Teach English in Hong Kong

Native Speakers Remain in Demand

Hong Kong downtown, as seen from a peak.

Now is an excellent time to teach in Hong Kong as there is a huge demand for both experienced and inexperienced teachers.

When I first moved to Hong Kong I heard that it would be nearly impossible to find work because I had no formal experience as a teacher. But I found that if you are a native English speaker there is a job for you — and not only as an English teacher. I knew an Olympic swimmer who landed a high-paid job as a swimming coach, several musicians who gave lucrative music lessons, actors who taught drama, and painters who landed art teaching jobs that paid three times the amount of a similar job would in the U.S.

Hong Kong has some of the highest wages for English teachers in Asia. Pay for full-time jobs in can are quite high (a broad range, from $2200-$8000 a month, depending upon the public, private, or international school path you choose). So is the cost of living in Hong Kong. Many international schools also supply housing or a housing stipend. However, you will need a Z visa from mainland China to teach in the unique city.

Both English and Cantonese are official languages in Hong Kong and is English is dominant in the business sphere of this busy financial capital. Many adults seek to improve their English for business purposes; many more want their children to grow up bilingual so they have opportunities to attend school overseas or excel in business. The prevalence of English in Hong Kong makes the transition to living there easy. In fact, though this is not suggested, many expatriates in Hong Kong never learn to speak Cantonese because English is so widely spoken and understood.

Most of all, Hong Kong is an exciting and fascinating place, with many of the comforts of home. Its dynamic East-meets-West atmosphere means you can go to exotic markets for dinner ingredients or find comfort food at an American-style eatery. It’s extremely easy to navigate, with a superior public transportation system. It is busy, vibrant; around every corner there’s a new spectacle to behold. And the students are a dream — education and teachers are highly respected, and students tend to be extremely well behaved.