Job Discussion Forums

avolkiteshvara · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 33 Location: Seattle US

Curious which countries are more lax and which more stringent on dress attire.

I hate dressing up and would like to avoid this if at all possible. But I also realize a certain "professionalism" is created by wearing slax and a dress shirt.

Any place I can wear shorts to teach?

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

In a gym, maybe.

tedkarma · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:15 am Post subject:

Most of the non-Western world places great emphasis on personal grooming and dress.

When I lived in Africa is was not unusual to see someone come out of a mud hut - in a three piece suit!

Get used to the idea that when you go overseas, you'll have to play by their rules. It is really only our culture that de-emphasizes dress standards and goes for the "Rebel Billionaire" look.

Moore · Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 730 Location: Madrid

Spain is very relaxed dress-wise. In one school where I went for an interview there was a sign asking teachers to try to avoid wearing shorts and sandals to business classes.
It's a lot nicer like this after having to dress up like a monkey for ages in Asia and Paris. There's nothing sadder than the sight of a financially challenged teacher dressed in a cheap and shabby parody of a businessman's outfit sticking out like a sore thumb on the metro.

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

North American colleges. Take a look how shabbily dressed they are. I too like to be pretty casual but I was often embarrassed how far some of my colleagues took it.

expatben · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:13 pm Post subject:

In China, I was told not to dress up too much as it scars the the students.
Spain was fairly casual. Poland on the other hand was incredibly strict.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Mexico can be fairly formal, but not overly so. Still, teaching in shorts is out.

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Sonnet · Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 235 Location: South of the river

Sorry if this sounds boring, but I don't think I'd have much respect if any of my language teachers had ever showed up in shorts. It looks equally daft if you overdress, but most places seem to settle for decently smart dress; shirt & trousers, basically.

I've never worked anywhere where you could teach in shorts, but I've only worked in Germany & China & hence don't know everything Smile

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:32 pm Post subject:

fluffyhamster · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:31 am Post subject:

I think we should wear military-style attire, that way we'd have more of a "licence" to e.g. put Al Pacino-in-Scent-of-a-Woman-style chokeholds etc on irritating students; also, such clothing is very absorbent, handy for not only sweat but blood and tears too. Very Happy

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

If you're teaching kids, shorts and a t-shirt make more sense. It really depends on the perception of your students. I personally am not worried about what my teacher wears, more about how he teaches and how he helps me to learn. If on the other hand, he stinks of alcohol, or has BO, well..