Open Thread: GEOS Discussion

There are GEOS teachers living in non-Leo Palace apartments right now. Only a few but it happens when a Leo Palace can't be found

Sure, many students are "educated" in the sense that they have actually stepped inside a lecture hall, but most of my students are just plain fucking dumb. Example, we needed to come up with the names of 5 famous non-Japs for a production. How fucking hard can it be? Why does it take my students 5 minutes? OK, maybe they're not into movies or music and shit like that. So on the next lesson, we warm up with a ball toss game using country names. Don't run out of ideas after 4 turns then act all fucking dumbfounded when I say "Algeria" or "Norway". Seriously, it's like pulling teeth... some of them are just fucking plain dumb. I have one student who pretends she is short sighted, so she pulls her book up in front of her face so that I won't ask any questions. Let's say we are doing a quick 2 minute activity with a timer... she'll keep her head down and keep writing 5-6 minutes after the timer beeps and my asking her multiple times to put the fucking pen down, because it just isn't that important and I want to move on with the fucking lesson... for fucks sake...

Commitment is a good thing, but being committed to a company like GEOS? Seriously, if you sign a new contract with them, think about it - do you REALLY want to be committed to company like GEOS for another year?

I dont think Geos is replacing teachers that leave and I think that something will happen within ther next 4 weeks. Some teachers are being spread around up to 3 schools. There are only so many subs to go around and it wouldnt suprise me if JETs started teaching classes that NETS should be teaching. Just a feeling I a have, only 8 days to go for me and Im fucken out of that shit whole and you knbow what I dont even give a rats ass if they find out I post on here.

i before e except after c... apart from science, financier, conscience, and... uh... a whole bunch of others.....

A reference from Geos type organisations are worthless and most people interviewing knows that. Just get a statement of service.

That's complete B.S. Years ago, I worked at Nova and returned back to my home country. I had no trouble at all finding a job and I did indeed put Nova on my CV. I also got a reference from them.

I should also add that the 7 or so people I've kept in contact with from Nova are all gainfully employed back in their home countries. Three work in education, two in IT, one in a bank and one runs their own business.

I doubt that you seriously believe that people with an "Eikaiwa" on their CV will not find a job again. More spin and B.S.

I also work in HR and I have to say a reference is a reference. I cant tell you how many times I have employed someone on the basis of a good reference. In the case of a depending position for an important client any gap even a small one is enough for me to reject you without even a meeting. The effect diminishes as you go down the ladder, but it never disappears.

I see a lot of talk about looking out for yourself and taking care of number one, but that isn't really what builds a successful career. You have to show a bit of loyalty to an employer because that is what all future employers look for whenever they have the luxury. Someone who is going to do right by them.

That is not what I was saying. I was saying that it is worthless because it is just some genric crap written by someone in head office whow doesnt know you from a brass razzoo.

I think you mean "generic".

As another poster said, a reference is a reference and having to explain a gap in your work record is a far more difficult thing to do.

By the way, if it is so worthless why did I have no trouble finding another job? I’m not saying the Nova reference got me the job but it certainly didn’t hurt.

THere is a post on the 'sucking' thread that a lot of managers haven't been paid. Come on - some evidence please. So so so easy to say. Evidence needed!

Dear GEOS teacher. You got crap all over your face for not reading the Japanese post about the drunk GEOS teacher. Its DOES say
ワールド パッセージ = World Passages in the Japanese post.
If the class is titled World Pass or not that is not the responsibilty of the translator, its clearly the GEOS student who is confused.
Its also clear as day you cant read katakana or took the time to read the rea the Japanese post or visit the link provided, but thats expected from a lazy GEOS teacher. You live in Japan and you cant even read katakana, how sad is that???

So, the next time somebody comes on here and provides a translation service for the rest of us from a Japanese message board, take the time and read the Japanese post itself before you lash out and make a fool of yourself.
I have noticed recently how defensive GEOS teachers have been in defending their employment at GEOS. GEOS teachers lash out at anything that exposes the truth. A GEOS student wrote a post on kuchikomi and then a turd headed GEOS teacher comes on here and labels it a lie, but they cant even read Japanese!! Geezus.

You have to dig a little to find negative posts about GEOS teachers...but its quite common to find complaints about GEOS and student frustrations about j-staff and GEOS management on kuchikomi and other message boards.

Yes, I saw that too.

I've anecdotal evidence too, but just that. I imagine if you check mixi you'll find something pretty quickly (I can't be bothered sorry). I'd be really surprised if they still weren't paid though as that poster said. Because surely that would have provoked manager walk-out...

Tell you what, maybe I can be bothered. I will have a look.

Uncle Arthur here...
I was preparing a detailed synopsis of the EY Creditors Report on GEOS Sydney but I got so bored. So, here’s the absolute skinny, OK: (EY call it GEOS National English Academy, but for familiarity let’s call it GEOS Sydney).

Administrators report that at GEOS Sydney collapse –

There were 521 current students, 166 future student enrolments and 78 staff.

There was $69,946 cash in the bank. Total estimated realizable assets (including that cash) $89,946.

$190,000 was owed to staff and $3,000,000 to unsecured creditors.

The Company had the following profit profile:
Profit 07 $73,220
Profit 08 $118,712
Profit 09 $422,164
Profit 10 -$84,691 (to date)

Over the past three and a half years, GEOS Sydney “did not have sufficient assets to meet its current liabilities.”

GEOS Sydney had no Director and Officer Liability insurance.

Why the Financial Difficulties?

“GEOS (Sydney) had been operating profitably for the past three financial years. A decrease in revenue in the six months to 31 December 2009 led to a loss of$85k for the period……

Cash FY07 FY08 FY09
Closing Cash $540,236 $232,660 $141,660

At end of January 10 there was $69,946 in the Company’s bank accounts. The cash position was decling because of the repayment of loans to related (GEOS) parties.

“During the second half of calendar year 2010 (I think they meant 2009) , a number of other entities in the GEOS Australia Group were experiencing financial difficulties. The decision of the Directors to appoint the Administrators was made due to their opinion that GEOS Sydney and a number of other entities either were or were likely to become insolvent.

Given the Company’s already negative asset position, it would appear that there would not have been sufficient funds available to fulfill the obligations of GEOS Sydney creditors, namely the pre-paid but yet unearned expenses of the Company. The main reason for the failure of GEOS Sydney stems from the contagion of failure from other companies in the GEOS Australia Group.”

The Administrators write that “We consider it likely that the Company was insolvent for a period of time prior to our appointment. Further investigations would be required to determine exactly when the Company first became insolvent.”

Given the Company’s already negative asset position, it would appear that there would not have been sufficient funds available to fulfill the obligations of GEOS Sydney creditors, namely the pre-paid but yet unearned expenses of the Company. The main reason for the failure of GEOS Sydney stems from the contagion of failure from other companies in the GEOS Australia Group

Out of interest, do you know exactly what the pre-paid expenses of the Company were? Also, the "contagion of failure" - any ideas how/why the other schools had failed? Was it for similar reasons?

Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
You can have your cake and eat it too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When Mr K’s standing in front of you

(Sorry, Bob, but you would understand)

that the Managers of the schools were just employees like any other employee at the schools. The Japanese Management dictated to the managers what money were to be kept at the school and what marketing and sales strategies should be in place. The Managers in Australia time and time again told Japan that things were not going well and that (at the time) the business model would "kill" the Australian operation.

After several (many!!!) attempts to make Mr K and his incompetent HQ staff to realize the company was going down several of the managers were practically fired in 2009 for being "difficult". You ask any of the managers that left in 2009 and all of them would say they loved their jobs and would have stayed in the business if they would have been given the opportunity to change a very sick business model.

GEOS US, Canada, UK etc managers and directors. Note GEOS Sydney report by Uncle Arthur shows: 'GEOS Sydney had no Director and Officer Liability insurance'. Hmmmmm - Not only Directors I note - also 'officers' of a company need insurance. Hmmm...You mean officers may have liability?
Now you might think you have no legal liabilities for any illegal trading or misrepresentation in your country. But just how much do you know about the law of your respective countries? When angry creditors and regulators can't get hold of Mr K because he is in Japan, they could well chase after the next layer down. After all the government and media demand scapegoats. Did you knowingly participate in misrepresentation? Did you tell anyone the school was safe, or that fees were protected? Did you transfer money offshore when your own company had a shortage of working capital? Did any student lose their money as a result? Sure, this is mainly a director matter, but if you know it to be illegal, you may be in the firing line.
I note the deafening silence from other international GEOS countries..You KNOW by now unless you are slow of thought that GEOS is cutting and retrenching back to Japan to save the mothership. Unless you are highly profitable and have all your fees in advance covered IN CASH you are doomed.
And don't forget the regional managers have already told blatent lies by loyally and publically repeating the GEOS lie that the Australian branches were separate entities. This devious lie will result in quite a few young incoming students losing their money. Ethically your regional managers are scumbags. Who knows whether they / you are in breach of the law? Remember that the Nova Owner is in jail!!! A lot of countries are like Japan - they turn a blind eye to abuses for years and years, and when it is all over they come after you hard.
To quote The Wire 'Remember - shit rolls downhill' (This means those higher up always blame trouble on the level below) See a lawyer or union rep now. And put your objections in writing to your managers where you think there are legal compromises to cover your ass later. I'm not actually sure though if this will help.

http://www.geos.net/pdfs/Joint-Statement-Re-GEOS-Australia.pdf

As a competitor it would be very bad manners for me to forward the Sydney Creditors Report to all these emails. But Australian GEOS staff might have less scruples. GEOS branch managers need access to the creditor report to make their own conclusions and to balance the inevitable company spin.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Oh, we got it all right. We GEOS staff in Australia got it right up the rectum.

Meanwhile, stage left, the GEOS managers chorus (whining voices, flapping of cheap suits) "It's nothing to do with us. We told the Directors. It's not our fault. And, anyway, we left the company last year, so the collapse and the unsecured creditors' problems are nothing to do with us. So, please. don't raise those ideas again. It's nothing to do with us. We were just managers, managers, managers, managersssssssss......"(Voices diminish and tail-off as the chorus wander away stage left...audience commences to vomit)

Staff problems Japan
Schools and scheduals are being shut for upto a week because they cant replace teachers that are leaving.
If I were a student I would be really pissed of with this.

It is all starting to catch up with Geos

They dont know when new Teachers will arrive because there are no new Teachers, I gave about 2 months notice and they still have not found a teacher. My last week is next week. Thank God, It is the worst place I have ever worked!!!

they dont know when new teachers are coming because they are hiring within japan, and then have to wait for visa approval. which only the immigration office knows!

I think it's so ridiculous... If I was a GEOs student I would be weary.

I hate that they tell us not to tell our students that we're quitting/not renewing.

I really really hate that I'm not allowed to tell my students. I have some students renewing for lessons that start after I'll be gone and they think I'm going to be their teacher...

Are they really replacing them? when was the last time you saw Geos advertising for teachers on Gaijinpot etc. Maybe they are just going to say Gomen nasai Moshiwakenai etc and drag it out till it ends.
When managers dont know who the new teacher is and in the past the new teacher needs to make some welcome poster for the students to make them feel secure that someone IS coming isnt being done, it does make you think.........

GEOS always has at least 3 adverts on Gaijinpot, they have 5 at the moment (look before you speak), and if they are hiring constantly, then they would be able to plan ahead for that 4-6 week time period it takes to get through the paperwork. 4 months notice gives the company 2 months to start looking and 2 months to hire, train and work out the visa issues. I assume they hire more people with work or spouse visas because most people don't have the funds to fly to japan, find a place to stay and live for 3 months (maybe longer) until they find a job, get their visas and get paid.

Spouse visa. These people will take a job where there is the chance one wont be paid because of bankruptcy x 12. HA TAKE THAT!! case closed my x12 trumps your "These people are not going to take a job where there is the chance one wont be paid because of bankruptcy."

It wasn't an argument. It was mockery of your post. I simply did the same thing as you but in a mocking tone. I provided information on the process GEOS can take to get more teachers, through which avenues and how they should have substantial time to find replacement teachers. Yes they are fishing in a pond that isn't restocked, so its starting to dry up. But you are sitting here saying nu uh and im saying uh huh times infinity now. just to trump anything you try to come back with. And if you don't think a spouse would take a job with GEOS look @Fri, 03/05/2010 - 16:21 — Who? (I assume she's married to a japanese man) and there are others that have as well. Most teachers give 4 months notice because they don't want to screw over their students. They may not give a crap about the company but they form bonds with students and therefore don't want screw over those students, as difficult as that seems for you to understand.

You are speaking ちんぷんかんぷん。just because one person posts something that suports you that makes it times 12. Mate, most teachers are not giving 4 months notice and if you read some of the post previous to this you would find that they are actually trying to find out how to get out of it without any civil action, which there would never be any anyway
I am at a school with said problems and will no longer be at said school in said 5 working days.

If that source isnt good enough then who the fuck knows, Mabe your right. Doubt it though!!!!!

You dont have kids. a family, maybe you have that ability to be loyal to GEOS. I dont and I wont, I do feel for my students but what do you say about the students in Australia? and lets not forget the staff who, alot of them have kids, Husband, Wife, rent/ Mortgage to pay, they had no warning just like staff in Japan will have when it is deemed fruitless to continue the charade. I think it is in your best interest to cease being self rightious and be more realistic, Will the students feed you, Your family if you have one? or will they just say
しょうがない 、ここから英語の契約昼入る時気をつきまうよ。I think they will say先生かわいいそだね。それだけ。

you are spliting hairs over THEY, come on man. And it is more than one person or is this your site so you can check e mails? Yes after I posted my response I did think it was a Joke and Yes I am leaving GEOS, I had worked In Sydney before coming here. So I am Pissed off.

You are a positve person if you think everyone has the resorces (read money) to be prepared for this kind of thing. Most uni grads maybe have 6 months cash if they are lucky. I doubt that though and would stab in the dark and say they live paycheck to paychec as I did. family people might have a bit more and some help from extended family. I dont want to rely on other people. if I can make my situation better through decisions I make then so be it.

Well good on you for getting out. They have any luck finding your replacement?

I think it'd be about 50-50 for those who would and wouldn't have the funds to support themselves if GEOS went bloop. Those that don't have the fund are either living paycheck to paycheck because they can't manage money or because they are new to Japan. If you've worked for GEOS for more than a year and you're still living paycheck to paycheck, not really sure I feel for you, although some may be paying back student loans so thats perhaps the exception.

They made me lie to my students the reason for why I was leaving, and they really put the pressure on to make sure that tha would be the story I would stick to.

Seriously, fuck them. If you're leaving anyway, it doesn't matter - be straight up with the students. You shouldn't be put in a position where you're having to lie to people, just to protect the company.

Stuff GEOS and all their bullshit.

Well good luck with your life after Eikaiwa. I have no care for finding out who you are. I questioned whether I should even have asked you if you worked for GEOS as to not cause you any undue harassment.

Re: NZ Conspiracy theorists go crazy?
Note that Justin Mastoyo lives in average house in New Brighton. And has one Mariko Kusunoki as a friend on FACEBOOK. Make what you will of this conspiracy theorists.

Please. He used to work for the company. Mariko became FB friends with lots of people who worked for the company. Don't be stupid. He bought the company to save it, and he owns it. K is neither a director nor a shareholder.

The NZ Trust / bank bond system costs heaps: Capital, trustee fees, double audits, huge bank fees and in some cases as much as 1/4 of a full time staff member to administer it. For a school of 100 students the cost including staff time can be 1% of turnover. Which the student pays. Is it worth it? Actually the Aussie system has worked reasonably well too - not quite as well, but quite well. Given that students and agents are relentlessly seeking lower prices, are they prepared to recommend New Zealand over say the US because of superior fee protection systems? If there is a big scandal in Canada for example, will parents stop sending overseas generally, or will agents push students towards countries with audited fee protection systems? A bit of a stretch to believe this. Or will the whisper of fee protection continue to be drowned out by the roar of obscene chain school commissions? The kiwi system is also the most convoluted in the world. Having the high moral ground and being poor comes naturally for a country of idealists. Well at least Kusunoki met his match with the kiwi system - not a penny appears to have been screwed out of teachers, students or the NZ government - or other English schools actually. Let's see if the market moves away from ruthless chains and towards more regulated countries. ?????

I found a post on Kuchikomi posted a by person who asks if GEOS is financially viable and asks if GEOS managers have been paid. Its Great! In reply 2, someone (possibly a GEOS manager) replies that managers were paid late in March, after they raised a ruckus about it...please read post #2 that I translated below.

http://search.knowledgecommunication.jp/kuchikomi/s1050/p3/

This post is on page 3 as of March 7, 2010.

The post is dated march 3, 2010 and its post number 0015496

ORIGINAL POST
投稿者：ジオスへうわさ さん 2010/03/02 23:57
英会話学校に行こうと思って、いろいろチェックしていました。
ジオスもあったけど、このクチコミ読むと、こりゃだめかなと
お金を払っても、給与もらってない人がいるのでは、いつ人がいなくなるかわからないし、学校が閉鎖されてしまうかもしれないですよね

会社に問い合わせても、何も心配ありませんの
答えはもらいましたが、やはり、違う所が安全
TRANSLATION
I was looking for an english school (on the intenet) and one of the schools on my list was GEOS. But after reading the posts on Kuchikomi, I decided it was not a good idea to join (GEOS). If I pay tuition to the company and there are workes (j-staff) who do not get paid, I never know when workers (j-staff) will be gone and he school will be closed.

I called GEOS and ask questions and their reply was `There are no problems`, but I think other english schools are much safer.

There are 6 replies to this post.
I will only translate the first 2 or this post on LJ will be lengthy.

Reply #1 (poster uses legal terms)
8 人中、8人の方が、「なっとく」の口コミです。
投稿者：給与貰い隊⇒腹痛い さん 2010/03/03 00:07
この口コミに
投票
給与払わないって噂が出る時点で、こりゃだめだわ
終わってるよ
普通の会社なら信用不安で、債権取立てに会社のビル前に集まる
給与未払いってのは、そこまで、マズイ事なんだよ
本当に給与未払いなわけ？
良くやっていけるよね。そんな状態で。今月には改善すんのかね
生徒も気が気じゃないはず
給与払ったのなら、払ったよ、もらったよと書き込みして欲しいわ
不安でしょうがないよ

明日になってハイ父さんです
ってのだけはヤメテくれよな

TRANSLATION

At this point, rumors are coming that (GEOS) do not pay salaries and this company is finished. So, when companies get to the situation where they pay salaries late, then its normal for company workers worry about losing trust in their company and gathering in front of the headquarters demanding payment. No payment makes big trouble.

Are you sure there is no payment (at GEOS)?
How can you deal with that?
I wonder if they (GEOS head office) can fix (the payment problems) by the end of this month. Students might worry about this too.
I worry about workers payment. Can anybody tell me if they got payment or not?

I dont want to hear that GEOS closes their schools suddenly one day.

Post #2 (school manager reply about non-payment)

3人中、3人の方が、「なっとく」の口コミです。
投稿者：口コミへの返信 さん 2010/03/03 00:25
この口コミに
投票
遅れてた給料出ましたよ。
マネージャーの反乱があったんで鎮圧の為には支払うしかなかったんでしょうね。
これからこの会社がどうなるかは分かりません。

TRANSLATION

I got late payment today (March 3rd), there was a rebellion and the company had to pay to supress them (j-staff). I dont know what will happen to GEOS in the future.

Wow...reply #2 is a serious indication of whats happening in the company.

For those of you who doubt my translation, please ask a j-friend , j-coworker, or GEOS manager to translate for you. If you have an argument or disagreement, please register with Kuchikomi and make a rebuttal to the orginal poster. Im just reporting what is on the Japanese message boards.

This is another Kuchikomi post confirming late payment to J-staff. I will translate the original post and the 2 replies.

This post is dated March 1st and its post number 0015410 Titled `いつ?`...(when?).
http://search.knowledgecommunication.jp/kuchikomi/s1050/p3/

This post is on page 3 at the very bottom of the page as of March 7, 2010.

ORIGINAL POST
投稿者：給料まだ～？？ さん 2010/03/01 20:04
まだ入ってないけど～
いつ支払ったの?

TRANSLATION

I havent got my payment yet~
When do they pay?

REPLY #1
投稿者：口コミへの返信 さん 2010/03/01 20:05
投票

本当にね。

生活かかってるんで、早く給料払って下さい。

TRANSLATION
Thats true.
I have to live, give me payment as soon as possible.

REPLY #2
投稿者：口コミへの返信 さん 2010/03/01 20:49
投票

給料入った?
TRANSLATION

Did you get paid?

REPLY #3
漏まいら給料マーダー？

とりあえず、ぬるぽ

ほんとＤＱＮばかり住んでるねここ

とりでだモナー

クスクス笑ってないで

ＣＳ計上するモナー

つねつねしちゃうモナー

ＫＴＮ逝ってよし
ただ、勇気にＡＦＯ賞授けマス 賞状だけね

こけかきいきい

最後に一言、ケセラセラ

TRANSLATION
***This post is made by a Japanese TROLL and is not worthy of translation***

The post starts out with:

Are you a salary stealer?

ぬるぽ is a word used by otaku and is not used by everyday Japanese and Im not sure how to translate this. Its a trashy post.

There are several other posts on kuchikomi and other message boards about late payment to GEOS managers and j-staff for March 2010. So, it does appear there are financial problems in this company and it appears to be getting worse...not better.

If you doubt my translation, please ask a Japanese friend or co-worker or a GEOS manager to translate for you. If you disagree or have an argument, please register with kuchikomi and file a rebuttal with the original poster. Im just reporting what is on the Japanese messgage boards.

I work at GEOS and its coporate policy to not disclose company problems. Maybe a few managers are fed-up with GEOS and doesnt mind sharing the facts, such as late-payment. BUT most GEOS managers will follow company directives without question and will not disclose the fact they got paid late. Thats company policy.

What do you think would happen if GEOS managers went around told everyone that they were paid late and disclosed the fraud and high pressure sales techniques they are forced to implement on a daily basis?? There wouldnt be a GEOS. This company make a living off lies and secrecy. Thats the Japanese way. Do you take everything Japanese people say at face value?? Havent you read about the lies and secrecy at Toyota?? Ever heard of Tatema`e or hon`ne??

Nice research Translator. Keep up the excellent work!

Im searching the message boards for late-payment or student complaints...there are many. They all have the same dialouge..`I didnt get paid`....`I need my salary`....`GEOS is not fair to staff`...etc..etc.

Im thinking about posting a translation of an argument on kuchikomi from head office GEOS managers and former school managers where the head office mangers labeled the former managers as `losers` for quitting and they (former school managers) didnt have the `intelligence` and `skills` to stay with the company....its full of rotten insults and trash talk....its a beauty!!
OR how a school manager was forced by upper management to think student=cash...there are some great posts!!

I do have a social life...so I cant translate and post all day. I will find another worthwhile post and post it later today.

well done to all the old geos oz managers who left in 09, you got out when you could, you got out because you weren't listened to, you were lied to over and over again, in some cases you were abused, you were be-littled and when you tried to express your opinion you were told you were nothing but trouble. The environment and daily working conditions were not bearable - Special K and his sick and twisted ways which became even more so when his evil daughter mariko joined the party. Do not trust this man or his daughter, in fact do not trust anyone in this pathetic, disfunctional family. Ex managers, you did what you could and congratulations to those of you who are going down new pathways, some opening new schools - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.