Job Discussion Forums

erracht · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 22

I am interested in how much freedom you have in your school as to choice of dress. Where do you work and do school rules require you to dress a certain way?

I work for three schools in Prague and at all of them, I can dress as casually as I want (okay, if I were all filthy or something extreme like that, there might be a problem). Female teachers tend to dress a bit better than male teachers, but generally, casuals - including worn jeans - are not a problem and are completely common. The only thing is that in theory a client could request professional attire (probably at all three schools) and because I simply refuse to dress up even a little, I have an agreement with one of the bosses that I will only be given classes where this is a non-issue.

Is it that way where you work too or not (my question is not whether you personally choose to dress up but how much freedom of choice you have).

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I am at a university in Japan and have a fair amount of freedom where I work. I was never given a list of what I can or can't wear, more a matter of professionalism. I see how others dress and dress accordingly. Most of the Japanese profs were suits, but most are quite old and probably wear a suit everywhere. Some of the younger ones are pretty casual.

I never wear jeans or running shoes, usually I wear docker pants or casual dress pants, buttoned shirt (no tie) and comfortable dress shoes. I go for comfort and professional when I teach. I probably could get away with more, but I'd lose respect of my students and colleagues. I'm happy not to wear a tie.

leeroy · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 777 Location: London UK

Generally, the men at our school dress a little more formally than the women - but that's because we have to.

Men aren't allowed

Trainers (sandals, etc...)
Jeans
T-shirts
Shorts.

The girls can wear pretty much whatever they want though. Not fair! Smile

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

I work at a private secondary school in Japan.

Men must wear a suit, white shirt, black shoes, "business-like" tie. Underwear is left to our own discretion. Women seem to be allowed a bit more discretion, but still it must be business-like.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

I also teach in a secondary school in Japan. I wear a suit. My shirt color is up to me. Although I wear dress shoes to school, I change into sneakers inside. It looks silly, but it's the norm and it's more comfortable. In the summer, I don't wear a jacket. I could get away with being a little more casual, but schools in Japan are pretty conservative and I'd rather not push the envelope.

Ailian · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 192 Location: PRC!

dyak · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 630

There can't possibly be a dress-code here, in fact, I often wonder how far it could be pushed before someone says something. We have everything from suits to the slept-and-prepared-lesson-on-park-bench variety. Endless facial hair experiments (thankfully just the men). The 'going clubbing' look. The 'just been clubbing' look... but variety is the spice of life, no?

china_sk8er · Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 166 Location: Harbin

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

I am working at a Teacher's College and the dress code is very casual. I can usually dress up whichever way suits me and no one has commented on it.

They kind see me as the excentric Laowai (earings and eyebrow piercing) but I go out of my way to look presentable. The only thing I'd never do is show up to class wearing shorts or a tank top. I usually avoid wearing my nice shirts just because chalk get all over the darn things and that pisses me off.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

About the only rules where I teach are that men can't wear shorts and sleeveless shirts. Tee-shirts and jeans are acceptable and common. It's rare to see a teacher wear a tie, and I've never seen anyone show up for work in a suit or sports jacket. All styles of men's shoes are acceptable except for sandals of a style that don't cover most of one's feet. Sandals of all styles are common footwear for women teachers, however, and dress rules for women teachers are much more flexible than for men teachers. These same rules apply to students as well, although some male students do wear shorts, sleeveless shirts, and flip-flops to their English classes, because English classes aren't part of their regular academic-schedule block of classes.

British · Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 133 Location: China

There's no rules here in China were I work thats good for me, I don't think they care what a foreign teacher wears as long as its not shorts.

Yes it me again. Very Happy

mandu · Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 794 Location: china

i wear what i like to
shorts,kiss t-shirts rolling stones t-shirts chuck taylors

as long as im on time to class it doesnt matter even a 3 day growth is ok

merlin · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:32 am Post subject:

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Doesn't seem that many of the Chinese posters here have much of a dress code. T-shirts, shorts and sandals?

valley_girl · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 8:02 pm Post subject:

Friday is a casual day but I don't teach on Fridays. That's an office day. On teaching days, I dress professionally - blouse or nice sweater, skirt or dress pants, nice shoes. I feel more like a professional when I dress like one. It also sets me apart from my students, who are mostly in the 18-22 range and who wear mostly jeans and sweats to class.