<p>I'm a good writer (or so they said), but I love travel, and I'm fascinated by Asia (i just got back from living there for two years).. therefore, I can't fathom living and working in the US for long at all. </p>
<p>I've decided that I would like to major in Chinese (culture and language), but for a double major or minor, I'm split between religious studies and English.</p>
<p>I figure my career, at least at initially, will be teaching English. I'll need a TOFEL certificate for that (but they appear easy to get)</p>
<p>I might want to move my career into the non-profit/ charity(sp?) direction. I've read that religious studies is good for that. I feel that religious studies might compliment Asian studies more, and I'm not too interested in studying Shakespeak, et al. But at the same time, I realize that English probably leads to many opportunities all over the place.</p>
<p>If you really want to teach English, majoring in Chinese won't really help. I've been doing some research. Here's what I heard:
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TESOL certification for the public schools is normally a post-graduate course. Undergraduate students who are in teacher's training programs can sometimes squeeze in the extra courses so that they can be certified in TESOL when they finish college.
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[quote]
University-based TESOL/TEFL/TESL programs also confer professional legitimacy on their graduates. These are more variable because each university sets up its own program. In the US the national TESOL organization has recommended standards for these programs, but these aren't requirements. Here each individual state has its own teacher certification requirements, hence the University of Maryland TESOL program (designed to meet Maryland requirements) is different from the University of Iowa TESOL program (designed to meet Iowa requirements). Sometimes a working teacher will do only a core set of TESOL coursework for an "add-on certificate" which allows someone certified, for example, in Elementary Education to now work as an ESOL instructor for the language learners at his/her school. Sometimes they will opt for an M.Ed. in TESOL or an M.A. in Applied Linguistics which includes more coursework beyond the basic state requirements. For more information about programs in the US, you can check out the TESOL.org website: Finding</a> Teacher Education Programs in TESOL
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</p>
<p>To obtain entry-level employment in certain Asian countries (Thailand and Vietnam) you need a Bachelors degree (any major) and a TEFL certificate (CELTA is the most reputable). To teach at a higher level, you might need a MA or take the DELTA course. If you want more information, email me and I'll pass you some TEFL websites :)</p>
<p>Can you provide a link regarding the Delta course? My interest to study Chinese is because of my interest in the region.. plus there are fellowships, etc offered at my college for majors with that, and also introductions to employers through the special flagship-type program.</p>
<p>Although it's not a top University in the nation, It offers the "only undergraduate program" in the nation for advanced Mandarin learners:</p>
<p>"Flagship students will spend their junior year immersed in the culture and integrated into regular courses at Nanjing University in China. Flagship scholars will receive career counseling, introductions to government and private employers, and internship opportunities."</p>
<p>I'm not interested in the difficulty either. Maybe I have an inner polyglot who is waiting to come out?</p>
[quote]
If you have substantial experience of teaching English to speakers of other languages, and are ready to progress your career, you need the Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA). This internationally recognised qualification helps you to:</p>
<pre><code>* deepen your understanding of the principles and practice of teaching the English language to adults
* examine your current practices and beliefs
* apply the results of your learning and reflection to your current teaching position and more senior roles.
[/quote]
</code></pre>
<p>To be honest, I'm not sure what to do with a major in Mandarin. Work in China, as a translator? I don't know what other job would require that depth of mastery.</p>
<p>gosh. thanks for the Delta info.. but your location is Singapore... last year I was in Kuala Lumpur visiting a Chinese-Malaysian girl. I was always going to China town. One idea I have is that I can work in publishing Chinese Buddhist poetry. I also have aspirations to (maybe) do graduate work in Buddhism, and I'll need the ability to read Chinese or Pali or Japanese, etc. So I can read the sutras.</p>
<p>I know someone who graduated from my school (a pretty modest and relatively unknown LAC) last year who is now teaching English at a university there. I believe he majored in History, and I am sure he did not have any training like the TEFL certificate. His experience in Chinese was through the few courses offered at my school, and I believe he probably studied abroad there. His only advantage is a special partnership between the Chinese university and my school, which probably helped him land the job.</p>
<p>Basically, what I'm trying to say is that it seems like if you want to teach English over there, it seems like you could get a job pretty easily, and getting your TEFL certificate would probably help you be a better teacher. If you're looking at more advanced degrees, I would go with a M.A. in Applied Linguistics, with which you can probably earn your TEFL certificate with only a few extra classes.</p>
<p>As for what a degree in Mandarin alone can do, it could definitely be useful in the realm of international business, though you don't seem like you necessarily want to go in this direction.</p>
<p>As for a second major/minor, I feel like your preference lies in Religion, and my advice is to go with what you like best.</p>
<p>Just out of personal curiosity, where did you live in Asia? I just spent a little over a month in China, and I found it to be such an interesting experience.</p>
<p>I was in the Philippines--Dumaguete, which is south. Yes, I might go for East Asian studies, or South East Asian studies, but I would still be required to take 3 years of Japanese or Chinese. My school has study abroad options in China (several in China), I think 3 in Vietnam, some in Thailand, and 2 in India , and one of those even has a trip into Tibet.</p>
<p>Hmmm, I'm currently thinking of a business minor. I think it would compliment the more literary major better. I have this theory: that, say, an English minor and a Asian studies major would be lop-sided... an English minor would probably be successful in an Asian studies job and vice versa.</p>
<p>While, Chinese major will not necissarily succeed in a buisness job and vice versa, but a Chinese/ business minor has the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>Ps. I'm still split between business and economics. My impression is that business produces more leadership skills, and economics is more boring and behind the scenes.</p>
<p>Gee, I should have leadership skills because I was in the military. But I guess not.</p>
<p>Find a major that would incorporate Chinese history, Chinese philosophy, Chinese art, Chinese language, Chinese politics, Chinese theater, and Chinese culture. Something like Classical Studies, only that it's set in China.</p>
<p>I'm going to take a year or more off after I complete my AA (partly to save up cash and to obtain state residency), before I transfer and continue as a junior. I'll study and take classes (non credited classes offered by a non profit place in Portland Oregon). Chinese language and calligraphy. So I'll have a taste of what Mandarin is all about before I take the plunge.</p>
<p>Not sure how many people know this (probably everyone knows), the Chinese are great business-minded people. France:romance, Germany:engineering, America:ambition, Philippines:adaptability, China:business.. lol, ok forget I said that.</p>