Global Student Teaching?

[lanems]

I'm currently in Tokyo on an internship with Tokyo Co-Op, but I will be heading to Hong Kong in a month through an organization called Global Student Teaching (GST). The organization is centered in England but there is some connection with my home University in Minnesota. I am studying Linguistics and TESL in college and doing this as a part of my teaching requirements.

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with Global Student Teaching or if anyone has any advice about living and teaching in Hong Kong. While I will only be an assistant, this will be my first time living and working in Hong Kong. I don't speak any Cantonese (or Mandarin for that matter). I've lived in Japan for over a year but I more or less speak the language here, so I'm getting a bit worried about living in a country where I really don't speak the language at all.

Any advice or comments would be appreciated. Thanks for your time!

[mycolumbus]

The British owned Hong Kong from 1841 to 1997, so many things are based on the English system. Both Chinese (Cantonese) and English are the official languages of Hong Kong.

Hence, don't worry about not being understood. I know how frustrating it can be to not understand a language.

Before going I would see a doctor and get any immunisations that may be required. According to the Lonely Planet on Hong Kong, cholera, Diptheria and Tetanus, hepatitis A and B, Japanese B Encephalitis, polio, rabies and typhoid should be immunised against.