Job Discussion Forums

[scrying]

Hi,

I and my wife have been teaching here in Japan for a little while. We like the city we are in well enough, but with the erratic nature of EFL here (and the race to the bottom to cut salaries, I am always trying to keep an eye out for slightly more stable or profitable situations. We've both got TEFLs, she was an english major (psych myself), she's taught 2 years in eikaiwas, I've taught about 3 years split between public school and eikaiwas. I am wondering if there is anyone here who's made the jump recently (ex-JETs would b a good example) from Japan to HK for the NET, and if you feel it was worth it? I am at a JHS now, and definitely enjoy the school, we're comfortable enough for now, I'd just like to know what our options are...

thanks a lot in advance,

Will

[poof]

I've worked in both places, although I haven't been a NET or a JET. However, I would say assuredly that experience wise, you sound like a potential NET candidate.

HK has just as much intrigue as Japan, although the living environment is very different. You would save far more money with the NET salary relative to JET. NET does have more work than JET, and there is more of a specific curriculum that you need to follow with NET. Overall, I sense NET is much better for professional development. HK kids are also more keyed in to learning English. I also recall that JET had no Saturday work.

You reckon the ESL market is erratic, but there seem to be a glut of jobs available in both HK and Japan right now. If you're without kids, I think it's quite straightforward to head wherever you want to go and switch back and forth, back and forth whenever you want...

HK has also lowered its pay for many teaching jobs. NET had a salary reduction in 2003/4. Possibly, the future will see more reduction. It seems the same across Asia - Korea and Taiwan have certainly followed lowering pay trend.

[scrying]

thanks for the reply...we've done a fair bit of globe-trotting for work, considering we're still in our 20s, so we'd probably not want to switch back and forth too many more times before settling down for awhile. Anyways, we'll probably visit HK later this year to see what kind of feel we get for it

[Horizontal Hero]

[briandwest]

The 'retention incentive' only applies to NETs commence their 3rd year of teaching here i.e. have completed their first 2-year contract and sign up for another one

[briandwest]

Also, for a married couple, the living allowance can only be claimed by one teacher; the spouse cannot also claim the allowance.