teaching english in Hong Kong

Posted by lady_bug (134 days ago)

Hello,

I was just wondering if anyone knows if it is true that to teach English in Hong Kong you must have a TESOL course AND a bachelors degree (of any sort)?

Thanks

(I am based in Other)

Posted by sk76 (132 days ago)

I know some teachers who do not have any sort of professional qualifications other than being native speakers but make a great living from teaching english at all levels.
Having said that, they have been in HK for 10+ yrs. I think now most people do expect some sort of teaching qualification especially if you want to be employed by a school rather than be self-employed.
Hpe that helps somewhat.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ppatio (131 days ago)

No, it is definitely not true that you need TESOL and/ or a degree. Anybody can teach English, even non-native speakers.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by umarfarooq (130 days ago)

ppatio, can u recomend some schools who will employ a teacher with requring TESOL ect..

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by drumbrake (130 days ago)

To get the working visa you probably need the degree / teaching qualification.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ppatio (129 days ago)

your best bet is to register with a tuition centre. but you do need a HKID. no card, no job.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by perfection (116 days ago)

If you wish to teach English in one of the Government schools as part of the NET (Native English Speaking Teachers) scheme, you definitely need a degree and a teaching qualification, with TESOL qualifications highly regarded. If you wish to teach with the British Council you will need at least a CELTA or DELTA certificate. You can obtain these qualifications through attending blocks of studies in various centres around the world. If you wish to work in a language centre, they may require some basic English teaching qualifications such as this. Of course, there is nothing from stopping a person teaching English if they can find an employer who will accept no qualifications, or if they want to run a private English tutoring business, providing they have the right immigration paperwork. Tutoring in schools or oral discussion extra lessons is also often taken on by gap year students or others who have lesser qualifications, but it would be practically unheard of I think for an untrained person to take and manage a typical class here (40+ students at times).

Of course being a teacher in a regular state of international school is a demanding post, and really I can't imagine any untrained person being able to survive.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ldavy (113 days ago)

From personal experience, even if you're working freelance and giving private tuition, you really need a qualification of some kind. Otherwise the only parents who are likely to entrust their children's English education to you are the ones who don't want to pay much money, in which case it's not worth your while teaching them.

(I am based in Hong Kong)