Job Discussion Forums

[SEndrigo]

Hey guys,

Got a question for you from a friend here who's interested in teaching in Taiwan.

He's an American guy and has long hair, do you think that would be an impediment to him getting hired in Taiwan?

I know that sort of thing doesn't fly in Japan, but don't know about Taiwan.

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

[BJ]

Like your country it depends one the person doing the hiring. I have long hair, but it is unusual here, but again times are a changing and perhaps a little more relaxed about hair length.

[Mr. White]

Haircuts are cheaper here.

He should be able to afford one when he gets here.

[dangerousapple]

One of my teachers either has had braids or dreadlocks at any given time over the last four years, and she's by far the best teacher I've ever hired. I know this is more about guys, but my point is that if you've got the goods, and you're neat and clean, hair length doesn't matter at all.

I had hair halfway down to my butt the first couple of years here, but cut it short just because it felt more comfortable.

[tedkarma]

Generally speaking, in relatively conservative societies, people do pay a fair amount of attention to appearances and what they view as the preferred "norm". We do too in our "liberal" Western cultures, but we just pretend we don't. Perhaps we don't attend to it quite as much as Eastern cultures though.

I like to have a beard, but shave it off when I work in cultures where beards are not quite acceptable. I used to wear an earring - but don't where it might be frowned up.

Why am I so worried about what people think? I'm not. But I am a teacher and my number one priority is reducing any and every possible barrier that gets in the way of communicating well with my students.

Of course, once you have worked a long time with students and they know you well, you can do as you wish and they tend to adapt.

But - keep your focus on your students - and do the things it takes to be the most effective communicator/teacher you can possibly be.

Others will disagree and will say that students need to learn this and that and accept differences, etc etc - but my role is as an English teacher - not a teacher of cultural values, mores or anything else - and that is what I try to do to the very best of my abilities.

[TaoyuanSteve]

Plenty of foreign teachers here sport long hair. Taiwan is probably the most liberal place in Asia with local guys even occasionally having mullets. Hair will not be a problem for the average tefl job.

[demaratus]

A person in Taiwan probably would have more trouble being bald than having long hair. Facial Hair doesn't matter much either.

[cspitzig]

Being bald, as in shaved or just losing hair?

[demaratus]

[yamahuh]

[tedkarma]