Job Discussion Forums

[likwid_777]

Ok, so having done an interesting teaching stint in China in 2010, I am back in Australia studying for my education degree (high school). I am now going to add a language component to my degree, the two Asian languagesI have to select from are Mandarin and Japanese.

I will finish my studies in about two years, and the current thriving job market in China (which relates to the growing usefulness of speaking Mandarin) makes me wish to possibly choose Mandarin over Japanese.

While Japanese culture is cool, the job market over there seems no where near as large as in China, and even shrinking to a certain extent. I also believe that, in the Western world, there is a much larger amount of persons who can speak Japanese (while conversational Mandarin could be impressive, fluent Japanese might be lost in a sea of Jap whipped folk haha).

So, in short, I believe that Mandarin would be a better choice (not only to make future ESL contracts more enjoyable) for diversifying my employment prospects. Those employment prospects are both in education (could teach Mandarin in schools if I ever get good enough), but also in other fields. As education has a very high burn out rate, I want to try to be able to diversify after any Chernobyl melt down.

Coupled with an extra qualification in, say, journalism or business, I think this would make me versatile (or completely useless HA~!).

In short- which language do you think is more useful globally, and how do you see the Chinese and Japanese job markets for ESL teachers going in the next decade, respectively?

Xie xie, origato

[likwid_777]

I just noticed that I said "in short" twice, in one of the longer message lengths that can be found on any forum. Sorry, I was really tired lol.

DESCRIPTOR- The evil alien robot who goes overly into descriptive mode.

[/img]http://ilookforwardto.typepad.com/.a/6a0120a970bd21970b0133f4f23c1d970b-800wi[img]

[/url]http://www.ilookforwardto.com/2010/10/the-10-largest-economies-in-2030.html[url]

Edit- Attempt at image and link of world economy in 2030. [/url]

[JustinC]

Yes, agreed on the language. As to the extra qualification as a journo or business whatever; how on earth will that give you an advantage? If I were you I'd pick environmentalism, a computer language or an -ology.

[likwid_777]

Thanks for your reply, JustinC.


Well, I thought journo would be cool, with a bit of the language, you could (while teaching there) also be a journo, possibly get paid by a news source back home, for example. Visa nightmare that would be though haha. I think I'm having romantic journo fantasies of being on the cutting edge of developments in "The Asian Century".

The journo or business is not necessarily to relate to teaching, just to have something else there to morph into if need be.

Why exactly did you suggest the qualifications which you did, by the way? Is it sarcasm or serious haha?

[bluetortilla]

I speak fluent Japanese and I'm now in China learning Mandarin.

Japanese helped me greatly living in Japan, but never outside of it at all, nor did I ever work outside the TEFL industry. Japanese is for, well, the Japanese.

I would put a big bet on Mandarin soon becoming the world's second most important second language (if it's not already) but I'm almost certain that Japanese never will, though it will remain fun for Japanophilies.

[suphanburi]

Even though you replied to an old post... (May 2013)... let's see...

Japan, 127 million people, 5.9 trillion dollar economy (deflating)

USA 317 million people, 16.2 trillion dollar economy (stagnant)

China, 1300 million people, 8.2 trillion dollar economy (growth >7%)

World bank data for 2013. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD

I'd bet on Mandarin for a 2nd language (doubly so for the EFL market or the expanding business market).

.

[likwid_777]

[bluetortilla]

[fat_chris]

I lived for five years in Shizuoka, Japan (as a JET Programme ALT/PA passing JLPT Level N3 in July 2010) and have lived for five years in Sichuan, China (as a Peace Corps Volunteer and U.S. Dept. of State English Language Fellow; I will take HSK Level 4 this June).

My vote?

Mandarin and Mainland China

To steal the words of the former dave's poster khmerhit: "try it and see!"

Warm regards,
fat_chris

[likwid_777]

[Jezza]

Having lived in both countries (albeit some time ago) I would have to side with Mandarin as well. I really think that China will be the world's largest economy in the not too distant future, surpassing the U.S. As a result of that, Mandarin will be the international language, so knowing the language will put you in a better position work wise. Japan I see losing more power but still being a popular place culturally speaking.

[Alien abductee]

[bluetortilla]

[Jezza]

[bluetortilla]