Could I teach English in Hong Kong?

[journeymanjim]

Hi there. I'm just wondering if someone here could help me with some questions I have about teaching English in Hong Kong. I'm currently approaching the end of my Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing in the UK, and am a British (male, 25-year-old) citizen with English as my first language. After I graduate I'd love to teach English in Asia for some time. I'd particularly love to do so in Hong Kong, as I visited in 2008 and loved it there. The thing is, I have zero experience of teaching English, and though I'm going to get a TEFL certificate next week, it's only a weekend course and I've heard the certificates for these aren't regarded very highly by a lot of schools. But I can't afford to do the more intensive CELTA or Trinity 4-week intensive course.

What I'm wondering is, is there ANY hope whatsoever for an inexperienced British graduate to find a teaching job in Hong Kong where the company or school would provide in-house training? Or is a CELTA/Trinity certificate and some substantial teaching experience pretty much essential?

Would it be wiser for me to go teach in Korea or Japan (where as far as I know only a degree is really required, while experience isn't) for a year or two, save up to do the CELTA/Trinity course, and THEN move to Hong Kong? Would I then stand a chance?

Sorry if these sorts of questions get answered on here all the time. I did read through quite a lot of the threads on here but didn't quite find the specific answers I was after, so thought I'd make my own thread.

[carang]

you might find a job, but you may experience trouble securing a visa. (1) your qualification is pretty useless and (2) you have absolutely no experience.

it sounds like a much better idea to do the korea/japan thing, then once you have the qualifications and the experience, try for hong kong.

[bryant.english]

What's the situation with you re: visa?

You may also be able to build up experience doing voluntary EFL teaching with your local authority. I did it with Bucks County Council. You get great free training and build up a lot of experience, it's great on your CV and it's a pretty cool thing to do IMO.

[HKHK154]

Just FYI.. **Seoul to Phase Out All Native English Teachers by 2014** - soompi forums

[gilleshk]

There appears to be a shortage of NET teacher so there is definitely some hope. Check out the government website and give it a whirl... You won't know unless you try. I know many NET that got jobs with limited experience.

EDB - Native-speaking English Teacher (NET) Scheme

[carang]

we're not talking limited experience. we are talking no experience. but the worst they can do is say... no... so why not give it a shot?

[chingleutsch]

Afraid a weekend TEFL cert doesn't cut any ice here; for the government NET scheme you'd need the full 120 hour with practicum model, and preferably a PGDE as well.

Assuming you are caucasian, you probably could get a job with a visa attached, but it would be as a sort of performing monkey in one of the less reputable language tuition centres - you provide the "face" of the place, and any activities of actual educational value that might take place inside are purely incidental.

If you haven't already discovered it, have a look through the Asia forums at Dave's ESL Cafe.

[justjoe86]

I can't afford to do the more intensive CELTA or Trinity 4-week intensive course.

Are you sure there's no way you can borrow the cash to do a celta/ trinity? You'd earn it back in less than one month's salary if it clinches you a job. if you get on the net scheme it's less than 2 weeks salary! also, I did the celta as a fresh grad with no experience and it was valuable in terms of practical skills learnt.

[journeymanjim]

Many thanks for the helpful, informative responses, everyone. I think I may reconsider staying in the UK for a bit longer to save up for the CELTA; it does seem worth the money in the long run.

[Fiona in HK]

You could consider applying to the Chatteris Educational foundation:
https://sites.google.com/a/chatteris.org.hk/home/

I came accross this when I was looking into teaching in HK. I do not have any experience with this foundation or know of anyone who has been employed by them so you would have to do your research about it. I have read that the wages are quite low compared to what you could otherwise earn if you had a teaching qualification but I understand that they train you and support you with things like visa/transportation and possibly accomodation. Also its a graduate scheme so you might find you have a ready made social life there with the other graduates.

If the important thing for you is to get to HK and do some teaching for a short/mid term period before moving on to other things then this might be worth a try. If you want to earn the going rate and make a decent living over here then maybe the TESOL/CELTA route is better.

I did the Trinity Cert TESOL and it was a fantastic course. Expect to work hard but it in my opinion it is well worth the cash you pay for it. Good luck with whichever path you choose.