Job Discussion Forums

cait · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 4

Hi,

Was wondering if anyone could offer me some advice. I am trying to decide whether to sign a contract for a school in Hong Kong. Something which is putting me off is the long working day 8am-5pm. With teacher breaks amounting to 1 and a half hours. I am wondering if this is normal Kindergarten hours for Hong Kong- it seems like such a long day for children to be in school.

Also, was wondering if the cost of living was high and what were the prices of e.g gym membership, clothes, drinks

And a general question!- what are the pros and cons of living in Hong Kong?

Any advice would be appreicated

Thanksx

Freddie_Unbelievable · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 288

Hope this will help.

The pro's are: The Money
The con's are: The Chinese

Joachim · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Posts: 311 Location: Brighton, UK

Thats a pretty standard work day here, children have long hours at school with additional classes in the evening and on Saturdays, which usually means you teach then too.

Pros of HK: money, travel opportunities, organisation, infrastructure, level of English amongst the Chinese, mod cons, large expat community, Dim Sum, restaurants, opportunity to save $

Cons of HK: Rudest people on Earth, people with no culture or soul, Canto-pop, long working hours, karaoke, crowded pavements, mall mentality, materialism

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

Prices and cost of living are high in HK (unless you do the old hermit routine). Kindergarten pay is generally not that good either and you might not save the big bucks that are available on the likes of the NET scheme, intnl schools, etc. It all depends on what your goals are in coming to HK really.

cait · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 4

Thanks a million

bella · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 6 Location: Hong Kong

The Education Dept has announced that as from year 04/05, all kindergarten teachers must be fully qualfied with either a QKT or early childhood cert. However, there was no mention of what becomes of the NETs in kindergartens. A degree holder with a TEFL can't even teach in kindergartens anymore. Apart from going back to the UK to do a PGCE in early childhood, does anyone have other suggestions (the local QKT courses seems to be catered for the local teachers only). And would you still work as a language teacher in a kindergarten after a PGCE? By the time I get a PGCE, I might as well work in primary schools with higher pay.

Would appreciate any information or advice.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

I have a question related to this:

I have been offered a job teaching in a kindergarten. The pay is $10,000 per month, which I am not sure if this is a livable wage or not.

Also, I don't dig doing the baby-sitting thing or diaper changing as I have heard can sometimes be the case.

Someone please add more to this thread?

Thanks!

bella · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 6 Location: Hong Kong

If this is full-time, then HKD10k is extremely low. You'd be scraping on this. You should expect at least HKD15k, and even that is hardly comfortable. I've worked at a couple of kindergartens for several years and after setting up my own contacts ,I now recruit NETs for them.

Work is fairly easy at kindergartens. Generally, you're not expected to baby-sit them. They have classroom assistants and helpers to do that. But, I'm only speaking for the kindergartens I've come across.

migo · Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 201

Freddie_Unbelievable · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 288

...and probably why she left you...

mcNug · Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 83 Location: HK

Heres an open message to the angst ridden racists in this forum:

Bugger off if you don't like it, If theres one thing Hong Kong doesn't need, it's uppity foreigners who whine about the people who I'm quite sure they've never even attempted to know.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

Well said McNug. Many of the above comments are embarrassing to other ex-pats.

joe_doufu · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Korea

I agree. If you don't like the people here, don't come.

Linz · Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 44

Heya!! I am a Kindergarten Teacher in Zhangmutou. 10k a month is not enough in Hong Kong. Its really expensive in HK. I suggest getting a Job in China on the mainland. The school will treat you better. give you amybe a little less pay, but U will save a TON of money and you will live like a king in china. I make 7500k as my salary a month. Plus I make an extra 3000 tutoring. I never worry about money or anything here. It isnt as western as HK but if u can get used to that then no prob. I just go visit hong Kong when I am sick of china.