What to pair with a Chinese degree?

[tgray88]

I'm not actually sure if this is the right section to post this, but none of the other sections looked quite as appropriate.

So here's the thing: I enjoy Chinese and am majoring in it, but I'm worried about the lack of jobs options from just a Chinese degree. However, I'm not too sure what I should study along with Chinese. Truth be told, Asian languages have been my only main interest for the past few years. Recently I have taken an interest to Human Geography, but I'm not sure if studying Geography would increase my job options out of college. It has been suggested that I look into Journalism because I love working with different kinds of people in different situations.

Right now I'm looking at these options:

1. Double Majoring in Human Geography and Chinese

2. Double Majoring in Chinese and Journalism (PR or Advertising)

3. Graduating a year early to study more Chinese in China and coming back for an MBA.

So my question is: what should I do? I enjoy Chinese, I don't enjoy Chinese literature hardly at all and it seems like a continued study of Chinese would involve lots of time in a library and teaching. I love talking, especially in Chinese, and I love meeting different kinds of people, I love traveling and experiencing new things. Out of these options which option would you think I would be best suited for? Or if you have your own suggestions please state them.

Thank you for any help. This has been troubling me for a long time now.

[L-F-J]

ever consider being a chinese teacher? i know of several americans who have learned mandarin to a very high level and are now professors in american universities teaching mandarin.

[tgray88]

I thought about it and I'm sure I would enjoy teaching for a spell, but I'm not sure if that's something I want to turn into a career. Not to degrade teaching, but I always considered it my secondary plan if things don't work out, since it requires only limited specialized knowledge of the material in most positions and a few other skills for teaching it. I mean...my high school football coach taught history...

[FadedStardust]

Have you considered working as a translator? I don't know much about the profession, but it would give you a good opportunity to speak lots of Chinese, as well as a good excuse if you want to actually be IN China... something to think about if your goal is to speak as much Chinese as possible.

[tgray88]

I have spoken with some people about translation and many abhor the task. Everyone wants to translate the video games and the movies, but most intermediate translators end up translating ancient Chinese medicine packets with phrases like: "It does wonders for your loins!" And many use rare characters that look cool the Chinese buyer, but leaves the foreign translator puzzled to find the best translation.

I did some basic interpreting for some random business man when I was in China and really enjoyed it, but that's something that would require pretty amazing Chinese and many of the jobs are on a case-by-case basis and doesn't have much job security. But I enjoyed it enough to consider it a worthy venture.

[Shadowdh]

I have paired Chinese with International Relations (and a masters in International Security) which I hope will lead to a career... perhaps something in analysis or similar.

[zerolife]

depending on your real interest

since you aren't interested in literature, i would drop the first one

from what I heard, too many people are doing MBAs nowaday

so out of the three choices, the second choice sounds the best to me (if you have a real interest in journalism)

@Shadowdh

I'm in international relations and I wonder how you can pair it with Chinese? I haven't found a single job in China where my international relations major would be advantage to me ... most are business or engineering related ... not sure if I'm looking at the wrong place

[Shadowdh]

Hmm to be honest I wasnt thinking of working IN China, rather working in the west in REGARDS to China, eg analysis work for agencies or companies that might want to work there or know about how China thinks or works...

[zerolife]

oh I see ... yeah that might be a good combo

I see you are from England so its not going to apply to you but here in Washington D.C., there are no shortage of international relations related jobs from both government and NGOs that require Chinese language skill

[Shadowdh]

You never know mate the DC could be a go... never discount anything I say... well almost anything... and its becoming more and more the case here as well...