Let's Japan.org Debunking Eikaiwa and Ramblings in Japan

Near the end of my third and final year with GEOS, I became the "Senior Teacher" at the school. This didn't mean that I was some hyper energetic company cheerleader, it merely meant that I had been at the school the longest. Talk about a glutton for punishment, huh?

Frantic movement and the sounds of posters being ripped off walls could be heard from Alisa's classroom. Every now and then a muttered curse seeped out of the room under the closed door.

Linda's voice could be heard trying to soothe Alisa but it wasn't working. Finally, the sound of a trash can being mightily kicked across the room echoed through the school. Miki, the manager du jour, peaked around the corner from her office, phone pressed to her ear. The classroom door flew open and Alisa stormed out.

During a typical day at GEOS we would have 7-9 classes of varying length and level. We were also expected to interview prospective students whenever one walked through the door. The manager would usually coral the victim into the interview booth- called the fleecing chamber by the foreign staff- and give them the whole spiel.

One day the manager came up to me and asked me to do an interview. "No problem."

After I had been working at Gregg for a few weeks, it was decided that my only adult conversation class at the Jiyugaoka school would be observed. I don't think any teacher will tell you that this is a fun thing. This particular class was a joy to teach. The students were very high level and very motivated. They told me, all of them, that they did not enjoy using the textbook or the teaching methodology. They said, and I'm paraphrasing here, "We enjoy conversation in English. We come to this school once a week for conversation."

Guest post by Saburo Goro

Agent Was Who He Said He Was.

Oddly enough, Agent 13-57 arrived as he departed. Well, maybe a couple of imperceptible moments later. But you've got to admit that that's a pretty good trick, and in the Big Sky, quite a bit better than breaking even.

Although I had lived in Japan for three years up till then, I had no idea what it would be like to go to Japan. When I went originally with Geos, most of the worries weren't there. I had been assured of a furnished place to stay, transportation would be provided, and all necessary paperwork regarding the work visa would be handled.

During my initial hiring process in Canada before joining Geos and coming to Japan, one of the interviewers asked me what I wanted to do in Japan. I answered honestly, "I want to learn about Japan. I'd like to learn the language but also other things, like the literature as well."

"Well, that might be OK sometimes, but please remember your priority is to teach English."

"Oh, yeah, of course. What I meant was in my free time and on weekends and whatnot. Of course in class it has to be me teaching them." "That might be OK, sometimes..." Yumiko said and we left it at that.

International-gad-about, arms trader, drug king pin, war criminal, cattle rustler, eikaiwa teacher. What do all these swarthy characters have in common? They're all on the run and- for a fist full of noodles, they'll work for you.

I got off the train in Keisei Okubo and looked around. Another town. Another convenience store. Another eikaiwa school.

When I first came to Japan, I had to stay in a hotel because the teacher I was replacing hadn't yet moved on. After a week, it was finally time to move into my digs.

Some of my co-workers offered to help me move in. On our way to the apartment, someone said that Dan (the previous teacher) had a big goodbye party at the apartment the night before. At the mention of the party, people smiled quietly to themselves.

Guest post by

Thinking of teaching English in Hokkaido in Japan's most livable city, Sapporo? How about historic Hakodate or scenic Asahikawa with its large national park? Well, whatever you do, make sure that you make EC your absolute last choice for employment in Hokkaido.

Don't be confused by the name:
ECC: legitimate English school using professional materials

EC: a complete joke run by lunatic slave-masters that use so-called original lessons which are actually complete garbage.