What am I in for with GABA?

13 comments

1. They will cheat you with tax.

2. This whole “foot in the door” thing has become a meme on this sub. I wish you all the luck in the world, but it is very very difficult / unlikely that you will be able to build a secure and profitable future working in Japan. Many try, few succeed. It is possible, but very hard. The best bet is to build a universally useful set of marketable skills in your home country, start working there to get experience, and then get a transfer to Japan in the same skill area.

   Sorry I don’t know much about GABA.

3. “while thinking about what I can do after”

   “once my Japanese improves”

   Can’t speak to the GABA part of this equation, but OP you’re gonna have to be a lot more proactive than this if you want any chance of escaping this poverty trap while remaining in Japan (bear in mind you can always go home or elsewhere; just, if you’re adamant to stay…), and you should start now while you have the time and energy. Your Japanese isn’t going to improve on its own simply by living here—you’ll have to put in the work—and you’ll likely be much more efficient if you have an actual direction in mind from the start.

4. There is 0% of career growth in GABA, even if corporate claims they started as an instructor. They will do anything to keep you dependent on them and exploitable. To advance there, you need to do a lot of ass-kissing and even then, those already there will gate-keep their competition out of the way.

   Get published and put your masters to good use via university.

5. Currently working at central Tokyo based gaba studio here.

   You can expect irregular lesson bookings (lots of random free time throughout your “shift”), very bad pay, and a lot of personal responsibility for your success. That said, I really enjoy the work, the clients, and the coworkers. The vast majority of clients are motivated, interesting adults. The conversations are interesting, you will learn a lot about Japan, and the flexibility of the schedule is really nice.

   You will probably have a pretty shitty schedule for socializing though. Lots of nights and weekends.

   Depends what you’re in for. Feel free to ask more questions or PM. I also came from the us.

6. I don’t know why people keep asking this question when this sub is full of posts about what a shithole Gaba is. Do you think it will be any different for you?

   Let me put it this way. A friend of mine who left Japan a couple of years ago recently returned to Japan thinking he could use Gaba as a “foot in the door” to find another job teaching adults as he was doing before.

   It’s been a year and he can’t find another job and is beginning to panic. Also, Gaba has now fined him a total of 30,000 yen because he caught the flu and had to cancel lessons, for which he had to pay THEM.

   He said it’s boring as fuck, the teaching method is shite, and he is struggling with even getting interviews despite his experience living and teaching here for many years.

   There is no “foot in the door” anymore. There are hardly any decent teaching jobs here, and with an MA, you really should be looking beyond eikaiwa. You are not going to enjoy the work as the teaching is so dumbed down it will make you crazy.

7. It was an inhumane scam when I was there 6 years ago and it’s only gotten worse. As soon as you land in Japan, start looking for a new job. You can get some new prospects simply by already being in Japan, but it is harder than back in the day.

8. It was bad 10 years ago when I did a stint there. I remember I had only one lesson booked one day and couldn’t cancel it but I got sick a few days before so I had to stay home an let them know 2 days in advance that I’m sick so I can’t go.

   The next week when I was there a guy from head office was there and he saw me in the lunch room and asked me if I was really sick enough to miss the 1 lesson day or if I was faking it, the audacity!!!

9. >My plan is to smash through my first year there while thinking about what kind of job I can switch to after that. I’ve got 4 years of ESL teaching experience, a masters in bilingual education and also speak Spanish and French.

   Real talk- Most people have the same plan and 99% fail at it. You should be thinking about this before you come to Japan, and not wasting your time with eikaiwa. You can’t just “switch” from eikaiwa to other jobs, you will need qualifications and work experience that eikaiwa doesn’t provide. Getting a real teaching job (international school, university etc) has been covered on this sub before so I suggest searching for that info instead of working at GABA

10. 🍿 I am just enjoying reading this stuff. I’m glad that I never worked for GABA when I freelanced. The pay seemed low a decade ago.

11. Sounds like GABA has only gotten worse and worse since being bought out by Nova with the introduction of fines for not coming to work (even with a legitimate reason), but as far as I know they already had 0 hour contracts, so if no one books your lessons you don’t get paid.

12. Find a new job immediately. Take the VISA and run.

13. I’ve worked at gaba in Tokyo for just over a year. I float between a couple different studios (I wasn’t assigned to any of the studios I asked for during the application process). I’m not rich but I’ve figured out the best schedule for me and I’m still able to make over ¥300k every month. My schedule isn’t great but I no longer work Friday nights (I finish at 6:40 pm) or Sundays, and I only work 12-5 on Saturdays. My other full day off is usually Monday. I have enough money to support myself (rent, bills, etc) while still going out with my friends on the weekends and saving a little. I value fun and entertainment over saving, though 🤣

    They have a lot of stupid policies and your income is never guaranteed since you’re paid per lesson booked. I’ve learned that December-February ish tend to be slow months for lessons, so you need to prepare for that.

    I’m from the US. The job itself is one of the easiest jobs I’ve ever had in my life. The success is mostly a popularity contest. You need to be likable and outgoing, and teaching skills can vary. As others have said there’s no career growth. I do know that most if not all studio managers are promoted from instructors, however many go back to being instructors because I guess the management gig is even worse. I didn’t take the job to become rich, I took it because for me it was the easiest way to move to Tokyo, and so far I don’t regret it.