Category Archives: Eikaiwa

Four years after ‘Nova shock,’ eikaiwa is down but not out

December 20, 2011 in Eikaiwa, News, Nova

The instructor describes the current Nova management as “extremely poor,” and while it was not especially good at the old Nova, he feels that the people running the branches now are “much worse.”

Fear for jobs ignites “English crisis” in Japan

September 26, 2011 in Eikaiwa, Gaba, News

Japan’s foreign language education market is growing, with learners more than willing to fork out plenty of money on lessons, DVDs or e-learning. Gaba says that on average, a student spends about 50,000 yen ($654) a month [on English conversation lessons] — against an average 36,500 yen allowance for Japanese businesspeople.

Japan’s ratio of education spending to GDP lowest among OECD nations

September 14, 2011 in ALT, Eikaiwa, News, Wages

Japan’s expenditure on education as a percentage of gross domestic product in 2008 remained the lowest among 31 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development…[and] pointed out that “other factors that influence the quality of education need to be taken into account,” such as improving teachers’ salaries and working conditions in Japan.

Expats in Japan face hard choices

August 23, 2011 in ALT, Eikaiwa, Immigration, News

Radiation leaks, contaminated crops and water, plutonium released into the air and ocean, have made expats in Japan question whether to stay or head back home, especially in the face of pressure from family and loved ones.

Nichii Gakkan Company to Launch Takeover Bid for Shares of Gaba Corporation

August 8, 2011 in Eikaiwa, Gaba, News

Nichii Gakkan Company announced that it has decided to launch a takeover bid for shares of Gaba Corporation.

Nichii Gakkan To Launch Tender Offer For Gaba

August 8, 2011 in Eikaiwa, Gaba, News

Nichii Gakkan Co. said Friday it will begin a tender offer to purchase shares of Gaba Corp., an operator of English-language conversation classes, in a move to bolster its education business. Nichii plans to spend up to 10 billion yen to make Gaba a wholly owned subsidiary.

Cashing in on the time change

June 4, 2011 in Berlitz, Eikaiwa, Gaba, News

The possible power shortages caused by the March 11 earthquake could signal a shift in language, from “after five”–referring to personal time after the workday ends at 5 p.m.–to “after four” to reflect the new hours due to daylight saving time.

Industries left short-handed after foreign workers flee Japan following nuke accident

April 26, 2011 in Berlitz, Eikaiwa, Immigration, News, Trainees

Tens of thousands of worried foreign workers left Japan shortly after a crisis at the nuclear power plant that was crippled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, causing serious labor shortages in some industries.

原発事故：戻らぬ中国人労働者　縫製業は減産も

April 25, 2011 in Berlitz, Eikaiwa, Immigration, News, Trainees

東日本大震災と東京電力・福島第１原子力発電所事故の影響で、日本国内で働いていた外国人労働者が大量に国外流出した影響が深刻化している。原発事故後に一時、東日本や日本からの避難勧告を出した国々は勧告を解除し、欧米系の外国人は徐々に戻りつつあるが、中国など近隣のアジア系外国人の戻りは鈍いままだ。

Linguage Sued For Unfair Labor Practices

March 31, 2011 in Action, Announcements, Eikaiwa, News

Today at the Tokyo Labor Commission, Zenkoku Ippan Tokyo General Union sued language school Linguage (AKA Linguaphone) for a host of Unfair Labor Practices under the Labor Union Act (Act No. 174 of June 1, 1949).