Geos?

[pistachio_torte]

Hey, I've applied for a job at the kid's branch of Geos (as I'm trying to go all out in my job-hunt this year for the best available) and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this? I'd like some ideas of good and bad things about the company. Of course, all I hear from them is the good side, but I want a realistic picture before I

Comments

[breau]

I don't know if GEOS does this, but a lot of the major ESL schools force you to sell their own teaching materials to your students - as part of your job. If you get a job with a smaller school you *may* be happier.. if GEOS doesn't work out, post on here again and I'm sure someone will direct you to a better place! :)

[snakesinspace]

My husband interviewed with GEOS for Kids. They stressed selling materials to the parents over teaching the kids. He chose to go elsewhere.

[guitarcries]

I forgot to mention this... they do push you to sell stuff. So if you don't like selling, you might get some unpleasant pressure from your boss and manager. At the same time, you might not... it depends on who your boss is. Usually they only put pressure on the absolute lowest performers, so as long as you're sure not to be on the bottom of the pile, you should be ok. But if you absolutely hate selling, maybe better to look for a position with a smaller company or Interac/JET

[guitarcries]

Most of what you'll find on the internet about GEOS is true. They treat their managers badly, and the managers are constantly quitting, which provides a real continuity problem in the schools, upsets students and parents, and makes it difficult for the schools to grow or improve. At my school (not a kids-only school) there were periods of several months that we went without a manager, and I heard of other schools that went longer. They make you do a lot of paperwork, although I didn't think it was so bad, and around the time I was leaving they were in the process of electronicizing much of it. It seemed to me that the paperwork load was reduced during the time I was there. I also didn't really feel that the paperwork we did was pointless... for example, filling out a sheet in order to get bonus pay for signing up new students or renewing current ones. I guess it would depend on how much you care about your job

[melissagrey]

Yeah, NOVA went bankrupt in 2007.

[xelloss_poo]

Technically its still around. It was bought out by BOVA (I believe) and that there are still some NOVA schools that are open in various spots. Some of my students are actually doing the two schools because they want to finish using their old NOVA vouchers in case something happens to it again, but they aren't going to or didn't stay longer than for using what they had...

[sithkittie]

Yeah, I worked there and got sick of the rediculous hours with 30 hour pay. Sure you get bonuses, sometimes, but for the stress of the job, not worth it to me. I ended up getting really sick and having to leave (not Japan, but the company). I was at the normal school, adults and kids, but the kids classes were a joke. Some kids learned things, but the materials are useless and it's not leveled very well. It's by age and GEOS controlls what age goes where regardless of level. Selling materials is part of the job. You can't discipline. I had a huge problem class and my kids just wouldn't shut up and do the games or anything for weeks on end, and finally the manager came in and said "Now, everyone, get along okay? Your parents paid to send you here." Needless to say, that didn't help

[sithkittie]

Also, when I left there was talk about changing all teacher's hours so you had to be present at the school even if you weren't teaching. Something about the legality of that bit in the contract. I don't know what happened with that. I quit in August.