This paper analyses the forms of, and the reasons for developing extracurricular activities by fellow participants in an alternative teacher preparation programme in China. We frame the paper through Bourdieu's sociology. Our interviews with 16 fellows reveal that fellows manoeuvre their capital portfolio to develop both academic and non-academic forms of extracurricular activities. Reasons for developing extracurricular activities include using available resources through capital conversion, expanding students' horizon through contemptuous habitus; and taking into account the local needs. Despite fellows' good intention to compensate local students, we call for reflexivity to transform their contemptuous habitus into one that realises local values.