Job Discussion Forums

[danielb]

I hold a combined BA, LLB and a Grad Cert in Legal Practice. I am enrolled in a CELTA course to be conducted in November. I hope to travel to Hong Kong sometime late next year. After the course I will probably toss the job and try to get some experience up in the ESL field locally. I imagine that this will probably be voluntary work. Does anyone think that there may be a HK employer out there who would sponsor a work visa for someone with my lack of experience and qualifications? I understand that I am bottom of the ladder as far as teaching goes and as such wouldn't exactly have employers knocking my door down, but is there much of a chance?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

PS To DANDAN I am a Dan so I voted in the poll.

[Cobra]

Want to teach Uni in mainland China just PM me.

[Roger]

Frankly, your chances are unrealistic. Better chances to be had in Shenzhen, just 30 kms from HK, and easy to cross the border from. Jobs pay one third to one-half that of a HK NET job, but costs of living are in the basement too.
Why has it got to be HK anyway?

[prplfairy]

Hey danielb,

The main weakness is your lack of experience. Other than that, the type of degree you have is not that important, although an English, Literature or Linguistics one would be better. To be honest, with a little expereince, or creative CV writing, you could probably find something. Your legal background could even benifit you if you could get into one of the various SAT, SSAT, GRE, or SAT9 prep centers, as the the test are decoded on a logical basism, not unlike the law.

As far as Shenzen goes, the only people, for the most part, who go out there are those who can't hack it with the big boys in Hong Kong where standards are higher. Or perhaps its the unchecked cheap prostitution.

[Cobra]

Shenzhen has some high calibre universities with law departments. They recruit people with your credentials to teach legal English.

I think the last poster's comments about Shenzhen are an inappropriate swipe at Roger and have no real bearing on reality.

I suggest that you just ignore them.

[prplfairy]

Shenzhen is most famous for its crime, prostitution and the laughable salaries, when compared to Hong Kong. It's not my fault Russian and Chinese prostitutes converge on Shenzhen. As far Roger is concerned I did not take a shot at him. He lives in Shenzen, there is a lot of prositution in Shenzen. That does not mean Roger goes in for that sort of thing. I live in Hong Kong, there are lots of curry fish balls in Hong Kong. That does not mean I go in for that sort of thing either. All I said is that those who can get jobs in HK usually take them over jobs in Shenzhen. Can you speak to that?

[Cobra]

Why don't you please quote a comparative study of incomes and cost of living as well as a survey of teachers to support your claims.

I happen to know two Ph.D. types who left Hong Kong for the greener pastures of Guongdong.

[prplfairy]

Why don't I please quote a comparative study of incomes and cost of living as well as a survey of teachers to support my claims?

First, of all it is common sense and personal experience. Secondly, I don't have all day to look up statistics, having a job and all, for those who can't see what is staring them in the face. Thirdly, I haven't presensted any stats because you have provided none to support your ridiculous claim that most people enjoy making less money while working in a city with higher crime, fewer services (public and private), and poor transportation.

What exactly is a "PHD type" anyway? You either are a PHD or you are not. And the only thing green about Guongdong is the tap water.

I'm not saying that any of these other places are terrible or that some people don't enjoy them for good reason. All I'm saying is that on the whole, most, "most" being the key word here, people who can work in Hong Kong would prefer a job in Hong Kong over one in a nearby mainland city. Is that so hard to accept?

[dandan]

errr.....welcome to the board daniel. Don't worry about all these strange non-dan types bickering amongst themselves, Hong Kong welcomes fine, upstanding young Dans such as yourself, PM me for more info.

And remember, they can't keep a good Dan down!

[danielb]

Many thanks for the advice.

[danielb]

So I didn't end up doing the CELTA, mainly due to the availability of courses. Instead, I enrolled in a Post Grad Cert Education (TESOL) which I completed and moved on to an MEd. I have recently submitted my final piece of work (for the MEd) so I expect to graduate in July. At present I am teaching at a College in Guangdong.

My wife is still keen on moving to HK so I thought I would check with those previous posters on this thread (and any others) as to if my chances are a little better now.

Cheers

[tradinup]

prplfairy, If you compare salaries with no consideration of the difference in cost of living, you are missing the point. Overall HK is better savings-potential wise, but that being said, there are some ESL teachers in Hong Kong saving nothing, and I know teachers in Shenzhen saving $1000US per month.

Did you ever consider other things other than money? Maybe a Shenzhener wanted to learn a widely spoken language as opposed to one-town dialect (Cantonese) Maybe they like walking down the street without being bodychecked by a HK businessman chasing after his next dollar. Maybe they like cheap Shenzhen babes and 2rmb Tsingtao? Huh huh?!

I'm going to Taiwan, you guys fight it out...

[Tamago86]

^Umm the post is around 2 years old, probably not much fighting still going on..

And I wouldn't count Cantonese as a one town dialect, seeing as how it's the language of the majority of Chinese in England and the US

[prplfairy]

Tradr,

I sure as hell save more than $1000 US a month! I really enjoy the logic you use when you admit that one can save more in HK but since you know a person or two who can save up $1000 US a month that Shenzen is a better financial offer.

And as far as considering more than money, I certainly do. A world city like Hong Kong where I can get food and culture from every place on earth within minutes or a border town that lacks much culture of its own let alone anyone elses. International restuanrants, bars, galleries, bookstores, record stores and so on in Hong Kong beat anything in Senzen. Hell even the Chinese food is better in Hong Kong. I'll give you some addresses if you need. But I guess if you're more concerned with paying bottom dollar for your beer and women then they might as well be cheap, though you get what you pay for usually.

[Zero Hero]

Well said.