Job Discussion Forums

judoka · Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 53 Location: North Pole

Hello all,

I have done my research but still have some questions.

1. About the NET Scheme, I have read that people without the appropriate certifications should not bother applying and I have also read that people without certifications are currently on NET. Well, I am wondering if I should get a certification first or do without one. My degree is in International relations, I have taught in Shanghai for one year and in Japan on the JET Programme for 2 years. As it is quite expensive to do the Trinity cert, I am thinking of applying without one and doing it while on NET. Or would you guys on here recommend different? I am also 33 if that matters.

2. Is it possible to get on the NET Scheme while in Hong Kong on a tourist visa or does it always have to be done from abroad? This is for people who only have a tourist visa.

3. I also couldn't find much on TEFL International. This is a cheaper choice for a certification to teach. They do claim it is over 100 hours of classroom instruction and over 6 hours of supervised teaching, I believe. http://www.teflintl.com/tesol-course-certificate.htm. Is this a legit program or more like a scam?

Thanks guys. My dream is to live in Hong Kong with a decent job for many years.

judoka · Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 53 Location: North Pole

No one? Are there other Hong Kong forums anyone can suggest?

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

Hi Judoka. Perhaps you aren't aware, but posts can sit for days on this forum without a response - there's not as much traffic as there used to be - so it's not surprising that your post went unheeded for few hours! I don't know if there's a better forum for discussing education matters in HK, but I somehow doubt it.

Another reason people might not have responded is that all the Qs you posted have been dealt with on the forum in recent times - if you spend some time looking through the posts below you'll get all or most of your answers.

Something that's not clear in your OP is whether or not you have QTS (qualified teacher status), or are you just a university graduate with some teaching experience? Without QTS you may get taken on by NET but you will be on the bottom rung of the salary scale - which still ain't that bad!

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

You could try hkpnet.org with your questions. That's a forum specifically for PNETs but you can usually get an answer to general questions about the NET scheme. You can post as a guest.

whiteshark · Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 5

Just wondering if you have the required TEFL certification or just experience teaching ESL? I am a certified primary teacher but I was denied an interview for the NET program because I didn't have a TEFL certificate. I think this is a new requirement (having a TEFL cert BEFORE applying, rather than doing it during your first year~which you could do in the past)

Just FYI

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

That's strange because it looks like the EDB is going to be offering courses for NETs to get a TEFL cert. It will be self-funded but offered by one of the Universities. If they are going to insist on a TEFL cert before they offer someone a job then the course looks like it will be just a one off thing!

Peter Wales · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 63

I was told by the EDB that they are going to be offering TEFL courses to NETs, but it won't be for some time yet (they said maybe 3 or 4 years). It is not going to be at a university, it will be a place called HKIED (?), a teacher training college I understand. The strange thing about this is that the one or two people in HK I know say that this HKIED place does not have many native speakers of English, and those they have are in very low level teaching posts. Ive looked at the website of the place and actually I cannot find any native speakers, at least not westerners. I suppose one or two may be Australian Chinese or American Chinese, but if so why are they working there and not on the NET scheme or at a proper uni? So if I go on the NET scheme and if I am made to do another TEFL who will be 'teaching' me English? A non-native speaker of English.....? The more I learn about this NET scheme the sranger it becomes.....

vanwolfie · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Vancouver, Canada

I had the same experience whiteshark. I'm located in Vancouver, Canada.

I applied this year for both the Secondary and Primary NET and was told I wouldn't even get an interview because 1) I am not an English major and/or 2) I don't have any TESL (cert. or diploma). Their response was quick. Early January.

Fair enough, my BA was a major in history and only a minor in English literature. And when I did my BEd for Secondary Education I majored in Social Studies and only concentrated in English language/lit. But I felt I had legitimate academic training in teaching English though I acknowledge I have had little to no ESL experience.

I went on to do a MA in history and a MEd in Music Education, but those are secondary in their eyes. It's the teacher's certification in your local jurisdiction it seems, but that was definitely not enough in my case.

I've been teaching 10 years here in Vancouver... I call myself "the accidental music teacher". After a year or two of being a substitute teacher in Social Studies and English, they hired me here, not because I had a BMus, but only because I could play the violin and piano. So I'm directing elementary strings orchestras. Things are definitely more flexible in the hiring department over here in Canada.

The life of an itinerant music teacher is fun, but it was wearing me down the last year. Was looking for a change. Oh well... there's always next year. I am Chinese Canadian with HK family background, a colleague of mine here in Vancouver who taught in the NET programme 5 years ago was surprised I didn't even make to to an interview. I guess standards really have tightened up.

beaker81 · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 16

^vanwolf,

Why did they not offer you the interview again? I don't have a tesl certificate either but was interviewed in February.

vanwolfie · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Vancouver, Canada

I have no idea.

You got an interview with no TESL. Were you an English major?

And yet I was told directly in an e-mail exchange with them on 7 Jan. that I was not qualified because:

"In your application form, you mentioned that you possess a Bachelor Degree & Teacher Training, however, they are not major in English. Therefore, you are not qualified if you do not possess a qualification in Teaching English as a Secondary Language (TESL)."

Who knows how things work exactly. Could it be I have too many years of teaching here? Do they count that when they work out salary? It's always cheaper to hire a newbie. That happens on this side in Canada. Especially if you have a Masters degree. School boards may appreciate the additional academic experience, but not the requirement that they pay you more.

I acknowledge that I am definitely lacking in the ESL department, but I've taught secondary school English here before I got into elementary music.

Peter Wales · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 63

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

No extra money for a Masters and all experience to be counted must be post-degree and in all-day schools.
You do get more money for experience to a maximum of 16 years (I think) - you reach the top of the scale then.

vanwolfie · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Vancouver, Canada

Does the post-degree teaching experience have to be ESL/English though?

10th year of teaching in the public school system here in British Columbia... but of course 9 of those was spent doing music.

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

Can't really answer that.
I was teaching in a primary school so taught everything and then overseas I taught English.
It seems that this time they really are making sure people are qualified to teach English. Even primary teachers without any TEFL certification are not being accepted for interview. That seems strange to me as I have used my primary teaching skills far more than any that I learnt doing my Masters in TESOL. Not many TEFL certs concentrate on teaching reading, writing and phonics which are the main focus in my school.

vanwolfie · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Vancouver, Canada

I guess you're right about the tightened standards. I was a bit surprised that academic coursework in English in my BA and BEd wasn't recognised unless it was a clear 'major'.

I suppose my only option now is to do some TESL certification while on this side.

Though the motivation to seek change is lessening with each year here in Canada when I'm accruing seniority and pension years.

Change is good though...