Osaka BOE Cancels Nova ALT Contract

Well, the Union can "rally" all they want in front of the City Hall, but it ain't gonna make two shits of a difference. What kind of fucking moron actually thinks that some pouting and whining will convince the Osaka BOE to directly hire HUNDREDS of eikaiwa idiots, simply because shitty business practices by a private firm cost them all their jobs?

First off, the Osaka BOE does NOT have the money to cover such an expense.

Second off, the Osaka BOE DOESN'T NEED that kind of superficial workforce, particularly at elementary schools. There are less than THREE DOZEN direct-hire ALTs working for the Osaka BOE's Senior High School department...just to give you an idea of how many are hired directly, and the majority of them are pretty well-qualified (moreso than your average NOVA drone, that is). You think the Board will just up-and-hire two hundred drones, just because you said so?

And what exactly would they do with two hundred drones? Read the article, folks: These idiots perform their dancing monkey-act very irregularly, and certainly not in a FT capacity. The demands would make it perfectly adequate to just hire a miniscule percentage of the unemployed drone workforce and make each instructor travel to a dozen or so schools. But then again, this assumes the Board hires anyone directly, which WILL NOT HAPPEN.

And here's the most important point. NOVA got lucky landing that contract, because ECC's Best Career department has, each year, been given a steadily increasing number of contracts from the Osaka BOE, for HS, JHS and Elementary school ALTs--the fiasco of four years ago long behind them (go do a search if you wanna know more), things have been going pretty good for the dispatch scam and now that NOVA's out of the picture you can bet your bottom dollar that ECC will end up taking those slots over.

So "rally" on, Union idiots...rally 'til the sun goes down, and then some. Shout, pout, piss on the sidewalk and be even more of a typical gaijin disturbance and nuisance, but don't think it'll make a mousefart of a difference. Dispatch exists because of the lowly, degenerate nature of 90% of gaijin who flock to Japan to be English "teachers," and the BOE knows this only too well. Direct-hire ALTs (or NETs, as they're called in Osaka) are an investment of time, money and trust, and the Board doesn't take the hiring process lightly.

That's why the BOE has a very small, very well-established and proven group of reliable folks working direct hire, and precisely why NOBODY would be stupid enough to waste time, money, efforts and sanity by impulsively hiring a massive horde of unemployed NOVA jerkoffs...regardless of their pitiable situation.

Be smart, be realistic and be men--pack up your shit and just go home, because that'd be the best option for us all. Besides...do you really wanna waste even MORE of your youth in this rat-race of a fake "career"? In the long run, the (young) folks going home now are doing themselves a favor.

Good luck to you all.

LM

Can anyone be so bitter and yet be a good english teacher? So presumably you're an ALT contracted by ECC. Congratulations. I've heard from some ALT's that they were reduced to little more than living, breathing puppets but I'm sure that's much better than being a drone. I'm sure it's been a great opportunity for you to showcase your superior qualifications, skills and talent but i can't help but think those have been wasted on such an abrasive personality.

I worked for ECC Best Career at three different senior highschools (between 2003-2006) and I really had no problems with their system. I was under a full ECC contract and I taught at the same senior highschool for 3 days a week (6 hours a day - normal ECC schedule - other 2 days at ECC schools). Depending on the individual highschool, I usually taught an average of 3 classes a day (50 min. each) and was generally given a lot of freedom as to what I wanted to teach. By doing the math, you can see that I also had a lot of PAID time off to do what I wanted (prepare lessons, surf the net, read, etc.).

I guess things have changed. I'm glad I got out when I did.

While I don't disagree that LM's clearly a bitter kinda guy, take a sec and think about a couple things he said that are pretty much true.

Namely, man up, pack up your shit and go home. Now, job competition avoidance or no, that's advice unfortunately I think a lot of folks should consider. It's not cause I want a job for myself, however much I do, but a lot of us gaijin are out living a dream here and have had the floor dropped out from under them. And instead of recognizing that their ride is over, and that it's time to sober up and head home, they're scratching and clawing at the walls trying to carve a niche for themselves that simply probably doesn't exist, at least not anymore.

That's not true for all, some people have lives here they truly enjoy and wish to make their own on a more permanent basis, in which case I think this is still a great opportunity to take what you have and go seek higher training such that should you decide to return to the English teaching world you're in some way qualified to do so on a professional level.

If you came to Japan to muck around, and when all this happened you just started licking the plate for whatever scraps you can find, bail now before you really get miserable. If you came and discovered that this is a life you want for yourself, realize the free ride is over and take the time to get squared away and qualified, and start over the right way. Learn your lesson from all this. The universe is trying to tell you something, listen to it.

If that means you've got to swallow your pride and ask mommy and daddy for a plane ticket home, just do it. Don't sit here and sink in your own shit hoping someone will save you. Save yourself.

Well LM is probably a bitter person. But some of what he said is true. It is not likely, nor would it be FAIR for Osaka BOE to directly hire NOVA instructors. What about other teachers (non-NOVA) who are looking for employment at this time? LM definitely could have said it more tactfuly.

There has been alot of sh*t being flung around on this site about whether teachers are qualified or not. I have taught in a variety of situations in Japan (eikaiwa, elementary schools, private companies, junior colleges, private lessons, etc.). Much of the time I taught at a variety of places at the same time. Just because someone has an education degree or graduate degree does not mean they are a good teacher. I have been told this by recruiters in interviews when I was explaining about my educational background. Nope, I don't have a master's and yep the guy hired me to teach classes at Matsushita. However, I did take some teaching classes and earned teaching certificates while I have been in Japan. That was my personal choice and on my own dime. Some of my colleagues with masters and doctorates have told me in the past that eikaiwas do provide a useful service (effective lessons for students). Also one thing people seem to be overlooking in this whole teacher debate is the STUDENT! No matter how great a teacher you are your effectiveness also depends on the student (goals, motivation for studying, time, commitment, seriousnes, etc.). Bottom line there is no guarantee of a good teacher degree(s) or no degrees. Also it has to do with the relationship between student and teacher. Students learn in different ways, just as each teacher has his/her own style. Sometimes the teacher's style does not match the student.

In the past, I chose to work in different places including eikaiwas because I wanted to. It was nice to have a variety of students from all walks of life.

A NOVA Instructor and more

I never said the NETs were sent from dispatch companies, I said that many of them moved on from dispatch comapnies to become NETs.

I know a few NETs, none of them have more than a bachelor's (in an unrelated field) and some experience teaching in Japan. In that regard they are no different than your average dispatch ALT or eikaiwa instructor.

Are you trying to make out that you are somehow more qualified. I as an ALT from Nova did the exact same job a NET does in public schools in Osaka and other areas. Please tell me exactly
how being a NET requires something more than being an ALT does.

Lastly I was offered a job at ECC Best Career. They stated that the salary was 250k minus 30+ for shakai hoken. Whether they are actually paying that or just ripping the teachers off, who knows. I do know this however, that ECC is amongst the worst dispatchers according to all the research I've done on the subject.

Oh, come on! LM is a worthless piece of shit, but he's basically spot-on with almost all of the info he rants about. Like him or not, the idiot does make good points and his facts always check out.

That said, why the hell are folks getting caught up on HIM? Aren't there bigger fish to fry? Bigger issues at hand? For one....the unemployment situation?

I mean this, now: If you're here, online, and ranting about LM and whatever, yet haven't been actively chasing whatever jobs are left, you deserve to get the boot from this country. Do you kids get my point?

GET OFF THE INTERNET FORUMS AND GET OUT THERE LOOKING FOR JOBS. THIS IS NO JOKE, ANYMORE.

your initial argument was too weak so now you try changing the subject and talking to people like they are just off the plane in this country (and you are some sort of expert on japan).

perhaps you aren't capable of looking for a job and making a post or two on a message board but i and 99% of the world's population is so screw off you condescending pratt.

anyway back to your weak argument. how is ecc best career good? and how are NETs special or "qualified"?

I have no particular opinion on this thread, but is "LM" the same person who posts Rush Limbaugh reports on Japan Today and signs off as "LM" on that site?

I must have known you if you had a full time contract during those years; I don't think much has changed from your stint at ECC. I have known both NET and TNETS and I don't think there is much of a difference except having your insurance paid. Also a little bit more money for the NET. ECC Best Career isn't bad and I am sure this person only glanced over didn't like what he saw and wrote what he wrote. I left Best Careers in March, I never had a problem with them and I was ok. The only problem with them is the gapping gap of two months when the board of Ed. is deciding if it will go with an ECC contract or not. Two months with no pay is harsh.

PECC is going the way of NOVA, disgruntled students, high turnover of staff, and poor finances. I think the previous poster is extremely optimistic labelling ECC as the "best career"...whatever keeps you happy though. What exactly was your previous career? It is highly tenuous to even label Eikaiwa as a "career" let alone the "best career".
I recall several mid-level NOVA defenders who always walked around with a cheerful grin, a spring in their step and a glint in the eye, spouting the mantra "a year or a career, a year or a career" over and over. Their cheerfulness and positive attitude sadly came to an abrupt halt...