Job Discussion Forums

[St.Anton]

Hi! I'm ridiculously new here.

I wanna move to HK and teach English! Except... I have little to no idea what i'm doing. I figured I would just outline my plan here and hopefully I could get some feedback from more experienced teachers.

Cliffnotes
-24 years old from California
-Chinese (conversant Canto)
-Just transferred out of community college. English B.A. May 2013
-Planning to get CELTA cert in 2012
-Zero teaching experience.
-No knowledge of the country-hopping process.

Questions!
-Will I be able to get a job with those qualifications?
--What type of salary could I expect from my first job?
-I wanted to arrive in July 2013. Is this plausible?? (considering my graduation date and whatever processes necessary to get a work visa)
-Will the CELTA program help me find a job?
-Is there any benefit to getting teaching credentials in America?

That's all I can think of off the top of my head, but any help would be appreciated!

Please answer any questions and tell me of any questions that I should be asking but didn't.

Thanks a lot! Looking forward to any feedback.

[Joshua2006]

If you want to arrive two years from now then, in all honesty, come back and ask the same questions 18 months from now.

Don't mean to be blunt, but so much in your life could change bewteen now and then and so much could change in Hong Kong between now and then....

[St.Anton]

Seriously? It only takes 6 months to plan a life changing move to Hong Kong? I don't know if I believe that...

[chezal]

[sistercream]

Agree with Chezal that 6 months lead time counts as long-term planning in ESL teaching (or in Hong Kong generally).

Definitely get your degree and CELTA, and teacher registration as well would provide a huge jump up in starting pay and conditions. Qualifications alone won't get you into a top tier international school or the NET scheme, but would at least allow you to start further up from the bottom of the pond than a 50 hour a week, one week's annual leave, no fringe benefits, language centre job (where ABCs are in any case frequently penalised for not being caucasian).
Then if the place and work still appeal after a couple of years in a less well known school, you will have excellent prospects.

[St.Anton]

[sinophoto]

I've been job hunting in HK for years to no avail. I stopped into the cram schools and was asked, "Do you have a Hong Kong ID card (work permit)". If I didn't. Then that was the end of the conversation. I came to the conclusion that there might be a few cram schools willing to sponsor you for a visa. But they will want a CELTA and probably some experience from China. They have an almost endless supply of teachers from China stopping in to inquire in HK because of the better pay and living conditions.. I've heard of people teaching in kindergartens who got work permits. That's when Cantonese becomes invaluable because they don't like hiring "helpers". So you would have to use some of the special techniques for total beginners. I've read about a few silent techniques. The way to go is to get an English degree. Then get certified to teach in your home country. Then you can join the NET scheme. (Native English Teachers). Or better yet, teach at an international school. But the competition is stiff at the international schools and better public schools e.g. St Paul's, and Queens. So allot of ppl start out at band three schools, i.e. students who didn't do as well on the exams go there if they can get good enough marks to pass their requirements. One of my British friends worked his way up to being a head master over the years. So there is career development going on in HK which is another reason that it such a desirable place to teach.

[sistercream]

[therock]

The OP is not planning on getting teacher certification. He or she will have a BA and a CELTA by the time July 2013 rolls around.

[St.Anton]

[St.Anton]

When you say teacher certification or QTS, does that include California teaching credential?

I guess what i'm asking is, what is the American equivalent of the PGCE? Would a English B.A., CELTA, and American equivalent of PGCE get me a decent start working in HK?

All feedback is appreciated. The blunter the better.

[Perilla]

[Serious_Fun]

[St.Anton]