Seriously considering Nova

I know a lot of people here have probably looked at Nova. They are a chain of schools all over japan that teach conversational english. Basically they will take almost any college grad, get them work papers and set them up with an apartment in Japan to teach at one of their schools.

Nova does have a somewhat dubious reputation. There are no shortage of complaints and bad stories about them online from people who didn't get what they were expecting. Minimal pay (some say it's easily livable others say no), small overpriced apartment, and many job related complaints including long hours, shitty bosses, and strict lesson plans with no room for personal input. A lot of people also say that it was a great rewarding experience, they liked thier co-workers, and so on. Honestly, a lot of the complaining i have been reading sounds like the same stuff you would hear about any job. I consider myself a patient and understanding individual, so i can put up with a lot if it's a fair situation. I've read through a lot of the opinions at this site and have come to the conclusion that it seems fair. But this is basically what i have to really figure out. The last thing i want is to go there and be miserable for a year counting the days till i get back to the states.

I can't say i'd be really into teaching english, i want to experience life in Japan more than pursue a teaching career and this seems like a good way to do it. I know japan doesn't need anymore unmotivated english teachers, but i need a job :P. Seriously though i think i would enjoy the work anyway. I like talking to new people and helping them out and I would do my best to help people learn english.

Just give me any input you have on Nova or whatever. I also had a question about life there. I'm a 6'5" pale white guy, so presumably i stick out like a sore thumb, but is it in a good way or a bad way? A lot of people complain about racism and i wonder if i would be a big target presuming i tower over most japanese people and will have trouble blending in. Although I have also heard it would be easy for me to get laid :) .

Nova's site www.teachinjapan.com

thanks

I don't know about Nova specifically - but I can say this:

Go for it.

Experience everything you can now, before you get too old, committed, etc to be able to just bust out free for a year and go to another country.

thanks kidnemo.

that's what my sister said too (she actually did the same type of thing, teaching english in Germany for a few years)

OMG teh axis siblings!

I always wanted to go to Italy and Japan, but I think if I knew the languages and had no problem, I'd love Japan even more [not because of gaming, but the culture, environments etc]. As mentionned before, go for it dude, it'll rock. And take pictures like Boxthor did.

Personally I'd recommend the JET program before Nova from what I've heard. That's what I'm shooting for once I graduate in a few years.
http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/

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Originally Posted by DjRocca

I always wanted to go to Italy and Japan, but I think if I knew the languages and had no problem, I'd love Japan even more [not because of gaming, but the culture, environments etc]. As mentionned before, go for it dude, it'll rock. And take pictures like Boxthor did.

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Italy's awesome. You should definitely make it a point to go there. I plan to go back again some day.

Well, it's a toss up. On one hand, you get the opportunity to go spend some time in Japan and see the country. On the other, not only are you working there as an English teacher, but you're working as one for one of the big fast-food English companies, which is about as low on the Japanese food chain as you can get.

As much as I'm wanting to go back over there, I'm not sure that I'd ever do so via a place like Nova. If I'd never gone to Japan before, I'd probably take the opportunity. If you can put up with the conditions and the inherant lack of pleasentness that is being an English teacher, then it would be worth it for the free time that you then get to spend seeing Japan.

is 260,000 yen a month enough to live modestly on? that seems to be the base rate. They give you a little more if you're in Tokyo or another major city with higher costs of living.

I say don't do it. 260,000 yen is a pittance for educating people.

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Originally Posted by Mike

I say don't do it. 260,000 yen is a pittance for educating people.

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It's better then they pay most teachers in the US. :cry: