Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dev]

How does Hong Kong measure up to Seoul for public school jobs? Has anybody on the board ever worked in HK? Was it fun? Were there a a lot of things to do in terms of leasure activities? How is the food? Are the people friendly to foreigners?

The one advantage I do see is that they pay more.

[missty]

I worked in Hong Kong for a year, not in a public school but a private language school. I did however know people who worked for the NET scheme, and they had it really good, (or at least much better than me). However, although HK pays more than Seoul, the cost of living is way, way higher. I took home about 12,000 HK dollars and you cannot save much from that at all. The base rate for NET teachers is 22,000 HK dollars (2,800 USD) and they get a housing allowance, (or at least they used to). So its easy to live well over there if you're a NET teacher and save at least 10,000 HK dollars.

But the NET scheme is a crap shoot just like here, and they have a cut off point of around Christmas time (I think) for applying. So if you're thinking of applying you have to get your application in quick.

As for lifestyle, well its amazing. Loads of stuff to do (hiking, visiting the islands, temple stays...) the food is great and you can get western food really easily, especially if you're British like me! Plus, remember that HK was a British colony up to 12 years ago. So everything is in English and everyone speaks English. You don't stand out as much over there as you do here.

The reason I left? It was polluted, (I lived on the island and worked in Causeway Bay - it was like living inside a car exhaust) and busy, - the amount of people on the subway was just insane. HK was an amazing experience for a year, but anything more than that and I'd take Seoul any day. Korea is just far more livable to me. But then I know people who love it there and never want to leave. It really depends on the person.

This is a link to the NET's EDB website:

http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=262&langno=1

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

A friend lived on Kowloon and he pocketed his salary, as he lived in some dump on his housing allowance.

He mentioned the pollution was awful and thought girls were just gold diggers.

He had the odd perk like a school trip to San Fransisco. He didn't find classroom management a big deal.

He sent himself hash to NZ from HK in the mail and got caught so thought better of returning.

[b-class rambler]

The HK NET is one of the best paying EFL jobs around if you're a qualified teacher, particularly one with some years of relevant experience. If you're not a qualified teacher then (a) you'd have a vastly reduced chance of getting a NET job and (b) you'd be so far down the payscale that the cost of living in HK would leave you with not such a lot of savings potential.

Obviously, HK has all the plus points already mentioned by others regarding access to western stuff; and the minus points regarding the pollution and overcrowding.

Also be warned that the NET scheme recruitment process is tortuously long, anally overbureaucratic and applicants are often treated in a way that would make SMOE, even with their recent screwing of 100 people at the last minute, look the model of professionalism.

It's also possible to get NET jobs in HK public schools without going through the government recruitment program. However, that'd probably require you to be in HK and ready to go for interviews at schools you apply directly to. Additionally, it might mean that you don't get the housing/living allowance.

[Mosley]

b-class: Your post's 3rd paragraph is a minor classic-you've summed up the NET recruitment scheme in a nutshell!

[Dev]

b-class. Thanks for your reply. You appear to be well informed.