Job Discussion Forums

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

i haven't read the whole nine years of this one and forgive me if i've jumped to any conclussions below but...

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

I notice the OP's post just referred to the male teachers. Are the female teachers receiving an equal dress code or can they get away with anything?

I ask this because I have worked at places that were very strict about the male's clothing but a woman could get away with anything.

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

So, obey the rule. Wear a tie. That's all. Just a tie. No shirt. No jacket. Pants optional.

jeffinflorida · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:36 pm Post subject:

Neilhrd · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 233 Location: Nanning, China

Dress codes have long been a contentious issue on here. My view is:-

1. If you don't like the dress code specified in the contract then don't sign it. FTs can't complain about breaches of contract by Chinese schools if we do the same.

2. As for what is appropriate dress it depends on what you consider your role to be. If you are happy to be eye candy, or if your school insist that you are eye candy and don't allow you to teach proper English in a proper way then dress like eye candy on the beach. It's their problem.

3. If, on the other hand, you intend to be taken seriously as a teacher by your students, the parents and your Chinese colleagues then dress as a professional Chinese teacher would be expected to dress. In my city, which is hot from April to November, this does not mean a tie but it does mean a collared shirt, pressed trousers and shoes not jeans, shorts, a T-shirt and sandals. I see nothing wrong with complying with these norms.

4. If you are expected to wear a tie in summer ask if that rule also applies to Chinese teachers. If it doesn't then tell them what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

Ping Jing · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:06 pm Post subject:

Babala and Neil had keen observations, which I raised in my chat the other day. As a result of the chat, I'm now only being asked to wear a tie when I do the DEMO class for prospective students. They think it will help the school's image.

I recall teaching at a university and never seeing any of the male Chinese teachers wearing a tie. Besides that, I can count on 1 hand how many times I have seen a Chinese business man wearing a tie. It seems that wearing a tie is not a Chinese custom, so why should foreigners wear one? When in Rome...

As for the women, they wear colored jeans (red, pink, black and tan) and that seems OK. The contract states - no jeans. The contract also states that pants must be worn. According to my dictionary, pants are ankle length. A few ladies wear the "pants" that reach just below the knee.

My point was the uneven application of the rules and the added fines without mutual agreement. The problem is behind me. Thanks.

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

Glad it worked out for you. I have found that dress code applies to men and not to women here. Works in my favour but definately not fair.

Neilhrd · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 233 Location: Nanning, China

I am curious about where Vikuk is working. I don't doubt what he says but it is certainly not the case in Nanning that the parents have totally lost faith in Chinese teachers.

The vast majority of parents here still want their children taught as they were taught thirty years ago, by rote. These parents and their supporters in the government often resist foreign teachers and some believe that having foreign teachers in a school harms the teaching of Chinese. This can, and does, severely inhibit the more enlightend Chinese teachers who know the old methods don't work and are looking for alternatives.

However there are also a small but growing number of parents who have studied, or done business, in the West and who want a western style education for their children. At the moment these children are mostly still in primary schools.

The tension betwene the two groups of parents is a serious problem in many primary schools and the school managers, who are generally clueless, change the objectives of English classes every week depending which group of parents bent their ear last.

Where there are foreign teachers all the parents and many students appear to believe that the students have a lid in the top of their heads. The foreign teacher only has to open this lid and pour in English and hey presto little emperor/empress will speak perfect English the next day. Without any effort on his/her part of course!

Overcoming these kind of prejudices and misconceptions will be a long, slow process. But if the FTs forfeit the right to be respected and listened to by ignoring cultural sensitivites about things like dress codes then the process will be even longer and more difficult.

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

SnoopBot · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 740 Location: USA

I figure if they want me to wear a $1000 3 piece suit they need to do the following things first.

1. Pay a higher wage so I can afford to clean and maintain these suits after being covered with white chalk and other stains teaching in unclean classrooms.

2. Fix the air conditioning so I don't pass out in 100 degree rooms.

If they can manage these small details I might consider wearing a suit and tie.

(I actually wore a suit and tie the first month in China before I figured out that nobody cared and having nice clothing/style got me volunteered for various English corners.)

Once you learn the game... it only takes once.