This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

AEON/Amity?

M

meelynn

the necro yeti
Joined
13 Jul 2007
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Anyone worked with this eikaiwa corporation? Good? bad? Any feedback at all is wonderful.
 
From my experience (10 years on half a dozen forums and 9 years living in Japan), AEON has a pretty good reputation among the Big Four eikaiwas. Housing is the only real negative point, but that is only if you choose to take your own apartment and not rent with AEON.
 
Amity Housing

Glenski said:
Housing is the only real negative point, but that is only if you choose to take your own apartment and not rent with AEON.
Click to expand...
Glenski,
Long time reader, first time poster here. Does AEON/Amity require all teachers to live in company provided housing? According to the Amity contract stipulations (which I just received from Amity via email), " Housing: Japanese-style apartment provided and furnished. Private apartment with own kitchen
and bathroom. Commuting expenses, key money and deposits paid by AEON*Amity. Monthly Expenses: [Fixed] Rent: 42,000 yen; Insurance: 30,000 yen. [Variable] Utilities: 10,000-15,000 yen; Food: 50,000-75,000 yen."
Does this mean that Amity, by contract, requires all teachers to live in single occupancy company housing? I am engaged to a Japanese citizen here in the states, and we were hoping to live in an apartment together in Japan. So based on your post, Amity teachers do have the option of finding their own housing arrangements? This would not pose a problem for me as I have connections for a guarantor in Japan.
 
It is my understanding that if you do not take AEON housing, they will require that you pay for it anyway. Pretty stupid, huh? I do not know what they do if you already have housing (because you may have been here a while, or because you want to live with your fiance's family or something like that). AEON is pretty strict about that stupid requirement, and all I can say is ask them politely with some description of your situation.
 
Thanks for the input, Glenski. I will probably ask them politely; it might even be possible for my fiancée to live in the Amity apartment with me.

We are both graduating this May from the same university in the States. Tentatively, I will seek employment through a larger, entry-level type employer (such as Amity, ECC, Interac, you know the lot). Once I find out where Amity wants me to go, we will discuss whether living in that particular area is feasible for the both of us (she has to find work as well).

I have applied to numerous schools in Sendai, her home city, as well as Tohoku-wide James English School. Due to the partial destruction of the city, many teachers are out of work and are looking for jobs in elsewhere in the Sendai area. Thus, many experienced teachers are looking for work in Sendai while I am looking for work in Sendai. This information is somewhat credible as my fiancee's parents told us recently. Conversely, other teachers may have already fled Japan due to the March earthquake/tsunami/nuclear issue.

Although I realize that we can register our marriage and I can work in Japan on a spousal visa, overseas-recruited jobs seem easier to obtain and make more sense financially for me at the moment. Based on my situation, does anyone have a suggestion? I have heard that moving to Japan and looking for work is actually a better option, but does that hold true even after the recent disaster?

Apologies for shifting a housing/apartment question to a job search question!
 
From people who I've seen post before, you should know that AEON will probably not want to have you and your fiance living in the apartment that they provide. They will tell you it is a single, which means it is small, and they think 2 people probably cannot tolerate it. I have heard others say this. I'm not sure if AEON actually prohibits it, but you should expect that attitude.

Amity will probably not tell you where you will be posted until very close to the start date of the job, maybe 1-2 weeks beforehand. Keep that in mind.

Although I realize that we can register our marriage and I can work in Japan on a spousal visa, overseas-recruited jobs seem easier to obtain and make more sense financially for me at the moment. Based on my situation, does anyone have a suggestion?
Click to expand...
I don't know how you figure "financially" makes more sense. As for easier to obtain, yes, in a way. There aren't that many places advertising for teachers from abroad. The number of places that advertise locally here are far greater.
 
I am looking for a job now with a start date in August or September ---through a company like Amity--- so I can save money this summer before my departure. If I go through Amity, I would only need to save money for my plane ticket and survival costs until I get paid; apartment deposit and key money is covered by the company (as you probably already know).

If I travel to Japan and search for a job upon arrival, who knows how long it will take. I would also need to bring enough money to live off until I do find that job, set up an apartment, and survive until I receive my first month's salary. So when I say "financially," I mean that I need to save more money before I go to Japan if I look for a job when I arrive.

My fiancee's status here in the U.S. will be in hiatus at the end of July when her student visa expires. This means we will likely end up traveling to Japan separately. I would really rather not sit around the U.S. flipping burgers all summer, and maybe even into the beginning of fall, just to save enough money to support myself when I arrive in Japan. Further, in that case we could be apart for months. On the other hand, we could just register our marriage but that is a personal choice that we would need to make and also one that does not need to be discussed over a forum.

But I would like to redirect this thread back to Amity and their housing arrangements. Glenski, you noted that the company does not expect any couples to actually attempt to live in their single occupancy housing. If that is the case, it still seems like there is no policy against it. Certainly the apartments are managed by private management. Being that you have been in Japan for some time, do you happen to know if property management companies would object to couples living in single occupancy housing?
 
Look here to see what AEON apartments are advertised to be like.
http://www.aeonet.com/japan/apartment.html

One room. That's it. You pull bedding out of the only closet in the place and lay it on the living room floor to sleep. If you and your fiance can imagine living in such quarters, that's up to you. I would find it to be too confining. I used to live in a 1LDK. This is not. A 1LDK has an adjoining room for sleeping.
Japanese apartments
My co-worker and his Thai wife shared the same type of place as me. They were snug but they were also very happy in such tight quarters, probably because they were used to it when he met her in Thailand. He is not a typical American in that regard.

"Single occupancy" as defined by AEON means it is AEON who makes the rules about how many people live in that place. I don't think you'll find such restrictions on other apartments, based on what I just wrote about my co-worker. If 2 people feel it's acceptable for them, then as long as they pay the rent, I will guess that most building owners will let them stay. I cannot promise this will be the case all the time, of course.
 
Is this something you foresee doing long-term? Or is this just a way to support yourself while you enjoy living abroad for a short while?
 
I am looking for a job now with a start date in August or September ---through a company like Amity--- so I can save money this summer before my departure.
Click to expand...

I would really rather not sit around the U.S. flipping burgers all summer, and maybe even into the beginning of fall, just to save enough money to support myself when I arrive in Japan.
Click to expand...
I think this second quote is just what you described above in the first one, isn't it? Of course, if you're lucky, you could land something better paid, but the principle is still the same, isn't it?
 
感觉很新奇，第一次在这个国外的论坛上留言。不知道论坛里的朋友都是哪里人？很想和大家交朋友！
 
I just got offered employment with Amity this month and in the Amity Policy Manual it states "In special circumstances, the company may consider other housing arrangements. In the extreme circumstance that a NET would choose to leave the company apartment, the teacher will be responsible for all costs involved in securing and furnishing another apartment of the teacher's choice. The teacher will also forfeit the AEON Amity rent subsidy. The employee may be required to compensate the employer for the losse incurred as a result of the teacher's decision to change apartments. In all cases, however, the company makes the final decision regarding any housing policy." Also, "the agreement is for single occupancy and states that one NET will reside in the apartment."

I hope this helps! They do seem pretty firm about the issue, but I'm sure you could talk to the recruiter about it and see what he/she thinks. Be careful though (if you haven't gotten the job already), as your engagement may or may not be a deal breaker.
Please let me know if you have any other questions! I'll answer them to the best of my abilities
 
Thanks for that, thtonegirl.

Penalizing people like that is against labor laws. I guess it depends on how far one thinks AEON will go if you call them on this matter. Putting just any old clause in a contract does not make the clause or contract legal. Putting in illegal clauses invalidates the whole contract, according to labor laws.
 
Seiha

I came over from England in 2004 after my Japanese girlfriend had had a fairly brief chat with a kids Eikaiwa company called Seiha.

I came over on a tourist visa, they sorted me out with a house (rent taken from wages) and did everything they could to help me with every situation. It was fantastic. So much so I stayed on with them for 5 whole years!!!

Great job, great company and they don't ask for degrees or that you even be a native speaker! Personally I'm English, but at the moment the boss (in Ishikawa) is Egyptian, they have two Fillipina sensei's and a Slovakian, along with all the American and British senseis.

If anyone is interested, simply do a google search for Seiha and you'll find there head office number. Give them a bell (the Japanese staff there speak English fine) and simply ask. They're always looking for staff.

Hope that helps someone out there!!

Tony
 
So, how does one work legally visa-wise for Seiha if one does not have a degree? I know some legal ways, but what was your experience?
 
Glenski said:
So, how does one work legally visa-wise for Seiha if one does not have a degree? I know some legal ways, but what was your experience?
Click to expand...
If you are in Japan and you have a visa, they will look at you as a potential employee regardless of degree level qualifications. After that you obviously have to be able to do the job (teaching kids can be tooooouuuuugggghhhhh!!!!). :box: Once your visa is up, you're stuck as there is pretty much zero any company can do for you with regards to renewing your visa without a degree. Unless I'm very much mistaken!?

To be honest, there are many many Eikaiwas dotted around the country that will consider people with no degree level qualification. You've just got to find them and not worry too much about what area you may find yourself in. Again, nothing they can do with regards to renewing your visa, but if you have a visa already, there's work everywhere.

Personally, I came on a working holiday visa and then entered University for a few years studying Japanese. All the while I was able to keep working for Seiha (part-time) and it was fantastic!! I met my wife at uni, got hitched and then continued working there after the courses had finished. Great experience all round.
 
Last edited:
Do you still need a Bachelor's degree if you have a spouse visa?
 
Petaris said:
Do you still need a Bachelor's degree if you have a spouse visa?
Click to expand...

Not for the spouse visa or any visa renewals after that. The job is a different ball game altogether though and most require at least a bachelors in something or other.
 
Is experience counted for anything? I have two associates degrees and about 10 years experience in my field.
 
breezie1977 said:
If you are in Japan and you have a visa, they will look at you as a potential employee regardless of degree level qualifications.
Click to expand...
Case by case. I'd say that many/most employers still want someone with a college degree in any major. Obviously, there are exceptions.

Once your visa is up, you're stuck as there is pretty much zero any company can do for you with regards to renewing your visa without a degree. Unless I'm very much mistaken!?
Click to expand...
But you are not talking about what sort of visa "one" is on. If you have the qualifications for a work visa from some other employer or for the one where you are now working, and the employer wants to retain you after the contract is finished, they just sponsor the visa for renewal. You're not describing the situation very clearly here.

Getting a work visa requires a college degree (or equivalent) or a minimum of 3 years of work experience. (That's work visa for teaching; work visas for other types of jobs require 5-10 years of experience.) But you can work on other types of visas as well (student visa, cultural activities visa, dependent visa, spouse visa) and none of those requires a degree.

To be honest, there are many many Eikaiwas dotted around the country that will consider people with no degree level qualification.
Click to expand...
But you still have to have qualifications that satisfy immigration to work with a proper visa.

Again, nothing they can do with regards to renewing your visa, but if you have a visa already, there's work everywhere.
Click to expand...
But the only way to get a work visa without a degree, as I've written above, is to have 3 years of experience.

Personally, I came on a working holiday visa
Click to expand...
Finally you tell us your situation. Yes, a WHV needs no degree, and it has a limited (usually 12-month) lifespan, but it is also limited to certain nationalities and age groups. Employers don't need to sponsor this.

Petaris said:
Do you still need a Bachelor's degree if you have a spouse visa?
Click to expand...
The spouse visa doesn't need a degree, but the employer decides whether the job requires one.

Petaris said:
Is experience counted for anything? I have two associates degrees and about 10 years experience in my field.
Click to expand...
If your "field" is related to TEFL, then you should have no problems getting a regular work visa as long as you are a native English speaker and can prove those years of experience.
 
Glenski,

Thanks for the responses!

Glenski said:
If your "field" is related to TEFL, then you should have no problems getting a regular work visa as long as you are a native English speaker and can prove those years of experience.
Click to expand...

My field is in Information Technology but I was just asking for a general idea.
 
Hi everyone. I was trying to find some information in relation to the apartment situation with Aeon, and I came across this thread which seems (partially) relevant to a concern of mine.


I've applied to Aeon and I've gotten as far as the group interview stage which will be on the 23rd of June. My boyfriend is half Japanese (he has Japanese citizenship) and we were planning to go to Japan together, albeit for different career reasons (he won't be working as an English teacher, that is!). I would really like to work with Aeon, as out of the options I have so far, this one seems the best to me. However, I heard (and also read on their website) that they're pretty adamant that English teachers travel alone, and it seems that staying in the apartments they provide is somewhat compulsory, yet we would very much like to live together and these apartments are only suitable for one person (and even so, I can imagine there would be a problem with the landlord etc. if we tried to live there together). Not that I expect Aeon to help us find an apartment for two or anything, but has anyone had any similar experiences where they had to turn down the apartment offered by Aeon? Also, from other similar interviews I've done, it seems to be a pretty regular that they ask if I will be traveling alone or with someone else. Any recommendations about how I should answer this if it comes up in the interview with Aeon? Should I lie and explain it later, if I get the position with them? Are they less likely to hire me if they know beforehand that I don't plan to travel alone? Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Pros to working for AEON?
Replies
9
Views
22K
Glenski
C
Amity/AEON
Replies
20
Views
9K
Dotanbatan
AEON Interview
Replies
16
Views
14K
Glenski
D
Preparing for ECC and AEON interviews
Replies
4
Views
12K
bakaKanadajin
AEON Interview
Replies
5
Views
7K
gresslette
G
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…