Job Discussion Forums

mcgillaa · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 14

I hate to seem redundant, as the previous post on this was about a week ago, but I am new to the teaching scene, have been certified TESL/TEFL/TESOL through Oxford Seminars, have a Bachelor's in Political Science-International Relations, a heavy tech background, and a lot of career experience working with non-native speakers through my work in IT/Govt. I am also an American.

I'm just wondering if there are any good resources that anyone could recommend, as the positional opportunities appear to be very limited in HK right now.

I have a lot of friends there and a lot of other reasons to want to choose HK over any other country at this time, but as stated previously, the options seem very limited without going to work for someplace like Excel-English or some other cram school for minimal pay with high-stress and all kinds of added "provisions" on the contract.

Edit: I've noticed the NET scheme does seem to gravitate toward non-Americans, but not in every case. Is it possible to get in on the NET scheme if once in-country? i.e. following the conclusion of a contract and etc...?

Edit 2: I've seen a few postings for Kidz-n-Us language schools for younger kids. Does anyone know anything about this company? Lack of information on their postings has some flags going up for me, but I would welcome any information.

I would welcome any suggestions/advice.

Thanks!

Aaron.

RiverMystic · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 1986

Just a couple of things:

www.scmp.com (classifieds) will give you an idea of the sorts of jobs going down in HK.

I doubt you'll experience any discrimination as far as job prospects go for being American. Americans are generally underrepresented in HK education, but I think that's because not many apply.

mcgillaa · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 14

Thanks so much for this! I'm looking at them right now.

mcgillaa · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 14

River, thanks so much! I was able to find postings and put in applications for them.
I would appreciate anyone's input on other resources for finding ESL jobs that would sponsor someone for a visa, as it is my deepest desire to work and live in Hong Kong.

Thanks you all again!

Yes Sir I Can Bogey · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 201

In addition to classifiedpost (the SCMP), try these:

http://www.careertimes.com.hk/english

www.hkjobs.com

www.monster.com.hk

http://www.careerjet.hk/

mcgillaa · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 14

Counsel anyone?

Anyone ever worked with Chatteris? The salary appears minimal, but they sponsor you to Hong Kong. As of now, I am looking for whatever I can that would sponsor me there and pay enough to live off of. Also, if anyone has housing secrets, tips, and tricks for finding and acquiring housing that isn't going to break the bank, I would appreciate any help! Smile

Thanks to all who have posted so far.

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

Don't Chatteris supply your housing as part of the deal? I think they do. The problem may be that you are a bit older than their usual intake - fresh university grads. Otherwise, I've heard no complaints abt Chatteris. I interviewed two Chatteris teachers for the SCMP a few years ago and they were happy enough. Now I think about it, I don't think either of them had even completed their degrees. Standard Chatteris pay is low (maybe HK13K a month?) but if housing is included that's probably better than a lot of deals - and you don't get overworked.

mcgillaa · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 14

Marcoregano!
I've been wondering if my post would ever catch your eye, lol.
Anyway, according to their website, and the information I've seen, they do not provide housing, however they do assist you in locating housing, be it shared or solo, and will provide translators if necessary. (I shouldn't have that issue given the friends I have there, but it is a nice help)
I am more concerned with things like after Chatteris, if their teacher are recognized or HKCAA certified and able to work in other schools/get renewal visas. I've been wanting to live in HK for a long time, and when I get there, if possible, I would like to stay for awhile, too, lol.
Anyway, I appreciate all the responses so far, and welcome more if anyone has any other assistance they may be able to provide me! (Good tips on house-hunting would be nice, too.)

Thanks!

Yes Sir I Can Bogey · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 201

I thought Chatteris did provide accommodation. From:

http://www.chatteris.org.hk/hr/modules/sections/index.php?op=viewarticle&artid=4

"On arrival in Hong Kong Chatteris provides its new team of CNETs with accommodation providing an instant team environment for new arrivals."

I just love the spin they put on shared accommodation: "�an instant team environment�"!

mcgillaa · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 14

That's for the orientation period of 3 weeks. Housing isn't provided otherwise.

Yes Sir I Can Bogey · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 201

Then that is a crud deal par excellence! It states here:

http://www.chatteris.org.hk/hr/modules/sections/index.php?op=viewarticle&artid=9

that their 'CNETs' only get HK$13,000 a month, which is less than the EMB's PNET and SNET housing allowance, and is even less than the average local salary. I can not find any mention of any housing allowance on their website so it seems you'll have to pay your own rent. Well, even a shared flat � which is not practical in HK, especially not for a teacher � will set you back around HK$3,000 or HK$4,000 a month, and you have to factor in tax, travel, and utilities, too.

Tammi · Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

If you would like to have continuity and more security to stay in Hong Kong longer, you should try to obtain a teaching position directly through a school or the NET scheme, maybe a language center I have interviewed with Paragon and they were really nice & professional (I didn't get the position but I didn't have cert yet). Your TEFL certification should help. I'm looking for a position now as my short-term contract will be finished soon, and it would have been better for me if I had thought about staying in Hong Kong and signing a longer contract. Some really good job links have been posted here.

Also I found good housing tips through searching this site's archives.

mcgillaa · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 14

Yeah, the "deal" for Chatteris is pretty raw when looked at from the perspective of living/working/dealing in Hong Kong, but given the fact that I have very little IN CLASS teaching experience (I have trained many people or done technical tutoring, 1 on 1 tutoring for essays and such, but very little classroom style teaching) Chatteris does provide one thing, if even at a "sub par" salary... Experience and a visa.

Given the previously stated salary, if I have to pay 3,000-4,000 HKD in rent, and send about 3,000 HDK worth back home to cover student loans, that still leaves me approximately 6,000 HKD/mo for me to live off of. I don't know how livable that is, but I'm not one who wants to pour money down a drain by going out every night, or traveling all over creation. This would be a "foot in the door" arrangement.

I don't know, however. I did have an interview and believe it went well, but the salary being as low as it is, and having heard from friends that it is possible to live off of 6,000 HKD/month, but not very easy, who knows, I may have to pull out.

Tammi, I have looked for Paragon, but haven't seen any postings, do you have a link for their corporate site?

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

Having to pay rent and send money home out of a 13K salary is a very tall order. With your degree and TEFL cert you ought to be able to get a better deal with a private language centre. Also, with Chatteris, you might end up in front a full class of teenagers, whereas with a private school it'll be mostly small group and one-on-one tuition - more comfortable perhaps for someone with little teaching experience.

Yes Sir I Can Bogey · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 201

Yes, it is a good point made by Marco Regano. In fact, I'd say that that is exactly what will happen (i.e., ending up at the front of a class full of teenagers). This seems to be the very point of the Chatteris 'CNET' scheme (given the wage they offer, one is forced to wonder what the 'C' stands for � the mind boggles). I would go one further though. Given the fact that it is Chatteris, I think you'd find most likely yourself at the front of a class of 41 Band 3 teenagers out in Yuen Long or in the centre of Mong Kok, or some other interesting environment. Now, that would be very tough indeed. For reasons I don't have time to go into right now to do with socialisation, low banding students in HK are typically � not always, but typically � already on the rubbish pile, as it were. They have been tossed aside by an uncaring and inhumane 'educational' system, and indeed by an uncaring society in general. It is not like the 'West' where people pretty much seem to realise that not everyone can or will be an academic success; that some may be better suited � and happier � being plumbers, cooks, and cleaners, and the like (even some middle class kids), and where people generally seem to realise that society needs such roles to be filled, too. Here, in stark contrast, kids tend to either be in a high banding school, middle class, and well behaved, or in a low banding school, and, for the most part, pretty much therefore from low income families and badly behaved. Take a look through some recent stories in the SCMP about events at some low band schools! You'll see reports of the police being called in to take away boys � and girls (!) � who are already Triad gang members at the age of 14; drugs being sold and taken in the playground; teachers having used condoms thrown at them in class with their contents spraying out over the blackboard; kids being bullied with Chinese choppers; kids being taken to the toilets and being made to drink their own urine and have it filmed by their tormentors; cameras having to be installed in each and every classroom; etc., etc.

Although I am sure this Chatteris organisation is trying to do some good (or at least was set up with good intentions), the question I would have to ask is how much do they get paid for each 'CNET'? My guess would be in the region of a minimum of HK$30,000 a month. Since they only pass a mere HK$13,000 a month of this onto the actual teacher I would say that it is not too good a deal.

Why don't you take a job next door in Shenzhen instead? The pay would be about the same, you'd have fewer hours, no trouble from the students whatsoever, and vastly lower living costs. You'd still be able to visit HK at the weekends if that is what you really wanted to do.