Hong Kong - TEFL in Hong Kong
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Regulations
Unlike many other Asian countries, Hong Kong enforces strict employment regulations. New Zealanders and Australians can apply to work in Hong Kong on the Working Holiday Scheme, Americans, Britons, and Canadians need to apply for an employment visa before coming into the country. Note that once in HK it is difficult to change the status of your visa.
Sometimes the smaller private schools will accept teachers without an official visa although we would not recommend this as you will be working illegally.
Qualifications
Minimum qualifications to teach in HK are a degree and a TEFL Certificate. Note that the ICAL TEFL Certificate is officially accepted by the Education Bureau in Hong Kong.
Work
There is an abundance of private lesson teaching in HK and many teachers live off these alone.
Perhaps easier to begin with, there are a number of small privately owned schools which have sprung up in recent years after the state officially switched from English to Cantonese in schools. Classes tend to be large and often conversation classes are popular. These schools are often run on a shoestring so pay is not brilliant but adequate.
Students tend to be inquisitive about Western Culture and enthusiastic.
In addition, there are several prestigious private schools which take highly qualified and experienced teachers.
Jobs can be found in the classified section of the South China Morning Post. There are often notices for teachers on public noticeboards in shops, libraries and so on.
Jobs are available all year round in HK and recruitment never stops with the exception of the Chinese New Year (January/February). May and June are the high season in respect to finding work.
A qualified native English speaker in Hong Kong can earn from 20,000 HKD per month (2,500 USD, 1,736 EUR, 1,564 GBP). There are some international schools offering from 50,000 HKD per month (6,500 USD, 4,514 EUR, 4,067 GBP) for well qualified and experienced teachers also. Part-time salaries begin around 13,000 (1,650 USD, 1,146 EUR, 1,032 GBP). Some jobs will include airfare and/or an apartment (rent is high in HK) which is sometimes shared.
Living in HK
Accommodation is likely to be the biggest expense unless you can find places to stay in the outlying islands or in hostels (some of which have dubious safety records). Having said this, eating out and the general cost of living is relatively cheap. Alcohol is fairly expensive - although often bars do "ladies nights" where women drink free!
Some schools will supply accommodation.
