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[Ivyman]

Hi Guys,

1.  Thanks for the info.  I really don't mean to sound so naive.  I hope you see that I'm asking all the questions on my mind, with the hopes to go in "with arms wide open", rather than make a career mistake.

2.  Are you guys saying second-tier grad school, or the military, is probably the best choice after this?

3.  Would online grad school (such as in information science, education, etc.) be an option?

Thanks for the consideration

[zero]

Ivyman, what do you want to achieve? The military, or second-tier or online grad school, are options if they are in line with your goals. Those are options that are open to just about anybody. They really don't have anything to do with China, though.

[Ivyman]

1.  As for my "over-arching goals":

Make as good living as possible (that usually amounts to making a lot of money)
Doing work that does a social good (cheap salesmanship, drug dealing, etc. are out)

Frankly, many jobs can help me do that.

2.  More specifically, I'd like to find some transferrable technical skills that still interest me.  As we all know, math can get boring quickly.

Thus, online master's in IT might be the best way to go, while I do university teaching in China.

[Fozzwaldus]

(Doing work that does a social good [...] drug dealing, etc. are out)

not sure if I agree...

[zero]

I just can't see how working in China accomplishes anything for you with regard to your goals. If you want to take a year off and experience China or whatever, fine, but the whole ordeal is likely to leave you at Square One, or a little behind.

[dragonsaver]

I agree with Zero on this.  Your long term goals do not match with working in China.

Most, if not all work you would do in China will not give you any transferable skills.

[ericthered]

None of the things you want to do has any relevance to teaching in China...more to the point, wake up and smell the reality of teaching. It is not an effing holiday! You want to teach and make lots of money, do an online degree and Odin knows what...I really can't understand why you want to come to China. You don't seem remotely interested in teaching...Yes, exciting and alternative teaching and research....Another reality biscuit for you...we teach English, it is that simple. Sometimes we get to teach history, literature and culture surveys, where we have to cover more than a thousand years in 32 hours, and teach our students how to use their indefinite and definte articles and that 'clothes' does not take plural 's...There is nothing in your posts so far that indicates this is what you want to do. China has enough teachers who come here to do everything but teach, which hurts both the quality of education and it is unfair to the students. If you want to join the military and get computer skills, then do so. If, however, you do not want to grade plagiarized essays and teach basic English, don't come to China.

[jpd01]

Isn't it true that the Chinese highly respect Ivy League graduates, though? My understanding is that there would be some special internships and conditions available. I also hear that some of the teaching jobs would pay substantially more in consideration of that type of degree.

A very yes and no thing.
Most of us have had the comment or attitude that we are crazy for being in China. That comment of "if you are from (insert whichever field of dreams they have in mind)why are you here"
If you are from a famous school then it's a lot worse. I've been cornered in English corner (a pun?) a number of times by students that are completely freaked out that I'm teaching in China (or even in the country at all) because of the school I went to in Australia. My school is consistently in the top 30 or 40 in global rankings and I've copped a decent amount of extreme surprise, suspicion and even hostility a couple times.
Once they realise that you have no pull or say over getting their cousin, themselves or anyone else into your school then the effect wears off fast as does their interest in you. Often they will see you as some kind of retard for simply being in China and not back home collecting the big bucks you obviously could from your prestigious degree.

[jpd01]

Just a thought on the online degree idea. I've been doing my masters in applied linguistics for the last year and change, and might have it done this year. I've found that it was doable and often having a lighter work schedule worked in my favour and over all the experience has been a good one.
However, distance education isn't always a piece of cake. It can be isolating and really difficult to get to grips with without a physical teacher and classmates.
It does take a lot of getting used to. Also you might find that certain components of your learning software or platform are slow and access is touch and go or completely blocked.
My Uni's website and blackboard uses certain google components and therefore because unacceptable at certain points. I had to invest in a decent paid  veee peee ennn to have reliable access to material and my uni's website. 

[George]

with the hopes to go in "with arms wide open", rather than make a career mistake.

That's "eyes wide open" Ivy! There is very little in China you can do that will enhance your future career. Teaching English can be fun and rewarding(soul-wise, not necessarily wallet-wise), but nobody back home gives a rats arse about your China experience. You either go there and experience the experience, or stay home and look for a job that will fulfil all your needs. It's really very simple!

[zero]

Except in Linfen. There are a lot of opportunities there that can enhance one's future quite a bit.

[George]

Oh yeah, I forgot about Linfen.

[Stil]

It's difficult to find work in Linfen. There's a lot of competition and a newbie may have a difficult time. They do highly respect top tier universities there and prefer Americans, so perhaps you would have a chance but salaries tend to be quite low. I have never worked there (I only have a common education) and I'm not sure why experience there is so prized compared to other cities but it is said that larger corporations covet expats with experience from there (as well as other revenant skills). From my understanding, smaller companies don't care as much about Linfen experience. Again I don't know why.

But to be honest I don't think you'd have much of a chance there. If a school offers a contract, you should snap it up regardless of the low pay because of the benefits. Not a place to work if you want to stay in China long term of course because of the low pay but great for experience.

If you receive an offer and don't want the job, please post the offer here (submit it to Raoul) so that one of us may have a crack at it.

[Escaped Lunatic]

Combine your plans and you could get somewhere.  Come to China (or North Korea) and join the military.  You'll learn useful technical skills and have some unique cultural experiences to share.

[Ivyman]

Hi Guys,

1.  Thanks for being frank with me.

2.  I do not appreciate the jokes about Linfen, etc.  I was hoping this forum would be a way to ask those "stupid questions" anonymously, because asking these questions and finding out answers is the only way to get crucial information for decisions.

3.  Basically, it sounds like teaching in China is good for your soul (getting to help people and getting excitement); but, in provides little in the way of work related experience.

If I want language skills, go to a respected language program in China (rather than trying to learn it through teaching).

If I want business skills, go to business school and try to get things that way.  Etc.

Am I correct on those counts?