Comments on: Nova is not dead, but buried alive http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/ Independent Podcasting from Tokyo. Featuring Seijigiri, a discussion of Japanese news and politics, as well as TPR News, our twice a week look at Japan's top stories. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:24:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Marty http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-169424 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:48:48 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-169424 I taught there too, for a year. I found it hard to believe that they even stayed in business, but there was no serious competition and they were able to get away with lying and cheating. As long as that can go on, and the customers have no idea what they're buying, it's business as usual. I taught there too, for a year. I found it hard to believe that they even stayed in business, but there was no serious competition and they were able to get away with lying and cheating. As long as that can go on, and the customers have no idea what they’re buying, it’s business as usual.

]]> by: osakaobachan http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-169034 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:58:03 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-169034 I worked for Nova in the flagship school in downtown Osaka, and it's pretty Japanese- if someone has a problem with you they don't tell you directly, they say whatever they have to say to get people to sign, regardless of whether it's a half truth, they do not properly train ANYONE that works there, the Japanese staff are disgustingly overworked, and the morale amongst the teachers is nonexistent. Really, who on earth makes the decisions in that company? I wouldn't exactly like to see the company go under, but if it happened I would certainly laugh my ass off. If you work there, steal all the office supplies you can! I worked for Nova in the flagship school in downtown Osaka, and it’s pretty Japanese- if someone has a problem with you they don’t tell you directly, they say whatever they have to say to get people to sign, regardless of whether it’s a half truth, they do not properly train ANYONE that works there, the Japanese staff are disgustingly overworked, and the morale amongst the teachers is nonexistent. Really, who on earth makes the decisions in that company? I wouldn’t exactly like to see the company go under, but if it happened I would certainly laugh my ass off.

If you work there, steal all the office supplies you can!

]]> by: Liberal Japan » Blog Archive » NOVA made fixed bids — for shame http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-163954 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 06:42:57 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-163954 [...] 2007/06/17 Nova is not dead, but buried alive, Trans-Pacific Radio; No more subsidies for students. [...] […] 2007/06/17 Nova is not dead, but buried alive, Trans-Pacific Radio; No more subsidies for students. […]

]]> by: DeOrio http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-160892 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:00:25 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-160892 Morale seems to be the basis for promotion within Nova. During my tenure there, I was offered a promotion (days before I turned in my resignation) and many of the reasons cited did not exactly instill confidence: I'd had no disciplinary action against me, students said good things about me, the school manager said I was a pretty nice guy, etc. I guess those are indicators that I can work with others, but wouldn't make me give me managerial duties. Morale seems to be the basis for promotion within Nova. During my tenure there, I was offered a promotion (days before I turned in my resignation) and many of the reasons cited did not exactly instill confidence: I’d had no disciplinary action against me, students said good things about me, the school manager said I was a pretty nice guy, etc. I guess those are indicators that I can work with others, but wouldn’t make me give me managerial duties.

]]> by: ken http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-160864 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 06:26:37 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-160864 <em>MBAs and most Master’s degrees for that matter, are not important in corporate Japan</em> Certainly not as valued as in the US, but they are important, or else so many of the big firms wouldn't spend so much on sending guys over to programs in the US every year. At any rate, Joel, I think you're very right about Nova. There certainly doesn't seem to be a focus on developing competent management. And it seems that their employee morale is abysmal: There was an <a href="http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070620a3.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">article on that in the Japan Times today</a>, though I'm not sure what to make of their 'union' MBAs and most Master’s degrees for that matter, are not important in corporate Japan

Certainly not as valued as in the US, but they are important, or else so many of the big firms wouldn’t spend so much on sending guys over to programs in the US every year.

At any rate, Joel, I think you’re very right about Nova. There certainly doesn’t seem to be a focus on developing competent management. And it seems that their employee morale is abysmal: There was an article on that in the Japan Times today, though I’m not sure what to make of their ‘union’

]]> by: Joel http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-160786 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 05:08:59 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-160786 &#62;Where did these clowns get their MBAs? Oh yeah… They don't have MBAs because 1) NOVA hires and promotes almost entirely from within, which i why a guy with a Chemistry degree was my supervisor and 2) MBAs and most Master's degrees for that matter, are not important in corporate Japan, unless you are in gaishikei, or in academia. Having been on the inside, I know that NOVA is a shady corporation with no regard for employee morale. It's time to wake up, or go bankrupt. >Where did these clowns get their MBAs? Oh yeah…

They don’t have MBAs because 1) NOVA hires and promotes almost entirely from within, which i why a guy with a Chemistry degree was my supervisor and 2) MBAs and most Master’s degrees for that matter, are not important in corporate Japan, unless you are in gaishikei, or in academia.

Having been on the inside, I know that NOVA is a shady corporation with no regard for employee morale. It’s time to wake up, or go bankrupt.

]]> by: English Roulette « I, Shingen http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-159700 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:40:11 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-159700 [...] As Ken over at TPR wrote: Nova’s business model, based upon signing people up to long contracts and not having to refund them, is dead - and it’s time for something new. [...] […] As Ken over at TPR wrote: Nova’s business model, based upon signing people up to long contracts and not having to refund them, is dead - and it’s time for something new. […]

]]> by: お得な情報満載ちょこっとブログ http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-159479 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:38:29 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-159479 <strong>NOVA...</strong> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; &#160; 応援クリックお願いします&#8593; 関連記事を引用し、優良サイト様を紹介します。☆・他記... NOVA…

                     
応援クリックお願いします↑
関連記事を引用し、優良サイト様を紹介します。☆・他記…

]]> by: DeOrio http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-158336 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:12:02 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-158336 I didn't mean that to be fault-finding with the tutors as much as with the management, who first (falsely) claimed that their instructors were certified teachers, then (falsely) claimed that all of their instructors had BAs or higher, and, in my own experience, told customers things like, "Garrett has an MBA," (I don't) while also telling the same customer, "He majored in teaching business English," which is not even possible. In other words, the misrepresentation is far more widespread than just screwing customers on contract issues. The instructors are expected to be native speakers of their languages, to show up, be somewhat friendly, and try to answer questions. The overwhelming majority do so. I think it's fairly safe to say that the instructors are better at their jobs than the management are at theirs at almost all such schools. I didn’t mean that to be fault-finding with the tutors as much as with the management, who first (falsely) claimed that their instructors were certified teachers, then (falsely) claimed that all of their instructors had BAs or higher, and, in my own experience, told customers things like, “Garrett has an MBA,” (I don’t) while also telling the same customer, “He majored in teaching business English,” which is not even possible.

In other words, the misrepresentation is far more widespread than just screwing customers on contract issues.

The instructors are expected to be native speakers of their languages, to show up, be somewhat friendly, and try to answer questions. The overwhelming majority do so. I think it’s fairly safe to say that the instructors are better at their jobs than the management are at theirs at almost all such schools.

]]> by: ken http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-158267 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:53:17 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/06/17/nova-is-not-dead-but-buried-alive/#comment-158267 I think it's hard to find fault with the teachers. They seem to be a lot better at what they do than the management. I think it’s hard to find fault with the teachers. They seem to be a lot better at what they do than the management.

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