You are here

Home › Blogs › Shawn's blog

One Month After the Meltdown

This story is kind of moot now that Nova is officially bankrupt and will be liquidated. It has been one month since Nova filed for bankruptcy protection. The Asahi Shimbun takes a look at the aftermath. Here's a translation of the article.

No jobs, no money: Foreign instructors one month after Nova's collapse

It has been one month since Japan's largest English conversation school, Nova, collapsed on October 26. Since then, Nova's business has been handed over to a new owner and measures are in place to find new places of study for roughly 300,000 students. However, only half of the foreign instructors who lost their jobs are to be re-hired, and refunding the ¥57 billion in pre-paid lessons remains up in the air. Nova's former president, Nozomu Sahashi, who legacy is his expansion policy, has yet to appear in public and explain himself.

Twenty two year-old American, Derek Archer (?), from Idaho, taught in Toride, Ibaraki for a month but his school was closed and he was never paid. He's staying at a former student's home and is somehow getting by. Although he searches for jobs online, he hasn't found anything and is out of money.

Fellow American, Nicholas Falcher (?), came to Japan in September and taught in Nagoya and Tokyo. He left his Nova-sponsored apartment for a guesthouse to save on expenses. While he wants to continue working in Japan, he's thinking of teaching English in Korea if he can't find a job.

Nagoya-based G.communication, which has taken over Nova's business, said it would re-employ all former Nova instructors and staff who wished to continue working, but most are waiting at home with only about half of the 1,760 who applied being re-hired.

A government fund exists to pay outstanding wages, but the application process is lengthy. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, there have been nearly 4,000 inquiries regarding unemployment insurance and job searches at the special counters set up at eight labour bureaus in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other locations.

Some instructors have returned to their home countries. Australian Julie Pigeon (?) taught in Tokyo but returned home on November 20 because she ran out of money. "I'm sad to leave my students, but I had no choice." If she had to give advice to a friend thinking of working in Japan, it would be, "Choose your school carefully."

G.communication has said that it will open 200 schools by May next year, but that is less than a third of the approximately 670 schools Nova had when it failed. The company has re-opened 15 schools to date.

For the students, plans are under way to find them new schools to study at. The 66-member Japan Association for the Promotion of Foreign Language Education reported to METI that it will accept 10,000 students. The 24-member All Japan Linguistics Association is considering accepting 5,000 students. As for Nova refunding the more than ¥57 billion in pre-paid lessons, a trustee commented, "The odds of students receiving refunds are low."

As for Sahashi, on the night of October 25, when he was ousted from his position as the head of Nova, he called a public relations officer and instructed him to tell the media that he (Sahashi) had not been relieved of his position. Since then he hasn't been seen in public.

Sahashi is suspected of causing losses of several billion yen from the sale of videophones to Nova with the Nova trustees considering filing charges of aggravated breach of trust under the Companies Act. The Osaka Labour Bureau continues to build its case as to whether Sahashi violated the Labor Standards Law when he delayed paying instructors their salaries.

Comment: The collapse of Nova is turning out to be a huge fiasco for consumers and instructors. One thing that caught my attention was Sahashi instructing a minion to deny claims that he was removed the night he was ousted. In an interview with the Shukan Diamond, he said he first learned of his fate the morning of the 26th, not the night of the 25th. The story keeps changing. Is this an error in reporting or has Sahashi spun so many lies that he has a hard time keeping track of them?

Edit 11/27: I originally wrote that G.comunication planned on hiring less than half of the 1760 applicants. That's not quite right. A more accurate translation is that of the 1760 applicants, about half have been re-hired.

Original article

外国人元講師、職も金もない　ＮＯＶＡ倒産１カ月

英会話学校最大手「ＮＯＶＡ」（大阪市）の倒産から２６日で１カ月。この間、事業譲渡先が決定したり、３０万人の受講生受け入れの動きが広がったりするなど事態は表向き収束に向かいつつある。一方で、職を失った外国人講師の再雇用は道半ばで、５７０億円の「前払い受講料」の返還も宙に浮く。説明責任を果たさず、拡大路線のツケだけを残して去った猿橋（さはし）望前社長（５６）は姿を消したままだ。

米アイダホ州出身のデリック・アーチャーさん（２２）は、茨城県取手市で１カ月間働いたが、一度も給料をもらえないまま教室が閉鎖された。今は元生徒の自宅に居候させてもらい、なんとか暮らしている。インターネットで職を探すが、「まだ決まったところはなく、お金もない」。

米出身のニコラス・ファルチャーさん（２７）は昨年９月に来日し、名古屋市と東京で教えていた。ＮＯＶＡが借りていたアパートを出て、都内の外国人専用ゲストハウスに移り、生活費を切りつめている。日本で働き続けたいが、職がなければ韓国の英会話学校への就職も考えるという。

ＮＯＶＡの事業を一部引き継いだ学習塾「ジー・エデュケーション」（名古屋市）は再雇用を希望する元講師と元社員を全員受け入れる方針を打ち出したが、再雇用を希望した約１７６０人のうち同社が雇ったとしているのはまだ約半数で、多くは自宅待機中だ。

未払い賃金を立て替え払いする国の制度もあるが、請求手続きには時間がかかりそうだ。厚生労働省によると、東京や大阪、福岡など８労働局の特別窓口に寄せられた雇用保険や未払い賃金、再就職の相談件数は、４０００件近くになっている。

帰国した元講師もいる。オーストラリア人のジュリー・ピジョンさん（２６）は東京で教えていたが、「金銭的に限界」として２０日に日本をたった。「生徒と別れるのは本当にさみしいけど仕方がない」。日本で働きたいという友人がいたら、「学校選びは慎重に」と助言するつもりだ。

ジー社は０８年５月までに「２００教室体制」に広げると表明しているが、ＮＯＶＡ倒産時の約６７０教室と比べて３分の１以下だ。これまでに再開された教室も１５にとどまっている。

一方、受講生受け入れの動きは広がっている。業界団体「全国外国語教育振興協会」（６６社）は、経済産業省に計１万人を受け入れると報告。「民間語学教育事業者協議会」（２４社）は５０００人程度で検討している。ただ、５７０億円に上るＮＯＶＡの前払い受講料の返還については、保全管理人は「受講生の手元に戻る確率は非常に低い」と話す。

猿橋氏は、代表取締役を解任された１０月２５日夜、広報担当者に電話をかけ、マスコミに解任の事実を否定するよう指示したとされる。この後、猿橋氏は姿を消した。

猿橋氏をめぐっては、英会話用機材取引をめぐってＮＯＶＡに数十億円の損害を与えた疑惑が浮上し、保全管理人が会社法の特別背任容疑での告発を検討。講師らの給与遅配についても、大阪労働局が労働基準法違反容疑で立件する方向で調べを進めている。

Japan: 
nova
Eikaiwa: 
Naked Theft

Comments

It`s time for everyone to move on............good luck to everyone

I am one of the 1760 who have applied to work for G-comm. I received a phonecall from my AAM today saying that I have two options: OPTION A - sign a contract that will see me officially employed/paid by G-comm as of November 29th. From that day forward I will be on "stand-by" until needed, and regardless of whether or not I actually teach lessons, I will be paid. OPTION B - Defer working for G-comm until January 10th, 2008 and receive a one-off immediate payment of 150,000 YEN. Has anyone been told anything similar by their AAMs? Option B seems appealing, because you effectively receive money to do nothing. However, it also seems to be somewhat of a scam, as one could sign up on the 29th (Thursday), be put on stand-by for the same period of time, thus receiving their full salary (as opposed to 150,000 YEN). Or, perhaps one could take this 150,000 Yen and return home, never to work for NOVA again.

i heard this from another post online that this offer was offered to MM workers... but does this offer work for ALL instructors??? even part timers?

if u happen to know.. thx!

Well I am/was a full-time branch instructor, so I guess the offer also extends to branch instructors, but I am unsure if it also applys to part-time employees...hope this helps. good-luck!

I am planning to speak to my AAM tomorrow and find out if this is true, according to him, all instructors that want a job back need to be on standby and ready for an information session at Head Office on Wednesday or Thursday... When I know any more, I will post it on my blog... Visit http://gcommnova.blogspot.com/ to see it...

The official declaration of bankruptcy and liquidation means that we can get applications in for backpay sooner rather than later... That's the thing I am looking forward to...

Don't worry it's going to be just like the old NOVA. Just: kiss ass; lick balls; do whatever you have to in the name of sales; don't question anything; don't stray from the LMP; smile; be a two faced cunt; don't socialize with students and don't worry everything you say will be logged by your AT.

If you go crawling back to NOVA, you truly verify every stereotype of how pathetic EIKAWA teachers are. For fucks sake: DON’T DO IT!!!

I heard the New NOVA is denying employment to people who did not show up after payment stopped. The now bankrupt NOVA is surely not going to pay those wages. The “New NOVA” is not going to pay the back wages. So that means the New NOVA won't hire anybody who is not docile enough to be willing to work for 7 weeks without pay. You would think there would be a little empathy for people who were scammed by outright corporate fraud. However, I'm afraid the "New NOVA" is being managed by the same people.

I am not trying to defend slackers, but after your employer stops paying you, you should not continue to offer your services. I know some people felt an obligation to their students, but you have to think about the bottom line. I would be very skeptical of going back.

two words: anders and flemming.

do you really want to go back to that?

If you want to work for the new company I would advise signing a contract AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. It looks like there was a much higher number of teachers wanting work than they anticipated & they just can't feasibly re-hire everybody who used to work for NOVA.

Somehow I knew this would happen, I knew NOVA was fucked but I also knew about the 80% we would receive from the government (because any sponsor doesn't have to pay & why the hell would they when they government will?) so I continued to come into work right until the end so when I finally get the back pay from the government (which we will..... eventually) it will be that much higher than if I had stopped coming in. The only days I didn't come in were when I had something to do like an interview. What was the point of staying at home losing future money? I advised all my staff to do the same & all those that took my advice have been re-hired already those that didn't are still waiting. Sure some of them (my overly negative BT wank stain who sounds like A LOT of people here) called us stupid for doing so but now we are employed & they are not. I'll call them up to tell them how stupid they are (like my BT did to me). I derive no satisfaction in people struggling to make ends meet but I think people need to learn that the best course of action is to swallow your pride, stay quite & do what is going to serve you best in the future. Not get all pissed off with people shout "fXXk you" & screw your self over in the future

I also feel sorry for everyone that had a poor NOVA experience. My AAM was the best guy ever & I loved working for him. I was allowed to be creative with my lessons & build relationships with students. My NOVA experience was very enjoyable over the last 5 years. My branch really felt like a family & I think that's why we stayed together through the troubles & have all come through it.

Good luck to everyone whatever you are doing but please try to stop telling everyone else that they have been stupid. Sure some people have made some bad choices but people panicked & didn't know what to do! I'm just happy I had enough savings to not panic. I don't know what I would have done otherwise.

You worked at NOVA for five years? You had interviews, but you were not hired by another, better company? You enjoyed working at NOVA? You are going back to work for NOVA? I think you are special. When you were in school did all the other boys and girls ride the big long school bus and you rode the short bus for special kids?

Just a few words regarding new NOVA denying employment to teachers who stopped working after payment of salaries stopped. I can personally testify that this not true. I personally stopped, along with many other colleagues, showing up for work when salaries weren't paid and no explanation was given. However, we all received a job offer from the new company.

Has anyone seen any money yet from Labor Standards, Hello Work, GComm etc.? I've yet to see a posting on any thread that mentions receiving one thin yen from any of these sources. I'd be curious to hear how vigilant these government agencies have been in getting people some money to survive

I just got back from meeting up with an AAM and a bunch of other teachers to go over the aforementioned paperwork, it's true, I've seen it and signed it.

It's something to do while I wait on other jobs, and I don't mind being on call. For those who choose to stay on-call, you can take a 50,000 yen advance on your December salary, which I opted for. The way I figure it, I'd rather get a full salary a little later if I can survive until then.

Additionally, if you choose to stay on-call, you can apply for unpaid holidays that are pretty much guaranteed to be approved, since there are, as mentioned, more teachers than branches at the moment. So, theoretically, I'm being paid from this day forward, and will receive payment for these next 4 days on the 5th of next month.

Of the 10 or so people there, myself and one other person opted to stay on-call, and I suspect the draw of having 150k right now will prompt a huge number of other instructors to do the same.

And, Nova:nutlicking=promotion, you stupid fucking cunt, get off it. People are trying the damnedest to survive and all you can do is spew out this conceited miserable masturbatory shit, and it's old. Put it back in your pants, wipe the keyboard off, and get a fucking life.

People in this situation might not be vastly qualified or motivated, but they're certainly not happy about all this either. We're people trying to make ends meet, and even if it's this or a grocery store back home, who gives a shit what they choose? Sometimes people have to make less than savory choices to get by. Fuck off and let them get by. You're not helping anyone.

Well said David.

Yippee I get ￥150,000 to do nothing.

You get paid ￥150,000 to do nothing, yes, but keep in mind that if you intend to receive more money from the company, the second option is the worse option, as you won't receive any pay until February 5th. That ￥150,000 has to last you the rest of November, then December, then January.

Meanwhile, instructors who chose to receive the first option and took the ￥50,000 will also be paid on December 5th - ranging from probably 10 to 5 days work, which will give them almost as much money as someone who chose the second option AND they will also receive a full salary minus the ￥50,000 upfront payment on January 5th.

I can't think of any GOOD reason to take the second option unless you're planning to make a run for it with the cash right now.

I can think of a good reason to take the 150,000... If you do, then u have guaranteed freetime for the next month where you could do privates, like alot of the guys around here. So You make 150,000 plus on top of that all the dough from the privates whereas if you work, you cant do all those easy privates...

its values, live on forever.
For what is a company?...
But for the people working there.
Saruhashi-Sama, BANZAI! BANZAI! BANZAI!

"I can think of a good reason to take the 150,000... If you do, then u have guaranteed freetime for the next month where you could do privates, like alot of the guys around here. So You make 150,000 plus on top of that all the dough from the privates whereas if you work, you cant do all those easy privates..."

You're not thinking enough. People who take the first option can get about the same amount as money or a bit less as those who take option B, plus they will get as much as ￥250,000 on January 5th when you will get ￥0, plus they can teach privates before their shifts on their standby days, during the day on their standby days if they don't get called in, and on their weekends.

Do you honestly think you can earn more than those people before February 5th just with your ￥150,000 in your pocket and privates? Hell, the option A teachers will even get as much as 5 days more pay than you in February as well.

Free time isn't that precious, and the instructors who take option A will be having plenty of free time anyway.

The problem with the first option is that you don't have a contract. You have ZERO legal support if G-Com turns around and decides all instructors will be paid 500-yen an hour. You may very well receive a paycheck but you may not receive the same paycheck you would have with Nova. Those details are not in the paperwork offered.

Legal support? How about working for 7 weeks for no pay at all. Where is all this legal support? Take the money and run!!!

Why are you wasting time posting messages online? Shouldn’t you be teaching for food in a park somewhere?

"The problem with the first option is that you don't have a contract. You have ZERO legal support if G-Com turns around and decides all instructors will be paid 500-yen an hour. You may very well receive a paycheck but you may not receive the same paycheck you would have with Nova. Those details are not in the paperwork offered"

That's only a problem with the first option? Don't be stupid, it's a problem with both options. Neither option is guaranteed in a legally binding contract at the moment. But you're wrong in saying those details aren't covered in the paperwork offered, they are, it's specified in both English and Japanese, it's just that that paperwork doesn't have much value.

Of course it's a problem with both options nimrod but with the first you are actually working for free. There is ZERO legal support if you take this option as stated above. No contract. No government payment of back wages since technically you haven't signed a contract. There is no gurantee of unemployment. No government protection at all because there is no legal contract.

With the second you are waiting for the money which may never arrive but you aren't wasting your time working for the company. As stated further above people should have at least some privates at this point to tide them over and privates pay - cash - GCom has paid nothing and probably won't.

The fact people are saying the paperwork has "no value" and then are going to work for this company is not smart. At least with the second option people should still be eligible for unemployment.

A cynical, yet light look at the situation...

http://asianalien.blogspot.com

"Of course it's a problem with both options nimrod but with the first you are actually working for free. There is ZERO legal support if you take this option as stated above. No contract. No government payment of back wages since technically you haven't signed a contract. There is no gurantee of unemployment. No government protection at all because there is no legal contract.
With the second you are waiting for the money which may never arrive but you aren't wasting your time working for the company. As stated further above people should have at least some privates at this point to tide them over and privates pay - cash - GCom has paid nothing and probably won't.

The fact people are saying the paperwork has "no value" and then are going to work for this company is not smart. At least with the second option people should still be eligible for unemployment"

No, people who take option B are NOT ELIGIBLE for unemployment, the same as those who take option A. And as I said, people who go with option A have plenty of free time for privates as well, but if G-Com does pay out, and we will find out on December the 5th, then the option A people will be getting the better deal. Nobody is protected in this situation at the moment, whether you sign up for A or B it's all a gamble.

i was told yesterday that personnel had just recieved news from G-comm that the standby days u are having taken with option A, are days u receive only 60% of normal rate.

I am hanging out to see if anyone gets paid the 150,000yen. The first people to sign up were multimedia people on monday, and they were told 1 week.

For people thinking about going home for christmas, new year, or visas expire soon, i guess you can feasibly take the money in option B, and not come back. so people in this situation option B is better.

I guess the 150,000 is a trust thing, a hope u will hang around, as its more expnsive to recruit and train a new person obviously.

Another theory re option B, is its a golden handshake situation, the old "we cant handle this many staff, it wont work so heres 150,000yen be smart and p#ss off! go home or find another job"

I for one will wait a tad longer to make my decision.

food for thought

"i was told yesterday that personnel had just recieved news from G-comm that the standby days u are having taken with option A, are days u receive only 60% of normal rate"

You see, the problem with that is, you don't mention WHO you were told by. The Cheshire Cat? Hard Gay? Billy Joel? Without a source for such comments, you only serve to do one thing - create uncertainty for people who don't need any further uncertainty if it's not warranted.

So, if it IS warranted, just flat out say who told you, and we will all know if it IS warranted to worry or if it ISN'T.

Did you know there are microchips in our new US Passports that can track our every location. I tried taking mine out but I couldn`t with out ruining my passport. So I put it in the microwave for some 30 odd seconds. Hopefully putting in the microwave destroyed the microchip.

As I said, attitudes like yours will only take you so far in life mate. People will find out sooner or later that you are a twat & then you will never progress.
I'm not a ass kisser but amazingly I do manage to get on well with most people. It might be the respect for other peoples opinions. People like you can't understand how other people can have different ideas. It's sad but you usually make it easy not to feel sorry for you.
I've been offered numerous jobs in the last month but they all sucked. Work twice as much for half the salary? No thanks! I'd rather risk (yes I know it's a risk) the new place.
We'll see. If it all fucks up I can still get another job later. That's the beauty of it! I know I can easily get another job.

Once again nutlicker, please have a bit of respect for other people's choices. I bet if this new company does fuck up you'll try & rub all your friends (if you have any) who chose to work for G-Com noses in it wont you? You'll be the first to say I told you so.

Good luck with whatever you are doing. You'll probably need some luck in life!

I attended one of the sessions held at the NS Building today, the forms handed out were pretty much the same as the ones that were distributed Nov 10th. So those weren't contracts/contract changeover documents or secured promises for employment, they were just as the header suggested - requests. However today we were told that these new forms were 'contracts' and 'legally binding', although they contained the same header - REQUEST for employment. Ahh are we being duped into thinking we're on the payroll again?? And yep you only get 60% of your monthly pay if you're on standby under option A.

"I've been offered numerous jobs in the last month but they all sucked. Work twice as much for half the salary? No thanks!"

Half the salary? What is half of zero? How much money have you seen from NOVA in the last three and a half months?

You were only offered jobs that suck because you're not qualified for any decent position. I think for you it's a wise decision to go back to NOVA and lick nuts. You're probably pretty good at it and at that company nutlicking is highly appreciated by management. If you really dedicate yourself you might even make AT one day, if the New NOVA lasts that long.

I was offered some pretty good jobs. I'm not just qualified to teach English I have other skills too. Really I didn't find it hard to find a job so I'm not worried if the new company doesn't last that long as I'll easily be able to find work should it not work out.
I feel really sorry for those that had a shitty experience with NOVA I know a lot of people did but I didn't. And trying to make fun of me because I really enjoyed my job & my time with NOVA really shows just how insecure you really are. I guess you have very low self worth, have really been struggling to find a job because of your lack of people skills and your negative attitude. Did you slag off NOVA in every interview you went on? I'm back at the new NOVA because I want to give them a chance & I am in the position to but if it doesn't work out I know I will always land on my feet as I always do!

Do yourself a favour mate. Change your attitude, you are too negative & you are acting like a cock trying to insult everyone. People will pick up on this & it wont do you any good. You get out of anything what you put into it.

what abasio said was right on...nobody knows really whats happening...i dont wanna work for nova or anything associated with it..i had a great time for the first 3 years, until i was transferred to a shite school by that fat sack-of-shit edo fackler, (may he get a grenade in his boot by the next guy he micromanages into insanity)...but i wouldnt want to bad-mouth anyone whos trying to make a go of it here at this time.

christmas is coming..and it sucks enough to not be home, without all this fighting.

did i make a wrong choice by quitting last week?..sounds like some folk are getting free cash to sit on their arse...should/could I be doing that?..i want guaranteed cash for january rent...and that means UI...so, I quit...does that nake me an idiot cuz I aint sticking with Gova?...i dunno..maybe..

but I aint gonna make anyone feel worse than they already do.

be kind folks..its all we have.

Listen guys I used to work for nova 3 years at the mm center then i moved to be an ALT for a year. I work in Korea fulltime now. I did a summer and Winter camp in Korea. Winter camp starts round 25dec and runs till 25th Jan bout 4 weeks. You will get roughly 350k yen or 3 million won for the 4 weeks working 6 days a week 9-5. ACCOMODATION PROVIDED FREE. Ususally like a single furnished 1k with cable tv. 1 time really good apartment 1 time not so good but perfectly fine. Both single some are shared check with the company.

All u need is to pay for your plane ticket to korea and stuff to get a korean c4 visa.
ask the consulate in Japan but as far as im aware
-original diploma
-passport photos
- and a criminal background report from your home country due to the guy who got caught abusing young kids recently and was a teacher in korea. dunno how u wud get that. check with the consulate.
The visa takes a day to pick up i think once you've submitted all the paperwork to the consulate in osaka from my memory.
The plane ticket will cost u around 50k-60k yen i think. You would work till the end of Jan likely.
Its good fun the afternoon classes usually have a sports acting based thing going on with not too much attntion paid about the academic stuff basically as long as the kids enjoy themselves. You work hard but its good fun also.

I would reccomend that u get a visa and u will be guaranteed to get paid. You wud prob be fine without one and you could come to korea on a tourist visa but i wouldnt risk it personally.
They are recruiting now, 2 main websites are
worknplay.co.kr
and
daveseslcafe.com this one has good info on korean visa changes etc...

i prefer worknplay u have to register tho... takes bout 2 mins to do so

Make sure u get a visa but its definitely worth checking out.
If you get stuff organized asap you will be fine...And its only a month so u can get back to sorting out a job in nippon. Ganbatte kudasai ne... I hope everthing works out for you what a nightmare i feel for you guys i was always living pay check to paycheck in japan and would be in exactly the same situation as u guys....hope it all works out for you...

First you said, "I've been offered numerous jobs in the last month but they all sucked. Work twice as much for half the salary?”

Then you said “I was offered some pretty good jobs.”

Which is it?

“I'm not just qualified to teach English I have other skills too.”
Like what? Licking balls?

“I really enjoyed my job & my time with NOVA.”
Wow! You like licking balls so much you enjoyed doing it for free for 7 weeks and even turned down some “pretty good jobs” so you might have the chance to keep licking NOVA management balls.

everyone forgot to mention that OPTION A.. while u sit at home. u ONLY GET 60% of your salary UNTIL you get called into a branch. thats standby pay.

option B... your working contract starts jan 10th.. but that doesn't guarantee u a branch to work, you will be on standby with 60% pay.

Just go to http://www.g-com.jp/documents/
Username: nova
Password: documents_1122

I have to agree with Canadajin,let`s stop fighting and calling each other names. No one knows what`s really happening and for many of the younger people ( early 20s) this is probably the first time they have had to make a difficult decision without the support of family. They don`t speak the language,understand the law or their rights. Often they have only other people in their company( this time NOVA) to turn to for help or sites like this. So everyone stop the fighting and let`s try to help each other. I respect everyone`s right to an opinion and the right to express it but can`t we try to only post things with helpful information,insites,or points for intelligent debate.
Some people were paid the advance by G.com today( Kanto area) and they have been reimbusing travel expenses.

Licking Nuts=Promotion, you haven't a clue have you?

Mr Licking Nuts sounds a lot like an ass, J, I worked with when I was in Nova a few years ago! He was my AT! I had a great time in Japan and Nova, despite him. He, besides being really bad at his AT job, liked to whinge and to wind people up. Got the job because his mate was AT. Anyway, J was so immature and spoiled. Whinged until he got his way or threw a temper tantrum of sorts. Full of himself and all things Canada too. Poor attempts at jokes and just really wrong comments that bordered on racist, etc-ist. Always boasting about how popular he was and what a good teacher he was. He hated the company and the students and the job. And he stayed on for maybe 5 years. He quit being AT after his mate moved onto a new job and couldn't hold his hand any more but he stayed on in the company.

Heard that when things started getting bad in September, he was one of the first to stop going, which is fair enough, despite having been paid. That was a choice people made and I do respect that and the reasons for doing it. I think I would have done the same thing had I been there. I do have friends who continued until Nova closed. I totally think that each person has to decide what is best for them and their situations. But he, and I think many other of his type, also were really hoping for the company to fail. I understand that anger too, and the company certainly was rotten.

But I think it is this bunch of people who whinged while in Nova, instead of being proactive to change things, or to change jobs, that have come out of this the most bitter, after being kicked by this situation in the ass, and are now hoping that this NEW company, which they have never worked for (yes, I realize the management is the same but the top dogs are not), and which owes them NOTHING fails and are trashing anyone who would even consider joining. I am back home enjoying the late spring weather, but I still have friends up there, some whom have new jobs and a few who stayed on til the end of Nova and are going to give g-comm a chance figuring that it is the best deal, especially in terms of salary, for them and isn't that much different from working for any other school like GEOS, AEON, etc.

Anyway, these are choices people have to make in terms of what is best for them individually. Trashing people for considering g-comm is far easier than trying to understand them or what motives they may have. Staying does not equal being too weak or feeble to find a way to move on, in most cases. It could mean that someone has clearly thought things through and, like abasio and a few of my mates, is just willing to take this calculated risk. For whatever reasons, it is the decision they felt is right, be it family, a gf or bf, the money offered, lifestyle, etc.

My guess is that these bitter, whinging asses will continue to be whingers no matter what the job is or where. Always thinking that they are owed something just because they show up and grace the company with their presence. I am not defending Nova or its policies or anthing here. NOT AT ALL. But people with that mind-set will always tend to end up jaded and bitter. And often take it out on others or through mocking others.

I wish all of you guys the best of luck, whatever your choice is/was and in whatever you persue. Even you J.

sounds like he had ONE good point.

i lived in Australia too..and i freaking loved it..i would move back in a minute...but canada has a lot to praise eh?

Sat, 12/01/2007 - 01:40 — Aaron (not verified)

I'm not really sure how to get the word out about this but I think this forum is relevant given the number of people reading it who are out of work right now.

I've been building a system similar to the ochanoma ryugaku system with some friends for the past 9 months or so. (http://engon.jp) Its similar in that it's a video English teaching system but the delivery is quite different. The lessons are via the web using a web browser, Flash and a webcam. We are in the process of developing lesson content now and if all goes to plan it should be up and running at full swing in late December, early January. Unfortunately, teachers won't be directly employees as we can't possibly deal with those sorts of overheads right now. We'll start off basically as a match-making service for convenient private lessons. That said, you can set your own hours and rates and all payments go through PayPal so you can send the money wherever you like.

Anyway, I'd be interested in knowing how many people would be interested in using this. I will at some stage soon be investing in advertising in demographics I think will best catch on to this sort of delivery system. If anyone has any suggestions about the site at all please drop me a line!

Cheers,
Aaron

PS. I wish I could click my fingers and have it finished tomorrow but realistically, translation, audio recording and programming take quite a long time to do and I'm not actually a nova teacher any more so I have to work days.

Very good idea! Best of luck with that.

No I don't have a clue.
Why would anybody be stupid enough to go back to NOVA?
Especially if they have had "pretty good job offers".
You're full of shit. You're a desperate loser with hopes of finding a better job. You have no choice but to go back and lick nuts!!!

Yes Princess, it's me J. I know first hand that at NOVA you have to lick nuts to get a promotion. That's how I made AT. That's also why I was so negative. You see, unlike Abisio, I don't like licking nuts and I'm not very good at it. That's why I never made BT. I spent five years trying to improve my nut licking technique, but to be honest my heart just wasn't into it. I couldn't out do the true company whores, like Abiso. The reason I was so angry at the other teachers is because that while I was staying after work an extra hour every day to blow my superiors, they were out drinking and partying. So I'd get pissed and steal all the frees, write them up for petty bullshit and totally rig the schedule everyday. I don't feel guilty about that because I licked balls everyday for an extra 10,000 yen an month, so I felt I was entitled to some extra perks. So when NOVA stopped paying us I bailed. I was tired of lapping scrodums. My lips have been chapped for the past five years. Now I sleep in Osaka-Jo park and teach lessons for food. It's a more peaceful existence, I've become less materialistic and now I never let a pair of KINTAMAs anywhere near my mouth. I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused all the wonderful instructors that were under my watch and I just want to warn people to stay a way from that evil company.

Your long lost Canadian friend,
J

Thanks to everyone who has posted useful information on unemployment or working for the new NOVA. I have started to work for the NEW NOVA ( family concerns which is why I started to work for NOVA in the first place) Over the last week, I have seen somethihg that is really disturbing to me. The old BTs ,AAMs and RAAMs plus some ATs have been acting like everyone is back at OLD NOVA, the secret LOG BOOK,the brown noseing and the back biting,even treating the EC forgein staff as nonexsisting, Looking over peoples shoulders and complaining about wasted time but disappearing for hours in a " meeting"( what are they doing?) I was really hoping that there could be some real changes but I must have been wrong. The G Com(E. Com) staff that I have worked with have been great; considering the limited information they have been given about the old NOVA systerm. They really have almost no information on how X NOVA worked so are relaying on the people they were told were in senior positions to help them. But from what I have seen there will be no changes for the better, Can anyone confirm what is happening at otheer branches?????

Suppose it depends on your branch & the ATs there.
The ATs in my branch are all pretty decent. Non are dousche bags like "J" and are basically just trying to help. No shitty back biting or writing people up for petty things. But then again all the teachers are pretty good workers. No lazy chancers that NOVA was famous for. It seems there has been a change for the better. All the negative fucks have fucked off :D

The number of posts on this forum sure have decreased recently. I wonder what happened to all the drones? I think they must have; a) went home, b) are too poor to afford internet access or c) starved to death. I really do miss the insight from the biggest outcasts and rejects in Japanese society. Hopefully the new NOVA will survive and flourish and then you retards can start reposting about your dramatic lives. I appreciate the posts for a good laugh, reading them entertains me in the same way that the Jerry Springer shows does.

That's cause no one comes to japan anymore and it's lost cred as a serious destination. The exchange rate is shit so you cant work here for 3 years and buy a home when you return like you used to be able to. It's just not the same. Also, you had to travel to japan for top-shelf asian furburger but now with the horny riceballs heading O/S, all you have to do is sit in your armchair and flop your tockley out and watch them swarm in.... Guy, git the hell outta there before you start to develop a chronic dandruff problem, have that glazed over gaze, forget how to turn on a shower, and become the zombie that we all end up becoming anyway ..... Ahh, fuck it, stay anyway......

We are out to get you. Because your life is sooooooo interesting . So much so that the entire US government is watching everything that you do.
Unfortunately, EVERYTHING.

By the way, stop touching yourself. It's embarrassing.

Just to let you know, some people got paid for the Option A and B contracts

Yes, I miss the drones too. I never worked for a large school, and I can see why now. I cannot believe the loyalty many had to such a scummy school. I do not want to even think what it would be like to work with such loser/idiots.

Before I heard about Novas problems and came to this board out of curiosity, I thought I would feel sorry for the teachers. Many did get a raw deal, but I have to admit I hope G-comm fails after seeing what kind of people stayed around to work for new Nova. I think it is going to be very difficult for G-comm to really get that many students/schools out of this in the end in such a competitive market. We will see though.

What's with this option B?

Does anyone out there know if it will be paid anytime soon?

I don't really want to call FP again until more info comes through.

I heard that some ex AAM's said tomorrow Dec 11th it might come but does anyone have an update?

Thanks all.

Just called foreign personnel. The lady said that the option B 'retainer' is to be deposited into our bank accounts some time this afternoon.

Losers..."when am I gonna get paid, where is my money?" Get over it you god for saken losers

Someone (i.e. person 00:31) had too much pride to choose Option A or B. What's wrong, not eligible for UI and too late for neo Nova? Looks like your the forsaken (and most likely penniless) one. HA HA you ignorant fuck, serves you right.

I was a drone for Nova! I stayed loyal! Just late in faxing the 2nd confirmation! No job, no money, no Nova!
Thank God it was only Nova's plan B, my plan A is better.
My family gets the insurance and I never have to work again.
Drones are expendable!
I just wanted to teach English, is that bad?
I've never learnt so why try now!
Bye....see you in the never, never land.

Subscribe to Comments for "One Month After the Meltdown"

LJ is currently using a spam filter, which may eat legitimate comments, particularly those containing URLs. If you are having trouble posting a comment, email LJ.

© Let's Japan.org 2000-2007


Copyright 2022 letsjapan.org