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Who's Got the Best Deal?
Compare the Top 4 English Schools: Geos, ECC, Berlitz & Aeon

Choosing an ESL school to work for is no easy task! Geos and the other monster chain schools have different compensation packages. To save you some leg-work, we've put together a comprehensive list of The Big 4's salaries, working conditions and other perks.

This information was taken from their respective websites and from their recruiters answers to our queries in 2008. We've made every effort to ensure accuracy.

As always, before you sign on the dotted line, ask your recruiter detailed questions about their organization. Prepare yourself even more...

Please read our teaching contracts page and find out what mistakes not to make!

Note: Where you find red astericks on the chart, check below it for more detailed information on that line item. geos html chart

       Geos       Berlitz        ECC        Aeon
Interview
U.S. Based Recruiting?        Ocasionally*1          
No
   
No. Toronto, Australia, UK, Japan*5
       
Yes
Paid Flight   Over?            No             No           No         No
  Working  Conditions
Teaching Hours        No Info.      22 to 23            25            25
Office Hours        No. Info.       3 to 4           4.5            11
Total Hours        29.5     25 to 29          29.5          36
Training & Teaching  
How Long? 30 Days
& Ongoing
90 Days Paid
in Japan
50 to 70 hours 5 Days Paid In
Japan. Ongoing
Curriculum Flexible?   Semi-flexible         No         No         No
Housing                                          
Housing Provided?       Yes       No *3       Yes         Yes
Furnished Apartment?        Yes         No    Private &
  Shared *4
      Private
Key Money Paid?     Yes     Yes       Yes     Yes
Rent Paid? No. Average
55,000/Month
    No     No Subsidized if  over 55,000              
Salary &       Benefits 
Salary 250,000/Month
    Average
250,000/Month
    Average
252,000/Month
   Average
270,000/Month
    Average
Renewal Bonuses? Up to
100,000 Yen
Contract
Extension
Bonus
    Yes. Dependent
   On
Review
No. Completion
Bonus Of
80,000 Yen
Raises After Completion?     Yes. Not
   Specified
1-3% Per
   Year
     Dependent
  On  Review
Performance
    Based
 Paid Vacation
 Days
      20 and
     National
   Holidays *2
     10 and
    National
    Holidays
    22 and 13
     National
     Holidays
     15 and
    National
    Holidays
Health Insurance?      Yes. Free     Yes. Free No. Info
Available
     No. 30,000/Mo.
Japanese Lessons?      24 Free
     Lessons
    Subsidized No. Info
Available
No. Info
Available
Other
Perks
 Student    Renewal
Bonus
Commutation
Allowance
Discount
Airfare
O.T.
Available
3000/hr.
Visa Info
Co. Provides
Assistance?
Yes.
Full-time
Only
Yes.
Full-time
Only
Yes.
Full-time
Only
Yes.
Full-time
Only


Geos Details

1 Geos ocassionally recruits in New York and San Francisco.

General recruitment centers
Toronto, Vancouver and London.

2 Geos National Holiay Information

  • 2 consecutive days off per week.
  • All Japanese National Holidays.
  • The period of December 28 to January 4 inclusive.
  • The period from April 29 to May 5 inclusive.

Geos' Days Off Per Year Worked

  • 1st Year: 10 days off per year
  • 2nd Year: 11 days
  • 3rd Year: 12 days
  • 4th Year: 14 days
  • 5th Year: 16 days
  • 6th Year: 18 days
  • 7th Year: 20 days


Berlitz Details 3 Berlitz: Doesn't provide housing but will act as sponsor on rental applications.


ECC Details
4 *ECC: Doesn't guarantee private apts. Mixed gender living arrangements happen.
5 *ECC: Recruits domestically (within Japan) in the following cities:
Nagoya
To apply, please send a resume and covering letter. Martin Hunt ECC Chubu District Head Office Kanayama Bldg. 1-16-16 Kanayama, Naka-ku Nagoya, Japan 460-0022 E-mail: nhr@ecc.co.jp

Osaka Recruitment To apply, please send a resume and covering letter. Edward Baker ECC Kinki District Head Office Sumisei Namba-Minami Bldg. 8F 2-3-19 Motomachi, Naniwa-ku Osaka, Japan 556-0016 E-mail: instruct@ecc.co.jp

Tokyo Recruitment Office Tokyo Recruitment To apply, please send a resume and covering letter. Sanyamate Building 7-11-10, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan Tel: 81-3-5330-1585 Fax: 81-3-5330-7084 E-mail: eastjinj@ecc.co.jp


International Recruitment Centers (Outside Japan)
Australia Representative Officer for ECC
www.amacrecruitment.com.au

U.K. Represntative Officer for ECC
A. I. L. International Limited Office No. 36, Studio House, Delamare Road, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire EN8 9SH, UK Tel: +44-1992-642677 Fax: +44-1992-642675 ail.ine@btconnect.com

Toronto Canada Representative Officer for ECC
Suite 1801 Toronto Star Building 1 Yonge Street , Toronto, Ontario M5E 1W7 , Canada ECC office telephone number: 416-703-3390 ECC office fax number: 416-369-0515 E-mail: Toronto@ecc.co.jp

USA Representative office for ECC
c/o Cultraro North America or Rick Katsuki 1933 W. 183rd Street Torrance, Ca 90504 Ph: 310.532.2211 Fax: 310.532.2112 E-mail: ecc@kiyomura.com


Aeon Details

Exclusitivity
Aeon does have an exclusitivity clause in their contract so the teacher agrees to work exclusively for AEON during the contract period.

Completion Bonus Schedule
A one time cash bonus is provided upon completion of the final contract as follows: After completing one year: 80,000 yen After 1 year and 6 months: 120,000 yen After 2 years or more: 160,000 yen
,
Processing Fee
Aeon charges non-refundable fees. After an applicant accepts a position, a non-refundable processiing fee of $200 USD/CAD, $210 AUD, £100 GBP is required to cover part of the cost incurred.

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