Job Discussion Forums

Eddie · Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Verona

Hi,
I'm starting teaching as a PNET in Hong Kong this fall. My girlfriend will be joining me in January. Does she need a TESL qualification to work in Hong Kong? She does not have a teaching degree but does have one year experience teaching english in Korea. If she does need a TESL qualification which ones are recognized in Hong Kong? Has anyone heard of Oxford Seminars in Toronto? She can only do a fairly short course because she is in grad school. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

bubblebubble · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 5:11 am Post subject:

if your girlfriend wants to teach in HK, it's better to have a cert TESL. i haven't heard of the school you mentioned but i guess as long as it's some sort of TESL cert, it'll do. in terms of recognizing TESL cert, i understand that as long as your boss accepts it, you'll be fine. my boss accepts mine without further questioning. of course, for MA TESL, MEd, EMB has a list of schools which it doesn't recognize.

Good luck!

ChrisRose · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 427 Location: Hong Kong

The outlines for a recognisable Cert. as laid down by the EMB are:

=> 120+ hours face to face teaching lessons.
6 hours observed Teaching Practise

Plus various aspects of ELT.

No distance currently recognised.
Nothing without min. of 6 Observed Teachign Practise recognised.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

It is interesting that on a PGDE from a HK university there are far fewer hours observed than on a CELTA and far less feedback. Personally I have begun to respect the CELTA/Trinity qualifications a lot more after finding out what is needed for a PGDE.

AndyinHK · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 98

Chris could you post the link where it says that. I know of people who are PNETs who have not had any problem getting their distance certificate recognized.

One thing to keep in mind is most, if not all, TEFL training courses focus on teaching adults although there are a few that focus on children.

I know for the PGDE course that I am in the tutors presuppose prior TEFL training in their trainees. Also the year one students have to do a grueling year long case study which analyzes various aspects of teaching children. It is on par with other postgraduate diploma level courses such as the Trinity diploma or UCLES DELTA (which are for adults).

ChrisRose · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 427 Location: Hong Kong

I shall search it out.

There were 2, I found was EMB guidelines for Diplomas, the other was for Certs.

I can't find and post them today, as I have to finish the outlines for two intensive post secondary, university bridging programs to commence tomorrow.

Don't you just love when the call comes 24 hours prior to the course commencement?

BTW, I recall telephoning the EMB last year to check if the Trinity Dip. was acceptable. There is a department (I think it is teachers registration) where the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. They will return calls and e-mails within an hour or two.

Chris

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

AndyinHK · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 98

Zero

Some of what you say may be correct, but couldn't you be a little friendlier. After all, I thought this forum was set up to help others and not belittle them.

But I guess it's typical of HK, those that think they are better than the rest because they either have more education or money. I've never been anywhere more like this than in HK.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

You are obsessing about me again Zero. But thanks for the laugh.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

The Oxford course will not be sufficient for the EMB, if they require 120hours. TESL Canada requires 100hours plus 20 practicum (Oxford doesn't meeet TESL Canada standards, though). If they require 120 plus the practicum, your girlfriend should first call around and see if any of the programmes accepted by TESL Canada (but not TESL Ontario) are long enough (it would involve twenty extra face to face teaching hours and TESL Canada courses in Ontario that are not accepted by TESL Ontario are offered through private training facilities).
This is TESL Canada's website:
http://www.tesl.ca/

(go to the "Standards" menu from the side bar to access recognized programmes and read about the certification standards)

Otherwise, she should look into TESL Ontario certification. However, TESL Ontario would mean a entire year of university or college. It's really great training, but geared towards people who want to make a career out of teaching ESL to adults in the province of Ontario (even though during the training, nobody ever really mentions things like that actually being able to teach ESL, actually teaching ESL and actually getting paid to teach ESL are all very seperate things and contrary to conventional wisdom, one does not follow through to the other).

This is TESL Ontario's website:
http://www.tesl.ca/