Dress Code Tips for Teachers in Thailand
Teach in Thailand-Dress Code
Dress Code for Teachers in Thailand
Dressing appropriately in Thailand is important for several reasons, including:
Respecting Thai Culture:
Thailand is a conservative country where modesty is valued.
Thai people dress modestly, and it is usually not appropriate to show too much skin
The dress code in public places, especially at cultural sites and temples, promotes conservative attire
Dressing appropriately shows respect for Thai culture
Making a Good Impression: Dressing appropriately can help make a good impression on people, especially when you are a teacher. First impressions count, and what you wear is extremely important
The more you dress to impress, the more respect you will garner
Staying Comfortable: Thailand is a hot country, and it's important to wear clothes that help you stay cool and comfortable. Dressing appropriately can help you stay cool and avoid dripping in sweat
Adhering to the general rules of modesty and wearing clean, non-revealing clothes can help avoid offending anyone
Professionalism: For teachers in Thailand, dressing appropriately is essential to maintain professionalism. Schools have a dress code for teachers, and it's important to adhere to it
Male Teacher Dress Code
The dress code for male teachers in Thailand typically consists of dress-style trousers/pants and a long-sleeved dress-style shirt. Short-sleeved shirts are rarely allowed, and some schools may also expect males to wear ties
The dress pants should be light-coloured as they're cooler
Dress shirts can range from collared polo to buttoned dress style while ties are optional
It's important to adhere to the dress code, as it is the second most frequent complaint about teachers from schools, after tardiness
Non-native teachers are always testing the dress code by dressing casually and seeing whether the school takes issue. However, this is not recommended as it can be seen as disrespectful to Thai culture
To ensure a professional and respectful appearance, male teachers should consider packing the following items:
Dress-style trousers/pants
Long-sleeved dress-style shirt
Tie (optional)
Light-coloured clothing for comfort
It's important to note that adhering to the dress code shows respect for Thai culture and helps make a good impression on people, especially when you are a teacher. In addition, dressing appropriately can help you stay cool and comfortable in Thailand's hot climate
Female Teacher Dress Code
The dress code for female teachers in Thailand is typically more strict than for males. Female teachers are expected to wear dress-style skirts that are at least knee-length, and trousers/pants are not allowed to be worn by women in almost all work environments
Women should wear knee-length or longer dress-style skirts, a blouse, or sweaters and cardigans
The tops can be short-sleeved but not so short that they reveal too much skin. Sleeveless tops, exposed shoulders, pants, and jeans are not acceptable. Cleavage should be covered, and shoes should be closed-toed
It's important to adhere to the dress code, as it shows respect for Thai culture and helps make a good impression on people, especially when you are a teacher
Schools may also expect female teachers to wear skirts or blouses corresponding to a specific colour of the day
To ensure a professional and respectful appearance, female teachers should consider packing the following items:
Dress-style knee-length skirt
Blouse or sweater
Closed-toed shoes
It's important to note that dressing appropriately can help you stay cool and comfortable in Thailand's hot climate
Traditional Thai Style Clothes
For both males & females, some schools will ask you to wear Traditional Thai-style clothes one day per week. The day can differ by region, and some areas may never ask. Central and Northern regions will certainly expect teachers to follow this rule. Traditional Thai clothes are beautiful and also comfortable to wear. If you buy one to wear for school, you can take it with you when you return to your home country as a souvenir.
Colours and Days of the Week in Thailand
If you’re wondering what colours to choose, follow what most Thai people wear. Colours in Thailand matter! The days of the week are allocated a specific colour.
See the list below for colours considered lucky and unlucky on particular days of the week.
Sunday
Red is considered lucky & blue is deemed to be unlucky
Monday
Yellow is considered to be blessed & red is considered to be unlucky
Tuesday
Pink is considered to be lucky & yellow & white are considered to be unlucky.
Wednesday
Green is deemed to be blessed & pink is considered to be unlucky
Thursday
Orange is considered to be lucky & purple is considered to be unlucky
Friday
Light Blue is believed to be sacred & black is considered to be unlucky
Saturday
Purple is considered to be lucky & green is considered to be unlucky
Generally, it’s not that difficult to dress appropriately to teach in a Thai school. KET suggests asking as many questions as possible about the dress code to get it right!
Remember to adhere to it as much as possible; because, in Thailand, first impressions count!
Relevant
Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/teacher-training-program-thailand to read about Meaningful Work and Travel Teaching Positions starting in May 2023 with teacher training in April 2023.
Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/the-thai-school-calendar to read about the school year in Thailand and how it is different from most other countries.
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