Job Discussion Forums

[chopstix]

Can anyone tell me the cost of living in the Kowloon area? As I am a fairly new teacher I won't have the high salary to afford the nice pads some of you probably have The school is right beside the Ngau Tau Kok MRT? Also does it seem weird that NO text books are being used? and are alternate Saturdays the norm for bisectional schools?

sorry for all the questions but.....


thanks.

[hkteach]

I can't comment on accommodation costs in that area as I don't know it at all ("Kowloon" refers to quite a large geographical area).
If you're a newbie NET (and it seems you are) then you'll receive a housing allowance which should cover your accommodation in any case. If you don't want to spend it all on accomm, you might find another NET to share.

No it doesn't seem weird that no textbooks are being used - it seems fantastic! Many of us lobby, cajole, model, plead etc. to have our schools even gradually reduce the numbers of textbooks they use and replace them with some meaningful learning tasks. You've obviously struck a school where some enlightenment has occurred.
This means a) that they are ready to take on new teaching and learning practices and will expect you to assist them (modelling and demonstrating those 'innovative English teaching practices' mentioned in the recruitment blurb and providing some in-house professional development) or
b) that they've been on a learning curve (perhaps with their previous NET) and have already been implementing some of the practices we all hope for.
In any event, you have a situation where you have some chance to do some real teaching so congratulations on your good fortune.

[11:59]

You should be aware that Ngau Tau Kok is one of the roughest areas in the whole of Hong Kong.