Job Discussion Forums

[ivory]

I've been reading as much as I can on this site, but I do have a couple specific questions.
I'm currently considering teaching in a few different places, so please understand a similar post from me will show up on a few country forms.
I am a 38 year old single male. I am most interested in teaching overseas because it would be a new adventure and the potential for savings.
I have been a Catholic high school teacher for roughly the past fourteen years. Because of the American private school system, no law compelled me to get a teaching credential, hence I never got one. I taught primarily World Religions.
In addition, to supplement my income I have tutored grammar school kids (Grades 3- in all subject areas for the past decade. Also, I began a program that specifically trained 8th graders to prepare for their High School Entrance Exam.
My general questions are these:
Will my teaching experience count for much in regards to my salary? In job ads posted, does the "experience" they refer to only mean TEFL experience? Will the religious nature of my teaching help or harm me in any way?
My Hong Kong specific questions are these:
If I wished to teach in HK for this coming semester (i.e. mid-August to September), am I too late?
Does anyone know about the NET Scheme offered through a Canadian recruiting company called Teach Away?
I had read that HK is a difficult place to begin one's TEFL career, would I (your opinion obviously) have as much difficulty considering my previous years in the classroom?
Will I even be considered the HK industry if I do not possess a TEFL certificate?
Ha
Thanks for reading. I'd appreciate your response.

[Marcoregano]

Hi Ivory. You would find answers to most of your questions by trawling around the forum and looking at other posts, but basically:

HK is obsessed with qualifications and they get you places. I assume you have a degree? With your teaching experience and a degree you would easily find work at a private language school but they don't pay very well. Regarding the NET prog, they changed the rules recently and you would be eligible but your lack of QTS and/or TEFL cert would place you on the bottom rung of the pay scale (which is actually still a lot better than private language schools!).

Otherwise, most of the other top teaching jobs (ie. public and private sector primary and secondary schools and the universities) you wouldn't be eligible for without QTS or Masters etc. In short, without proper teaching quals you'd probably manage to get by OK but you wouldn't make a bundle here - you'd do better financially in Korea or Japan.