Job Discussion Forums

[ChinaLady]

does your school have a "dress code" for the foreign teachers?
such as slacks or skirts for females and shirt and tie for males?
but only for the foreignh teachers!
the Chinese teachers (female) dress like the students, i.e. skin tight jeans, cute t-shirts, see through tops, etc. while the male Chinese teachers seem to have this uniform of slacks and dress shirts.
not that I am complaining. the fashion array is a source of constant internal questions - i.e. did she/he dress in the dark? not look in a mirror? has not a clue how comical/unfashionable they look?
is this discrimination? - we HAVE to look "professional" while the Chinese look like they are heading out to an evening of KTV.
confused? comments?

[anthyp]

[mike w]

I am at a private school - and yes, we do have a dress code. All male teachers have to wear collar and tie. The way teachers dress is the first impression many of the students will have of their teacher. Obviously the female teachers do not wear collar and tie, but they too must dress in a professional manner.

Incidentally, the way you dress in class can affect the respect you get from the students. If they consider you to be professional, then you will get the respect you deserve.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

mike w wrote:

[Rhino]

I would have to agree with GW on this one, at least as far as China goes, but I think mike w would get on well in Vietnam with that train of thought. I have often worn a solid color t-shirt and dress shorts to class and now in summer I'm wearing sandles as well. I've never had a respect problem, but I've only been here one year Cheers

[RVN]

Sandals. They're great. They let your feet breathe (no air-con) and look smarter than flip-flops. However my boss said I'm not really meant to wear them, although he will wear jeans and trainers to work, which I think look more casual than sandals and trousers/slacks/pants/whateveryoucallthem. I used to be vehemently anti-sandals, I never wore them back home (on the two weeks of sunshine we got each year), now I believe they rock.

However I still don't like a lot of them, they just look plain nasty, I prefer the ones that are meant to be for "sport", though what sports you can do in them I don't know.

Also, anyone who wears them with socks should be killed, and the higher their socks are, the more painful their death should be.

To sandals!

I don't care if I have to wear a shirt and tie, which I don't here but did before, however the air-con should be on, otherwise I'll be turning up in shorts and my wonderful sandals, and a shirt on top. Weather's been (relatively) cool of late so I've not done it yet.

[mike w]

Sorry folks - I can't agree with you. My 7+ years of teaching in China (both in schools and to industry) tells me differently.

If you dress professionally you will be treated professionally (at least while you are acting professionally), but if you dress like a back-packer (which I do OUT of school), you will not get the professional respect to start with.

[kev7161]

Sorry, this is off topic, but: What the HECK is going on here? People posting their opinions, politely disagreeing with each other, not calling others idiots or dumba s s or some other childish thing. I love it! I've noticed not too many of the trolls hanging out lately and . . . I don't miss 'em at all! Thank you moderators!

Personally, I wear casual slacks and a nice shirt (and usual sports shoes). The male teachers in my school wear dark suits and ties in the winter months and now they too are wearing slacks and casual shirts. But no t-shirts or shorts etc. are allowed. Most of the women look very smart in their dresses or skirts. Some of our FTs wear jeans and have a VERY casual look, but there has been on official memo telling us exactly what we should wear. I just like to look snappy for my kids!

[mike w]

[Tao Burp]

Mike,
You noted you teach at a private school.

My first year in China, I arrived at my college to teach with trousers and dress shirts, and even a few ties.

This was a mistake, and let me explain.

The sanitary conditions of my college were abysmal--coal dust, wet puddles on the floor, even saliva, and chalk dust--and no air-conditioning. Within my first week of teaching, I had changed my trousers, every day. It didn't matter how cautious I was, I still managed to get them soiled, after three weeks of that--I went the jean route and even wearing shorts and sandals on some really hot days. Of course, noticing the janitors mopping the floors with toilet water helped convince me I had made the right decision.

I even noticed some Chinese teachers dressing the same.

As far as the professionality of dress, I don't buy it commanding respect from students. Sure, it may make a good first impression, but first impressions are just that. When you go into the classroom day in and day out, hopefully there is something else happening beyond being eye candy.

Granted, it may make an inexperienced teacher feel confident walking into the classroom, and it may make students compliment you, but the bottom line, is how you run your course and your classes, and if environmental conditions are bad, why ruin your trousers over it?


I am not advocating teaching by dressing like a Seattle grunge band groupie.

I am advocating dressing practically according to the circumstances of where one is teaching here in China.

[Guest]

Before coming to China 10 months ago, I was told that women teachers could not wear trousers (long pants) but had to wear a skirt or dress. This is not true. The young Chinese teachers here at this School wear anything and everything, including jeans in the winter and shorts in the summer.

Being much older, I do not wear jeans or shorts, but I have some nice suits which I wear and I try to always dress neatly. I personally think that the Chinese (female) teachers do not dress very well, but then again - on their wages - how can they?

[laodeng]

Dear Rhonda, about your last sentence. Please do not help perpetuate the myth that our Chinese colleagues (I use the term advisedly) are paid less than we are. I believe that, in most schools, with the "13th month," extraordinary deals on housing, and other perks, they actually get more.

Otherwise, best regards and have a wonderful time with the kiddies.

[anthyp]

[Talkdoc]

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