NOVA ?

Wind-up · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: Seoul, Korea

As you know, I live in Korea - where I earn massive piles of money and command deep respect from the locals as a teacher of our fair language.

However the lure of those neighbouring islands to the east is always strong. The temptation to relocate has just been made even more hard to avoid by the offer of a job from a large corporation by the name of NOVA.

These people have a pretty nasty reputation however - and recent news has suggested that government raids, a drugs bust and the murder of an employee might not make them the best reason for going to Japan.

So ... has anyone here ever worked for them ? Does anyone here actually work for them now ?

If so - is it really as bad a job as rumour has it ?

Thanks,

W-up.

Persona-sama · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:07 am

Man, is Korea not cool enough to stick around with, Wind-up Birdo?
_________________

Corinth · thatbox Joined: 05 Dec 2006

Apparently JET people think NOVA people are the worst people of all the people anywhere ever? This is only what I've heard on the internets, though.

shnozlak · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:51 am

So NOVA is no go?
But seriously once your there cant you just sign on with different people after you settle in a bit?
_________________
Mixtapes galore ~ VG MUSIC
ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ http://phantom-photon.tumblr.com/

Wind-up · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: Seoul, Korea

bat · Joined: 11 Mar 2007

That is DISHONEST!

CubaLibre · the road lawyer Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Location: Balmer

PianoMap · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: victoria, british columbia

I thought when you took a job with NOVA or other similar english franchises the contract lasts for a year?
_________________
o-/< --- o-\< --- o-|-| --- o^-<

Persona-sama · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:03 am

Wind-up · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: Seoul, Korea

CubaLibre · the road lawyer Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Location: Balmer

oneEIGHTkevin · Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: Portland

I was actually talking with a friend of a friend last night who worked for Nova. She said it was terrible but they offered her the easiest way into Japan.

Now I have friends who work for Gaba Corporation but they are relatively new so I don't know if it's trustworthy or not.

Keep me updated on whatever you decide to do because I'm looking into teaching english after I graduate in the Fall.
_________________

SplashBeats · Guest

I've been told the White Guy in Japan market is starting to dry up. Better get in while the getting is good!

Wind-up · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: Seoul, Korea

PianoMap · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: victoria, british columbia

psiga · saudade Joined: 04 Dec 2006

I know a guy who says that he knows a guy that could get me illegally engrish teaching in Korea. Many of you guys know that guy (the first guy, not the second guy). It'd have to be fabulous, since the legitimate job offers that I've seen all require a B.A. for a salary at or under $20k a year.

BUT WE'RE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT KOREA !!

Man, I can't recall which Japanese engrish school is owned and operated by the Yakuza. Is that NOVA or something else? Tim hooked up with the Yakuza guys, which makes for a vastly more fun story than life experience.
_________________

Persona-sama · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:03 am

Once you get some hookups in Korea, you can get some nice private tutoring gigs for a shit load of money, plus boarding and stuff. At least, that's how I hear my cousins do it while they're there.

Did you know one of my cousins is also the manager for that somewhat famous celebrity Rain? I'm only mentioning this because I had no idea who the guy was and I'm wondering if he's even famous anymore or not.
_________________

psiga · saudade Joined: 04 Dec 2006

I presume your cousins are able to get some hookups by being genetically Korean and knowing about as much Korean as you do. I'd be showing up looking like Whitey Jesus and not speaking the language.

OH WELL.
_________________

psiga · saudade Joined: 04 Dec 2006

Wind-up · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: Seoul, Korea

luckystrike · Joined: 06 Dec 2006 Location: drunk creepin

I'll run this one through you because it's helped out my decision making in the past and as far as I've found is the most true advice I've recieved on the subject.

There are two ways you can teach english in a foreign country: The NOVA way and the real way. Companies like NOVA (and to a lesser extent things like Jet) take anyone from anywhere at any time. For the most part, show up with a pulse, a smile, native english and a clean pair of clothes and you've got yourself a job. This, however, translates into exactly what you think it would translate into: with such a prestigious hiring standards, you could imagine what the job itself is like. Low pay, no benifits, hardly any responsibilites. It's great if you want to, say, just prolong not moving on and getting a career job for another couple of years. You'll make enough to survive and get drunk, but don't expect to save any money, especially if you are living in Tokyo. Your hours are sporatic and I believe the pay is as well. Furthermore, it's low prestige; you aren't going to be able to really put NOVA down on a resume (presuming you want to continue teaching) and have it get you far.

I, personally, have met a load of NOVA teachers (from 20-something American college dropouts who came over by themselves to 50-something Irish ex-boxers who came over en-masse), and their experiences in the actual job have been uniformly horrible. Not to say there aren't people out there who've had a great time tutoring at NOVA, but the numbers appear to be against their favor. But hey, its a job, right? Also, you know, you get what you put into it. Basically, NOVA isn't really a job, as much as a semi-convinent way to waste a year or two. When you get out, you'll pretty much be in the same position you were in when you got there - plus a bunch of great stories and minus maybe a liver.

On the other hand, if you have a degree and past experience, your options are far more open to you. Just a cursory look around websites like gaijinpot shows english jobs for college grads or people with past experience/TESL certification that will pay up to 300,000yen a month with a year-end 2 month pay bonus should you come back, pay for your apartment/house and travel expenses (I've even seen one that will provide you with your own scooter!) and give (force) you into a Japanese language study program for free. You may wind up way the fuck out in who-knows-where teaching in a kindergarden, but its not like the entire island isn't accessible by like a 2 hour train ride. You'll also probably be working 9-5.

But, the downside is that you gotta do things as if you were getting a real job (which you would be getting!). Gotta put in a resume, shop around, show up and prove that you are good enough.

So, it really depends on what you are looking for. Personally, we call the NOVA guys the EFL (english foreign language/every fucking loser) squad and I've never really considered it an option once I found out better ones were readily available. However, teaching languages is sort of where my future lies, so I am probably coming at it from a different angle than most. Think about it honestly: if you just want to spend a few feel-good years in Japan and not have to worry too much about anything (NOVA also helps you take care of things like paying bills, finding an apartment, getting a bank account set up, getting you a working visa), then NOVA is fucking awesome and pretty much as good as it's going to get. Nothing wrong with prolonging the post-high school/college pre-career experience for another little bit.

Also, I was wondering about the teaching situation in Korea, so thanks for the info. I currently have a Korean roomate who wants me to come live with him in Seoul after he gets out of the Army. I've heard positive things, but I don't know anyone first hand.