Go for it! is the newest incarnation of the "Diplomat News" which used to be called "The Monitor"... These were the computer printed newletters were (some) useful teaching ideas and Company information was dispensed...
This used to come from the Education QCG but seeing as none of them are left, I assume it would be old RAAMs, AAMs etc that are still around contributing to it, and from the last page asking for contributions it appears to be Jack Aranda in Nagoya collating it...
The front page has a publicity shot of our President... Mr. Inayoshi... not quite this one, but pretty similar. He gives us an inspiring message that officially anounces to us the things mentioned on here and Lets Japan. From May, G.education is finally achieving an account surplus. There has been a rush for people to buy the franchises all over Japan... In 1 year, we will have 1000 branches, and "therefore I feel we must go forward to fully take advantage of these opportunities in order to achieve our goals" (whatever the hell that means)...
It summarises a newspaper interview that Mr. Inayoshi (his first name is never referred to, but it is Masaki) did with the Asahi Shimbun on April 22... At the end of march there were 176 NOVA branches... By Spring 2009, there will be around 1000... The breakdown is as follows;
Franchises 250
Juku-Nova* 240
Puchi-Nova (Petit NOVA)** 290
Total 780
*Juku-NOVA- Cram schools offering help to Junior High School and High School students.
** Puchi-NOVA- Small NOVA branches where one can go in to the branch and sit down and take an MM (multimedia/ginganet) lesson... Why people would do this instead of staying home to take an MM lesson is beyond me...
Therefore, the inference is that the remaining 220 or so branches will be company owned full NOVA branches... It also tells us that foreign recruitment offices will open in the USA, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland over the course of this year... And that the company plans to call some of the 20,000 former NOVA instructors to ask them to come back to work...
The following pages give a breakdown of the sales campaign as I had done here and then there is a list of Branch Rankings...
The next page I found interesting, it was the Refresher course training page... And some absolute rave reviews from attendees... They all loved it... It was wonderful that we learned this sensational principles... We are all revitalized now... etc. The information is certainly different from what I heard, but then again, people that tell me know that the information won't be used against them in a negative fashion...
Then a page on Branch Visits, how AAMs are explaining that they are visiting branches and observing us unannounced and then doing individual interviews with instructors... They are sending people from outside to come and watch us, then have meetings, and our input is highly encouraged... After the meeting, a written report is sent off to head office to help decide what will be in future editions of Go for it!... No-one will be comfortable with this... The in-branch trainer system allowed us to know who was telling us off... They know the people, they deal with them better, and they know our strengths and weaknesses as teachers... I just hope this doesn't become the NOVA crack squad where one complaint is received and a team of people are sent out to discipline those instructors...
Finally there is a teaching page with ideas like split the group in half, have one half ask the question, the other answer... I spent hours on this page, as I had never heard of this technique before... And finally, to make us feel better, we are getting 5000 yen worth of vouchers when their birthday is coming up... I am checking the mailbox constantly as my birthday is coming up... Of course the vouchers are to be used in G.communication restaurants bars, izakayas, etc.
Anyone else's birthday coming up? You all looking forward to your vouchers? You all going to use the split the group technique? What do you think of the newsletter?
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5 comments:
It's interesting how you have to access this material online. I guess GComm wised up to the fact that internal documents on Education Online were accessible outside the company. Now a link is sent in the e-mail and you have to use a password supplied in the e-mail. Everything on the main page and side menu is in Japanese.
Yeah, my reaction to the "advice" about how to handle large classes was the same. Seriously, if you look at back issues of The Monitor, it's clear that some of the contributors had a pretty good knowledge of language teaching theory. Now that knowledge is either stored in some of the heads of veterans or lost forever. Newbies can only benefit from in-branch training designed by interested instructors, not from ATs simply following meeting plans designed at head office. If "advice" like that which we find in "Go For It", coupled with Yamaya's smile training is all newbies have to go by you can bet there will be loads of student complaints.
Exactly Paul, it shows that the new company have no interest in teaching quality, and exclusively in profits...
A little late I know but so pleased you got something out of the teaching tip.
Great news about the opening of so many schools and the target number suggests that Eikawa as we know it isn't dead. Just a thought though. If a "school" only offers lessons one day a week, can it truly be called a " school?"
Hmm, split shifts for teachers, one teacher schools, puchi schools i.e., no teacher needed on site yep it's growing at a great rate of knots. Hey but it looks good! Wonder if the students are aware that booking constraints haven't eased even though there seems an increase in outlets.
Anon, I hope you realized the teaching tip comment was tongue in cheek... I have been here 8 years... I learnt pair work in OJT... Exactly it is all for show, and all to make the customer feel like they are getting more than they are actually getting... I have never heard students complain so much about booking problems, and that includes at any time under the old NOVA... At least my students are seeing this for what it is, a big show...
1000 schools. mmmm,now where have i heard that number before. ah that's right the old Nova. history repeats itself and nobody learns a thing.
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