Job Discussion Forums

GreenTeaLee · Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 4

Hey Gang

I'm a new teacher in the US and I'm looking to get out. =p

Currently I have a Bachelor's of Science in Technology Education and I'm going for my master's degree in teaching ESL at University of Pennsylvania right now. So, currently I teach 6th and 7th grade engineering which has nothing to do with teaching English.

What are my chances of getting a job in HK after I have a master's degree (in 2-3 years)? What's the difference between EDB and ESF?

I found these sites and it sounds like the 2 education groups have nothing to do with each other. Is that really so?
http://www.esf.edu.hk/about-esf/working-us-/overview
http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=1301&langno=1

Joshua2006 · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 342

Can I be blunt?

You are thinking 2-3 years down the line.

A lot of things change in 2-3 years.

When you are nearing the end of your masters, as I presume you are staying home to do that, why don't you ask for information then?

Anything you are told now could be 100% different in 2-3 years. The world is meant to be ending next year anyways, so HK may no longer exist as we know it.

EDB and ESF? Honestly, use the search function. It's all detailed on here in various threads......

GreenTeaLee · Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 4

Joshua2006 · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 342

That's as maybe, but in constantly changing markets like HK, Korea and Japan, planning that far ahead may be futile exercise.....

If you really want to increase your chances, do a PGDE at the same time as your master's......you will then be able to pretty much walk into any job then, at least on paper.

What I am finding and have found thus far, being in HK increases your chances exponentially when looking for a job.

sistercream · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: 497 Location: Pearl River Delta

By all means research the different schools and school systems in Hong Kong, but as Joshua2006 has noted, things change fast, often, and often drastically in Hong Kong. Of course that can happen in any individual school when the principal changes, too Rolling Eyes

As well as the EDB NET-employing schools and ESF (frankly, with US qualifications I don't like your chances of getting a job in the latter), there are many other local and international schools in HK - among the latter there are German/ Swiss, French, Japanese, Singapore, Korean, American, Canadian, Australian and even Norwegian system, and many of those have two language streams leading to differing matriculation exams.

It's true that many "local" schools - and just about all language mills/ tutorial centres - won't look twice at your c.v. unless you are already on the ground in HK, but EDB, ESF and the major international schools do a lot of overseas recruiting.

GreenTeaLee · Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 4

I've spent a good part of my day reading posts here and I have to say there seems to be a lot of negativity towards teaching in HK. This is surprising considering the number of expats that are still in HK.

Thanks for the advice about moving to HK first. The thought of moving there with just about nothing seems a bit daunting.

I've been reading about PDGE, ESF and EDB NET. Do HK citizens have a natural aversion to Americans? Lol I don't enjoy being American either but if it hurts at job prospects then I'm really in a hole. Would having a Chinese background be helpful at all? Both my parents are HK immigrants and I speak fairly well; reading and writing is a whole different story!

Thanks to everyone that's taken the time to read this. I wish there were a manual of all this information so I wouldn't have to bombard this forum. I really do appreciate all the advice and information that everyone here provides (I'm not saying this in that superficial American tone either =p). I know your work hours must be insane (from what I've read here)!

Joshua2006 · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 342

sistercream · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: 497 Location: Pearl River Delta

RedDinosaur · Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 21

^ I'm glad to hear that you're having a positive experience Very Happy

On a side note, how did you learn Cantonese? My reading and writing abilities are terrible Embarassed

So I've read about QTS but I'm not sure what the US equivalent of that is. In the US we take exams for the state and that makes us certified. Is that the same as QTS?

sistercream · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: 497 Location: Pearl River Delta

Sorry, can't help with the US equivalent of QTS. Back in the olden days when I graduated (in a Commonwealth country), we did a Dip. Ed. to top up our degrees if we wanted to become school teachers.
And watch out for "certified" - in British English this term normally means "certified insane" and carted off to the funny farm Cool

Reading and writing Chinese is hard slog at the best of times, but if you only speak Cantonese it's even harder because the language is diglottal - like reading/writing Chaucerian English while speaking the modern language. I still can't skim a Chinese text for meaning; it takes me about 5 times as long to read a newspaper article in Chinese as it does in English.
But how I got started was with a 3 week intensive course in the spoken language, followed by being prepared to make an idiot of myself practising and pestering local friends for new vocab, slang expressions, etc.. I was able to take a year off work to study written Chinese, then 5 years in Taiwan improved that side of things amazingly Laughing

but this is still very much "work in progress."

MADAMELEACH · Joined: 27 Aug 2009 Posts: 46 Location: WELLINGTON

I have a bachelors degree in Communications and I have never been out of work teaching in Asia.

Joshua2006 · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 342

Kornan DeKobb · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 242