Job Discussion Forums

[hip-hop boy78]

Hi all

I'm a British male in my late twenties with four years teaching experience, three in Japan, six months in Italy and around nine months in Korea where I'm currently teaching Kindy and Elementary level students in a private institute. I have a BA but no tefl certificate. Would I therefore be able to find a decent teaching job at a language school or kindergarten? How much could I expect to be paid per month?
If anyone could help me out with some info then I would be very grateful. Is it possible to land a job from overseas or would one have to be present in HK for interviews and such?
Thanks again!

[Smoog]

The way the PNET scheme is going, I'd say you would have a better than average chance of getting a job there.

Check out the EMB website for further details:
http://www.emb.gov.hk/index.aspx?langno=1&nodeID=262

Briefly, it's a scheme run by the HK Ed department to have Native English Teachers teaching alongside the local teachers in the local schools.

The money's pretty good - much better than what you could expect in a private centre. Private centres here pay around $16k to $23k /month(that's the range I'd been offered before I became a PNET). I'm on $34k at present as a PNET. The lowest you'd be starting on is $16165 + $12950 allowance (=$29115). Then basically add $1k p/month for each years teaching xp.

The hours are better as well in the PNET scheme than private learning centres. I was teaching til 9pm most nights in a centre and working 5 1/2 days a week. Now it's Mon - Fri, 8am to 4pm. 14 hours teaching a week maximum.

It can be a bit of a lottery in the schools you're offered. But that's to be expected. Similarly some of the local teachers are very helpful and nice, some aren't. You would be getting paid more than them (due to the allowance) and teaching less hours, so the possibility for resentment is pretty high.

The PNET scheme is meant to be for qualified teachers with exp with TEFL/TESOL. But because so many have left, while at the same time they've decided to expand the scheme the EMB is pretty desperate and is hiring anybody (No disrepect intended to you, btw).

I know of one PNET who is a Hong Kong Indian with Masters in biology (from an Indian university). She did the 1 month CELTA. No disrespect to her either (she's a cool person) but how exactly does a HK Indian with a bio degree fit into the NATIVE English TEACHER scheme?

So with your qual + xp, you should be a shoe-in. They're still hiring now, even though it's 1/2 way through the year.

[hip-hop boy78]

Thanks for the info Smoog. Can I ask how long you've been working as a PNET? What do you like about the job? What are your daily responsibilities? How did you go about finding your own accommodation? Sorry for all the questions but I would really appreciate any advice you could give me.
My current school director wants me to re-sign for another year here in Korea and I'm debating what to do right now. I make around 1200pounds a month with free accommodation so I get to save a large chunk of that. I think the wages in HK are higher but then you have to factor in the cost of rent and cost of living which I presume to be quite high in HK. I visited HK once before on vacation and really liked the place so would jump at the chance to live there for a year or two.
Anyway thanks for any help!

[dangerdoom]