Job Discussion Forums

OnMyWay · Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 4

When I first looked at the requirements for EMB NET a couple of years ago I was like yeah that's me-surely? But now that I'm actually thinking of applying for 2006, and looking at it more closely AND reading this forum which makes it all more clear/muddy, I don't know if I should bother applying- what do you think:

I have BA Linguistics (at least one thing is right),

I have Master of Education (Applied Linguistics), the first year of which was TESOL (but actual teaching was not assessed, ie the whole MEd is academic),

I have 3 years experience in Japan on the JET Programme which I was doing at the same time as doing my Master's (team-teaching English in high schools, occasionally primary).

Therefore, I have no separate CELTA type thing, nor a PGCE/PGDE which led to qualified teacher status/teaching license, and now it seems, no experience which was 'post-graduate'. I thought originally that post-graduate experience meant after graduating from my BA, but no it seems.

However, I reckon I could totally do the job, just my qualifications don't look right.

Anyone fancy my chances or do I need need need to do a PGCE and/or a CELTA (which both seem, educationally, a step backwards)?

Much obliged for any feedback, Caroline.

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

OnMyWay · Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 4

It says 'post-graduate experience' on the qualifications for appointment page of the EMB site about NET (secondary).

But I'm sure you're right about the requisite experience being post-teacher-training, for the reasons you said. It makes sense.

Smoog · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Hong Kong

I think the post-graduate bit refers to having a Post graduate diploma in Education. They assume you will have a seperate degree and then go on to get a PGDE.
I would think your Masters is a bit better than a one year diploma, so you shouldn't worry too much about it.
At any rate, a Masters is usually viewed as Post-graduate study.
And If one year was TESOL, that makes you way more experienced than anyone (like myself) who's just done the CELTA (OR TESOL in my case). That's only a one month intensive course.

They don't take into account the TESL/CELTA when assessing your pay level, incidently.

Best bet is to contact EMB directly and ask them. Personally I can't see a problem with your quals and experience.

well-travelled · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 97

A couple of (cynical?) thoughts with regard to the above thread.

First, when you enter the world of the EMB, you are entering a world more Kafkaesque than anything Kafka ever imagined. 'The Trial' springs to mind here and there are more than a few NETs who would agree that the process of getting a NET post is, indeed, a trial - on their patience, their professionalism etc..etc.. because of the tedious, anally-retentive bureacratic nit-picking involved.

One of the requirements, as I recall, is that you have to give specific details of your teacher-training course, including the number of hours spent in the classroom during that period. This has to be backed up by documentary evidence from the educational institute that you were studying in at the time.

If, as you say, your whole MEd was academic and there was no teaching involved - of if there was teaching but that teaching has not been documented - then you haven't got, to all intents and purposes in the eyes of the EMB - a valid teaching qualification.

Whether you reckon you can do the job or not is irrelevant (and I'm not doubting your ability here) - but in HK if you haven't got the right piece of paper, then you're going to have problems. (F**k, most people with the right pieces of paper have enough problems as it is!!)

As for Smoog's comments - well, I personally have no disagreement with them. They seem fair and logical. Hey, but that brings me back to my first paragraph when I invoked the sorry ghost of Kafka. In the eyes of the EMB, Smoog's comments probably won't make any sense. Logic doesn't live in this part of the world very much.

But I do agree with Smoog that you should contact EMB directly and ask them. Just don't expect a smooth passage into the magical kingdom of NETdom.......

And there I go, being cynical again....

well-travelled

OnMyWay · Joined: 05 May 2005 Posts: 4

Thank you for your thoughts folks. I have in fact virtually axed the whole idea. From the forums NET sounds like a right royal pain in the arse to get onto, and a good chance of that continuing when you're there. No, I don't have any documented/ assessed teaching. Oh well. Glad I researched it with you. Muchos thanks, Caroline x