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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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 Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject: Is the grass greener on the other side? |
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I have been teaching in Asia since 2005. I have enjoyed living here and my oral Mandarin is not bad. I enjoy teaching but have been wondering whether I should stay in the field or do something else. I will inevitably get some more qualifications whether that is teaching related or not.
The real question is what to do. I will first take the foreign service test in November but if that does not work out, I will need to do something.
Currently my three thoughts are:(in no particular order)
teaching certification
get a degree in business in Shanghai
get certified as a nurse
I love living abroad so teaching or trying to get into business in China seem like the best options.
Anyone have any opinions from their experience? |
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robertokun
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 199
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| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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| If you enjoy what you do, stick with it. Yes, the grass is always greener on the other side, and sometimes when you jump the fence you look back and swear the grass is actually greener on that side. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:07 am Post subject: |
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| Basically I like living abroad and want to continue doing so. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 2:59 am Post subject: |
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Ok, as far as the teaching cert, could you get it now, while teaching? Honestly, I'd go for the most lucrative, which would be the last two. Business, intl business is big. I don't really know about nursing. though I do know there are lots of programmes that need volunteer medical staff, espcially poorer countries.
I'd go for business, but then again, that was my major. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 3:05 am Post subject: |
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Ok, as far as the teaching cert, could you get it now, while teaching? |
If I want to get a teaching certification I would go back to the US and get an alternative certification wherever I could get a job. I would probably go to Las Vegas because my mother has a friend in the administration there. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 3:07 am Post subject: |
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I'd go for business, but then again, that was my major. |
Getting a degree in business in China would be the most difficult route. I would probably have to save $20,000US first and work part time in the morning or evening as an English teacher.
If the business classes were before 4PM I would get an evening job. If I did a night program I would get a job in the morning and study in the afternoon and on the weekend. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:05 am Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
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I'd go for business, but then again, that was my major. |
Getting a degree in business in China would be the most difficult route. I would probably have to save $20,000US first and work part time in the morning or evening as an English teacher.
If the business classes were before 4PM I would get an evening job. If I did a night program I would get a job in the morning and study in the afternoon and on the weekend. |
True, but you'll probably pay it off faster being in business than education. My mother, 35 years experience, 2 MAs, music teacher gets about 60K a year. Not much. Business probably pays better. Look into student loans, scholarships. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:57 am Post subject: |
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| Just wish me luck on the foreign service test then it will be irrelevant. |
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silvertonguedcavalier
Joined: 04 Dec 2008
Posts: 27
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Do whatever makes you happy. Doing otherwise will leave you feeling hollow and miserable, and no amount of money is worth that. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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Do whatever makes you happy. Doing otherwise will leave you feeling hollow and miserable, and no amount of money is worth that. |
So doing a second B.A. in Chinese Literature is all right. Even know I will be 34 when I graduate and it probably will not help my job prospects at all. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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| It depends why you're gtting the BA, do you want the prestige of the BA in Chinese Lit or do you want the courses? If you just want to study, do open courses. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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| If you just want to study, do open courses. |
What do you mean by open courses?
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| It depends why you're gtting the BA, do you want the prestige of the BA in Chinese Lit or do you want the courses? |
I would do it out of interest and prestige but then I would be 34 and have no better job prospects than I currently have.
Not to mention that in the US people with two year technical degrees or trade degrees make more than people with B.A.'s.
Learning a useful skill earns money. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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| I mean those that don't count towards a degree, ones that you can just take. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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| I mean those that don't count towards a degree, ones that you can just take. |
I am not sure what the difference would be. It would cost the same. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:14 am Post subject: |
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| The grass may be greener, but be careful you don't step in the fertilizer. |
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