Job Discussion Forums

bukowski1234 · Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 11:56 pm Post subject: How Do You Dress for Class?

I've asked this question of several teachers and i've gotten different answers (yeah, I realize that we're talking about China), so i thought I'd throw it out to the board.

I'll be teaching in Jiangxi (sort of the lower third of the national economic scale) at a university of about 12,000 students. I asked my contact at the IEO about this and I was told, "Many American teachers wear jeans and a T shirt."

Well, okay. I have no problem with that. That's common in American universities. On most American universities, one is likely to see profs dressed in all fashions.

I'm trying to strike a balance among practicality (comfortable but presentable), decorum and modesty (i.e., not appearing as an archetypal rich American but not looking like a slob either).

What's the consensus here? Jacket and tie? Jeans and a dress shirt? Casual slacks and a golf shirt?

My personal style in the U.S. is jeans or casual slacks and a golf shirt for class, and dress slacks and jacket (with or without tie) for formal faculty meetings.

Whaddya think?

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

casual all the way. It's one of the perks of the job.

cheekygal · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 1987 Location: China, Zhuhai

depending on my mood. But trying to stay decent - even though I do wear short skirts of more or less decent length. Nobody would want to see you in a dirty T-shirt and sweatpants Smile

As long as it's clean and appropriate - it's fine Smile

mike w · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 11:36 am Post subject:

In my school it's collar and tie in the classroom - no jeans! It's called looking professional.

joe greene · Joined: 21 Mar 2004 Posts: 200

Dress like the Chinese teachers: black shoes, black trousers, dark coloured shirt.

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

Slacks, not jeans. A shirt with a collar, not a T-shirt (or hockey jersey or soccer shirt). Clean and pressed if possible, but at this time of year it's hard to get clothes properly dried and ironed, one makes do as best one can. I used to wear black leather shoes, but I've found a very comfy pair of sandals and refuse to give them up unless parents are coming to observe. Three seasons of the year I also wear a tie and a sport-coat, but somehow July and Harris tweed don't mix.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Summer: T-shirt, shorts, sandals

ROTY: Pants, sweater, runners

bukowski1234 · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:21 pm Post subject: Dressing for Class

The answers run the gamut here.

Please identify your employer as private or public (as in university).

This is a major concern to me because I really want to fit in with the rest of the teachers as much as I can. (Yeah, I know. I'm Anglo...).

Jacket and tie, if out of place can draw resentment. T-shirt and jeans can draw disdain.

Xin · Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 40

"How Do You Dress for Class?"

Personally, I routinely put on breifs, then a shirt (one arm at a time) then socks, then pants (one leg at a time) then shoes, brush my teeth, comb my hair, and off I go.

Was this a trick question? Did I miss something?

ilunga · Joined: 17 Oct 2003 Posts: 842 Location: China

I just throw on whatever's nearest and slouch into kindergarten.
I'm at a private school teaching Primary and Kindergarten kids. Shirt and tie would look out of place.
The foreign teachers are different. For the majority of positions they're not expected to dress like the Chinese teachers.
Plus, the students much prefer a teacher who looks cool (the younger ones anyway)