Troy's Blog - 25th November 2009

Looking the part

What does a teacher look like anyway?

Anyone who has been to Asia will have noticed a preoccupation with dress and manners. Whilst customs and practices may differ from country to country there is one thing that remains true: teachers in Asia are immediately afforded a degree of respect and status that has all but disappeared in many 'Western' countries, and as such are expected to behave and dress appropriately.

Trainees on the Chichester College TESOL course come from a wide and varied nationalities and backgrounds; accountants, students, builders, retirees, philanthropists. No matter how diverse the backgrounds, ages, nationalities and life experience may be however, all participants on the TESOL course at Chichester College in Bangkok all have one thing in common; they have all made the decision to teach English in Thailand or elsewhere, and along with that decision have made the commitment to ensure that they are equipped to give their students the best chance possible of learning and increasing their skills.

It would be easy to argue then that if a teacher is putting so much into their role, that appearance should be irrelevant. A teacher should be judged on their dedication and effectiveness alone.

While this a a fair and noble argument, the reality is that unless you look like a teacher, in the student's eyes, (and, perhaps more importantly, the eyes of the parents and the school you are representing) it is a battle to prove that you really are a teacher, and not a street sweeper that has wandered in off the street to enjoy being the centre of attention for a few hours.

As an English teacher, you are afforded a little leeway in many countries, as many people will recognise that you are an alien in the middle of a foreign culture. This leeway has definite limits though. You will be expected to know and adhere to some basic rules of behaviour and society, and may sometimes be thrust into cultural situations that may seem mystical and confusing at first (See Rowan's blog on Wai Kru day for an interesting example!). One of the first and foremost of these expectations for you as a teacher is, you guessed it, dress sense and grooming.

Theoretically speaking, there is nothing that makes the teacher with a neat hair-cut, a shirt and tie, and clean shoes any better than the teacher that shows up to class in a rumpled shirt, a crooked tie, and a pair of dusty sports shoes. In practice however there usually is. The teacher who takes the time to dress the part is demonstrating that they take their job seriously, that they are not there to simply 'play' a role, but that they approach their position with respect for their duties, and respect for the culture and expectations of the student, institution, and fellow teachers.

Another way to approach this is much more simple and practical. You can enter the class in casual clothes, and spend a few lessons proving to your students that you are a capable and able teacher, or you can skip this stage and go straight to teaching lessons, helping your students improve their English language skills, and avoid sceptical glances from parents, hints from colleagues, and uncomfortable discussions with employers and head teachers.

On a personal note: I arrived in Asia almost ten years ago, proudly sporting long hair, a goatee and embarrassingly sparse moustache. Completely addicted to my huge, comfortable boots I started work as a volunteer teacher. Within six months I was toeing the line. Nobody told me I had to change the way I looked, although there were plenty of hints about how 'handsome' I would look clean shaven. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting a new class and spending time proving that I was a fun and organised teacher, however it was much more practical spending those lessons proving to students that they could learn and use English if they tried. Remember that as a teacher your role is to help students develop, not teach them what may or may not be culturally acceptable in your homeland.

As a teacher you will not only be representing yourself and your country, but the institution you work for, and the entire teaching profession as a whole. Just as misbehaviour on the part of priests, swindling on the part of businessmen and scandalous deeds on the part of politicians paint an entire section of society with shame in your home country, behaviour and misdeeds on the part of teachers is a BIG deal in Asia. A news story about motorcycle theft or a bar-room brawl will not bother to mention professions if the participants are taxi drivers and salesmen, but they will certainly not neglect to emphasise that participants were teachers. Enjoy your new position of respect and dignity, but respect and dignify it!

28th February 2010

How to be prepared for an interview

6th December 2009

The Asian fascination with appearance

28th September 2009

Three simple pointers to avoid becoming a nervous wreck

5th September 2009

Ten easy pointers to reduce stress during your TESOL course

18th June 2009

Getting started in the teaching game