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The Price of Being International: A Self-reflection From Chinese Doctoral Returnee
YUAN Di
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DOI:10.17265/2161-623X/2025.03.006
Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
The experience of being Chinese international student studying English Education in the U.S. equipped me the “dual identity”, which linked my home country and host country. After obtaining the doctoral degree and returning to China, instead of benefiting from the overseas academic experience in China’s job market, I found myself at a disadvantage to securing a job in the Chinese higher education system. This drove me to ponder how much I was shaped and reshaped by the macro context (China and the U.S.), to what extent a PhD degree was valued in China’s job market, and finally how I situated myself in Chinese context. This reflection is a snapshot to offer insight for anyone who is seeking foreign training experience and returning to his or her home country for a job.
higher education, China, international student, job, learning quality
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