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...
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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