At risk of sounding stupid... Doing buisness in China?

[YingTao]

I have mailed a few people at my local university who have yet to respond so I thought maybe I would see if anyone here knows.

I would like to work in China as an interpreter/translator/representative (haven't decided yet, I'm horrible aren't I) My question is would a Canadian business degree hold any weight in China? Would it make me attractive to employers?

What is the likelihood of either my working for a Chinese company or working for a North American company in China? Moreover how would I maximize those chances?

I sure do hope that they get back so me soon

[doraemon]

I think that depends on what university you got your degree from. Is it a famous university in Canada? If so, I suppose it would be quite attractive to North American employers in China as well as Chinese employers themselves. A business degree is also quite useful (more than, say, an arts degree or something...)

I like the fact that you want to become an interpreter in China (so do I at some point in the future ). They do make a lot of money. BTW, how many languages can you speak? Have you heard of NAATI Interpreting/Translation test? Having a certificate that qualifies you as a professional interpreter/translator is quite enticing. You obviously have no problems with English and if you know your Chinese well and possibly even another language then your chances are pretty big. IMO, China needs proficient English speakers who can translate/interpret from Chinese to English (a comparative weakness for native Chinese speaking interpreters) as opposed to the other way around (which is obviously easier for you since English's your mother tongue- correct me if I'm wrong).

Also, have you taken the HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test or 汉语水平考试) yet? It's a really useful achievement to have when you're a foreigner applying for a job in China. Getting a high band/grade proves that you have the ability to work in a predominantly Chinese environment. If you haven't yet, I suggest you take it some time.

I don't really know what a representative is, but I think you would have a greater chance at becoming an interpreter/translator in China and with your Canadian university degree in business, you can specialise in that particular field. What do you think?

[YingTao]

I am still a beginner in Chinese, I've been self studying since the end of high school but have slacked a bit. (I hope a year isn't too big a loss). Unfortunately I only speak one language fluently. Unless you count Klingon but I doubt they need interpreters for that... yet.

I am currently studying to get my Chinese up to a level where I would be able to take the HSK and score well. Right now I can recognize only about 200 characters but my vocab in really bare (not to mention poor grammar).

I am hoping taking Chinese classes in university alone with a tutor and at home study will hurry that along a bit.

[doraemon]

So you're still studying at university? Oh...I was under the impression that you already graduated and were looking to work in China or something.

Well, good luck with your Chinese studies then. I'm sure you'll be fluent in no time.

BTW, what's Klingon?

[YingTao]

Oh no. I am looking for the degree that will make me most attractive to employers.

Klingon is a fictional language from a science fiction show called Star Trek... I really can speak it

[doraemon]

Oh no. I am looking for the degree that will make me most attractive to employers.

So...you're still yet to study at university, right? Sorry if I've still misunderstood you...

Klingon is a fictional language from a science fiction show called Star Trek... I really can speak it

Oh okay...wasn't really expecting that (I thought it was more like an obscure language spoken by a small tribe of people or an artificial language like Esperanto) but...how did you learn it? Did they actually have a book or something that taught it?

[gerri]

For Trekkies, the hard-core fans of Star Trek, there were books on how to speak Klingon, indeed.

Quite interesting to hear from someone who actually learnt it and is willing to admit to it; it's very much a geek pastime... Then again, there are people discussing just how great J.R.R. Tolkien was for inventing the languages in his books -> http://www.google.com/search?q=tolkien+languages (including from a scientific, linguistic, standpoint...) - Or am I saying basically the same thing, since linguists might be considered geeks?

[simonlaing]

It is great that you are trying to study Chinese, welcome to the club.

however,

if you only know 200 characters, you have a ways to go before your can use Chinese in a business setting , let alone be an interpreter.

Optimistic, masochistic and really smart people can learn Chinese in 3-5 years. For the rest of us it takes awhile longer.

I would get a degree from a good Canadian or US university. If you want your minor or major to be in Chinese or Linguistics that can help. A Chinese degree won't serve you like the western university degree will.

Good luck. Also remember either way it will take awhile to master Chinese.

Simon:)

[doraemon]

Oh, and I forgot to add, since you're going to graduate with a business degree, you should probably take the HSK Business exam as well as the normal HSK one (the first one's probably more important in your case- when you get there ).

Good luck and hope to hear lots of progress from you!