INTERAC

From Eikaiwa Wiki

INTERAC was founded in September, 1972. The company provides language services to schools and business. Over the past several years Interac has been moving into the business of supplying Japanese highschools with ALT's but the wages it pays are below what is normally provided if you are hired directly by the school.

Interac's Corporate clients include Japan's HONDA, HITACHI GROUP, MITSUBISHI GROUP and NEC. Interac also serves Japanese government organizations, such as JICA - Japan's International Co-operation Agency. Interac has nine domestic branches and one overseas office. Approximately 100 administrative staff (both Japanese and non-Japanese) with about 1500 native-speaking Assistant Language Teachers and Language Consultants of English and other languages.

The basic structure of the business appears to be Selnate is the umbrealla organization that runs Interac (providing services to public scools) and Maxceed ( provides services to business customers).

Interac Union

Interview process

First there is a video about Interac. Company history, training. Then B. O. (the presenter) talks about the various benefits for working with them.

After this, there are scheduled individual interviews. There are various questions like why do you want to work in English teaching with interac. Then you have to do a video sample lesson and introduction. The sample lesson should be no longer than 5 minutes.

Working at INTERAC

INTERAC advertises a salary of about 250,000 which includes an attendance bonus, although that figure may only be accurate during a month of full employment. Like many dispatch companies, INTERAC adjustes pay for months that a teacher is not fully employed such as August and December (peak holiday times) of as much as 60% pay for August and 75% pay for December. The total salary of a dispatch teacher at INTERAC might be closer to 200,000 to 210,000 yen per month when an average is taken over a year. INTERAC has an unpaid 5 day training for new teachers.

Contact Information from the Company's website

Tokyo Branch - Recruiting Department (head office)

Fujibo Building 3F

Fujimi 2-10-28, Chiyoda-ku

Tokyo 102-0071 JAPAN

Tel 03-3234-7840 | Fax 03-3234-6055

Email: recruit@interac.co.jp | Homepage: www.interac.co.jp/recruit

Teacher's experiences with Interac

In 1996, I was living in Tokyo. I was a teacher/trainer for Interac. The day was April 28, and it was 6:00am. My phone rang, and tearful, sobbing voice came on the phone. It was my sister Terry. "I don't know how to tell you this....Dad's dead." I tried to calm her down and get more information. Apparently he'd been in a business meeting when he suddenly collapsed from a heart attack. He was rushed to the hospital, but he never regained consciousness. I told her that I'd be back home as soon as I could. I immediately called my boss and explained the situation. As anyone would be, I was in a state of shock. I felt a wave of pure numbness fall over me. To have your father pass away was one thing, but to be thousands of miles away when it happened was quite another. I never even got a chance to say goodbye, and as I recall, the last conversation I had with him was not the friendliest of conversations either.

The next day, I went into the office. My boss was surprised that I was there. She insisted that I go home, and not worry about training sessions or classes or anything having to do with Interac. I had to get some administrative things done (emergency salaryadvance, etc.) that was going to take a couple of days to get sorted out, so while I was waiting I asked her if I could please do a training class. I knew that if I were to go back to my apartment and just WAIT, I'd go crazy. I had to keep my mind on something...anything. She said ok, but that I was not to teach any classes that evening. While I was waiting, the manager pulled me aside and asked me how long I would be back home. At that point, I didn't know. I estimated about 2-3 weeks. He looked at me and said "Don't worry. Go home and do what you have to do. Just tell me when you want to return. This job will be waiting for you when you get back."

Eventually things got settled, and I went home. Things got a bit complicated after that. Not to go into a whole lot of detail on the subject, my Father wasn't the biggest financial wizard in the world and we ended up having to give up our 4-bedroom ranch house in Suburban Chicago. So, the 2-3 week trip starting looking like it was going to become longer. I called Interac from the USA, and I explained the situation to my boss. What looked like 2-3 weeks was probably going to be more like 6 weeks because I would have to move all our belongings into storage, pretty much by myself both my brother and sister had commitments that they could not get out of. He said all right. If that changes please call me back.

The rest of the time went by and everything got moved. I returned to Japan. When I got back, true to his word, my job as trainer was waiting for me. Not a job as a teacher, but MY job as a trainer. A lot of things have been said about Interac, most of them bad. Though I don't deny anyone else's experiences, not everyone at Interac has a completely bad experience. I've been with Interac for 7 years now, and I've tried to be available for them. I've tried to be there when they needed me. I believe they supported me when I needed it because I supported them when THEY needed it. It's not that I'm blindly loyal to them, but it's because they were loyal to me. I had no right to keep the job as trainer after a 6 week absence, but there it was.

another experience (from http://www.letsjapan.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=255115) Working for Interac was one of the biggest mistakes of my life.

(Names changed for no particular reason)

Chapter 1 – THAT’S NOT MY DEPARTMENT

“Daniel, this contract is nothing like the one you offered me! Why is the salary different? Where did my vacation go? Where is the bonus?”

“That’s not my department.”

“YOU are the EXACT GUY who told me you’d put them in!”

“You’ll have to talk to recruiting.”

Stunned. I didn’t think Interac was a good company, but I never expected the horseshit to be this blatant. Nauseous from the stench, I hung up.

But let me back up a bit.

I applied & interviewed early, maybe December, and was told most positions started in April. I understand, the start of the school year. No problems. My current contract had a few months left and I had decent savings too. They have you sign this “intent to work thing,” which is not a contract. A bit silly cuz you don’t know where you’ll be or when you’ll start yet but fine.

Time goes by and I’m waiting for my placement. I occasionally ask. Nothing. Of all trainings offered I choose the latest – very late March. Late March rolls around and I still don’t know where I’ll be working. They assure me it’s no problem, I’ll know by the end of training (3 days (unpaid incidentally)).

I go to training. One day you are to bring your own urine in a test tube for a health check, as well as submit to a chest x-ray and blood test. Freaks.

On the last day, as promised, I do indeed sign a contract, maybe 30 minutes away from where I live, starts in around a week. I’m very happy. I go home to enjoy my final few days before the job starts.

I get a call a couple days later. Good news! They have a placement for me EXACTLY WHERE I LIVE! Wow, I’m overjoyed. I imagine how great it will be biking to work. They’ll get me a new contract in the mail. I’m waiting.

A couple days later I get another phone call from “Daniel.” Actually that job isn’t going to work out, but they have a “great” opportunity at a “really great” school that’s really serious about its English program! It’s “about 40 minutes away.” By the name of the area alone it sure doesn’t sound like 40 minutes away to me. I suggest it may take longer than that and that I’m not really happy about this 2nd last minute change. (I’m also thinking to myself that there’s not much I can do. I’ve been waiting for this job and I really need to start working…)

2 things happened.

1 – I’m told there will be 2 teachers meeting this BOE, so I have a 50/50 chance of winding up placed at this job. 2 – Since it was further away, Daniel offered (it did not occur to me to ask) Y5000/month more and a Y100,000 completion bonus. Y5000 a month is not a lot and I’d rather have a good location and good job. And at this point sticking with the company for a year is already looking unlikely. Still it’s obviously better to have those things in the contract than not so I say ok.

I go to the interview. Wow, surprise, it’s just me! I ask the lady about the other interviewee. She is clueless, never heard of it. Ok, I didn’t really think I was going to get out of this position but that was a weird story to have told me.

I’m interviewed by the BOE which I shit you not included the question “Can you eat sushi” and not much more.

I passed!

I’ll start at the school on Monday.

Sunday night I have a chance to sit down and look at my new contract (it had arrived Friday). Oops! No Y5000, no Y100,000, and the vacation is about 2 weeks shorter than the previous contract I’d signed.

Infuriated I fire off an email listing these things.

A short clear email in a literally enumerated list, 1, 2, 3.

Now I know, this was my chance to throw a hissy fit. Whatever that might be -- don’t go to the new school, go to the other school I had signed the other contract for, go to Interac office instead, whatever -- this was the time for a stand. I know. But all that was a risk and at this point, sadly, I was desperate for a job and for money. Game time decision Monday morning. I go to work.

And so it begins.

It’s an hour to the station and a 20 minute more walk to the school. What a fucking screwjob.

I get Daniel’s email back which says, simply, “Don’t worry, I’ll get you a new contract with the Y5000 in there!”

I call Monday as soon as school is out. He’s “away from his desk.” He’ll call me back. 30-40 mins I call again. He’s “away from his desk.”

“Look, I’m not going to work tomorrow til I talk to him.”

Surprise! He’s at his desk!

“Daniel, this contract is nothing like the one you offered me! Why is the salary different? Where did my vacation go? Where is the bonus?”

“That’s not my department.”

“YOU are the EXACT GUY who told me you’d put them in!”

“You’ll have to talk to recruiting.”

This was my biggest complaint at Interac. Some people get good schools, some people get bad ones. Some people get close schools, some people get far ones. Fine, all part of the game. Doesn’t mean I’m happy with my lot but I can understand that. When a guy tells you one thing, numbers, about your commute, about your contract, about your money, and then thinks he’s clever by refusing to talk about it afterwards – I was shocked, even for Interac.

I had plenty of other shitty experiences too, before/while finding other work and quitting, and I’d be happy to detail them upon request, but it’s mostly more of the same and I’ll spare it for now…

Chapter 2 – THE GOOD, THE BALANCE, AND THE UGLY

THE GOOD

I posted a question on here about giving notice before summer vacation – using my vacation as the majority/remainder of 30 days notice, not coming back to school, but getting paid for the summer break (at 60%). To my surprise I could not get a straight answer. Lots of people tried to sound like they knew what they were talking about, and a lot of them said “no,” but they were wrong and I got paid. How about that?!?! So there. I have one good thing to say about Interac: they respect your 30 days notice and treat it as such whether they’re work or vacation days. In fact, especially for how shitty everything else was, I was fairly impressed with this. I think they SHOULD pay, I just didn’t think they actually WOULD.

The school itself was fantastic. As furious as I was about being put absurdly far away as well as blatantly lied to, I actually felt I got lucky with the school itself. The kids were amazing. I actually felt really bad leaving!

THE BALANCE

There were some nice people at the company. A lot of assholes. But a couple really great people. I feel very sorry for these people. I have heard the bit about 80% of a company doing 20% of the work, and 20% of a company doing 80% of the work. This is definitely the case at Interac. 80% (perhaps low) petty incompetents and a very small handful of people working their asses off to hold any semblance of functionality together by a thread.

Then I am not cut out for ALT work anyway. Coming from eikaiwa, everything about it drove me insane. I knew getting up early would suck. Somehow I convinced myself the cushy job and long vacation would compensate for lack of air conditioning but I was insane. The long hours with nothing to do are great for studying kanji but even at that, not for me. Sitting at a desk, no computer, no internet, hot, there’s nothing to do, nowhere to go… very demoralizing. Interac sucked plenty on its own, but the fact that the job itself didn’t suit me certainly didn’t help.

THE UGLY

I just thought putting “the ugly” here would be a nice ending but then I remembered a story that might fit, interpret “ugly” however you like.

Wandering around the school bored out of my mind I noticed a solitary girl in a room crying. This is insane because most of the school was empty, who knows how long she’d be in there crying by herself. The dorkiest girl you’ve ever seen. Absurdly thick glasses, terrible skin, giant braces, general air of dense confusion. It broke my heart. I didn’t want to be creepy or worse have it look bad for someone to discover ALT “sensei” and a crying student alone in a room but I couldn’t just leave her there either so I went in and tried to talk to her, even in shitty Japanese like “Doshite? Nani?” Daijoubu?” (Pathetic, I know.)

She seemed confused about answering which is weird cuz I thought she’d at least be able to say something in Japanese.

Nothing but she finally stopped crying so I gave her an “Ok?” And she nodded so I got out of there.

I kept an eye on her after that and never saw anything weird and she seemed generally happy so good enough. I’d stop and chat and ask her stupid questions like “Do you like tennis” and she’d light up like a pachinko parlor.

Anyway, still kind of disturbing to think about.

Question of Ties to the Mormon Church

Besides making distinctions between public and private figures, American courts also have ruled that various kinds of published information are generally immune from libel charges. For example, it is almost impossible for a writer to be found guilty of libel if the writing deals with opinions rather than facts. "Under the First Amendment, there is no such thing as a false idea," the Supreme Court said in a 1974 libel ruling. - US DEPARTMENT OF STATE (see http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/press/press08.htm)

Interac and the LDS church

Interac is the biggest provider of assistant language teachers for government school in Japan. They earn 500,000 Yen (5,000USD) per teacher per month and pay him 250,000 salary. Where does the rest of the money go? You'd never guess...

Started as an undercover mormon mission by two mormon missionaries Interac started as an undercover mormon mission in the early Seventies. As it is illegal to recruit members for religious groups they came up with a special trick. Teaching English to Japanese for free. Take a guess what kind of vocabulary was tought...

Started by two mormon missionaries has developed into a fantastic money machine for the LDS Church. Most employees ignore that they are working in tothe pocket of a religious group. And Japanese taxpayers definitely don't agree with that practice.

Why is it a secret? Interac/Selnate avoids to state the obvious connection between Interac and the Mormon Church (LDS), because it would obviously be bad PR for them. It might even get them in trouble with their main client. The Japanese government. A religious group not only feeding but almost controling the stream of English teachers for Japanese Schools? How about Japanese tax payers that waste millions, investing into the mormon church and its aggresive missionary practices? Who wants to work for the mormons without knowing?

It is proven that Interac is owned by Selnate who runs Maxceed and Selti. Selnate.co.jp clearly states it. And it is obvious that American Selnate with its headquarters in Mormon capital Provo Utah - incident? No Selnate's offices are 2 blocks from the BYU University - Selnate and the mormon University BYU work together.

It is a proven fact that the mormon church engages in the very same business in China. The LDS community itself says:

Interac is "owned, operated and controlled by a prominent LDS family in Japan".

Interac's Cofounder: A Mormon Missionary

Roice Krueger is co-founding manager of Interac-Japan, one of the largest training organizations in Japan.　Roice Krueger is an Elder of the Mormon Church, which means he is an official missionary.

Mormonism is not just some private religious belief. It's a lifestyle. If you've ever been to Utah you know what I mean. Keep in mind that 10 percent of every obedient Mormon's income is given to his church unhesitatingly, because he is confident that he is giving to God. And Roice is not just some member, according to his profile Roice is an "Elder" which is not just an older member or something. Elder is a Mormon euphemism that actually means missionary:

Elder. Definition: The proper title given to holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood. The title is used for members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First Quorum of the Seventy and for full time missionaries. Also Known As: Missionary. Examples: To serve a mission, a man must become an Elder and receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.

Interac was founded by two Elders (=Mormon missionaries) as an covered mission of the LDS church. As it is forbidden to actively recruit church members, Interac started as a phony English for free institution teaching LDS vocabulary as regular English. All sponsored by the LDS church. In the mean time Interac is a mainly a money maker for LDS Japan. However, a great number of LDS teachers come from BYU, which, as you know are 95% mormons.

Interac's President: Another Missionary

I've got more for you. Once you start reading the Japanese stuff it gets really good. The current President and other co-founder of Interac is called Yasuo Niiyama. He is a missionary just as Roice.

It's surprising how hard it can be to get something black on white that is so obvious if you have a little insider knowledge. Now, how would you prove once and for all that Selnate/Interac is owned by the LDS? You need their business registry documents. Yet the business registry documents will not name LDS, they will name Niiyama and Roice (two mormon missionaries).

Financial Proof? What else do you need? Financial proof. To prove that money goes from Interac to LDS you need to have access to their books or tax declarations. Well, noone can deliver that evidence unless he has access to the accounting. And even then. They will definitely declare their contribution to LDS as a "donation to a religious institution". Which for tax matters is much smarter than just transfering money through ownership. Or how do you think sects and religious groups finance themselves?

Maybe I should write that book... Or maybe not. Maybe I should just write a letter to the tax office and the BOE. Or get a journalist on the story. Looking for evidence for the evident I discovered more than I expected...

If you have more insider info, please post it in the comments.

Video Links

one teachers Vlog on Youtube

References

External links

[0] Utah Department of Commerce Business Entity Search, International Education Research and Analysis Corporation, entity 623772-0142. Accessed 2007-11-21.

[1] Utah Department of Commerce Business Entity Search, Selnate International Institute, entities 2236126-0150 and 2413153-0150. Accessed 2007-11-21.

[2] Utah Department of Commerce Business Entity Search, Selnate USA Co Ltd, entity 1178239-0143. Accessed 2007-11-21.

[3] Utah Department of Workforce Services, specific firm Selnate. Accessed 2007-10-21.

[4] ttp://www.betterwhois.com

[5] ttp://www.selnate.com/about.htm Accessed 2007-11-21.

[6] Coventry University University of Teesside University of Melbourne RMIT University

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INTERAC

From Eikaiwa Wiki

Contents

Interac Union

Interview process

Working at INTERAC

Contact Information from the Company's website

Teacher's experiences with Interac

Question of Ties to the Mormon Church

More questions than answers

Video Links

See also

References

External links

Views

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