Job Discussion Forums

[User N. Ame]

I've recently finished teaching aproximately 5 years at the public school level in Japan, 3 of those on the JET Programme.

I am about to enter the 2nd interview with NET, and am thinking about the what ifs. What if I pass the interview process and am offered a job in HK? What to do?

I'd love to hear from anyone who made the transition from Japan to NET in HK. Can you compare and contrast the two public school systems, with respect to teaching English?

When I left Japan recently I felt I'd had enough of the ESL sector, but maybe I've just had enough of the ESL sector in Japan. I'm really curious about HK (and greater China) and am interested in broadening my Asian horizons (I have travelled in China, Korea and most of SE Asia). I enjoy teaching, but I have no idea what I'd be getting into with NET. In Japan, ALT teaching work can range from gross underutilization to overutilization and all shades between. Is the same true in HK under NET? Or is the English teaching program more consistent and predictable in HK's public schools? I worry about the possibility of arriving at my post in HK, only to discover I'm going to be just another teaching assistant, pronunciation drill instructor, human tape recorder. I know the application requirements for NET are far stricter than those for JET in Japan. So this tells me HK is a little more serious about getting qualified teachers. This is one of the reasons I applied for NET in the first palce. Japan's JET Programme really couldn't give a damn what your background is, just as long as you meet the base immigration requirements (BA degree). JET in Japan seems fixated on this vague concept of grassroots internationalization, and the actual teaching aspect gets little more than lip service. If NET is anything like this, no thanks.

If accepted, I wouldn't be joining NET in HK for the money (If I really want to make money my priority, I stay in my home country doing work I'm actually trained to do), but job security and fair treatment are important to me. Is NET pretty reliable in this regard?

Thanks in advance.