NOVA - my experience
Since at least the 80’s Japan has been a lucrative option for foreigners to earn and save and experience an eastern culture. NOVA emerged as largest English teaching corporation in Japan and it was they who recruited me from London. For anyone considering Japan as an English teaching option here’s my five cents:
The NOVA London recruitment office was thoroughly professional, dealt with the Japanese bureaucracy and within 3 months I had a visa in my passport and was on my way. The requirements by the way - a university degree, a clean criminal record and of course being a native English speaker.
I had asked to be placed in Osaka or Tokyo. I was dropped in Gifu, somewhere between the two. An apartment was waiting for me in a nice enough area to share with 2 American guys. 3 days of on the job training didn’t feel like much but in hindsight there isn’t much to teaching English at NOVA - NOVA is to English what McDonalds is to Hamburgers - fast food. Pre planned lessons are ready to go.
It took me less than two months to put my feelers out for a new job. I left 2 weeks later. I was the latest in an exodus of NOVA teachers in the prefecture. Why?
-Low pay - lower than I was led to believe from London and lower than all competition
-No public holidays and fewer holidays than competitors
-No reason to aspire to managerial positions offering a pittance more pay
-Usually no pay increase when a yearly contract is renewed
-No completion bonus or paid flights home as with some other programs
-Some anal retentive management attitudes particularly with appearance and any association with students outside the classroom.
-High penalties for being late - in my case $50US for being exactly 2 minutes late on a single occasion.
-Apartment rentals that are far higher than market rate.
In short you are treated as a NOVA drone. The energy you put into your lessons and popularity with students counts for little. If you want to get along happily here question nothing and just tread the wheel.
For some NOVA is a convenient, safe job to tie them over for a post uni gap year. And fair enough, but there are plenty of other options out there as soon as you look. I recommend the website gaijinpot.com for a wee look and I’ve heard good things about the government run jet program.
NOVA is possibly the fastest way to obtain a work visa in Japan due to their high staff turn over and need for fresh teachers. For anyone thinking about the NOVA option I’d still say take what’s on offer and give it a go. Since NOVA gives no reason for loyalty you can always leave.
So where am I working now? In a little English school in Ichinomiya, between Gifu and Nagoya teaching kids with the brightest little eyes. Wow I never thought I’d be playing games and singing songs the wee ones but I couldn’t be happier. The money, holidays and most importantly working environment makes this one of the best decisions I’ve made recently.
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