Job Discussion Forums

aineoc · Joined: 17 Nov 2006 Posts: 11

hi i am really desperately trying to find out the closing date for the net programme for year commencing 2007. The embassy has given me no help and i cant find anything on the website.
Also I will be a qualified secondary teacher in April but already have three years on JET in Japan. Does this qualify me for the programme?
Any feedback would be appreciated!
thank you!!!

Honky Nick · Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 113 Location: Hong Kong

As far as I know, they accept applications all year round. The 2007/08 school year begins in September, so I reckon you have plenty of time to apply, and by then you will definitely be qualified. If you want to get in sooner, just send off an application and a mid-year position might come up. I know that Primary NETs can work with any undergraduate degree plus a TEFL, but I'm not sure of the regulations for Secondary NETs.

Also, once you've had your interview, don't be afraid to check for positions on the Internet regularly. The recruitment section of the EMB can take a very long time to get back to applicants and you are free to apply by yourself, quoting the applicant number that the EMB give you. Two of my friends did this and ended up with a job much sooner than they would have otherwise.

Here are some links to job listings:

http://www.classifiedpost.com/jscommunity.php?communitycode=EDU&jobpage=1&lcid=HK.EN

http://jump.mingpao.com/cfm/JobSearch2.cfm?keyword=教師

The second one is in Chinese, but don't worry, all the English teaching jobs are posted in English.

Good luck.

aineoc · Joined: 17 Nov 2006 Posts: 11

thanks a million nick, thats helped me out and stopped the fret sweats..........!

atatat · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 24

They're starting to hire in Canada as I've seen a post on the Toronto's newspaper few days ago from the EMB. I guess they're still lacking of teachers badly.

skittles · Joined: 13 Nov 2006 Posts: 13

Their site says that they want the applications by 22 January 2007. I think this date makes sense since I read in many places that they are V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W. I mailed my application in last week and just received an acknowlegement email. But I have no confidence in being recruited since I only have a Bachelors Degree in Nutrition and an i-to-i 40-hour online TEFL certificate (which I read that the EMB doesn't consider this a real TEFL certificate?). I don't have any experience or teaching qualifications. And on top of that, I am Chinese---I look Chinese, I have a Chinese surname, I understand Cantonese (though I can probably fake not knowing), though I was born and raised in the USA. So I am only crossing my fingers now that they really are that desperate for NETs!!!!

catbells · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 11 Location: UK

hkteach · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Hong Kong

Being Chinese/looking Chinese is a vexed issue here.

While the EMB will approve you on the basis of your qualifications, the hiring is up to the individual schools. The EMB sends your cv out there and schools decide who they want.
While some school principals realise that 'native speaker of English' covers a wide range of people and nationalities, many refuse to consider anyone who is of Chinese, Indian etc. descent. They want the white faced, light-eyed, light-haired one. "Oh, it's the parents..... they want to see a 'foreigner' as a NET". Probably true, but the schools hide behind this.
My school binned the cv of an approved applicant (from a country with a predomiinantly black population) On paper, she looked pretty good, but ...'she probably has an accent'
Hmmm well yes, well we know what that principal meant! They didn't even bother to phone her although they phoned people in Canada and UK.

Seriously, so many locals are so racist. It's acceptable to them because it's the norm. So, you're not going to change those attitudes easily.

I'd say apply anyway and show them that you're up to the job.