James at Japan Probe reports the news that NOVA, Japan's largest chain of English schools suffering from a deepening financial crisis, has postponed paying its English teachers this month.
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My daughter is a supervisor at one of the NOVA schools outside of Tokyo. She says the teachers have been paid but none of the supervisors have. She tells me she now has $6 in her bank account and doesn’t know when she will be paid. What can we do?
I’m a supervisor too and have $4 in my account. I know how your daughter feels and hope for all our sakes that Nova will in fact pay us on Tuesday else myself and fellow ATs (which is what your daughter’s title at Nova is, or else she’s a BT) in my area are going on strike on Wednesday.
There is some good news though, if Nova do go bust, we can claim unemployment insurance which is paid by the government and the information can be found here:
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/37/52/2504613.pdf
NOVA broke? Get a new job….down under.
I read on one of these boards that 5000 of the current Nova teaching staff are Australians. With this in mind, I thought I’d post on the ESL situation back home.
First thing you need to know is that there is a teacher shortage at the moment. Most schools are finding it hard to get the teachers they need. It’s been that way for a couple of years now, but the shortage has been particularly acute the last six months and will only get worse as the peak study season rolls around.
Although ESL teaching is quite different from Nova’s patented “4 bunnies in a box” approach, many of the things you picked in Japan will stand you in good stead back home. (For starters, ex NOVA-ites are usually pretty good at keeping a up conversation with low level learners and have usually picked up a fair bit of knowledge about how English works and how it can be taught).
Within Australia there are dozens of schools in each capital city: more than 100 in Sydney alone. The ESL industry in Australia is regulated by the Federal Government’s ESOS Act 2000. Aside from compulsory insurance to protect students if schools go under, schools are accredited by a body called NEAS that ensures schools, teachers and curriculum are up to scratch. You can get information/addresses on accredited schools from NEAS at http://www.neasaustralia.com
The reason for the teacher shortage at the moment is probably because the general job market is so strong. Schools are finding it difficult to get good teachers and some of them a resorting to poaching them off each other. Salaries are around $35,000 to $65,000 per annum (I think that’s 3,5000,000 to 6,5000,000 yen), depending on your experience and qualifications.
Speaking of which, to work at a NEAS school you will need a minimum of a Degree and a legitimate TESOL qualification (deemed to be a Certificate IV in TESOL or a University TESOL Post Grad Cert/Dip or an RSA CELTA). Once you have these things you can pick up work pretty easily. You can even get recognition for the work you did in Japan which should reduce the length and cost of getting a Cert IV TESOL through a process called RPL (recognition for prior learning). One Cert IV TESOL provider in Sydney is Greenwich College (www.greenwichcollege.com.au ) And there are others in NSW and interstate.
For jobs … you can approach schools directly (see the NEAS website) or contact job hunting sites like http://www.eslstaff.com who should put you in touch with jobs. General job hunting sites like mycareer.com or seek.com run ads too.
Non- Australian teachers can join in too. Pretty much all schools are happy to take native English speakers,a variety of accents is even viewed as a bonus. If you’re under 29 years old you can get working holiday visa unless you’re from USA (coz the US govt doesn’t like WH visas) or New Zealand (coz Bondi is a New Zealand suburb, so our Kiwi bretheren can live here anytime they like). You can get info from http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/49whm.htm
The teaching itself is pretty different from NOVA; students study for 20- 25 hours per week in mixed nationality classes of up to 18 students using a set curriculum and text books that werent published in the cold war. Most classes run five days a week from 9am to 3pm with an hour off for breaks. Decent employers usually pay for lesson preparation time (using a daily rate).
So why am I putting all of this down? Well, I used to work in Japan (including 12 months at NOVA) and I can appreciate the stressful feeling of working in a company that’s on the ropes. However the main reason is that I am now the director of an ELICOS College and am finding it hard to get teachers – so if you’re thinking of calling it quits at NOVA, then get in touch! (blueterrace-AT-hotmail-DOT-com)
PS For stat junkies, you can see the size of the ESL market in Australia by looking at the government statistics http://aei.dest.gov.au/AEI/MIP/Statistics/Default.htm Students numbers are up in every market except Japan which experienced a 5% decrease (another sign the English bubble has broken??) . Another good site is English Australia http://www.elicos.edu.au
Nova didn’t pay ATs(assistant trainers,supervisors) today,the next deadline is for the (mainly)Japanese&permanent(for now!)staff on Thursday the 27th,which looks dicey,to say the least;everyone in this situation should have already contacted their Embassy/Consulate if they need assistance&spread the word in their home country to avoid nova,as it seems nova recruitment centres are not mentioning anything about the impending bankruptcy http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10465542
;you should also contact either The General Union in the Kansai area/Chubu,or NAMBU in Kanto,but you need to realise that a financial(some union dues)&time training commitment is expected(with the information you receive that helps you, you are expected to help the next person with,in an each-one teach-one process,as these Unions don’t have the staff to deal with 1000s of people)The payment of Unemployment Insurance(which the Union forced Nova to do) depends on the nature of your work change,the time worked&your age.Getting unpaid wages from a Chapter 11(Bankruptcy) Auditor is another thing.
Great post by Mike there,good to see people caring&disseminating valuable info.
I notified NOVA, in writing, that OUR branch teachers at NOVA Itami, Hankyu are as dedicted as always to teaching quality lessons (as far as is possible at a moment’s notice). Even whilst having no money to pay this month’s bills on the day, we (my pregnant wife and I)will remain loyal to our students who risk losing their pre-paid points if we do not show up to teach.
However, being as NOVA was never a caring company, one must expect the worst for it’s teachers’, whichever country they are from. It was not obvious that the illegal dealings of NOVA was to have such an effect on the government either. Perhaps Prime Minister Abe simply resigned his position because he wasn’t aware of the Japan/American policy in the Middle East, which he took on, but didn’t reckon on the NOVA crisis, and the fundemental change to the International Teaching Business Industry in Japan and the knock-on effects.
Surely it hasn’t gone unnoticed that Gordon Browne - A Prime Minister, of (what’s left of) Great Britain is reading well off the page. He did a good job, and I hope he will back up his support for the Buddhist monks in Bhurma within twenty-four hours.
Any stalling to put down any threatened insurgency by these buddhist monks must be discussed, agreed and ratified by democratic leaders like Gordon Browne and Tony Blair.
If the military breaks up a peaceful protest, then there will probably by a high price to pay - doesn’t DEMOCRACY reconize TIANAMAN SQUARE?
I too am an AT but i dont believe that loyalty to students is a problem with most teachers. NOVA has always been a fair company and generally speaking conistant. Most problems arise when people start working for them and realise that it is in fact a job and not some day hang out spot that they get paid to attend. I believe this misconception is a problem that stems from the recruiting process.
NOVA has done everything they promised when i joined up. However, now my train pass has run out and i dont have the money to buy a new one, and i refuse to borrow money from friends, especially when im not sure if or when ill be able to pay it back.
Supervisors have still not been paid. And now when foreign personnel is called they are saying “well, we have been told it will be today but im not sure if you really should believe that”.
I do find it a little confusing that teachers are still being brought over though. that is something that needs to be addressed given that now our pay is almost 2 weeks late and many can be forgoven for being a little pessimisticabout the future of their jobs and the company. Not even the Japanese staffs pay was delayed for that long last month.
My roommate and I are shocked and horrified by this crisis. It is quite clear that the company is broke. We have spent more money on travel to Japan than we have made on the job, as we have only been working here two or three months. Where are the cries for lawsuits? The Nova CEO would never send his own relatives halfway around the world to work for a company going broke, yet he has no problem recruiting new teachers every day.
We feel we must go home, but how can we as teaching staff force Nova to reimburse us for the thousands spent coming here?
Nova teachers are not delinquents. We are all college educated. And since when did a college education become free?
For those who have no money to get home, the best thing to do is to contact the relevant embassy immediately. My roommate and I are fortunate enough to have enough funds to get by, but we would like to express our deepest sympathy to any teachers trapped in Japan. Our prayers go out to you.To Nova, with all the deepest and most sincere emotions we are able to muster, we say thanks for nothing and kiss our multi- racial Ass!
Mr Sarihashi is hanging out today on 23rd floor of the NS Building. Now is your chance to go and talk to him
I am a brand new recruit at Nova, about a week. I am still in the middle of my training. So far my experience with the company has been great, if a little uncertain at times. But I wonder, if Nova loses thousands of students, won’t those students lose their teachers too? I hope the demand for english teachers remains high and can only hope to pursue other avenues of english teaching, despite the potential difficulties of a flooded market. Hey, there’s always Korea!
It is unfortunate to read of the difficulties within the Nova chain. Hopes are that this can still be turned around though with diminished staff and schools. What Nova is doing by still recruiting foreign staff is wrong both fiscally and morally.
This said the water is excellent in South Korea. The best jobs are public school positions, guaranteed job security, pay and back up in the classrooms. However, if your dazzled by higher pay with risks, try to the private academy route. Do research ahead of time and don’t let Koreans bully/pressure you into anything.
As a BT with Nova I can reveal that today, Nova got an injection of cash as all Titled Instructors were finally paid (2 weeks late) and also Japanese Staff both Part-Time and new Staff were also paid today.
It is believed that NOVA received quite a large Bank Loan today! Now surely if Nova was about to go under, no bank in their right mind would assist with a loan payment, now would they?
My daughter has been with Nova for about a week and a half. She keeps asking me what to do,stay or come home?She is running out of money and is very nervous about how stable Nova really is. So as a parent of a Nova employee do we get her a ticket home or tell her to stick it out?? Help
I can’t believe you deleted my comment and poem … what was wrong with my comment. censorship sucks!
My nephew is a Supervisor in Japan and he has phoned today to say that he has just been paid.
If nova really have had a big cash injection from a bank then hopefully the situation will now stabilise.
Its about time Nova made a statement to the staff though, letting them know exactly what the position is so they can live their lives whatever the problems instead of existing from day to day because they do not know if they are going to be paid next month.
I am new NOVA instructor, I arrived at the beginning of September. I was never informed of NOVA’s difficulties until my roommates told me. I can confirm that AT and BT were paid (although late) as for the J-staff last I heard they had no been paid. I work in Tokyo so perhaps the J-staff outside of Tokyo got paid.
Anyways as a new recruit I am very worried and so are all the instructors that I have spoken to. Everyday at work its the only thing that we talk about: Is NOVA going under? Will we be paid? And what will we do if NOVA does not pay us? From what Im have gathered many people have quit, called in “sick,” or started to find new jobs. However, new NOVA recruits as early as 28 September 2007 arrived at my school. Apparently new recruits are still coming in October!
In addition, I know that many of the new recruits have not received their salary advances, so if NOVA did get an infusion of cash why haven’t the new recruits received their pay? I am considering going to Korea if anyone has any suggestions or useful companies that I should try applying for I would greatly appreciate it.
Everyone seems to be waiting for Oct 5th. It is really going to be a BIG day. As a matter of fact the Oct 5th day has been in Japanese language papers for over a week. It is a very important day for Nova. Last week the JASDAQ, Japanese version of the NASDAQ, has ordered Nova to make all it’s records transparent to investors by Oct 5th. In other words, they have been ordered to open the books for all to see or be booted from the exchange. Nova will go super nova on Friday. When Mr. Saruhashi commented that Nova teachers and staff will not need to worry about their pay from that day on, he really wasn’t kidding!
I don’t understand - how does opening the books ensure that teachers get paid? I am a recruit and my boyfriend and I are scheduled to arrive October 31 and just found out about Nova’s problems four days ago. This is not a stable situation to come into. Do we eat the cost of canceling our flight and stay home? What are the options?
My mother is currently working in the multimedia dept of Nova in Osaka. She is very concerned for the new teachers that have arrived in the last few days. Their career may be over in a matter of weeks. Mum’s payday is 15 Oct and she has told me that if her pay is not in the bank on that day she will catch the next flight back to Australia. Apparently there was a court ruling earlier in the year that Nova had to keep employing new teachers, butm they are not allowed to sell new teaching contracts to prospective students. Can anyone clarify taais for me. I believe the last dept to under will be the multimedia dept because it appears to be the most important to Nova cash wise.
listen tracy nova is going under so just throw ur mom a welcome back to oz party
Well Eileen,
Recent articles in Japanese papers are now showing Nova owes over 10 billion Yen, that’s approximately 100 million dollars, to students whom have canceled their lessons in the past few months. The figure was less than half that only a week or so ago. It seems, however, that Nova is not able to pay this money at this time. Here is an outdated link showing backed up expenses before things really became out of control over the past two weeks.
http://ir.nikkei.co.jp/irftp/data/tdnr2/home/oracle/161/2007/181803e/181803e0.pdf
Nova will deduct money from your salary to pay for your accommodation. The problem facing people now is Nova not paying landlords the rent money they are entitled to. Last week it was reported that over 200 teachers were being evicted. This week it was just reported in the Japanese newspapers that another approx 300 people, from various prefectures, have received their eviction notices. Some landlords, whom have been interviewed, are now saying they are giving eviction notices on the first late payment as they believe Nova is finished and they are worried they shall be left empty handed.
Two weeks ago an article mentioned that Nova was cutting 200 school locations. It was hoped that these were planned cutbacks. It is now understood that these locations were rented and rental payments hadn’t been received. It seems they really were evictions.
Another article stated that all banks in Japan have cut Nova’s credit line. Some banks , whom have lent money to Nova in the past, are finding it troubling that they cannot contact the Nova president.
Two or three months ago, HIS, one of the largest travel agents in Japan, was contemplating something with Nova. I’m not sure what that something was; bonds, stocks, or even a buyout. After looking at Nova’s current situation, as of that time, they quickly backed out. I believe the mere report of them talking with Nova sent their stock prices down. I wouldn’t plan on a buyout.
Nova must give an updated report to the JASDAQ on Friday. http://www.jasdaq.co.jp/other/kaizenhoukokusho4655_190921.jsp
If it is a proper report, as requested by the JASDAQ, the news reporters and current investors will be scouring the numbers thus setting off an even greater panic. Hopefully at this time the current president of Nova shall file for bankruptcy thus allowing teachers and staff to apply for unemployment benefits. At this point everyone shall not need to worry about their salaries from this time forward, as their will not be any salaries.
Sorry, I’ve mistakenly stated 10 billion Yen is owed to students, I’m confusing my numbers with dollars as I’ve only recently come back to Japan. The figures are at 100 million Yen owed to students which is a much nicer figure. There are however more bills outstanding with Nova with which I do not have the figures at hand, such as unpaid advertising expenses and so forth.
Well, it seems I hadn’t mistaken with my figures. 10 billion Yen, or 100 million dollars, was reported on Tokyo Web as being monies currently outstanding as of Sept 27, 2007. The link is now defunct but here is a google search link showing part of the page. http://news.google.co.jp/news?hl=ja&ned=jp&q=%EF%BC%AE%EF%BD%8F%EF%BD%96%EF%BD%81%E3%80%80%E7%94%9F%E5%BE%92100%E5%84%84%E5%86%86&btnG=%E3%83%8B%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E6%A4%9C%E7%B4%A2
I’m sorry for my confusion, the amounts are just so outlandish that it’s easy to get confused.
I had applied to NOVA a few months ago (already quite aware of their situation - I rang up to check the visa is valid to work elsewhew last week and they were pretty helpful (or perhaps worried overseas staff wouldn’t be paid either)). Today they sent us all this letter:
I am writing to bring you up to date with the current situation regarding Nova Group in Japan. You may be aware of the recent financial problems that Nova Group has been facing. One result is a serious cash flow problem that in September resulted in some of our instructors’ salaries being delayed, some for as long as 12 days. While there has been some positive news from Japan at the end of last week, the situation in Japan is still very unclear.
The company has been acting to address the situation, with quite dramatic restructuring involving the merger of a number of branches and a review of the company’s procedures. Instructors working in branches that have been merged have been transferred to nearby branches and, in some cases, instructors have been assisted in moving to alternative accommodation closer to their new workplaces.
The situation in Japan remains very uncertain and the Australian recruiting offices have suggested to all recruits who are due to arrive in Japan this year that they delay their departure until early 2008. At this stage, we still expect a need for new instructors in 2008 and the position that has been offered to you is still available.
We believe we will have a much clearer picture by the middle of the month and will keep you updated on any developments. There is no action required from you at this time, we would simply like to inform you of the situation so you can consider the situation and plan accordingly.
It seems they’ve finally realised they can’t keep sending in new staff. I wasn’t going to leave until next year anyway, and will still go to Japan for a holiday at least, but maybe not to work for Nova.
I’m ex nova. Multimedia. Friends of mine have been getting eviction notices for nova apartments from their landlords. They have been (compulsarily) paying rent via deductions from their salarise however it turns out nova hasn’t been passing the money onto land lords. Theres also doubt about nova paying JMA - the group that provides compulsary medical insurance to thousands of nova teachers. With all this up in the air. Tomorrow will be a very interesting day indeed. Drink up nova teachers - tomorrow (Oct5) may be your last day!
[...] Markle from Japan Probe picks up the Nova (English school) financial crisis issue and discusses the need for teachers to join union. Share [...]
As a new instructor at NOVA I am shocked to know that we just got a new instructor at our branch. I know that new instructors are still arriving and that 15 OCT is d-day for NOVA. Apparently, if instructors are not paid many of them will call in “sick,” find new jobs, quit or simply go back home.
Anyways, my advice to new instructors is to spend wisely, start finding a new job and tell your folks about the situation in Japan. As for people thinking about coming, DON’T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyday the only thing that NOVA teachers talk about is evictions and their pay. Believe me you do not want to be in this situation. Remain home and wait until later next year. And don’t forget to bring at least 3000000 yen.
Today I tried to contact NOVA Personnel, to find out if our JMA Insurance has been paid. They shuffled me around a couple of times, until someone finally told me that I should contact JMA. They didn’t know if our JMA Insurance had been paid, which leaves me felling a little worried about a NOVA Instructor’s well-being. Anyway, I will try to contact JMA on Tuesday and find out what is going on. They were closed this weekend and Monday, because it’s a National Holiday.
Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.
The Nova medical insurance is one of the subjects that was under investigation.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20050412zg.html
we recently left Nova and Japan and are still waiting on our Aug 15th payment into our home accounts. Would be interested in hearing from anyone in a similar situation, as to whether they have been paid. I heard that teachers in Japan got paid for that month already?
WOW…I am an ex-nova teacher and I am shocked but not really surprised by the news… what will happen if we do not recieve our last payment on the 15th? What are the steps and what action can we take?
I really just have no idea!
any help or guidance here would be greatly appreciated!
I spoke with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia today, who advised me that any Australians in Japan with NOVA, who are having accommodation or monetary difficulties because of this situation should contact their nearest Australian Consulate Office for assistance. The web address to find this information is on
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Japan#Where_to_Get_Help
My son is in Japan with NOVA and is trying to remain positive but if he does not receive his pay on 15 Oct, he will be another teacher who will no longer wait and work for promises. A lot of the people over in Japan are living from “pay day” to “pay day” as the cost of living is so high. We are getting quite a bit of information here in Oz about the state of the company but nothing seems to be official.
Good luck to you all and know that we are thinking of you here in Oz.
Although it is unfortunate that current staff members are not being paid, I have to admit the sinking demise of NOVA is deserved. I am a former NOVA employee, and can say with sincerity that this is the most poorly run company I have worked for, it doesn’t surprise me that that illegal activity was involved. They treated their staff both foreign and Japanese poorly and did not provide a firm interest in the needs of their students either.
Hopefully, teachers will get their salaries and get out of there. As for NOVA, sayonara. May better run English schools in Japan benefit from NOVA’s closed doors, as well as students seeking English lessons from people that actually care.
For years many of us have said that NOVA was pretty much the last choice option if one couldn’t find work elsewhere.
We’ve been well aware of NOVA’s dishonest practices for over a decade. NOVA’s closing will lead to student enrollment in other Eikaiwa’s including that of an English school run by a friend of mine position not so far from NOVA in Niigata city. He’ll be likely hiring more teachers.
Coincidentally and having nothing to do with NOVA’s problems, I’m expanding and hiring in Niigata. For those interested send me a resume, cover letter, and photo.
E-mail me at kevinjapan@msn.com
For more info on Niigata, check out my website at:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/2ab95/ed663/
I’m heading out to the front line in two weeks with my girlfriend. should we cancel our contract? we’ve been given the option by nova to get out now but we’re waiting on some definitive result
My girl friend and I were going to leave for Japan in August. We pushed it back b/c our friends were getting married and we wanted to go. It turns out that my friends wedding was a blessing (in more ways than the usual). We were then told we were going to leave on October 2. As we got ready to go NOVA contacted us and pushed our date back to the 16th October. They didn’t tell us why they were pushing our departure date back. The second of October came and we canceled all of our bills, quit our jobs, I sold my car and had an open house for the rental we’re in. A couple of days later NOVA contacted us and actually told us about the situation. They told us that we could still go on October 15th but people still had not been paid. Obviously we decided not to go but NOVA told us we could go in November. I talked to someone there today, I called them yesterday but they called me back today, and they told me that we could come in November and we would have to find our own housing but we could pick the city we wanted to go to. We have visas that are ready to go and as I said before we had pretty much changed our lives here in the US to go teach in Japan and NOVA gaves us little to no warning. Needless to say, I don’t think we are going, or @ least not w/ NOVA. I was wondering if anyone thinks we should go? Are there other, better, alternatives that we could do? We are ready to go, visa and all and we would love to come to Japan!All of these posts have been helpful and informative, I just wanted to add another perspective, someone who had given up everything and is in limbo @ home, to the mix. If anybody who is there could give us some advice as to what you think our best course of action is, let me know. Thanks.
Nova has managed to raise another 70 Million Yen, that’s only 700 thousand dollars, to cover payroll and office rent expenses from two mystery Virgin Island companies.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20071010a2.html
Apparently there are only 4000 foreign teachers remaining at Nova. The last count I heard for Japanese workers was over 2000. The average foreign teacher makes a starting salary of 250,000 Yen, 2,500 dollars. Calculating 2,500 dollars by 4,000 foreign teachers gives us a monthly payroll of 10,000,000 dollars, or 100,000,000 Yen. What I and the Japanese papers don’t seem to understand is how this 700 thousand dollars will help pay Nova expenses.
The article may be a guiding light for some investors in regard to understanding whom may own the virgin island companies and whom may profit should Nova declare insolvency.
Meanwhile, the Nova teacher’s union presented a petition to METI, requesting help for Nova. The government says in one breath, they will look into it and in another they will order Nova to repay students as soon as possible. From what I understand the 700 thousand dollars just raised won’t even pay pay 10% of the foreign teacher’s salaries let alone 1% of money due to former students.
Good luck to anybody still wanting to come work for Nova.
I am a teacher in Korea and one of my coworkers recently left Japan (Nova) to come to work here. She told me about what is going on with Nova. THAT IS HORRIBLE! It’s bad enough being broke, but it’s really bad when you are broke in a foreign country. The situation is the same in Korea…sometimes you find good companies, a lot of times you don’t. Luckily for me, I’ve found a great one. They pay us on time, provide housing, and medical insurace. Plus living in Korea is cheaper so my utilites are around $40 a month and that’s including cable and internet. I will be leaving soon because my husband, a solidier, is being sent back to the states and I’m pregnant. My coworker and I were talking about how horrible the situation with Nova is and we thought it would be nice to extend an invitation to work at our school. They offer sponsorship and travel here, so if you are really in a bind, please email me (mercercn@yahoo.com). I hope that NOVA offers some compensation to their employees, but I know that will more than likely not happen.
in reply to duckfan:
if youre waiting for a definitive result this is the last company you should look to for it. so far all weve been given by way of explanation are faxes from the CEO citing:
“a test from god” as the sole cause of the financial woes being experienced by the company and the employees.
it is reprehensible that nova is still sending new recruits over. they cant afford to pay established employees their wages and they are using the money automatically taken from their salaries for rental on nova “subsidised” accommodation not to actually pay the landlords but to add to the “teachers pay” fund.
the reason they cant guarantee accommodation for you is that the current employees are being evicted and the companies leasing contracts are being severed. there are reports of people having nasty characters turning up at the door insisting that the instructors leave.
if you have a) enough money to get by for a few months on a holiday b) have some contacts over here or another job lined up c) really cant bring yourself to cancel your tickets
then you should come but it wont be easy. finding accomodation without contacts is HARD. many real estate agents/landlords wont rent to foreigners and of those that do most charge ‘key money’ (a ‘gift’ to the landlord of a sum equal to one or two months rent to secure the apartment) plus a refundable 1 month deposit, plus 1 month rent in advance. so youre out 3 months rent before you even move in. its possible to find real estates who do rent to foreigners and dont charge all those fees but its generally word of mouth.
and paul:
almost everything is a better option than nova but it’ll take you a while to get yourself established.
remember that there are/ will be thousands of experienced teachers looking for jobs over the next few months regardless of whether nova goes under. many of whom will leave for more stable employment, govt sponsoired high school ALT positions, to work for a more professional, ethical company with integrity, to be proud to say who they work for or simply to wash the bad taste from their mouths.
you will be less desirable than an ex nova instructor if you dont have any experience teaching (i guess), but then again you may be considered more trainable than an experienced nova teacher.
one of the worst aspects of this debacle for me as a trainer is watching the new recruits having their initial experience in this beautiful country distorted by this company. i remember my own experience. i was excited and amazed and there was so much to do and see, so much to learn and so many wonderful people to work with. for thess new recruits, they arrive to a big gigantic mess and on top of the stress theyre under being in a new country and starting a new job, they are being evicted, worrying if theyll ever get paid, working with people who have understandably lost all motivation and pride in their work. they have arrived just in time to experience the worst possible employment situation, a company that drags out salary payments to avoid filing for bankruptcy while giving no indication as to the future of the company.
perhaps just as your friends wedding was a blessing, so too is this corporate collapse… hell maybe its a test from god.
In response to Mike’s post, he’s right, there are possibilities for ESL jobs to be found in Australia and NEAS does look for Cert IV, 800+ hours of ESL experience and a uni degree (of any discipline)
Another company that offers a Cert IV in TESOL is Teach International, http://www.teachinternational.com.
The course is both online and in-class, so while we you waiting to sort our pays and travel arrangements, you could start the online section whilst still in Japan.
Good luck with everything, I hope things turn out ok in the end.
Instead of getting a teaching job back in Oz I would probably recomend getting a real job which pays better money. Most teachers at nova are uni qualified and should be able to find bigger bucks. But whats if nova has lost so much buisness from the recent crisis then the ripple effect is that there must be a flood of students out there wanting to study looking for some freindly gaijin to take advantage of them
To all of you working at Nova now, seriously, make sure the embassy has your details and try to get out now. Thre are other schools all over the place. My personal opinion would be to head off to Korea. Same money.. lower living costs!
can some one direct me on where to apply for teaching English language in japan
Hi, news from the other side, I was a new recruit just getting the process underway with Nova in Toronto. I spoke with my recruited yesterday (who is super cool and straight forward) and she advised me to decline my offer of employment as she is not comfortable continuing the process with the situation so unstable. Even their office in Canada has not received wages for one month and they are as worried as we all are.
It is now October 18th, and still NO MONEY from NOVA.
I am currently out of the country and I was waiting on this pay from those bastards to pay for my plane ticket back to Canada.
I have written them several emails explaining my situation and they still dont care about anything. I think NOVA is the biggest piece of shit company, DONT work for them, they are evicting teachers from apartments cuz they dont pay the rent (even though they charge us rent every month at a surplus) and now they aren’t paying us.
jfeduszc: Really, you think the situation is unstable? What gave you that idea? What? You declined your job offer? Why would you ever do that? NOVA is only basically bankrupt, can’t pay Japanese staff, can’t pay teachers, can’t pay rent, can’t pay teachers’ rent as contracted, can’t pay advertisers, can’t pay printers, can’t pay insurance, can’t pay creditors, can’t pay oversees staff, can’t pay anyone, can’t do anything but lie, cheat and steal. So, what the problem?
I am an ex-NOVA teacher, i left in september and am still waiting on that pay but as i’m back home i guess there’s no chance of me getting it now, from the rumors my friends were telling me, i knew the situation was bad but i had no idea!!! people getting kicked out of their apartments because NOVA’s not paying the rent and not being paid for weeks, it’s diabolical!! i have to say that while i was in japan i had an awesome time including working at NOVA mainly due to the students and staff. But what had happened over the last month is terrible and i hope that most people are managing with the situation, and have either gotten new jobs or have gone home.
i have just had a brief look at the main NOVA website teachinjapan.com and it looks exactly the same as when i applied last year there doesn’t appear to be any of this news on there!! why hasn’t it been updated!!!
I am also an ex-teacher/trainer who worked in NOVA in Tokyo. It just saddens me that it has come to this (though not unexpected) as I’m worried about all the instructors, both new and old.
My advice would be ‘run, run while you still can!’
My son is un Japan working for Nova and tells me his Pay Day was Oct 15th and of courase he didnt get paid, they then told him it would be fri oct 19th, lies!!! although illegal to be given a pay slip without the initial payment, but after reading everything here im not surprised about that either.It stinks to say the least,not only that he feels the Japanese government saw it coming and thats why claiming unemployment benifit was changed from 6months to 12months for international students… disgusting
I used to work for NOVA about 5 years ago. I was part time as I didn’t have a Uni degree. I got outta there to study Japanese, get my 2kyu Japanese Language Proficiency certificate which in turn allowed me to enter and study in a Japanese college.
Finally, I could get a work visa with the diploma provided the job was loosely connected to my International Business studies. And now I’m working on a left over visa from a head-hunting job, teaching business English while training to be a financial translator, as well as working on my own e-business. (Been here 8 years now)
From here, provided I have a monthly wage of at least 250,000 yen I can self-sponsor as others I know have done. Or, incorporate my business in Japan or Oz and get a business visa in this way. (This move is not assured to succeed, though)
So, what is my self-aggrandizing point?
That there are other ways to make it in Japan if you have a goal over here and a fierce desire to succeed.
I came here to learn Japanese in order to use it in a career and to train Bujinkan (a martial art style) in the headquarter dojo ove here.
I never accepted people’s advocation that ‘It can’t be done’. And never accepted ‘No, sorry you can’t” or ”It will be difficult” from any Japanese organization.
People with Uni degrees have an edge over me that ain’t small, I tell you. I always thought that Uni educated people whinging about how they don’t know whatever they will do to get a job and get by in Japan where real weenies.
Maybe the difference was that I was rabidly chasing my dreams, but most people over here are just killing time, trying something different or looking for an easy free-lunch lifestyle.
I want to say to all those out there who has a definite purpose and dream to follow in Japan, that you can do if you really want it. Don’t assume that English teachers being knocked around in Japan are highly motivated people pulling out all the stops to stay and prosper in Japan.
Most are doing the minimum necessary and expecting maximum results. It’s not a bad thing, but it is incongruent with what’s required to gain anything of true value in life. If you want something rare and special, you gotta be manic about going after what you want and let nothing and no one stand in your way. Not the nay-sayers and certainly not yourself.
So, those with a dream to achieve something special for yourself in Japan. Put your all into it and you’ll probably succeed. And even if you don’t, following your dreams, even when you don’t make it, is the best use of your time on this earth.
Good luck !
I worked for Nova for more than a few years quite a while ago. I knew even then that they skirted the edge finacially. They spend an unbelievable percentage of gross income on rent (always located near a station) and advertising.
There were several times in the past that Nova was in serious trouble due to scandals involving teachers and drugs, etc. Not really Nova’s fault, but losing potential (and planned for) students when you skate the edge is very serious.
They have always put pressure on the sales staff. The first thing they require of new Japanese staff is that they contact all family members and friends (all the way back to Jr. High) and convince them to sign up. Not meeting quotas requires marathon re-training sessions. It’s no wonder that hard sales techniques have been such an issue.
Nova has always depended on expansion to pay the bills. This is something that is pretty much doomed from inception. There will always come a time when expansion is not possible. When that happens, bailing out often becomes the only option. There are other options, but whether Nova finds and implements them is another thing entirely. They haven’t shown a lot of long-term business abilty that I’ve seen.
I don’t hate Nova. I learned a lot of valuable skills there that I used in jobs I’ve had since then. I don’t love it either. It was exploitation on the level of a McDonald’s. Still, you learn a lot, work your year or two and move on. You both get what you want and need.
Now, that may not be the case.
This is not the best of times to come to Japan expecting to make enough money and still have free time to enjoy the country.
I too am a NOVA teacher with nine years of experience. It is a shame that the board of directors are such shady characters and only care about themselves(not the students or teachers who lined their pockets over the years).
I work on a government contact and have found out that Nova is defaulting on these contracts effective Nov 1. The contracts have been given to other companies and despite long hours of negotiations on the part of us ALTs by Education QC staff the accounting section has decided not to pay us either:( So in the end all I have to say is shame on you Saruhashi and the rest of the share holders who felt that they are above the law both legal and moral that unites us all as human beings.
As an American I feel I am trapped. I can stay here an look for a new position or go back home to another morally bankrupt country, thanks to Mr. Bush.
Well, I got $300 from NOVA, and they owed me $2000 Oct 15th. I guess I should feel lucky (according to Head Office). I phoned them to see what was up, and they told me that the president of NOVA is hiding, not answering his faxes or emails, and that “he cant see any of us getting paid in the forseeable future”. I am so disappointed with this company, as I have worked for them for over 18 months, and only these past 2 months have been unpleasant. I really wish NOVA would just downsize, get some money in and fix this problem, because all in all the company wasnt bad while I was working there..
My advice to teachers : dont work for free…get out while you can
“Nova has always depended on expansion to pay the bills. This is something that is pretty much doomed from inception. There will always come a time when expansion is not possible.”
Yep, that’s pretty much it. It was a bubble. I worked there for a while back in the late 90s, and it was pretty obvious even then that the company was headed for trouble if it didn’t change its ways. It was just a matter of time.
The bubble has now burst and there simply isn’t any money to pay off creditors. The only thing teachers can do is find out if they’re eligible for unemployment insurance and whether it’s worth hanging around until that gets paid.
If not, you need to ask yourself if it’s worth staying in the country given that there are 5000 desperate teachers looking for work. If you lack the funds to survive for a year and don’t have any teaching certification, you’re not going to find a decent job, so best be realistic and get out while you can. In a year or so, the debris should have cleared and jobs will be easier to find, but the next 12 months are going to be extremely difficult.
[...] September 27 and English teachers having yet to receive their pay of October 15th. And yet even as stories pile up of teachers with pennies in their bank accounts and no funds even to get back home, NOVA President Nozomu Sahashi remains nowhere to be found, refusing to file for bankruptcy [...]
We have hosted NOVA students in United States. I don’t know much about the NOVA program, but I received an e-mail from a former student who lived in my home and she communicated the NOVA school she is attending closed down. She is aware there are financial problems. I have arrived here looking for answers to try and help her determine what she should do. If what I have read here is true, I don’t see much hope for this organization or for her continued participatio. What are some alternative schools who can help her continue to learn English? Thank you for your help and consideration.
I was going out to Japan with Nova next january, but today i received an e-mail saying that they could no longer provide me with accommodation or any assurances that the company would not fold. I have now withdrawn my application. Does anyone know of the names or details f other companies that need english teachers in Japan?
Nova have a lot of explaining to do and current teachers must be scared and horrified by what’s going on at the moment. I hope they are alright, and I haope the company comes up with some real, honest answers soon (though i won’t hold my breath).
JohnnyA10
I used to work for NOVA a while ago and have a number of friends teachers and staff still working there. I am on MSN right now to a friend who has been working for NOVA for about 10 years and is Japanese staff. the Japanese staff have not been paid for any of September. as someone said above the next pay is Oct 27 and it does not look like they will get that either. not only are the supervisors suffereing but so are the other staff who get paid less and still have bills to pay and life to live. alot of these staff have known some of their students for a long time and are still working cause they feel bad for the students. I hope some of the teachers and students realise this and dont push the staff too far. I have encouraged my friend to leave as she could be out there looking for a job that actually pays and may treat their staff respectfully unlike what I have continuously seen and heard about NOVA.
I wish you all still working there good luck and I really hope that NOVA is made to pay for what they have done to the teachers, staff and students.
I did my 2 year stint at NOVA in the early 2000s. I had a great time (once the head of Japanese staff was transferred to another school and we go a delightful replacement). It is a shame it has folded but as people say - there is only so much expansion you can do before the bubble bursts.
Several ex-students have written to me, telling me how disappointed they are their NOVA branch has closed. There will be loads of Japanese students looking for tutors - so I am sure the work is there as long as you are personable.
Other massive schools that will most likely be getting a mass influx of students and will therefore probably be hiring teachers would be AEON and GEOS. There is always the JET program and the many many jukus found in every city.
I had a great experience with NOVA and feel awful that so many of you have now been caught in the middle of their financial mismanagement. I hope everything works out for you all. There will hopefully be more work out there for you all! Keep looking on jobsinjapan.com and eslcafe.com
Good luck!
I have a registered disabled child and a wife who I support on my Nova salary. We have a few yen left, but that will disappear when the rent gets paid on the 1st of November.
Finding other work is not easy now, even with many years experience and qualifications. We cannot collect unemployment insurance yet either so plans B and C are on hold.
Most Japanese staff and instructors in my area are still working for free which must pleasantly suprise those at the top. Some schools have not been evicted yet, despite no rent having been paid for months and they continue to operate, still taking cash from students for future lessons. The Japanese staff say they don’t want to let the students down so they keep coming to work. The staff thank the instructors for coming in despite not being paid. We’re only coming in because we’re trapped.
We get Suhashi’s messages and if we actually get paid on the 25th it will be one of the bigger shocks of my life. How long will this farce continue? The company should file for banruptcy now and let us get on with our lives. As events unfold it is becoming apparent that this situation could continue for some time to come. Let’s hope not.
Shame. We’ve had alot of good years in Japan. Pound for pound it’s a better life than in my own mixed up, money grabbing country. Even Nova has had more ups than downs, but then again I’ve worked for some real sharks who were not only unscrupulous like this lot but also had business experience and know how.
To Gary:
There are alot of big schools like Geos, Aeon, Berlitz, Shane and GABA but as your friend has already dropped a substantial amount of money into the bottomless hole that is Nova she may want to look for a smaller school in her area that will not charge her an arm and a leg to study. Most people now in Japan are interested in pay as you go programs so that the can design their own corses to some degree. Have her re-evaluate what she wants to achieve by studing English and then when she visits schools she can beter determine if it is the right place to help her get there.
If you are still manning the sinking ship that is Nova, as I am, there are a lot of staffing services looking for ALTs as well as companies that offer lessons to corporations for their employees. As we have seen big schools are not always safer and while, as Hayley suggested you can look at the big guys like GABA, AEON, GEOS and BERLITZ, or check Gaigin Pot, Ohayo Sensei, ESL Cafe or the job boards she suggested. or the other
Why are many teachers still going into schools unpaid? maybe in the hope of something will come up, but as along as they still go in and the Japanese staff do also then how will anything get done about it all? The paying students who are still being taught will have no reason to make complaints, infact those who still teach etc are just helping the president out and are doing yourselves or others no favours.
Nova just filed, so it is now official, good luck with the U.I.! Be sure that you have been paying into the system and make sure you get some help applying for it. The office tends to rather unfriendly.
I worked at Nova about nine years ago and this has been coming for a long time, hence I left then! It shouldn’t be a suprise particularly to A.T., Trainers, Area managers, etc who should have known about the underhanded practices.
Sorry, but I have trouble feeling much sympathy for those who simply failed to stand up against what they were doing because they say they didn’t know it was happening.
But I do wish all of you the best and if you want to teach go to one of the others, Nova was simply the the worse of the bad, so try and find the best of the worst or better yet get out of the English conversation school field all together!
Our son been with NOVA for several years, and has a family in Tokyo . And with no income to depend on after trusting this company, he may have to leave. Is there no protection for these teachers? This is so sad that good people are suffering for the greed of one person at the top. Where’s the honor in that?
And why are they being allowed to bring more people in?
They should be helping those there with relocation and money! Does Japan not help with such scandle?
I am very disppointed in Japans’ government for no immediate help. Not a very good lesson for future relationships. I really thought that “honor” was taught there?
Well….. As we speak my Mum is on a plane back to Perth WA. Luckily she had the funds in reserve for the trip home. Nova is over and people should go to jail. I am planning her return to Oz party as I type. As for the rest of you that are hanging on - don’t.
To all you Britishers who have been working for Nova: Shane is a good bet, especially now that there are a lot of stranded Nova students.
I’m Japanese,live in Tachikawa-city ,Tokyo.
My heart ached for that news.
I would like to help and can hosted you NOVA teachers who have been working for NOVA.
maybe I guess It’s hard to find a hotel and new jods.
If you would like,you can stay at my home.
and I’ll introduce you to my friends who are interested in English.
my email add: kei-air@hotmail.co.jp
mobile: 090-2534-2502
mobile: bluebayou-restaurant-caribbean@docomo.ne.jp
sorry but my house can take max 2 persons per nights,you should try to ask me.
also,you should check this project”couch surfing”,maybe you know. http://www.couchsurfing.com/
keiichiro
Hi,
I don’t know if this is any help, but we need people here (details as below).
Best regards,
Lincoln,
Berlitz, Jakarta.
P.S. I need to update the URL link, we now offer a guarantee, accident insurance, and housing, plus two week’s paid leave.
As promised, some more detailed info. Please spread it around. You guys are out of work, we need teachers…
Jakarta is a big, bustling, metropolis full of friendly people and great shopping, bars, spas, and restaurants. Being on the equator, Jakarta is almost always a balmy 35°C. Berlitz has two centers here, one in the heart of the CBD on Sudirman, and the other in the elegant residential district of Pondok Indah. With the low cost of living here, your spending power is considerable and even a maid is very affordable. Clean, comfortable, accommodation is provided in the form of a ‘Kost’ (a place with private rooms, A/C, cable TV, bathroom, laundry service, and a shared kitchen). If you wish to choose your own place to live, you get a comparable housing allowance instead. Safety is less of a concern these days, and there are some positive economic signs. A one-week training provided free of charge for you with on-going support. All teaching materials are supplied and most of the classes take place at our school, although we sometimes send you to our corporate clients’ premises. The majority of classes are one-on-one, with some small groups. Most of the students are adult professional people and many are from other countries themselves. We also have university and high-school students, homemakers, and children. Our materials are up-to-date and there is very little preparation and marking required. Both schools have free internet access and, we have a low staff turnover with some Instructors on their fourth, fifth, and sixth contracts. Surely, this indicates a high level of satisfaction with the package and working conditions. Why not join our team for an exciting year with a professional organization in a wild and exotic place.
I am a concerned NZ Mum of a teacher. We can help our daughter but I feel for the rest of you stuck over there.
Has anyone got legal advice yet on the status of your contracts and whether it is worth taking legal action against the directors of NOVA?
We would be happy to join with others in a Class action if it had some chance of success. If anyone is interested post a comment and I will check what the groundswell is.
In the meantime do what is best for you individually and use your embassy as much as you can.
I’m sure there are many other friendly and supportive Japanese out there who are offering help and support. Thank you to all of them.
I am also a concerned Mum from Australia. We would be interested in joining a class action. My son has been to unemployment in Japan to register so it can be noted that he is owed wages. Your person in Japan needs to do the same. I do not know what the response in NZ has been about the plight of these 4000 odd teachers in Japan can be at best described in Australia as “who cares”. There has not been much press and given that most have not been paid for at least the last 1 - 2 months, those that have parents like us are lucky. At least we care! Good luck to all of you and let us know if there is anything else that we can do for you.
This is the worst news I have heard. I work for a TESOL training company in Australia and have many friends and students working for NOVA in Japan.
We are currently working with another company who throughout the years referred many teachers to NOVA. We are trying to provide some options for teachers who want to stay in the country. Our small job site has TESOL positions recommended by Australian grads of our courses. We can also offer job search assistance and support. Please visit http://www.teachinternational.com and click JOB CENTRE.
If anyone wants to find out more about TESOL qualifications and teaching in Australia you can email tabitha(a)staff.teachinternational.com
This is just amazing. I just found out today about the bankruptcy.
I worked for Nova for 2 years (2003-2004) and I found the company to be so secretive, dishonest and uncompassionate to its foreign staff - BUT at least we got paid! The company has always had terrible transparency and corruption issues (which is indicative of Japan as a whole) but I still find this news shocking and feel sorry for the foreigners stuck in the middle of this debacle.
Nova’s expansion policy was doomed to fail from the beginning and was evident from the first day I landed their. One of the worst things I found while working for Nova was how the AT, BT, and AAM’s - once promoted to their positions - abandoned their fellow foreigners and started withholding pertinent information (such as an impending bankruptcy) from their fellow teaching staff. It was like they switched sides. There is so so much to comment on here. Sorry to all those involved in this right now. Especially to those who recently arrived. Japan is a great place, however, Nova never has been….if you have any money, catch a flight to Thailand and enjoy the cheap food and beautiful beaches.
Good lesson for today !!!
The important things to learn this time is
getting in the habit of saving some money
for your rainy day !
Good luck for your future.
I am a very concerned parent of a Nova teacher. She is very lucky to have parents that can afford to help her out. What about the others that are stuck there with no money and no way home??? Nova should do right by these people that traveled half way around the world to work for them!! My daughter is coming home this week, thank god, But she put herself in huge dedt to go to Japan and has’nt recieved a dime from the company. Anyone with information on how to get some money out of this company PLEASE let us know. Thanks and god bless
Well I cannot say that I am surprised or disappointed at NOVAs fortune. I worked for them about three years ago and my experience was awful. There were no money issues but management treated me like I was a drone with no value. After a male student made sexist comments in one of my lessons I was very upset and told him that it was not ok to say such things since many Westerners especially females would take offense. The student complained and without listenig to my side of the story the area manager at that time transfered me right away to another school. He told the student that I had gotten fired for my behaviour. Needless to say the rest of my NOVA experience was just as bad.
Fellow English teachers,
I just found a great teaching opportunity.
You can teach from your home, using webcam.
It pays US$15 bucks an hour.
Payment is done once a week via Paypal.
The students can purchase as little as 30 min. session, and log on, so no long term commitment by the students.
The price for 30 min. session is same as if the students purchased 10 hours.
Check out http://www.tutorviawebcam.com for details.
Good luck,
Robert
What a bunch of whiners regarding Nova. So your employed by Nova. If you smelled a rat before starting you should have bailed.
Contact your embassyy for any help that they can provide. Most likely a cheap fare home.
Any back pay will require some kind of paperwork.
It was a long time comming I knew this would happen from being there in 2001. I travel every 6 months to Japan and stay there for 2 months each time for business. I feel sorry for the people who have just arrived there. For at least 90% of the ekaiwa Nova teachers that I have met,seen around town etc etc…maybe it wasnt such a good idea to blow all of your money drinking at bars and clubs. I think that is why many have alot of financial problems now. Japan is not the most expensive places to live if you live like the locals. Many I have met have no real interest in Japan except for making a quick dollar and boozing up at the local gaijin bar and hitting on the local women. I used to offer assistance to the Nova ekaiwa type in my travels with basic translation and many have been living there for years!Dont get me wrong, I have met alot of good people there, but alot of perpetual drunks who blow all of their money every payday as well. If you did a google search 1 or 2 years back you would have seen alot of negativity and evidence of very poor management about Nova on the web. Surely afer seeing that alarm bells would have started ringing!!!! I hope you all get out of this mess and get back to normalicy. I will miss seeing the Nova ekaiwas and seeing the majority of teachers walking around totally deluded with what and who they are. I will also miss the other honest and decent people who I have met working for Nova. I hope you are all OK and I will help out where I can when I visit next time.
BTW, I still dont know how many of you could have said that you were teachers…you were entertainers! you were “meet the foriegner” at your local train station. You were not teaching and that is for sure!
Some teachers drink too much and clown and entertain for 40 minute periods… Some actually help their students learn to speak the English language… I am one of the latter… I have seen hundreds of students improve throughout my years in the company, and look forward to seeing more of it…
I am looking forward to the new chapter with GComm NOVA and a further chance to teach the students I like so much… and some of whom like me… I hope.
four, five dollars in your bank accounts? does no one save money anymore. i am an ex nova teacher and I feel bad for having lost your jobs, im sure more problems are finding roots as well, but try saving money next time instead of spending it all. i hope your not looking for sympathy.
We have put together a site to help ex NOVA teachers and ex NOVA students find each other for private lessons.
This is a completely FREE service for both teachers and students.
Teachers need to register and then complete their profile. Students can then search for you based on your name, location and ex NOVA branch.
We receive over 1,000 hits per day from students seeking teachers.
Other language teachers can also use this service to promote themselves for private lessons.
We wish you all the best in your endeavors.
Gavin.
http://www.yasashiieigo.com
[...] Salzberg of Global Voices is one of the best bloggers on Japan there is. His recent post on Nova is a (very) short one, but there are a lot of comments and links to other [...]