Job Discussion Forums

[hanuman]

I plan on starting the PGDE at HKU in Sept.
Simultaneously I plan to start working on the P-NET scheme.
However, career-wise I plan to end up teaching in a Secondary School.
So here is my question:
Is it practical to do the PGDE in the 'secondary stream' while doing my work experience part in a primary school?
Any advice appreciated.

[Zero Hero]

You are certainly doing a lot of planning.

I did the PGDE, not at HKU, but at another university in HK. As I understand it, and leaving aside the question of practicality for the moment, you are not permitted to follow the secondary stream in the course whilst simultaneously working in a primary school, or vice versa. And, even if it were allowed, I still do not think it would be very pragmatic. After all, candidates for the course must be serving teachers and the very point of the PGDE is that you study and reflect on your daily work for the duration of the (in the part-time mode, two-year) course. Also, from a strictly practical perspective, how would you secure your lessons, some of which are observed by examiners, at a secondary school whilst working at a primary school? From where would you collect your student and co-teacher data? How would you implement initiatives and introduce different teaching methodologies for your course assignments?

[dezza]

This message is for Zero Hero:

Since you went through the PGDE program at an HK Uni, do you know if it would be an acceptable certification to get jobs in international schools in Hong Kong or mainland China? What about working in local schools in the US or Canada? Or would you probably end up working in HK only?

I'm thinking of doing the PDGE program part time while I am a PNET as well.

Thanks for your help.

[DKatz]

...

[hanuman]

Cheers DKatz!

[Zero Hero]

'Dezza', as I understand it, to teach at international schools in HK you must usually be qualified to teach in your home state (no matter where that happens to be). It is probably the same on the Mainland as they largely cater for the offspring of ex-pats.

If the PGDE at HKU � or at any university in HK � enabled you to teach in your home state then it would then allow you to work at international schools here in HK, at least in a broad sense (such institutions can often be quite quirky in their requirements), and the Mainland.

[dezza]

HeyZero,thanks a lot for the advice. So what is your motivation for doing the PGCE in HKU? You want to teach primarily in HK schools?

[once again]

As I understand it, the primary qualification PGDE will not allow you to work in many countries as it asks you to specialise. Certainly in the UK you need to display "core competencies" in a range of subjects for primary. Also as I understand it, the English major of the course is English as a foriegn language, which will differ both in its methodology and theoretical background. However, they do seem to be very well respected for EFL jobs around the region, and in HK, along with the LPAT (Language proficiency attainment test- I think!) PGCE/PGDE are becoming the new standard.

[Zero Hero]

'Deeza', as I said, I did not do it at HKU, I did it at a university in HK. My motivation for doing it was simple: career progression, greater income, more respect, and pure self-satisfaction. The HK universities (and most of the PGDEs) are based squarely on the UK and as such are accepted by many states the world over. When a short time ago I began looking for a new post outside of HK I found that PGDE is recognised in HK, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, and too many others to list. Also, none of the above were in the slightest bit interested whether it was the P or S stream, and in fact I had to tell most about the distinction. In very much the same way that a degree in any discipline readies someone for the workplace as a result of the meta-skills such a course installs in students, a PGDE in either stream assists teachers no matter whether they teach infants or teenagers or adults. 90% of the material is common to both courses, after all.

[bubblebubble]

I have to agree with Zero as that was exactly what the person at HKU told me when I was asking about the P or S scheme for PGDE last year. I did mine at another university in HK as well. I've my TESL already but I did it anyways just to have 'more' things in my pocket + higher bargaining power. Perhaps you should consider taking the LAPT. It's quite easy and it is just something that the schools in HK need. The draw back of taking LAPT: waste of one day's time.

[DKatz]

.....

[once again]

I have a friend who has just completed the PGCE in the UK full time, and he was also only observed three times before being granted the qualification. Maybe it is standard for these courses.