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TEFL job hunting tips
job hunting tips for teaching English abroad

advice and links

• Only in Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and the Middle East is one able to teach English abroad on a 'Western' wage package. If you find one of the rare legitimate placements in a developing country, you're only likely to be on a local wage. There are opportunities in ex-colonial African countries, China and India - and, if you know Spanish, South America.
• There are lots of projects which promise volunteers can 'make a difference' teaching abroad - many of them are quite dubious, and some can even do more hard than good (check out my essay on 'overseas volunteerism'). In many cases, agencies/gap-year outfits expect you to pay for the privilege of teaching in the developing world. As a rule, if you find you're receiving a wage, then your work is legitimate, valued and needed. 'VSO', which employs professional, experienced teachers, in an exception to the rule - but it is largely a volunteer programme.

worldwide TEFL job-hunting links:

• TESall.com
• Dave's ESL Cafe
• TEFL.net
• TEFL.com
• Edufind Jobs
• TEFL Asia
• English Schools Worldwide

other paid jobs overseas:

• Acorn Adventure Camps
• Adventure Jobs
• Bunac
• Camp America
• CC USA
• Datum JobSearch
• Escape Artist Jobs
• Euro Jobs.com
• Hot Recruit Jobs
• Imaginative Traveller Tours
• Job Site.co.uk
• Jobs Abroad.com
• Jobs Africa
• JobsDB Asia
• Overseas Jobs Search
• PAYAway
• Planet Recruit
• Summer Jobs

overseas volunteering:

• Aid - VFP
• AidCamps
• AIESEC
• Camp America
• Cross-Cultural Solutions
• DAD Romania
• FindAGap.com
• GapYear.com
• GVI Expeditions
• Kiya Survivors
• UN Volunteers
• Volunteering.org.uk
• VSO
  

> TEFL in Hong Kong

> TEFL in Japan

TEFL in Hong Kong

• In Hong Kong, tax is low-to-non-existent, it's super clean, has a huge ex-pat community with lots of English clubs, activities, sports, events and the public transport is the world's best. The territory has dozens of tropical beaches, temples, a mind-blowing metropolis at it's heart, fantastic hiking and outdoor activities, 248 idyllic outlying islands, huge country parks (80% of HK is actually greenery) and most items are a good deal cheaper than home, what with mother China next door. It's very compact and all of Asia is on the doorstep (cheap flights and trains to China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos etc...). The cliche about HK being an 'ideal balance of East and West' rings true; English is widely spoken and Western food and products are available everywhere. Though Hong Kong is an aggressively consumerist, capitalist society, it is 'tempered' with Chinese tradition and Buddhist beliefs. It's a fantastic place to live and work.
  
  
• A degree (in any subject) is often a substitute for a TEFL certificate in HK (and Japan), and training will often be provided. There are 2 legitimate, reputable options for HK and then there's the option of turning up and going it alone!
  
  
• Chatteris Educational Foundation is the first option, I did the 9-month programme back in 2005-6. The wage, just under £1000 a month, is just enough to live on and save some for travel. Chatteris has its problems and it's 'charitable' status is somewhat questionable, but they support and train you. You'll be placed with another British, Canadian, Australian or American in a primary or secondary school, there'll be several dozen others who you'll train with and so you'll immediately have a big social network. Chatteris have also started a 'college' programme, though the more traditional school programmes are a better option. With Chatteris, your emphasis will be on oral English with a 'non-formal' approach (i.e. games, crafts, 'fun' activities), often taking small groups of children out of the class for additional activities. If you can look beyond their terrbile website, it makes for a great first year in HK - particularly for fresh graduates.
  
  
• The government NET (Native English Teacher) programme is more high-brow and demanding but offers a better package and wage. However, you don't get the 'instant social circle' you would with Chatteris. NET is ideal should you decide to remain in HK after doing the Chatteris programme and great if you already have a TEFL or PGCE qualification. If you do not have a TEFL certificate, you'll need some experience (preferably in Hong Kong) and you will have to do a TEFL course in the first year of your contract. There is more responsibility involved and the application process is competitive, particularly as there is no longer a shortage.
• In the primary programme, the basic salary range is HK$21,830 [£1,374] to HK$38,265 [£2,409] per month per month dependant on experience and qualifications. However, every NET who usually resides abroad gets a 'special allowance' of HK$12,950 [£815]. It means that, in reality, you'll actually be on - at the very least - HK$34,780 [£2,189] per month. Also, there's a 15% gratuity on everything you earnt awarded at the end of the 2-year contract, though - in theory - one could quit with a month's notice at any time. Flights, medical insurance and excess baggage are also paid for by the Education Department. These reimbursements end up offsetting the modest tax you pay each year.
• Applications are normally accepted until mid-January and are processed for a couple of months, followed by interviews and lots of reference/qualification checking and assessment. By May/June, you'll have some interview offers, they can be carried out by phone/email. If you are in the territory, you will have an advantage over other applicants in that you can attend interviews in person.
• Workload differs school-to-school and it is not recommended one 'turns up' in Hong Kong hoping to get on the programme, as the process (particularly the work visa process) can take several months.
• See the NET Scheme guide for more information or drop me an email.
  
  
• For extra money in Hong Kong, you can easily find tutoring work - where you visit a family's home and help their child with homework/English games. The standard payment is £20-25 an hour. I didn't find this necessary with Chatteris or the NET programme, and it's technically illegal to work beyond your work visa stipulations - but many people like to supplement their income.
• Summer schools, English drama organisations and language schools are also options in Hong Kong, but all foreign workers - doing paid or voluntary work - require a work visa, so make arrangements with an employer beforehand.
  
  
• For videos, photos and more on teaching in Hong Kong, click here.

links:

• Chatteris Educational Foundation
• Government NET Scheme
• NET Scheme guide
• HK school database

TEFL in Japan

• The culture in Japan is arguably more interesting, though it doesn't have the ex-pat community of HK and has a sturdy language barrier. There are a number of schemes, JET - although bureaucratic and elitist - is the only reputable option. On JET, you will almost certainly be placed in a rural area.

links:

• Jet Scheme
• ECC Scheme
• Working Holiday

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