Job Discussion Forums

Horizontal Hero · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:21 am Post subject:

Though you might find 11.59 a little blunt, h-train, there is a valid point there. It seems to me you have a "must have it now" mentality. You have to put in the hard yards on the training paddock before you make it to first grade. The capacity to delay gratification is one of the defining characteristics of sucessful people, according to studies. I suggest you be patient and get qualified before coming to HK.

h-train · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:34 am Post subject:

11:59 · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:53 am Post subject:

articulate_ink · Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 55 Location: Hong Kong

I've searched this site and tried a Google search, with murky results... I'll try here, then. Do any of the HK unis offer part-time Dip.Ed programs? Thinking ahead, if I'm able to get into the NET program, and want to advance in salary, this seems to be the only way to do it. Going back to the US isn't an option, btw.

The other question I'm not too clear on is whether the CELTA would count toward the TESOL/TEFL certification requirement. I'm assuming so, but has anyone actually done it?

h-train · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:51 am Post subject:

hepcat · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Daegu

Smoog · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Hong Kong

YellowHair · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 41 Location: HK

Here's something that some of the newbies to the forum might find helpful.

I have a BA in History and some course work (18 Uni. Credit Hours) in education (enough for a minor at most US uni's but not offered at mine). I do not have a dip. ed. or TESOL cert. I have two years experience teaching at a private English only pre-school in Seoul and one year experience teaching at a private kindy in HK. I read the info about the reqs. for the PNET scheme and put in my application when I was 6 months into my private kindy in HK contract. I went through the whole interview process and waiting period and was offered a position after my third interview. I have been working for the EDB as a NET since October and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

The point is that it's not "absolutely" necessary to have a dip. ed., MA/MT, or Ph.D. to get on the NET scheme. They will even let you get on without a formal TESOL/TEFL cert. as long as you can pass one within your first year of contract (they even accept some online courses). The previously mentioned quals. wll be sure to get you a higher initial salary, but they are not essential to getting into the program.

In short, If you have a BA/BS, some experience, and solid references (and a decent interview), then you can still get into the program.

11:59 · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:21 am Post subject:

Perhaps you are not aware, but in written English it is customary to place a 'space' after all items of punctuation.

Surfdude18 · Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 651 Location: China

11:59 · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:39 am Post subject:

Perhaps you are not aware, but since you are not a moderator it is not your place to decree who does and who does not 'take up too much 'space'' on this forum; � such concerns are simply outside of your purview (and most likely well beyond your capabilities, at least to judge from your attempts at written communication).

Whilst on the subject of drunk spiders crawling across keyboards, how on Earth does a simple forum message (of but twenty or so words) constitute 'work' and how on Earth does typing such a message entail the need for scrutiny and editing, as you suggest in your post? Surely as an English teacher (and even just as a literate infant) all one has to do is, well, type it!

And then of course we have the predictable allusion to the 'Grammar Police', in your case the 'Neo-Nazi Grammar union'. This old chestnut never fails to raise a chuckle in me. After all, imagine if on a forum for teachers of maths a contributor stated that two plus two equalled five and another poster noted that in fact two plus two equals four, only to be accused of being a member of the 'Arithmetic Police'! Or, alternatively, imagine if on a forum for, say, history teachers, a poster stated that WWII began in 1914 and a fellow poster noted that in fact it was 1939, only to be accused of being in the 'Historical Accuracy Police'.

As angry as it may make you, to me at least, basic primary school punctuation is as elementary to an English teacher as basic arithmetic is to a maths teacher and (in)famous dates are to a history teacher.

Surfdude18 · Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 651 Location: China