Job Discussion Forums

FloridaTEFL · Joined: 03 Apr 2005 Posts: 66

Hi.... I am interested in going to Hong Kong, but I fear my qualifications may be lacking. I have an undergraduate degree in a non-teaching field and 2 years experience in Korea. I am also half way through a masters in tesol, but I don't know if I'll be finishing this year.

With this "resume" could I find anything decent in HK, like maybe the NET program or other types of schools??
Thank you....

Honky Nick · Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 113 Location: Hong Kong

Hi there,

It is possible to get into the NET scheme with your qualifications, but I think they may have interviewed for next year already. If you got an interview, you would have to impress the interviewers with your knowledge of teaching (probably specifically teaching reading through shared reading, guided reading, phonics, games, etc), so I'd recommend finding out as much about the NET scheme, its reading/writing programmes such as PLP-R and prepare for the interview should you get one.

Otherwise, you might have a chance at British Council or something like that.

Good luck,

Nick

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

I don't want to put a downer on the OP but judging by a few messages posted recently the NET scheme is getting picky, with QTS, English majors and TEFL quals becoming more important. Even so, it's always worth applying just in case.

Re the Brit Council, another poster here says they rarely recruit non-Brits. But there are lots of smaller private schools the OP could apply to, and also the unis.

FloridaTEFL · Joined: 03 Apr 2005 Posts: 66

Thanks very much for the insight. It sounds like even getting an interview could be challenging, but you never know. I guess if my heart is set on HK then I'll have to research other types of schools too.
I'm not entirely sure what to look for - I just would like to be in a school where I could actually teach and save a tad of money. In Korea, I could save some money but it was edu-tainment with endless bending over backwards to please the parents.

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

Regarding Korea, have you tried the EPIK programme? I worked on that for two years (97-99) and it was one of the best gigs I ever had. Not sure if it still operates (check out the Korea forum) but you would save more money doing that than most jobs in HK, as HK is so much more expensive to live - unless you can snag one of the better HK jobs - like NET.

meiyoubanfa · Joined: 14 Mar 2009 Posts: 16

I am currently on GEPIK, which is basically the same contract/etc as EPIK. I would have to say that Korea is becoming a bad choice in recent months. The Won has lost about 40-50% on the USD, and about 15-25% on most other currencies. Now the standard wage (2,000,000 won) is about 1000 USD. And yet most jobs claim that 2,000,000 won is still 1900-2000 USD, don't be fooled. 4-5 years ago it was worth about 3000 USD, and has been falling since. But if you don't need to send money home its ok, since they provide a "free" apartment. I have been scrounging to send home just 1000 CAN a month.

With regard to NET and getting an interview, most people told me not to bother applying with a Masters in the ARTs and just one years teaching xp. The NET website would attest to this. That being said, a guy I know ignored everyone and applied and was hired with just a BA. I also applied, and I wasn't rejected right off the bat (YET) so I guess it might be possible to get an interview. It might help if one tells them they know some Chinese (as I do). Overall, I guess if they are desperate enough, they might even consider hiring chumps like myself. But I am sure there are not that many positions leftover for us.