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Move to H.K. (NET)

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  1. #11

    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Posts
    162

    No offence, but as someone else here said, you don't sound like a 'real' teacher.

    Your chances are very slim. Being ''blonde haired, blue eyed'' might be of use on mainland where they're desperate and will hire anyone, but that'll cut no ice in HK, at least as far as getting into a 'real' school is concerned. It is much more competitive here.

    If you really want to come to HK, sorry but your most realistic option is a tutorial centre.

    You view the profession as 'dead end', yet it's something that you are seeking to do.....what does that say about you then?

    Most teachers in HK on the NET scheme are qualified with a B.Ed / PGDE back in their home countries. The scheme has been getting more and more competitive every year. If you have neither 'proper qualification' nor local HK teaching experience, then I would say your chances are very slim indeed.

    Fiona in HKG and MovingIn07 like this.

  2. #12

    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    204
    Quote Originally Posted by HKHK154:

    So basically, is finding a NET position with a business degree, CELTA reasonable as a westerner with limited previous experience with ESL and living in Asia?
    Sorry, but no, it's not reasonable.
    As a qualified teacher, and school principal for 35 year, with experience managing a large tutorial center in HK, your plan is unrealistic.
    As others have suggested, NET scheme is for real teachers.
    With your current qualities, plus a CELTA, you'd still be looking at tutorial centre jobs in hk.

    Sent from my HTC One X using GeoClicks Mobile

  3. #13

    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    2,259

    In terms of the narrow question of EFL qualifications then if you want to teach young learners (wherever you might do that) you'd be much better off doing the CELTYL rather than the CELTA (or indeed rather than the Trinity TESOL).

    CELTYL and CELTA are both run by the same organisation but the CELTYL focuses on teaching Young Learners and the CELTA on teaching Adults. Trinity Tesol mainly focuses on teaching adults with a little cursory mentioning of young learners but no real focus on it.

    Those three are all reputable courses, it's just a question of their focus.


  4. #14

    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    2,259

    In terms of getting on the NET, normally you would need two years of post-qualification experience before being considered for the NET and yes, BEd or PGCE would significantly increase your chances (and salary) compared to an EFL qualification when the time came.

    It's not always cut and dried though, there is some scope for discretion, but those are the general parameters.

    And it's debatable whether a BEd/PGCE or a specialist EFL qualification is more 'useful' to a NET regardless of employment chances. A BEd/PGCE will obviously give more understanding of general child development etc. and a good EFL qualification will give more directly relevant EFL classroom skills. Having both would obviously be ideal.

    Last edited by dipper; 29-10-2013 at 10:34 AM.
    INXS likes this.

  5. #15

    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    626

    I am grateful for the information and apologise if I was a a bit snippy. I can understand where you are coming from but was just after some kind of personal experience and so on. The lady with the PNET qualified husband finding it extremely hard to find a position is something to think about.

    When I say dead end, I really mean the generic ESL positions at the private tutoring centres which seem to have a massive turn over of employees. Within China it seems like ESL is really something the vast majority of people do in their 20's to bring in a little extra cash. Most of the older teachers here are really not in a very good position in life. I know Hong Kong is a little bit better in this regard, but I have still heard of tourists working illegally at low rates and so on.

    The NET scheme seems to be a respectable program that is more career based rather than the generic sort of transient tutoring centres. I can totally understand that it would require the full teaching qualifications, but I was curious if some of the schools in the more remote locations of H.K. would have possibly been semi-realistic to work at while working towards PGDE part time.

    I'm going to have to do some serious soul searching and research on this. I am particularly interested in the PGDE's recognition in other countries should I decide to move at some point in the future. I will also start to look into overseas offerings online and on campus.


    Thanks!


  6. #16

    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    1,686

    I'm on the EDB's PNET scheme. I have a degree, Cert. TESOL, PGDE and 'real teaching' experience.

    I'd say those are pretty much the bare essentials unless you have equivalent qualifications and heaps of experience.

    Good luck and if you need any help or advice feel free to PM me.