Hello fellow teachers -

I have been teaching in my student's homes for the last 5+ years. Overall, this has worked very well. I have a somewhat recent issue, however, with a family that will not turn the heat (or air) on in their home. I am asked to take off my shoes in the house, and I when I'm there I see the family bundled up (including my students). I know it's a touchy topic but I don't feel like I can work under these conditions, nor do I think it fair to my students. Does anyone have some insight as to how to approach this, if at all? Thanks so much for your help.

Well, my teacher does not turn the heat on and since she is Chinese, I, too, take my shoes off when I enter her house.

solution: I dress warmer, wear clean socks and even bring an extra pair on particularly cold days. Well...as cold as it gets down here. (some nights in the low 40's...guess that's not too cold, huh?)

To be honest, too cold is much better in my book than too hot. I've taught in studios that have been stifling and where I've felt like I was going to faint. If extra layers of clothing don't help with the temperature problem why not ask the family if they have a portable heater they could put in the room in which you teach, or if they could possibly turn up the heating just in that room. A simple request might be all that is needed.

Taking off shoes upon entering a house is completely normal in many countries. All my students do it when they come to my house (I'm in Switzerland), and while sometimes I think I will keel over from the smell of teenage boy socks when teaching some of my students, after four years of living here I couldn't imagine wearing my shoes in my house or anybody else's.

You could get shot for walking through someone's house in shoes here! LOL just kidding (kinda) It's perfectly acceptable to bring your own slippers and wear those (slippers only worn in the house) at someone elses house. Its generally not really well recieved to ask someone to turn up the heat though. I would bring a sweater.

Some families are used to a colder climate (and not just us Canadians either) and being bundled up won't bother them. Unless your students complain that their hands are too cold to practice or play just bundle up yourself.

I agree about the shoe issue. I'm not sure why other cultures remove their shoes at the door, and would love to be educated on that. I remove my shoes because of the bacteria that is tranferred from shoes to carpets, floors, etc. in the home. My families always ask me if I'm comfortable, but if I'm not, I just try to deal with it for the half hour I'm there, rather than ask them to crank up the heat, or open a window. The only time I ask for extras is if there is low lighting in the room. I can't see in "twilight" lighting, and they always accomodate.

I ask all of my students to remove their shoes at the door (it's not really done here in Arkansas, but no one has balked about it). It's amazing how much cleaner the floors stay.

To the OP: Bring a pair of slippers or inside shoes with you, and a sweater. If you are still uncomfortable, just ask, "Is it possible to turn on the heat a bit?" All they can say is yes or no!