Important Facts About Teaching English Abroad In Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of the world’s most dynamic cities, famous for its flashy skyscrapers and the bustling city scenes. It has a unique “East meets West” vibe. You don’t even need to speak the local language to get by. The demand for ESL teachers is high year-round. While the pay is attractive, the competition is not less fierce. There are some 6,000 to 10,000 foreign English teachers currently working in Hong Kong.
Here are 5 things you need to know about teaching English abroad in Hong Kong:
1. How to Apply for a Teaching Job in Hong Kon
The needed qualifications for English teaching jobs in Hong Kong rely on the schools and students. Nevertheless, you should at least have a Bachelor’s Degree and a certificate of TEFL/TESOL.
Seeking a Hong Kong job is very difficult because you have to compete with other candidates to get elected for specific employment. To increase your opportunity to get a good ESL teaching job in Hong Kong, you are suggested to have a Degree in Education and some previous teaching experience at any public schools or validated institutions. Your qualifications will place you into an appropriate category based on your skills. As a result, it will give an effect to your pay scale suitably. Therefore, you will get a better salary if you have more credentials and experience.
2. The Advantages of Teaching English in Hong Kong
You will earn approximately $2,300 to $7,000 per month for being an English teacher in Hong Kong. If you teach English as a part-time job, you will be paid around $30 to $50 per hour. The majority of schools will also support the costs of your visa and healthcare and contribute an extra payment at the end of the contract. The government sponsors $4,000 for rooms and boards to help the English program. International schools in Hong Kong also give proper payment and provide shelter or allowance for every teacher.
Nonetheless, the cost of living expenses is very expensive in Hong Kong due to the rapid economic development. If your employer does not provide a suitable housing allowance for you, you may need to find a roommate as the rent is tremendously pricey.
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3. Work Visa Necessities in Hong Kong
To get a work visa in Hong Kong, you must prepare a certificate of Bachelor’s Degree along with a sponsorship letter from your employer. The visa application procedure is quite simple, and your hiring agency or employer should guide you through it.
Part-time teachers can register as an entrepreneur, and they should apply for an “investment” visa. Apart from that, they can look for a host institution willing to hire the applicant for a required number of hours to be eligible for a work visa.
The new visa applicants in Hong Kong usually will be given a one-year visa. During the renewal, the work visa can be enlarged for one to three years, depending on the requirements.
4. Easy Ways to Find ESL Jobs in Hong Kong
You can get job vacancy advertisements on the internet as well as in local English newspapers. Jobs are available throughout the year, but the recruitment season peaks in May and June, probably continuing until July and August. You can join our Facebook group named “Teach English Abroad Jobs” to obtain the best guidelines in searching for ESL teaching jobs in Hong Kong. We will attach English teaching job postings from all over the world regularly on our page.
Once you arrive in Hong Kong, you will discover the opportunities for private teaching through the information passed from person to person.
5. Way of Life in Hong Kong
There is no need to speak the local language to survive in Hong Kong because English and Cantonese are the official languages. Therefore, many adults choose to learn English for business purposes and want their children to be fluent in this language. This good news can make it easier for foreigners to adapt to the environment here.
Hong Kong is such an exciting city with tons of incredible things to explore, such as hop on the iconic Star Ferry, taste the local street food, climb a calf-aching 268 steps at the Big Buddha, and any other outdoor activities. You can easily visit many places in Hong Kong by using the comfortable and advanced public transportation system. Facebook, Youtube, Google, and other social media platforms are accessible in Hong Kong. You can get used to this city without difficulty because the ex-pat community here is very approachable.
Are you interested in teaching English abroad in Hong Kong? Take a look at our Facebook page named “Teach English Abroad” for daily job listings.