 |
|
|
Measuring up at less than four hundred square feet, this didn’t take long. It wasn’t the size of the place that concerned me though; it was the state of it. The pile of old cars at the entrance to the village (one of them a tragically neglected classic MGB GT), the camping stove in the kitchen, the donated furniture. They were having a laugh. I sneezed as the dust awoke from its slumber and loose pieces of ‘lino’ crunched under my feet. There was very little light due to the musty ill-fitting curtains that had been dragged across the small window in the living room and I removed my prescription sunglasses so that I might see more clearly. A middle aged Chinese man (who I assumed to be the landlord), appeared in the doorway and then quickly stepped past James to pull the curtains apart. Moving towards the window I glanced at part of the narrow pathway outside which appeared to be flanked with wooden boards and planks, pieces of household furniture and corrugated iron sheets. Next to me, the landlord seemed to have become entangled in a stray curtain cord. James and Iris then led me from a combined kitchen-toilet-utility room into the bedroom to show me that there were patio doors leading out onto a rickety wooden platform. ‘Nice pa-ti-o!’ The voice came from behind. It was the landlord. He had since untied his wrist watch from the curtain cord and was now repairing an indoor television aerial with a roll of masking tape. I didn’t answer and cast my eyes around to face a line of wire bird runs where tatty, featherless poultry stooped and fought for foot space whilst emitting the kind of aroma that took me back to 1978 when I used to nick eggs from Walker’s Farm. ‘Good place to do marking,’ James observed, careful to watch his footing. He was clearly impressed with the apartment’s ‘al fresco’ facilities. I nodded enthusiastically. ‘Oh yes, I could sit out here all day!’ I replied. Only old fashioned British sarcasm could keep me afloat at a time like this. Because I was speechless. I then took
the three steps required to return to the living room where I noted that
two of my new neighbours were standing in the steel doorway pointing at
me with bony fingers, smiling and exchanging phrases in a language which
at this stage, I could never even begin to understand. A rather weathered
male face then suddenly appeared at the living room window. I stepped back
and ‘The Shining’ suddenly came to mind.
The first thing to consider when thinking about teaching English in Asia is your qualifications. Simply being a native speaker is no longer enough. In Singapore and Hong Kong (which are both excellent bases to live and work whilst you plan your adventures during school holidays) you will need to be qualified. The more qualifications you have in the field the better. In both countries, you will need a sponsor in order to obtain a working visa. In my experience there are three types of sponsor and I list these in order of preference. Your first choice should be an international school, your second a government school and your third would be a commercial language school. In order to secure a position in an International school, you will need a college or university degree in English language or Literature along with a post graduate diploma in education or similar. A Masters is an added bonus. Competition for positions in these schools is very high and so even if you are qualified, previous experience will be your passport. The English School’s Foundation, The United World College, American, British, Australian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean International schools exist in both countries and their staff, students and educational systems will largely reflect that of their country of origin. Both the Hong
Kong department of Education and Singapore’s Ministry of Education offer
excellent terms and conditions for English Teachers which include a basic
salary, medical insurance, return flights and a generous housing allowance.
Government positions in Hong Kong are less stringent in that they will
accept a native speaker with a degree related subject. This will involve
a slightly lower salary but you will still be paid a great deal more than
the average local salary. However, competition for these positions is also
very high so if you’re not successful in your application, you may like
to consider applying directly to schools which may include free accommodation
and medical insurance in addition to your salary. If you are successful
in securing a position of this nature, please ensure that you request photographs
of your intended accommodation long before you sign a contract. In my introduction
to this article, I was disappointed with my accommodation but was later
able to renegotiate alternative arrangements. I was lucky but it didn’t
exactly get my employment off on an ideal footing.
For those of you with families, international schools and government positions in Hong Kong and Singapore will offer increased housing and educational allowances to accommodate spouses and children. Your spouse will also be free to seek employment during your term of contract. It is generally accepted that your children will need to be educated an international school that is in keeping with your country of origin. However, I suspect that such applicants may be at a disadvantage when competing for positions for with single teachers as employers seek to cut costs in these difficult economic times. In terms of the working and living experience, Hong Kong beats Singapore hands down. Whilst both cities are excellent living environments for westerners and their children, there is a great deal more of interest in Hong Kong in terms of entertainment and the arts, local culture and nightlife. Whilst your salary may go a great deal further in Singapore, there is certainly a ‘big brother factor’ there which certainly isn’t evident here in Hong Kong. Please be assured that both countries will expect you to work hard in return for what they offer, but to me, when the day is done it’s the playing hard that counts… I have included a list of valuable links here which have been of great use to me in the past and which I hope will help you on your way. Mark Newton
Links: Singapore:
Hong Kong:
General
Job sites:
|
