Job Discussion Forums

jenny-pnet · Joined: 16 Apr 2003 Posts: 59

Just in answer to some of the questions here.... Keroleen, if you apply using your permanant HK ID, then you will not be entitled to the living allowance. But if you get the position on a different passport and the local teachers know you have a permanant HK ID, then you will certainly get them offside - It could make life very difficult for you within your school of employment.
Yes, you do need a Bachelor of Ed or equivalent.
It would be easier to get a position as a Primary Net at this point in time, since the EMB is trying to put a Net in every school (currently it is one Net per two primary schools). Hence they are out to employ a lot of teachers. However, that doesn't mean they intend to hire unqualified or inexperienced people. Schools that recruit outside the EMB offer a greatly reduced salary and aren't quite so strict about qualifications and experience (unless they have been given the 'ok' by the EMB which some have. In the latter case, the EMB are paying the wage, not the school.) For teachers who have appropriate qualifications and experience, now is the ideal time to try for a position in the Net Scheme. But unfortunately, the money is not as good as it was in previous years, due to the change in exchange rate, decreased living allowance and a reduction in salary.

AndyinHK · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 98

There is a lot of debate here about quals and the EMB just doesn't get it, IMHO. While I accept those with a B.Ed. or PGDE are of course qualified teachers, in fact they're qualified to teach native speakers (unless they have a major in ESL). I've met a few Pnets that had B.Ed.'s in P.E. Now come on how does that translate into knowing how to teach English to second language learners? It doesn't... it's a whole different ball of wax.

I believe the EMB should allow those with an MA or MEd in TESOL to join the scheme.... and I don't have either so I'm not just saying this. Here's food for thought, I happen to know a person training teachers as part of a PGDE programme at one of the unis in HK, which I won't mention. She has an MA in TESOL and experience teaching - she is training those on a PGDE course. IMO she is one of the best teachers I have ever seen, yet could she join the NET scheme (since the rules changed 2 years ago)? No, but the EMB would rather prefer a B.Ed. with a P.E. major. Go figure.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

In answer to Mark-0,
I mentioned that many local "companies" do not like to hire sight unseen. There are indeed many people here who are acceptable to local companies, but not neccessarily to the NET scheme. The poster commented that there were posts for English teachers/developers in the SCMP. I assumed here that she was at that point not referring to the EMB NET scheme. The truth is that for many local companies that someone with a visa who is not well qualified is a lot more attractive than a well qualified person whom they would need to sponsor.

Mark-O · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject:

in_so_far_as · Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Posts: 2 Location: 1/2 way there

I'm required to sit a short written test after my secondary NET interview, and I'm curious as to what form it may take. Can anybody tell me whether it is a grammar test, "mission statement", paragraph, psychological analysis...?

Any other interview advice would be warmly appreciated.

cheers!

vivalgos · Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 21 Location: nanjing

You may be given a choice of topics to write on.. a favourite one is
`How would you teach students to love reading`. (IMHO you can`t.. it is `caught`, not `taught`. but one can teach the mechanics.)
Or `Describe an English lesson that you have given recently.`
or maybe, `What difficulties do you think you would face in living in a different culture.`
you will be given a very short time to write.. only 15 minutes, and will be asked to write at least 300 words.
I wouldn`t sweat about it... if you`ve got this far.. you`ll be ok...

ozman · Joined: 12 Jun 2004 Posts: 133 Location: HONG KONG

Andy
You make some very good points. (sorry this reply is late, but I haven't had time to check the forum recently)

You say:

..........I've met a few Pnets that had B.Ed.'s in P.E. Now come on how does that translate into knowing how to teach English to second language learners?...........

I agree.

You also say:

.......I believe the EMB should allow those with an MA or MEd in TESOL to join the scheme.......

And you are right. Your friend who is teaching potential teachers, and who has an M.A. in TESOL would know a lot more about teaching English to 2nd language learners.

I'm a NET with a B.A. and PGDE but also have MA TESOL. I know so many B.A. PGDE teachers here who've taught English back in their own countries for years but who have very little idea about TESOL and know nothing about grammar. Local teachers here often ask NETS for assistance regarding grammar, but often NETS are unable to explain to them why a sentence is wrong - they know WHAT to write or say, but don't know WHY.

If the EMB had any sense they would allow MA qualified people here as NETS. Maybe it has something to do with new regulations that you have to be a qualified teacher in your own country. I don't know. But yes, this sort of reasoning makes absolutely no sense. I do know however that they are requiring P-NETS to obtain a TESOL qualification, however I don't believe the same applies to the S-NETS.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

AndyinHk, the woman in question is teaching at a Uni, and you say has "experience teaching-she is training those on a PGDE course". Are you saying that because she teaches a PGDE course that she has experience teaching? Wouldn't that be to adult learners? You say that she is one of the best teachers you have ever seen. Whom did you see her teach? Secondary/Primary or Post Grad students?

Being able to tell people how to teach, does not make you a good teacher yourself. Vijay and Tiger have golf coaches. Why are the golf coaches not out there playing tournaments. My guess is that some people are great teachers of teachers/coaches of players, but not always able to do it every day consistently. So why would a teacher of teachers make a good teacher of younger students?

I will have to guess from what you said here..but it seems reasonable to surmise that she doesn't have a PGDE, (as you say that she would not be allowed on the NET scheme now). If she has no PGDE, then where has she got the classroom experience from in mainstream schools in HK or elsewhere to be fully aware of the constraints that those place on teachers?
Indeed, I am sure that some would argue that without doing a PGDE and going through "public teaching" classes, she is not the best person to be training other teachers on this.

I am not trying to defend a P.E major here to teach EFL, but your argument has its flaws also.