when I asked to take my paid holidays, I was told they were actually sick days and I had to have a doctors certificate to take them. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and didn't kick up a stink but I was still a little peeved (to say the least).

You only get paid 100,000 yen for August but the rest of the time it's 250,000 to 260,000 per month. I've always recieved my salary on time with no errors. They won't forward my last salary to my home country which is a bit of a pain but that's probably normal for most companies I guess.

The management leave you alone most of the time and there's no one looking over your shoulder if you turn up to work every day and hand in your time sheet at the end of the month. There's a meeting with the board of education once a month. Right now we just sit around watching videos of each other's lessons. It's a bit of a wank if you ask me but it's only once a month.

This is my last contract so maybe you'll be working at my school next year.

If you can't find anything better they're not that bad. Good for a year or twon but I wouldn't stay with them more than that.

Keep us posted!

[california84]

Could not agree with you more.

Cali

[myselfclueless]

I think that gives me a pretty good idea im only taking a 4 month contract with a view to take a year after that so i guess if i dont like it i can get out after the 4 months. Plus a lot of companies are hiring now for the start of new school year in Macrch/April.

Im definetly not living in Leo Palace (or foreigners dumping ground) as my friend and I like to call it. Been there done that and yeah a dog box and way over priced. Im going to be sharing with a Japanese friend in a terrace house.

Anyway thank you for your post i think from what i can gather they seem so so. Not the best and not the worst.

Thanks.

[citykid]

Hi i have an interview with W5 staff services coming up. This is my first interview ever for teaching english.

The lady told me they were going to test me on teaching ideas.

Do u have any tips or advise for W5 staff servies interview.

[Nonbe]

1. Wear clothes to the interview

2. Don`t swear

3. Don`t proposition the interviewer

4. Stop worrying, you`ll be fine!

[Taffimoto]

Hi i have an interview with W5 staff services coming up. This is my first interview ever for teaching english.

The lady told me they were going to test me on teaching ideas.

Do u have any tips or advise for W5 staff servies interview.

What level is the job for? Elementary or Junior High?

The teaching ideas would differ according to the level.

I would also disagree with what PaulH said on another thread about your kids basketball experience being irrelevant. If you don't have any other experience then this is extremely relevant.

[citykid]

it is for 6th graders who are around 12years old.