So I'm moving to HK to be an English teacher.

[talkbackHK]

Look in the classifieds and find Children's English Centre, they are always hiring. Full time pay is quite decent, for non Net. Part time pay is pretty good too. They'll send you out to different schools to teach the after school hours extra English lesson classes or you'd teach in one of their centres.

All the Best!

[dawn_gazer]

The NET scheme is always open. You just send in your application and they'll email you whenever they have interviews.

hi there, sunniefaith!

i've lived and worked in japan as an ESL instructor since 2001. i work for one of the boards of education here. i really would like to try the NET Scheme next year. but i am a bit worried about my nationality. i am a filipino born and raised in the philippines. i have a BS degree in education, and i will soon complete my MA in Ed.

guys, do you think i stand a chance?

thanks!

dawn

[Hanenosuke]

Hey Dawn, wow, you've been working at a BOE since 2001? Privately or on JET?

Given your advanced qualifications, you'll definitely have a much better chance of getting into NET than I ever would. They might balk at whether you have an actual ESL certification or not (hey, maybe) though. Otherwise, you'll just have to hope that whoever reviews your application doesn't think "Asian does not equal English teacher".

[HKChigger]

hi there, sunniefaith!

i've lived and worked in japan as an ESL instructor since 2001. i work for one of the boards of education here. i really would like to try the NET Scheme next year. but i am a bit worried about my nationality. i am a filipino born and raised in the philippines. i have a BS degree in education, and i will soon complete my MA in Ed.

guys, do you think i stand a chance?

thanks!

dawn

Well for the most part EMB doesn't seem to be racist in that fashion. But being the scheme is called NET (NATIVE English Teacher) I am curious if you are a NET. If so, then you stand a chance for sure.

[sunniefaith]

I'm from Spore and they took me in. I've met people from Trinidad, and various places. But I do have to say that there might be people that are may not take too well with hiring filipinos. It's sad but they do equate filipinos to helpers. But it's always worth a try though. Good luck with your application.

[dawn_gazer]

hello, everyone! thanks for all the replies!

i work as a government-hired employee. the prefecture where i live happens to directly hire foreign teachers to work as ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers). i believe i'm more than fortunate to be able to work in the same board of education since 2001. nonetheless, i still would like to try the NET Scheme. i also have an ESL certification (CELTA).

i'm really hoping to be hired in the NET Scheme. but as i've mentioned in my previous post, i am also aware that my nationality might get in the way i've had the experience during my first try appying as an ESL instructor here in japan (6 years ago). but things have changed a lot these days in this country. they now hire as english teachers filipinos, chinese, indonesians, singaporeans, and other nationalities whose first language is not english.

anyway, thanks again for sharing information. should you need to know about the english teaching in japan, buzz me!

enjoy the rest of the day!

dawn

[HKChigger]

hello, everyone! thanks for all the replies!

i work as a government-hired employee. the prefecture where i live happens to directly hire foreign teachers to work as ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers). i believe i'm more than fortunate to be able to work in the same board of education since 2001. nonetheless, i still would like to try the NET Scheme. i also have an ESL certification (CELTA).

i'm really hoping to be hired in the NET Scheme. but as i've mentioned in my previous post, i am also aware that my nationality might get in the way i've had the experience during my first try appying as an ESL instructor here in japan (6 years ago). but things have changed a lot these days in this country. they now hire as english teachers filipinos, chinese, indonesians, singaporeans, and other nationalities whose first language is not english.

anyway, thanks again for sharing information. should you need to know about the english teaching in japan, buzz me!

enjoy the rest of the day!

dawn

If you are not a Native Speaker you are going to have a hard time. Because the program is the NET scheme (NATIVE English Teacher) There are lots of Native speakers who want the job. Local teachers do most of the teaching, and to me the local English Teachers sound pretty clear and very little accent. So there only needs to be like one (sometimes 2) NET at the school.

If you get an interview though and can pass yourself as a Native Speaker it may be ok, but it is still very unlikely as many Native speakers want in. Furthermore; if you have a Filipino accent at all, there is no way you will get in sadly.

[dawn_gazer]

If you are not a Native Speaker you are going to have a hard time. Because the program is the NET scheme (NATIVE English Teacher) There are lots of Native speakers who want the job. Local teachers do most of the teaching, and to me the local English Teachers sound pretty clear and very little accent. So there only needs to be like one (sometimes 2) NET at the school.

If you get an interview though and can pass yourself as a Native Speaker it may be ok, but it is still very unlikely as many Native speakers want in. Furthermore; if you have a Filipino accent at all, there is no way you will get in sadly.

Hello, HKChigger! Thanks for the reply and info...

Honestly, until now I hope that I do speak Standard English, i.e. no regional accent at all being a Filipino. Because I wouldn't want to say it myself. I believe it's the people that I work with who have the right to say that.

In the prefecture where I live, there are hundreds of applicants from different native English speaking countries that would really want to work as direct government-hired English teachers. As I've said earlier, I am really fortunate to be given the chance to do this job for quite a while now. My eyes are not closed to the realities that I am not a native English speaking teacher, and that my English language is just second to my mother tounge. Nonetheless, I still believe that my academic background, experience and skills to teach English justify my position.

I really appreciate all the information and sharing of ideas in this forum. I do believe that I need them prior to making any decision about moving to Hongkong from Japan.

Have a good day!

Dawn

[Hanenosuke]

Dawn,

May I ask, at what age did you start speaking English? Since English is an official language of the Philippines, I thought that you would be a native speaker given your current job, at least until you told us that you weren't. I mean, I'm Canadian so everyone assumes I speak French - I don't, but I was exposed to it from birth so if my family had actually bothered to force me to use it, I could call myself a "native speaker". What's your situation?

[dawn_gazer]

Dawn,

May I ask, at what age did you start speaking English? Since English is an official language of the Philippines, I thought that you would be a native speaker given your current job, at least until you told us that you weren't. I mean, I'm Canadian so everyone assumes I speak French - I don't, but I was exposed to it from birth so if my family had actually bothered to force me to use it, I could call myself a "native speaker". What's your situation?

Hi there, Hanenosuke!

To answer your question, English is indeed one of the official languages of the Philippines. I cannot remember exactly as to when I have started speaking English. Personally, we speak it at home along with Filipino (the standardized dialect of Tagalog). Actually, many Filipinos use English and Tagalog (or another local language) as their languages at home.

The official language used in the academe, government, media (both print and broadcast), religious affairs and commerce is English. I believe that this is the reason why many consider us to be native speakers of English...many but not all. Personally, I know my English is of the same level of eloquency as that of my Filipino (or Tagalog). But, you see, people are still entitled to their beliefs. Not everyone thinks of us, Filipinos, as what you think we are in terms of English language. Sad but it's true. And I cannot be blind to this reality. I would rather be more careful in claiming that I am a native speaker of English when it is obvious from my physical looks that I am from an Asian country, born and raised in that country (in my case, Philippines).

I really appreciate it that you are one of those who consider Filipinos as native speakers of English given the fact that you come from a country that is indeed an English speaking country.

Dawn