This is for anyone looking for free information about Berlitz Japan in 2025. It's gotten worse…
Pros: you get a visa, paid on time, able to take long vacations after accumulating PVs after 3 years
Cons: congratulations! this company is becoming worse by the day or as the Japanese say a “black company”. Before, each LC had a boss that you could talk to about your questions, problems, etc. now they’ve replaced that with an AI chatbot and a “boss” for every two LCs. If your boss was a previous LC instructor boss there aren’t usually any problems. However if you have a Japanese boss good luck with anything.
There has also been a lot of downsizing so everything is much slower and things take a much longer time to complete. It’s basically a skeleton crew at this point trying to keep the company alive. Also there is no plan to keep this company alive.
Management is terrible. There are constant mistakes due to the lack of staff that they cut. The books for all levels are terrible and repetitive. Feedback about your classes are constantly low balled. The yearly meeting with your “boss” is also constantly low balled so they don’t have to pay you the small amount of salary increase (7¥ if you are lucky). You get zero prep time for your lessons and out services (teachers going out to universities, HS, JHS, ect). And when you ask for time to prepare for these very important services you are told no.
There is zero communication between anyone or any departments anymore. Not even updates anymore from HQ to tell us anything.
If you are an FTI they will burn you out and give you terrible schedules so that you’ll quit and that they can hire someone cheaper. Do not believe them when they say you’ll get any preparation time. They are lying.
Preparation time is basically not guaranteed. Now management has decided that when giving out preparation time to micromanage it thus wasting teacher’s time. They say you don’t have to prepare or do work in your free time, but it’s a lie.
by kyousohma13