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AndyinHK
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Posts: 98
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 Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 1:20 am Post subject: What is your typical work week like as a PNET? |
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Hi, I would like some PNETs in Hong Kong to tell me what a typical workweek consists of.
PNETs work at two different schools, is it difficult dealing with 2 sets of local teachers and administrations?
How many hours of contact teaching time? Extra-curricular activities?
Do you co-plan with other teachers at your school, if so, what does a typical meeting consist of? How many hours a week do you co-plan?
Do you co-teach? If so, how much of your schedule consists of co-teaching? Is there always a local teacher in the classroom with you - if so, what is his/her role? Do you need to attend staff meetings that are only conducted in Chinese, or do you get a translator?
Your comments are greatly appreciated. |
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munasa
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
Posts: 79
Location: HK
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| Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 10:20 am Post subject: PNET working week |
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| I would like some PNETs in Hong Kong to tell me what a typical workweek consists of. |
Our experiences are all so very different, there is no one "typical" PNET week. I will tell you about my own.
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| PNETs work at two different schools, is it difficult dealing with 2 sets of local teachers and administrations? |
Short answer: yes. In my case, my schools couldn't be more different from each other. It is very hard switching from one to the other.
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| How many hours of contact teaching time? Extra-curricular activities? |
I teach P1,2,3,5 and 6. 20 and 24 lessons per week, plus about 3 hours extra-curricular.
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| Do you co-plan with other teachers at your school, if so, what does a typical meeting consist of? How many hours a week do you co-plan? |
Yes. I meet one-to-one with three different teachers in one school for about 30 minutes each per week. At the other school, I meet with one teacher from each year level. They and I then tell the rest of the teachers what we've planned. Small meetings (just two of us at each one) make it easy to co-plan. We brainstorm, discuss objectives, map out the lessons and allocate the preparation and teaching tasks.
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| Do you co-teach? If so, how much of your schedule consists of co-teaching? Is there always a local teacher in the classroom with you - if so, what is his/her role? |
Yes, I co-teach, ALWAYS. The local teacher and I teach as a team and it works well most of the time. I have seen some of them trying the new teaching methods I have been using, which is very encouraging.
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| Do you need to attend staff meetings that are only conducted in Chinese, or do you get a translator? |
Yes, I attend only some staff meetings in Cantonese and someone always helps with translation. I am not required to attend every meeting and my Panel Chair or one of the local teachers keeps me informed about anything that concerns me or my role. They are very good to me. While meetings take place, I ensure that I am always working, except in one school which has weekly meetings on Friday afternoons. I usually leave before that meeting ends as it can be quite long and no one expects me to stay late.
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| Your comments are greatly appreciated. |
I hope this is helpful. I have made a big effort in both schools to become part of the team and not too much of an outsider. However, there is always stuff going on that I know very little about because of the language barrier. I can live with this most of the time, but it can be a bit lonely sometimes.
I love my job, love the kids and it seems I get on well with the teachers and principals in both of my schools. There is a lot of work. I am at school about 9.5 to 10 hours a day, and I have had to attend several Saturday or Sunday activities over the months. I do about 10 to 15 hours work at home in the evenings and on weekends. I have worked this hard in other jobs, though, and I don't mind. I think I am a bit of a workaholic, though, so don't feel you will have to work the same kind of hours I do. I would cut back if I had young children of my own, or other responsibilities. A lot of what I do at home is extra work that is not absolutely necessary, but I enjoy it, so I do it.
What is your week like? Are you applying for a PNET position? |
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Mark-O
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 464
Location: 6000 miles from where I should be
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| Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 10:27 am Post subject: |
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| A very comprehensive account - thanks for sharing that Munasa! |
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AndyinHK
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Posts: 98
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| Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:51 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the reply munasa!
I hope other PNETs will offer there experiences. |
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Mark-O
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 464
Location: 6000 miles from where I should be
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| Andy, the words BLOOD and STONE come to mind ... |
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munasa
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
Posts: 79
Location: HK
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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Mark-O:
More likely the words EASTER and HOLIDAYS.
Maybe when teachers are back at work there will be more replies. |
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Mark-O
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 464
Location: 6000 miles from where I should be
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Munasa, that wasn't a dig at you. It's just that sometimes it can be dificult to illicit information on this board. Probably due to the fact that most of it has been said 3 or 4 times before! |
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munasa
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
Posts: 79
Location: HK
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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Mark-O, Thanks for your comment. I hadn't taken blood and stone as a dig at me personally. I suppose you are right, people get tired of saying the same thing over and over. Perhaps newcomers or anyone seeking information should learn to use the search button, eh?
I am curious as to why AndyinHK asked about our typical working week ???? |
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AndyinHK
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Posts: 98
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Munasa,
The reason why I asked is just to see if there is any continuity on the use of PNETs at different schools, let alone the two that the EMB send you too. |
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sypanda5
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 57
Location: HK
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 9:54 am Post subject: MY story |
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OK. I thought i'd put in my two cents and let you know about my experience as a NET. (I'm an 03 NET....just finishing my first year).
I know your experience as a NET COMPLETELY depends on your schools and how they use/don't use you...some NETS are worked like CRAZY...or some NETs have one "easy" school and one "hard" school..etc,e tc...
FOR ME...both schools are awesome...
I have 20 lessons a week at both my schools. (These lessons are 35 minute periods...some are double lessons - 70 minutes)...
At one school I have English corner every lunch hour (sing songs, play games), Drama Club (one hour on Tuesdays) and ENGLISHMANIA (one hour of games). At the other school I have Big Book Shared reading two lunches a week (15 minutes each time) and Choral Speaking Club (one hour on Fridays).
Since I am an 03 NET, we are all new to the program. The first year is basically starting and getting comfortable with co-planning and then co-teaching. My LET's are getting pretty good with the co-planning meetings. (At one school we have one meeting every month....about one hour long...the other we have every two weeks about 1/2 hour each). In some classes we co-teach, others need a little more work...but in all, it's pretty cool.
I do not have to go to any meetings in Chinese. (But I DO know other NETs who do have to go to the meetings...or have been sent to the meetings/workshops/teacher development days, and just sit there...or are sent away..)
Anyways, as munasa has already mentioned, a NET's experience totally depends on your schools....(and also YOUR OWN attitude...)..
Take it easy! |
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Mark-O
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 464
Location: 6000 miles from where I should be
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 11:20 am Post subject: |
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| Sypanda5: Would you like to give me YOUR job?! Sounds great. |
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sypanda5
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 57
Location: HK
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 2:41 pm Post subject: sorry man! |
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mark-o: SORRY! I'm keeping mine...at least until August 2005...and then we'll see what happens!  Are you a PNET? |
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Mark-O
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 464
Location: 6000 miles from where I should be
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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No, no, no - I wish I was! I shall be taking my PGCE and CELTA here before coming to Hong Kong next year to find a gig. Fingers crossed for a PNET future.
It's a shame you're not willing to part with your job ... I don't blame you though! |
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sypanda5
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 57
Location: HK
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 5:21 am Post subject: good luck! |
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good luck! 
if you need any help or advice, feel free to msg me...(dont' know if i can help much..but at least i've been through the initial stage and the first year..) |
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Mark-O
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 464
Location: 6000 miles from where I should be
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks Sypanda5 ... I'm might just take you up on that! Best of luck with your job. |
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