Job Discussion Forums

sifu_sensei · Joined: 25 Nov 2004 Posts: 25

Hi all

I have a BA in Linguistics, a master's in ELT, the RSA Cert., the Trinity Diploma, and 12 years' overseas experience. I'm also currently working on a doctorate in Applied Linguistics, though this will take several years to complete.

I am interested in working at a university in Hong Kong as an ELT/EFL lecturer but would like to know from anyone with kids whether it is possible for an EFL teacher to afford schooling in Hong Kong. I am married and have two sons who will be entering high school next year, and am not sure whether I would be able to make ends meet if I had to pay for international school fees.

Any advice or opinions would be most welcome.

Thanks

starfall · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 18 Location: hong kong

Friends have told me that the cost of sending a child to an ESF Secondary
School is roughly 6, 000 to 7, 000 HK$ a month. Add on school bus fees, uniform, books, etc.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

If you wish to send your kids to a bona fide international school you will be looking at a minimum of around 150,000 HK dollars per year. English medium of instruction DSS schools (some of which are as good as if not better than many of the international schools) are about half the price of that at present. I guess you may find it more difficult to get a place at the DSS schools as they tend to admit more local students and will follow a more localised curriculum.

sifu_sensei · Joined: 25 Nov 2004 Posts: 25

dandan · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 183 Location: Hong Kong

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

I pay $HK 7.800 per month for my son (Grade 9) to attend one of the ESF schools. ESF follows the British curriculum up to GCSEs, but does IB after that (at least in my son's school).

The school has a good reputation with very good exam results etc...

Many ESF schools are over-subscribed and there is no guarantee that a place will be available in the school or year of your choice - although expats are given priority.

There are other international schools but these are more expensive than ESF schools.

The option of going to a local English-medium school is, in theory, available to expat kids - but is, in practice, difficult. Besides which, the system may not be to your liking.

well-travelled

sifu_sensei · Joined: 25 Nov 2004 Posts: 25

Hi everyone.

Thanks for your help. Now another question: how much could I expect to make with a master's and diploma if I found a job at a university working as an EFL lecturer.

Cheers

Sifu

Horizontal Hero · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 4:27 pm Post subject:

I suspect you will struggle to get a job with a masters. It's very competitive in HK. But others please correct me if I'm wrong. A publishing history might help. I'm hoping to finish a PhD within six months myself, and have published about ten articles and conference papers, so hoping that will help my own cause.

sifu_sensei · Joined: 25 Nov 2004 Posts: 25

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

Hong Kong seems to be very strange about qualifications. I know people working at Unies with only graduate qualifications. As has been noted here before, there are lecturers teaching on the PGDE course who "only" have masters. I would have thought it very possible to get a job with a masters. However, seemingly ironically, you may find yourself much better rewarded financially by working in the secondary or primary school sectors. The salaries for Uni staff are not as high as one may expect.