- 19 May 2007
- 1,716
- 113
Bring it back!!!
Working for ECC
- Thread starter endoskell
- Start date
Hahaha I see your point!
Well Im a female, a recent garduate of university, no teaching experience but alot of business experience and Ive taken three years of Japanese lessons while at university, and am currently taking more. Does that help at all?
Also, I thought the ECC application didnt have a resume or cover letter, just some quesitons ans answer boxes that you submit online..... Am i missing something?
Well Im a female, a recent garduate of university, no teaching experience but alot of business experience and Ive taken three years of Japanese lessons while at university, and am currently taking more. Does that help at all?
Also, I thought the ECC application didnt have a resume or cover letter, just some quesitons ans answer boxes that you submit online..... Am i missing something?
- 20 Aug 2003
- 4,910
- 416
Yes, the application is an online one as you described. But, honestly, how are we supposed to provide any kind of help without seeing what you wrote? I'm not asking you to post that information, just consider how little we know about you.
Places like ECC will gladly take people with no teaching experience. Have done so for decades. Japanese language ability is good for daily survival, but you will likely not be permitted to use it in the classroom, so it's good in the sense that ECC will feel comfortable in not having to babysit you much.
Otherwise, just be aware that most applicants have no teaching degree or experience; however, the market here is terribly flooded with teachers and wannabes, so it's harder to get accepted than before. Good luck.
Places like ECC will gladly take people with no teaching experience. Have done so for decades. Japanese language ability is good for daily survival, but you will likely not be permitted to use it in the classroom, so it's good in the sense that ECC will feel comfortable in not having to babysit you much.
Otherwise, just be aware that most applicants have no teaching degree or experience; however, the market here is terribly flooded with teachers and wannabes, so it's harder to get accepted than before. Good luck.
Placement delays
After reading the previous horror story of being put in limbo for a year and a half and not placed I have a question...
While this is probably not the norm, is it common for companies to put off placement even for a few months? ECC gives those 3 month time frames that give the impression that if you want to leave between sept-nov then you should apply now and you are guaranteed to leave during that timeframe.
My goal is to leave for Japan in March/April 2011, so I figured I needed to wait until the Fall to apply with ECC and Aeon, but it would suck if I didn't end up going until next summer.
Does anyone know how often these sort of prolonged placements occur?
After reading the previous horror story of being put in limbo for a year and a half and not placed I have a question...
While this is probably not the norm, is it common for companies to put off placement even for a few months? ECC gives those 3 month time frames that give the impression that if you want to leave between sept-nov then you should apply now and you are guaranteed to leave during that timeframe.
My goal is to leave for Japan in March/April 2011, so I figured I needed to wait until the Fall to apply with ECC and Aeon, but it would suck if I didn't end up going until next summer.
Does anyone know how often these sort of prolonged placements occur?
Regarding the issue of submitting your application, it seems to me that they are pretty lenient on who they bring in for an interview. After submitting my application, I received a message for an interview within a day, before I even graduated. I could be wrong, but I was sort of under the impression that as long as you have or will have a bachelor degree, and willing to spend the dime to go to Toronto, they'll be willing to interview you... they have group interview sessions just about every week I think, they also call them recruiting sessions which sort of tells me that they may be looking for you as much as you are them 
And as far as your question Elizabeth- I think if you want to get in ECC in the winter you should apply now. On the application it asks what your earliest start date is, and I think they are pretty accommodating to your requests. The reason why I suggest that you should probably submit your application now, is because if you wait, you'll be lower down on the list, whereas if you apply now, by the time you're ready to go, you'll probably be right at the top of the people waiting to be sent over.
Good luck!
And as far as your question Elizabeth- I think if you want to get in ECC in the winter you should apply now. On the application it asks what your earliest start date is, and I think they are pretty accommodating to your requests. The reason why I suggest that you should probably submit your application now, is because if you wait, you'll be lower down on the list, whereas if you apply now, by the time you're ready to go, you'll probably be right at the top of the people waiting to be sent over.
Good luck!
- 20 Aug 2003
- 4,910
- 416
Usually, I'd say yes. Those that are looking to hire from abroad, or who want fresh meat from within Japan but who doesn't already have a visa, they will need 2-3 months to get visas processed. A person living abroad will need at least 1-2 months to get their stuff in order to leave.
April is too late. That's when the jobs start!
The ones like ECC's long wait? This is probably the first time I've seen it in 12 years.
Fohsap
後輩
- 5 Oct 2010
- 1
- 0
You work at ECC???
Dude, can you send me some sample lessons from Mini Kids and KEW and possibly some stuff from the activities book?
I returned home early in my career at ECC and miss the working style. I want to apply it to the place I am working, now. Pretty please? 
I would so pay you. 
Dude, can you send me some sample lessons from Mini Kids and KEW and possibly some stuff from the activities book?
I returned home early in my career at ECC and miss the working style. I want to apply it to the place I am working, now. Pretty please? I would so pay you. A day? I submitted an application on October the 8th and I haven't received a response yet :? I finished CELTA a couple of weeks ago and I was hoping to get an invite within a week
eccerintokyo
後輩
- 14 Dec 2010
- 1
- 0
Hey all. Maybe a kinda dead thread but I bet people (like me) will google ecc and come up with this so here's some info for ya'll:
First, to clear it, as much as it sucks that the girl who posted here got accepted November 2008 and was in limbo but never brought over, well, that's just bad timing. I wouldn't hold it against the company (easy for me to say, but pointing that out to anyone thinking it discredits themy). I was interviewed in April 2008 and came over in August - remember what happened in September 2008? Nobody? Try Global Economic Collapse for $500 Bob. The residential housing crisis in America which echoed throughout the entire world. Practically every big company underwent hiring freezes. I believe ECC TOKYO (my area) had a hiring freeze in effect from November 08 to around June or July 09 (Which was almost unprecedented, but people who might have went home didn't due to the economic situation). Now things are back in the normal swing - as far as I can tell being the lowest possible man on the totem pole, a humble teacher. But new groups are coming in every month or so.
I won't make mention about the hiring process other than be professional, enthusiastic, and give them what they want - you'll get the job. That's it. You need personality, pizazz, and all that, and a bit of confidence to work under the pressure. Those are good skills for teaching as well, my internet friends.
As to ECC and the nature of it - it has been outlined earlier, but it's varied, most people get something close to 3 hours of kids and 3 hours of adults a day, the hours 330-930 (for 60% of the shifts) make daytime work to supplement your income totally possible, or just chill at home, nap, read a book, go to the gym etc. I don't know about other working stiffs but between college and all the part time jobs I ever strung together back in the U.S., this one gives me the most free time hands down. 29.5 hours a week for around 240,000 yennies a month? It ain't bad for entry level, that's for sure.
As for personnel relations in nagoya as mentioned earlier, I can't comment. Personnel and management tend to reflect the somewhat "revolving door" status of the eikaiwa industry, so you might have a super-chill character hooking you up with all the classes you want and the dream schedule where every school is 15 minute away, or you might get someone who is unprofessional or doesn't care, sending you an hour plus every day. I know teachers who have quit for this reason.
Same goes with individual schools and management, people are people and some are lovely and will become good friends and some will leave a slightly bad taste in your mouth. This is an unavoidable risk, but I say ride it out - even if some things could be better handled, the amount of freedom and again FREE TIME you get working with ECC is second to no other big eikaiwa. Not to mention other schools like AEON have you working 9 hour shifts for the same pay as our 6 hour ones! (including a mandatory hour lunch break.... NO I don't have a lunch/dinner break during my regular shifts but I snack and make do) Oh, and doesn't almost every other school have shorter vacation time? 2 weeks in August over here. Getting ready for my 11 days of Xmas soon enough. Plus 5 expendable holiday vacation days you can tack on any time of year if you're punctual about it.
I could go on or rant or say a lot of different things but on the whole I have had such a wonderful, positive experience with this company, I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to come out and experience teaching in Japan. I think it also offers a bit of a more real teaching experience than ALT jobs (in being involved with small classes and students who are generally more motivated than those in public high schools). Hope this helps some of you prospectives. I was nothing but a lowly college graduate with an English Literature BA 2 and a half years ago - here I've attained world-experiences to last me a lifetime, valuable teaching skills etc. etc..
-My 2 cents. =)
First, to clear it, as much as it sucks that the girl who posted here got accepted November 2008 and was in limbo but never brought over, well, that's just bad timing. I wouldn't hold it against the company (easy for me to say, but pointing that out to anyone thinking it discredits themy). I was interviewed in April 2008 and came over in August - remember what happened in September 2008? Nobody? Try Global Economic Collapse for $500 Bob. The residential housing crisis in America which echoed throughout the entire world. Practically every big company underwent hiring freezes. I believe ECC TOKYO (my area) had a hiring freeze in effect from November 08 to around June or July 09 (Which was almost unprecedented, but people who might have went home didn't due to the economic situation). Now things are back in the normal swing - as far as I can tell being the lowest possible man on the totem pole, a humble teacher. But new groups are coming in every month or so.
I won't make mention about the hiring process other than be professional, enthusiastic, and give them what they want - you'll get the job. That's it. You need personality, pizazz, and all that, and a bit of confidence to work under the pressure. Those are good skills for teaching as well, my internet friends.
As to ECC and the nature of it - it has been outlined earlier, but it's varied, most people get something close to 3 hours of kids and 3 hours of adults a day, the hours 330-930 (for 60% of the shifts) make daytime work to supplement your income totally possible, or just chill at home, nap, read a book, go to the gym etc. I don't know about other working stiffs but between college and all the part time jobs I ever strung together back in the U.S., this one gives me the most free time hands down. 29.5 hours a week for around 240,000 yennies a month? It ain't bad for entry level, that's for sure.
As for personnel relations in nagoya as mentioned earlier, I can't comment. Personnel and management tend to reflect the somewhat "revolving door" status of the eikaiwa industry, so you might have a super-chill character hooking you up with all the classes you want and the dream schedule where every school is 15 minute away, or you might get someone who is unprofessional or doesn't care, sending you an hour plus every day. I know teachers who have quit for this reason.
Same goes with individual schools and management, people are people and some are lovely and will become good friends and some will leave a slightly bad taste in your mouth. This is an unavoidable risk, but I say ride it out - even if some things could be better handled, the amount of freedom and again FREE TIME you get working with ECC is second to no other big eikaiwa. Not to mention other schools like AEON have you working 9 hour shifts for the same pay as our 6 hour ones! (including a mandatory hour lunch break.... NO I don't have a lunch/dinner break during my regular shifts but I snack and make do) Oh, and doesn't almost every other school have shorter vacation time? 2 weeks in August over here. Getting ready for my 11 days of Xmas soon enough. Plus 5 expendable holiday vacation days you can tack on any time of year if you're punctual about it.
I could go on or rant or say a lot of different things but on the whole I have had such a wonderful, positive experience with this company, I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to come out and experience teaching in Japan. I think it also offers a bit of a more real teaching experience than ALT jobs (in being involved with small classes and students who are generally more motivated than those in public high schools). Hope this helps some of you prospectives. I was nothing but a lowly college graduate with an English Literature BA 2 and a half years ago - here I've attained world-experiences to last me a lifetime, valuable teaching skills etc. etc..
-My 2 cents. =)
- 15 Jun 2012
- 3
- 0
Sorry for bringing this back from the dead, but I just wanted to say thanks to eccerintokyo for giving such a good outlook on ECC after reading this thread. I've been contemplating applying for the company for a short while now, so I genuinely appreciate the input.
I will be applying as soon as my passport comes in (just applied Tuesday, the 12th), so I hope it comes in as soon as possible so I can make a July interview in Toronto. Fingers crossed!
I was also curious if anyone had any more recent information or experience with ECC or other similar schools in Japan that might be worth looking into.
I will be applying as soon as my passport comes in (just applied Tuesday, the 12th), so I hope it comes in as soon as possible so I can make a July interview in Toronto. Fingers crossed!
I was also curious if anyone had any more recent information or experience with ECC or other similar schools in Japan that might be worth looking into.
- 15 Jun 2012
- 3
- 0
Thank you very much, Glenski
Seems ECC has been successful at pushing down wages. When interviewed by the corporate division in 2015, I was told the hourly rate was 4000 yen/hr, but I would only be paid 3,500 yen/hr, the remaining 500 yen/hr would be paid as a "completion" bonus. Good wages are hard to come by these days and I needed the work. But, withholding payment for work done is still illegal in Japan. I asked ECC to stop, they just ignored me and stopped sending me new assignments.
Other annoying practices included being dismissed from assignment for frivolous reasons, i.e., classes aren't serious enough. When you're working with a standard Business English textbook, what does that even mean? And, in some private assignments, the student was able to cancel and reschedule up to half of their lessons; indefinitely extending the assignment. Naturally, if lessons were cancelled 24 hours in advance, instructors were not paid.
Other annoying practices included being dismissed from assignment for frivolous reasons, i.e., classes aren't serious enough. When you're working with a standard Business English textbook, what does that even mean? And, in some private assignments, the student was able to cancel and reschedule up to half of their lessons; indefinitely extending the assignment. Naturally, if lessons were cancelled 24 hours in advance, instructors were not paid.
