BERLITZ
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[edit] Basic Information about Employment at Berlitz in Japan
Berlitz employs native speakers of English who have a college degree. Teaching experience is not necessary, but training in the Berlitz Method is. Current salary starts at 250,000 yen a month. Pay raises are based on an annual performance review and currently average 0 to 1% a year. There is a 3-month probationary period, but it has no meaning in terms of a salary increase upon completion.
Contract teachers are required to be present 26.6 hours/week and required to teach 22 to 23 hours/week. Any teaching beyond that is paid at a per-lesson rate. Teachers are required to use only Berlitz teaching materials (not true - we use non-Berlitz materials too). Teachers get 10 days vacation after 6 months of employment which is increased each year thereafter until a maximum of 20 days. Teachers are free to take all vacation days at their discretion but in consultation with their supervisor. Teachers are not required to work on Japanese National Holidays.
No subsidized accommodation is offered, but the company will serve as guarantor if the landlord requires one. Berlitz provides 'Overseas Travel & Accident Insurance' at no cost to the teachers. There are year-end/completion bonuses for contract teachers.
Teachers receive commutation allowance (maximum 25,000 yen per month). After one year of employment, Berlitz provides various kinds of congratulatory and condolence leave. After 3 years of employment, teachers are eligible for paid sick leave and full-time teachers (138 hours per month) may join the company's retirement plan. The Company offers a career path to teachers who plan to stay in Japan or work for Berlitz worldwide.
Berlitz has no connection with the phrase books, that bit was sold off years ago, though nobody knows and they certainly don't advertise the fact.
[edit] Some History
Berlitz (Benesse) bought out Simul Simultaneous Translation training and its attached academy some years back (2002-2003) when Simul was in bad economic condition.
Upon taking control from Berlitz, Benesse had to choose between updating either Japan's entry level materials, or the secondary and business materials for Berlitz in Europe. Both materials had been completely ignored by the US based Berlitz. For example, even as late as 2004 the business materials never mentioned the Internet, faxes, email communication, or global business ventures. Telex was listed as the only means of interoffice communications. The decision was made and in 2003/2004 the famed Berlitz method was abandonded for a new unit-based entry level program for Japan. The new units were sleek to look at and resembled the products other language schools in Japan offered.
In order to be competitve in Japan, the company also took up the policy of hiring anyone with working holiday visa status regardless of college experience. A few years prior, this was unheard of as the Ministry of Education set a policy that English teachers in Japan have at least a four year college degree. Since the new teaching material was easier to manage, there was less training time needed to bring new teachers up to speed.
In spite of the acquisitions, Benesse really has not merged any of them with each other. There has been no cross-branding or market sharing. If fact, Benesse has since launched it own kids English language programs without any connection with Berlitz. Benesse has grown in stature on its own as a publisher of home study products as primary education in Japan is still deemed the best vehicle for success in life. While Berlitz Japan and the rest of the Japanese English as a second market has fallen on tougher times.
