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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Is teaching in China helpful for my career if I don't plan to teach later on?
Just kinda scared that teaching in China will look bad on my resume...
12 years 50 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
I think it depends on how long you actually stay in China to teach. If you get "stuck" here for years always doing the same, then I personally think it'll be difficult for you to forge a non-teaching career for yourself back home. I think a short stint (1-2 years) is okay, but any longer and you should really ask yourself why you're even in China teaching when you already know you don't want to teach later on. If anything, you should try to break in to the field you're interested in now while in China. It's much easier to land great non-teaching jobs here that you'd never get so easily back home so start building up your longterm career in China now and don't waste your time on teaching (since that's not what you want to do).
Teaching in China is NOT a career booster. Particularly if you intend to stay in education elsewhere. Everyone around the globe knows what a joke Chinese education really is.
However, in pursuing a non-academic career it may reflect your ability to adapt to a cross cultural circumstance. That may be worth something to someone.
laura.gage99:
I dont think it hurts you THAT much. Its real experience with real kids controlling a real class room environment. Granted it might not be much more helpful than say. . . experience as a camp counselor. But it does show that you have a tolerance level for children than many people only find out way later into their teacher education programs that they don't have.
If you do it for a year or so, it's fine. Do it over that and potential employers will look at your resume and wonder how on earth that move fits in to your overarching plan.
The last working experience is the most important. If you get an interview, get ready to answer this question.
Again, unless teaching is your thing, don't stay over a year or two...you'd be sinking your own ship.
it can help if you are planning a carreer in politics as teaching enhances your public speech ability which is must for a politician
If you learn Chinese while you're here it will definitely help you out! That's precisely why I'm here. Cheaper to come here and work and have a private tutor than to come and pay tuition and not be able to work
what career are you planning to do? any qualifications experience? if its a job you can walk into when you get back and get trained up then no it wont hurt
I agree with Ichickman. If you show real efforts to further your education or explore other interests then this time will help you if you sell youself that way on a resume.
Just ask yourself, is this just playtime for you? Because if it is, then your next employer is going to figure that out too.