Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rory_Calhoun27]

Hi, all...

Anyone here know the specific requirements for teaching in HK? I was thinking of a change. What all do you need- CBC, degree, etc....?

I read people just showing up there on a tourist visa, and viola, there ya go! Is it that easy, or is there more to it? I assume so, but that seems to be a dangerous thing around here....

[D-Jay]

From what I've heard (I could be wrong), you need to be a certified teacher in your home country in order to teach in Hong Kong.

[Otherside]

Basically, you just need a degree (I'm not sure of the exact visa requirements, regarding CBC, health checks, transcripts etc).

The catch with working in HK is, it's MUCH more expensive than Korea (especially accomodation). If you work for the NET program, the salary range is about US$2500 - US$4000/month, WITH a $1200 housing allowance. However, the NET program is very competitive, and there is a 4 month application process. Basically unless you are certified you don't stand a chance and even then your odds aren't good. (yet a couple of years ago, before ESL took off and the financial crisis, you could get in with a degree and TEFL quite easily).

There are some "hagwon" jobs around. However, HK has an overall much higher level of English fluency and there isn't the same sort of English craze. In effect, most of the hagwon jobs don't pay very well, ($1500-$2000, often with no housing and a pittance of an allowance or very poor housing) AND many of the gigs are geared towards Kindergarden.

Then you've got the University jobs, however these positions are hard to come by, and unlike Korea, these are "proper" University jobs. If you wouldn't get a job at a University back home, you most likely won't here.

So basically you are stuck with a Hagwon job, that pays less, offers poor/no housing, no flight, no severence, and in a country which is more expensive. And you'll be teaching Kindie.

Believe me, I WISH I was in HK now, it's pretty much my favourite place in Asia, and pretty much everything I hate about Korea is great in HK, if it was any other way, I'd be on a flight tomorrow

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

Teaching cert. preferably with some specific English component. CELTA/TESOL et al. are not enough.

A mate who taught in Kowloon was pathalogically cheap so the housing allowance was sufficient for his purposes.

[Otherside]

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

[Otherside]

Biscuit, clicked on the link.
If you check the requirements for Primary NETS, they are lower.

[Rory_Calhoun27]

thanks all.... I'n just having trouble sorting out all the info I'm getting on the matter. I saw on the intl board, or maybe it was somewhere else, of just showing up there, and getting job offers within a few days of hitting the surface and pounding the pavement. seems a bit risky, but does this actually happen?

[Scott in Incheon]

You can get jobs in HK just going there. It is just that they are not that great. When I lived there, every job outside the NET program did not pay you enough to save money/travel unless you really scrimped.

Where the NET program pays between 23-48K a month HK plus the living allowance...hagwon type schools paid about 18K....the difference is huge.

The NET program takes certified teachers first and teachers don't have a salary cap while others often do.