Hong Kong

Hong Kong is the epitome of “Where the West Meets East” with its mix of Chinese and British cultures and influence. It is a beautiful blend of history and modernity, boasting more skyscrapers than New York City and Tokyo combined! It is the first Special Administrative Region (S.A.R) of China, made up of 263 islands, and partially connected to mainland China. Yet with so many islands, it is one of the most densely populated areas in the world! It also has one of the longest life expectancies, surprisingly, considering one of their unofficial mottos is “Work Hard, Play Hard”. Hong Kongers are known for their work ethic and long work days, as well as letting loose at the end of those days, whether it is at the tallest bar in the world, O-Zone , or at 7-Eleven, since you can drink in the streets in Hong Kong. Bottoms up! History Hong Kong’s history is a fascinating one. Humans have lived there for more than 6,000 years, and while most know it to be a former British territory, the first European visitor was actually Portuguese! However, they didn’t stay long, leaving to settle for neighboring Macau and the Chinese remained until they ceded Hong Kong to the United Kingdom in 1842. English and Cantonese soon became the official languages — Cantonese is even harder than Mandarin with nine tones instead of four! Hong Kong was transferred back to China in July 1997 under the premise that they will retain its capitalist economic system, currency, legal and legislative systems and the s…

Each country has its own requirements and qualifications when it comes to teaching. Some require a bachelor’s degree in any field. In others, you’ll qualify with only a high school diploma and your TEFL certificate. Some countries have strict visa requirements that may disqualify you based on your citizenship or criminal background. Let’s take a look at the qualifications needed for teaching English in Hong Kong. Education A bachelor’s degree in any subject from an accredited school is required in order to work in Hong Kong. Some schools may make an exception for those who qualify for the Working Holiday Visa/Youth Mobility Visa programs. However, it is dependent on the school if they will hire you on this visa and/or if you do not have a degree. Citizenship Teachers from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa are preferred, but some schools may hire teachers of other nationalities if they have good qualifications and experience. You must be a native English speaker or fluent in English to teach English in Hong Kong. If you’re from Quebec or South Africa where significant portions of the population may not speak English as a primary language, you may be required to provide proof that your schooling from 7th grade through university was conducted in English. Letters from the schools stating the dates you attended and that English was the language of instruction must be submitted with your initial application, and will be s…

The history of English language learning and demand is an interesting one when it comes to the Special Administrative Region (SAR) Hong Kong. Until 1997, Hong Kong was under British rule and English was the official language. Cantonese has been the predominant language since 1949, but both languages were taught in school with English being the language of trade, business, and colonial affairs until the handover to China. Cantonese became the second official language, but more prominent than English and only certain private and international schools taught English. A resurgence of English came in the early 2010s with a boom in private language schools opening to make up for the lack of English for a decade and to catch up with other Asian counterparts, like South Korea and Japan. However, due to Hong Kong being a small Special Administrative Region it is still a competitive and small market, giving preference to teachers with experience and high qualifications. While the majority of positions in Hong Kong are found in advance, it is possible to get hired on the ground in Hong Kong. Private Language Schools The majority of English teaching positions in Hong Kong are at private language schools, where students will attend English-only classes, pertaining to things like grammar, reading comprehension, phonics, and writing in small class sizes, with contract lengths of one year. If you are working for private language schools, you can expect to save a couple hundred US dollars per…

Now it’s time to begin the application process! You do not have to choose between applying to private language schools, public schools, bilingual or international schools, or preschools. You are welcome to focus your applications towards a specific school type or you can apply to all of the options in the previous section if you are open to where you’ll be teaching or want to compare multiple opportunities! Heads up! The timelines for your job application process and for gathering documents for your visa will overlap. You’ll want to be working on both processes at roughly the same time. Be sure to check out our Hong Kong Timeline, as well as the Applying for the Visa section for more information and to make sure you are staying on track with your documents while applying for teaching positions. *ITA does not review public school program applications, such as the NET Scheme application. Please refer to the program’s website, and contact your recruiter for program application details and deadlines. Step 1: Prepare Your Initial Application Materials Resume & Cover Letter Your resume and cover letter are the keys to connecting with recruiters and beginning the application process. International employers look for specific elements in a resume that may differ from what you’re used to seeing domestically. To take a deeper dive into international resumes and cover letters, visit the Resume and Cover Letter section! Once you’ve updated your resume and cover letter to meet the recomm…

Congratulations on your job offer(s)! If you’ve been offered a position through the NET Scheme public school program, there’s not much else to consider besides whether or not you’ll accept the offer. If you’ve applied to work at a private language school, and you’ve followed our previous advice of going through any of our associated recruiters, you’re already off to a great start. We vouch for these recruiters as reputable companies, so you can rest assured that the offer you’re considering is a legitimate one. With that worry out of the way, you should focus on determining whether or not the offer is right for you . To help make this determination, follow the recommendations below. Whether you have one offer, or several, the key elements you’ll want to take note of are: salary, working hours, vacation days, sick days,, and bonuses. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect with each of these elements. Review the Basics Salary The average starting salary for a first-year English teacher in Hong Kong is 20,000 — 60,000 HKD (Hong Kong Dollar) per month depending on experience and qualifications. Anything significantly lower or higher, unless you are working for the NET Scheme or an international school (review the Popular Job Types for more on international schools in Hong Kong) should make you ask a few questions. If the reason for the pay difference is obvious, like housing is included or taken out of your salary or if you’re working longer than average hours, you may find t…

Visas can feel complicated to even the most seasoned traveler, but we’re here to ease your anxiety and help you understand what to expect when moving to Hong Kong. Visa Types Tourist Visa What is it? This is the type of visa you will most likely land on in Hong Kong, whether you already have a job or are seeking employment on the ground. How do you get one? Citizens of many countries are eligible for this short-term visa upon arrival and need only proof of onward travel within 90 days, however some citizenships, such as South African citizens only get 30 days. The visa is a piece of paper handed to you once you clear immigration, so be mindful and do not lose or damage it. How long is it valid? Most foreign citizens are allowed to stay for up to 90 days on a tourist visa, but please verify this with your relevant travel government website for official information, as well as the HK Immigration Department website. Work Visa or Work Permit What is it? The work permit, which is what Hong Kong calls their work visa, allows you to work legally in Hong Kong and the vast majority of schools are eligible to offer these to foreign teachers. The question is whether you receive yours before arrival or after. Most private language schools offer you a work permit, however they will ask you to arrive on a tourist visa and will help you obtain the work permit once you arrive, whereas the NET Scheme and international schools will have you process everything in advance. Processing the work pe…

In the days, weeks, and months leading up to your Hong Kong move, it’s more important than ever to stay organized and ask yourself: What are the logistics I have to consider and the loose ends I have to tie up in order to thrive in my new home? Do I have to worry about taxes? What about health insurance? And what the heck do I do about a cell phone? Fear not, TEFL teacher. In this section, you’ll find the tips, resources, and wisdom to tackle these questions and more! Review the Basics Health Insurance Although in a perfect world an apple a day would keep the doctor away, in reality, even teachers get sick. Cue health insurance. Regardless of the country you end up in, you should always inquire about health insurance before accepting a position. In Hong Kong, your Hong Kong identity card entitles you to their excellent national healthcare coverage, so you won’t need to worry about health insurance! However, you may want to obtain travel insurance to cover you for the short period of time before you get your identity card, so check with your school to get an estimate of how long that will be or consider purchasing about 1-3 months worth of coverage if you plan on looking for work on the ground. You also may look into getting private insurance on your own if you want access to private doctors and hospitals for less outside of the national health plan. Savings & Banking In Hong Kong, it may take anywhere from six to eight weeks before you receive your first paycheck. Therefore, …

You have finally made it to the end of the Hong Kong section, no small feat! Here is everything you may need to accomplish laid out step-by-step and month-by-month before your intended departure date for HK. This timeline is not only for the planners and check-list lovers (although you will love this too). It is strongly encouraged for anyone planning a move to Hong Kong to help keep you on track and organized as you make your way through the process. Finding a Job In–Advance ASAP: Finish your TEFL course and practicum ___ Get your digital TEFL certificate & print 1-2 copies 4 – 6 months before departure: Start doing research ___ Read through ITA’s resources, watch a previously recorded Student Affairs webinar , etc. ___ Network with ITA Alumni , read ITA alumni stories and watch ITA alumni videos , etc. ___ Read about Hong Kong and Cantonese culture, etc. ___ Ensure your passport will be valid at least 6 months past your anticipated return date or order a new passport ___ Reach out to Student Affairs Advisor ___ Start saving between 18,000 HKD and 25,000 HKD so you have enough money in your bank account for start-up costs when you arrive in Hong Kong 3-4 months before departure ___ Complete your resume and cover letter ___ Start applying to positions & begin interviewing ___ Contact two professional/academic sources for letters of recommendation ___ Take and order multiple passport photos 2-3 months before departure ___ Sign a contract ___ Book your flight ___ Apply for your…

I've always enjoyed traveling to new places and wanted to be able to stay even longer. Teaching English abroad has allowed me to live in Asia for the past five years and really get to know the region. I also wanted to do something that could make a difference. Teaching children to communicate successfully in another language can help improve their futures. Andrea V. Hong Kong Most teaching jobs in Hong Kong prefer tutors with this education, besides having a Bachelors degree in English. I picked International TEFL Academy for the great price for a high quality Online TEFL class. Abel B Hong Kong Though, having the opportunity to travel through Fujian Province as well as China’s special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau was regardless an absolutely wonderful experience, and I really have to credit International TEFL Academy for helping me achieve this opportunity. I had a great experience in Hong Kong. David C. Hong Kong