Job Discussion Forums

btkong · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 21

Most people here are encouraging me to use my Computer Science background rather than my English/Journalism/Linguistics background.

Will the money be significantly more working in a computer-related field (software development, testing, etc) than if did the whole EFL grind? I am going to China more for the experience than for the money. If I wanted to make money, I would start of with a 50k-a-year job at some programming job here in Canada. While I could be wrong, I don't see myself receiving the equivelent pay in China.

It was my impression that teaching English would be far far less stressfull and would allow me more time to explore China.

What do you guys think?

Thanks for all the helpful feedback by the way!

Cheers

vikdk · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 1676

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Working in China in a computer-related field now will significantly enhance your career back home. You'll have experience in your field. You'll have experience in international corporate work. You'll have experience in cross-cultural communication in industry. You'll have a network of contacts and references for the future. And on and on and on...

Teaching English in China will improve your Canadian career only if you decide to teach English back in Canada. And it might not have that much of an effect at all.

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

jammish · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1704

NathanRahl · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 509

Teaching english here less stressful? Clearly you have never actually done any teaching. When done right, it is a hard job. Good teachers worry about their students, and how best to teach them. Now, if your just someone who is looking for a long vacation, who wants something easy, and does not care about being a good teacher, sure, come on over.

I have nothing against folks with no teaching exprience coming to china per say, but you should take it a lot more seriously then you are. If you don't, your really no different then a backpacker boozer who wishes to come here so they can get cheap beer and even cheaper women.

Bayden · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 988

NathanRahl · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 509

Ah Bayden, the ever present troll, someone who rarely posts anything for any other reason then to provoke or try to provoke others with his classic one liners. The whole classic angle is in his own mind of course.

I am going to assume your being sarcastic Bayden, as the backpackers things has been done to death here. I have no problem with non-degreed people coming here per say, but they do not all fit the mold of "backpacker". Some are good, honest, hard working people. You can't judge everyone who lacks an arbitrary thing in the same way, not everyone without a degre fit's the backpakcer mold I do not think.

Bayden · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 988

Teaching English in China is a great stress free way to go. Working (if you call it that)20 or less hours a week gives you so much free time to study the language, exercise, walk in the mountains, get drunk, pick up girls or whatever other leisure activities you enjoy.
Of course the best source of girls is right there in your class (assuming you're teaching uni' or adults of course).
But it definately is stress free.
Living here isn't stress free in the begining though.
Just dealing with everyday things like shopping, banking, paying bills or getting around can be a major headache. Best thing to do is get one of your cuter students to help you out, she'll be happy to do it for the language exchange and if you work it right you can enjoy some other benefits the modern young Chinese woman of today has to offer (like carrying your backpack for you Wink

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Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

Bayden · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 988

NathanRahl · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 509

I'd have to agree with Step on this one. Also Bayden, are you an actually teacher, did you teach before coming here? I am seriously doubting it if you find teaching stress free. I will admit, I could have stress free teaching too, however I would not teach nearly so well, cause I wouldn't care. Bayden is of course doing his usual baiting, "I am above you, I don't have the same problems as other people do" song and dance. Must be nice in the bizzarro universe you live in.

While I find teaching to be stress free most of the time, saying it is so all of the time is like saying "I never ever have stress, my job is always easy" which of the first sure sign some one is full of shite. Good teaching may look effortless, but believe me, this is not always the case Wink

Bayden · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 988

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

I am with you brother...gamers can be so trying

NathanRahl · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 509

I tend to take things seriously that are deserving of seriousness, and those things that are not I don't. Taking something seriously is not a bad thing, and I do so tire of the seeming surfer mentality towards education that people like you have Bayden.

Like I said, if your in a job where there are no quality controls, you must be your own check against laziness and ineptitude. If you fail in this regard, then your a failure, and your efforts are for naught. Enjoying your work is fine, I love to teach, why serious and enjoyment are seen as being mutually exclusive I will never know. Usually only people of limited ability and intellect see it this way.

I try to find more of a balance betwen the extremes of too serious, and not serious enough, seems like your wallowing in the not serious enough, I try and float somewhere in the middle.

Don't sweat it Bayden, not all of us can take those things deserving of seriousness seriously, some people can't take anything seriously, I'm sure your still an ok guy Wink

If this is your claim to fame though, well, mediocrity and not exceling can always be fun to. Take care Wink