What is my best option? Advice for education/teaching career in HK

[incubus509]

Good day everyone,

I'm seeking some advice on what are my best options to get started with teaching English in HK.

I've recently graduated this past year with a BA in International Studies and Minor in Education. I'm currently teaching in a secondary public school in South Korea. I'm looking at HK as my next destination, starting summer 2012.

I've come to understand that many government-sponsored teaching programs like the NET scheme and British Council require (preferably) a PGDE. Also, a TEFL certificate is also beneficial to securing a teaching position. However, I came under the impression that a TEFL certificate is really not useful. Can some please give me some advice to whether pursuing a TEFL certificate is really worthwhile? Also, in my situation, getting an in-classroom TEFL certificate would be a little more troublesome (since I’m currently in South Korea) than obtain one through an online program. Does anyone have any comments to whether public institutions prefer a TEFL course with observation hours vs. the online certificate? How about private schools? What do they think about online TEFL certificates?
Thanks in advance for everyone’s insights. Looking forward to your responses.

[carang]

what skills do you have that are not readily available in hk?
what passport do you hold? what type of visa do you hope to get in order to allow you to work here?
what experience do you have?


if you are new to this and require a visa, chances are you will not be able to get a visa.

[justjoe86]

The net scheme doesn't require a pgde but this gives you a higher salary. Tefl is essential.

In my case, I did the celta. This is one of the two respectable tefls I know of, the other being the tesol. You can do these courses all over the world, maybe even in Korea. I did mine in Beijing.

[justjoe86]

what skills do you have that are not readily available in hk?
what passport do you hold? what type of visa do you hope to get in order to allow you to work here?
what experience do you have?


if you are new to this and require a visa, chances are you will not be able to get a visa.

I got my work visa as a fresh grad (did the celta straight after my last uni exam!) I'm assuming op is from a native English country I.e. UK, usa, Australia, NZ or Canada in which case it is quite easy to get a working visa as a NET.

[carang]

you may have lucked out, joe...it is NOT always easy to get a working visa as a NET... i know, i've tried to sponsor visas in the past. i think a lot has to do with for whom you are working.

[justjoe86]

Yep must've got lucky. I've had no problem at all finding work here as a teacher. Could it perhaps depend on where you got your degree, salary or employer's history of sponsorship?

Married now though so a work visa is a thing of the past for me.

[carang]

yes, i think a lot of it comes down to luck and your background.

[gilleshk]

It really depends what kind of teaching job you are looking for. If you eventually want one of the better jobs with higher salaries in a leading international school then you need a proper teaching qualification job. Having only a TEFL or similar certification will limit you in terms of salary and the kind of position you can get as people with the extra qualifications are more likely to be picked over you.

However many people make a very decent living with TEFL and there are loads of opportunities for the enterprising individual. Success is often more a reflection of the person's ability and drive than the paper he/she holds...

[carang]

true, i don't have any tefl cert of any kind...

[incubus509]

Well I'm a US passport holder if that makes a big difference. I can speak cantonese, mandarin, and English. I'm looking to "get my foot in the water" in Hong Kong. And, I think teaching English is a good start.

Does anyone have advice about getting an online TEFL certificate? How is it viewed by HK employers? Thanks for all the responses so far.