Job Discussion Forums

ozman · Joined: 12 Jun 2004 Posts: 133 Location: HONG KONG

It's interesting to hear Mark, that some unis will take people who don't have an English major and allow them to do a PGCE in English. I'm sure that anyone with a degree in history or philosophy, as you say, is quite well equipped to teach English language and would make a good ESL teacher. My point however is in regard to specialization. As I said previously, how could I teach A level maths if I didn't have a good grounding in maths? Similarly, if I don't have a full degree in English, how could I teach literature at A level and have full knowledge of 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th century literature - including for example, all Shakespeare's plays, metaphysical poetry, Austen, Keats.... the list is endless...... How can a person who studies history and philosophy have a background in this? Sure they could teach language, but what about literature? An English teacher in an english speaking country is quite different from an English teacher, teaching ESL in a foreign country.

Unis may well allow non English majors to enrol in English method PGCE's, but I still don't believe these students would have the background required, and I would not hire them. I know in English speaking countries, I have always been asked for copies of academic transcripts, which lists all subjects and years studied in various subjects in the first degree. This is a way of ensuring that the teacher applying for the job, has in fact the basic grounding in their specialisation.

I guess I must just be a purist.

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

I assume that all this doesn't apply if you want to work in a Primary School?

Mark-O · Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:34 am Post subject:

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

Christ, it seems like getting a job in Hong Kong is like getting into Fort Knox...

I am thinking of going back to the UK to do by PGCE next year, but as I don't have a Degree in English (its BA French and Politics) I guess I can rule out working in Hong Kong...

Mark-O · Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:03 am Post subject:

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

Contemporary Dog, that is still the coolest nick on the board..but apart from that.
How did the French and politics thing go? That are not that politcaly popular with anyone other than themselves or the people that they are selling arms to..(French Fries is not just for potatoes)..but apart from that amazingly unpolitically correct comment

Hk is not so bad as is made out. Many of the schools can be very flexible if the percieve you have what they want. The big thing now is not so much the PGCE but the government benchmarking test. My school employed with without it, but made me take it a few weeks after employing me. I passed, but that did not stop the EMB getting on their case about it.

There are many schools now that have a lot of freedom over whom they employ. Actually, it seems that most schools can employ whom they want in HK. Only the government schools and the NET scheme are strict on qualifications. Most schools in HK are not government schools ( but are funded by the government...a long and complicated explanation for why..but not neccessary here)..and they are looking for what your experience can give to the school. However, all new teachers employed by the schools to teach English must have passed the government benchmarking test ( or be exempt). However..as always with HK..there seems to be a degree of flexibility on this also.
Happy Xmas,
Once Again.

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

[quote="Mark-O"]

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

How did the French and politics thing go? That are not that politcaly popular with anyone other than themselves or the people that they are selling arms to..(French Fries is not just for potatoes)..but apart from that amazingly unpolitically correct comment

French and politics was OK - a year spent in Paris (not as exciting as it might sound)...

Hk is not so bad as is made out. Many of the schools can be very flexible if the percieve you have what they want. The big thing now is not so much the PGCE but the government benchmarking test. My school employed with without it, but made me take it a few weeks after employing me. I passed, but that did not stop the EMB getting on their case about it.

What is the test? Is it a written exam?

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

There are a number of papers , writing, reading, listening,speaking and then they come and visit to watch two or your lessons for classroom language assesment. Many many native speakers have failed it.

Champion...the wonderdog · Joined: 26 Mar 2004 Posts: 25

Contemporary Dog,

I'm a French teacher and I was on the NET scheme for four years. I was offered a renewal with my school as well.

There are quite a few of us that are MFL teachers on the NET scheme. If you read the advert, you'll note that they accept applications from MFL teachers.

There's no harm in trying.

I had taught some EFL, but only when I was a student, so no references.