Career Advice for a NET Teacher - Any advice or help is appreciated!

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Posts
    10

    Career Advice for a NET Teacher - Any advice or help is appreciated!

    Hi there GeoExpatters,

    Sorry for the lengthy post, but appreciate any help and advice.

    I am English and a native English speaker in his 20’s, born and raised in Hong Kong. I did an unrelated degree to English teaching (hospitality), and transitioned from the hospitality industry just over a year ago. I have been currently working in a learning centre for over a year now. Over the past several years while at university and High school in HK, I taught private tutoring, taught in learning centres, and free-lanced at schools/kindergartens. While working at my current job, I have found that my passion is teaching, teaching English more specifically, but I dislike the commercialism of learning centres. I have been studying pedagogy, English grammar and linguistics as a side hobby. I applied to the PGDE programs in Hong Kong, however didn’t even get shortlisted for the interview (based on the lack of qualifications/experience in my opinion), therefore… rejected.

    I am currently pretty confused on what to do. I believe I should do my Cert TESOL with English for Asia before the 2nd half of this year after his current teaching contract is up (I do not possess a TESOL or any relevant teaching qualification as of yet). After finishing the certificate course, apply for a job full-time at a kindergarten/school, will this improve my chances in applying to the HKU and HKIED PGDE programs next year (2018 intake)?

    I also wonder if there is anything else I could apply for this year that could help towards getting myself a placement in a school and applying to the PGDE program in the future? Since the (2017) PGDE is no longer an option for me this year.

    A MA in English costs $96,000 for full-time study in Hong Kong for local students, which is currently out of my budget. Are there any distance courses I could apply to? If not, should I do the Diploma TESOL at English for Asia following my CertTesol? Not sure if the DipTESOL will help with PGDE applications/getting a better job/improving my CV.

    Or if anyone knows of any affordable overseas PGDE programs or relatable courses to consider? Montessori programs, or any good diplomas that would help with my own education, teaching skills, and improving my CV. That would also be great to know of. I am open to trying most things, I just lack the knowledge and guidance in this industry.

    I have considered an IPGCE from Sunderland, but heard that it lowers his chances at getting a job at good local schools, and the ESF schools in Hong Kong don’t acknowledge it. I would love to apply to the UK to do my PGCE, but its 4 times the price compared to the ones being offered in Hong Kong, and I believe it’s just as competitive.

    Eventually I would like to be a registered teacher or on the NET scheme, or working at an international school within the next 2-6 years, sooner rather than later. Or even have the ability to travel the world and work in a selection of schools.

    Thank you again if you read all the way here. Any advice is appreciated.


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Posts
    94
    Quote Originally Posted by 09wukd1:
    I have considered an IPGCE from Sunderland, but heard that it lowers his chances at getting a job at good local schools, and the ESF schools in Hong Kong don’t acknowledge it.
    .
    Hi there. I don't know where you got this info from but it is false. I work at ESF and they accept this certificate. They won't acknowledge the PGCEi from Nottingham University. On the other hand, I have a friend who works in a good local school and she has the PGCE from Sunderland.
    Good luck!

  3. #3

    Not sure if you're aware but in the UK, some PGCE subjects have bursaries and the better your degree classification is the better the bursary (potentially up to 25,000 pounds), however, from reading your post it seems you wouldn't be eligible unless you could teach maths, science, French or Spanish etc.

    Quote Originally Posted by 09wukd1:
    I have considered an IPGCE from Sunderland, but heard that it lowers his chances at getting a job at good local schools, and the ESF schools in Hong Kong don’t acknowledge it. I would love to apply to the UK to do my PGCE, but its 4 times the price compared to the ones being offered in Hong Kong, and I believe it’s just as competitive.
    Well, it's usually about the subject; English PGCEs for example, usually have many applicants but also, you could choose a not so good UK university and as long as you can actually teach the subject you could get on the course easily enough. Of course, the best UK unis are indeed very competitive for a PGCE. I remember doing some interviews for unis in England and honestly the interviews were extremely difficult and mentally tiring (actually worse than any job interview I've ever done).

    Eventually I would like to be a registered teacher or on the NET scheme, or working at an international school within the next 2-6 years, sooner rather than later. Or even have the ability to travel the world and work in a selection of schools.

    Thank you again if you read all the way here. Any advice is appreciated.
    The problem here is to work in international schools they generally require home experience; that is to say, about 2 years minimum teaching your subject in the UK. If I'm not mistaken you're looking to teach EFL, right? International schools in the main do not recruit EFL teachers; they recruit maths, geography, history, French teachers and so on. So, to be thinking of a career in international schools teaching EFL is not really going to happen unfortunately.

    Anyway, good luck!