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 2007. 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...

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	Berlitz	ECC	Aeon
Interview
U.S. Based Recruiting?	Ocasionally*1	No	No. Toronto	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	4.5
Total Hours	29.5	25 to 29	29.5	29.5
Training & Teaching
How Long?	30 Days & Ongoing	90 Days Paid in Japan	10 Days	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	Yes. Free
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.