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Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
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merrilee
Joined: 13 May 2003 Location: South Korea
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 8:22 am Post subject: What do you wear teaching? |
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What is your typical dress code? And is it really impossible to get shoes in SoKo? What shoes do I need to bring with me? |
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posco's trumpet
Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 9:41 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by posco's trumpet on Sat Dec 06, 2003 7:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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Dresscode:
Varies from place to place.
Shoes:
I had no problems getting shoes in Itaewon and Songtan (size 11), and often got them cheaper than I would've been able to in Canada- there ARE good deals to be had for men (don't know about the ladies). Also got custom made shoes for under $100 CDN. |
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Squaffy
Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: All over the place
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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Depends where you're working - I have to wear shirt, tie, cufflinks, nice suit, nice shoes etc.
Others get away with looking like tramps (slacks, T shirts, trainers).
Itaewon has some good clothes stores - picked up a new Pierre Cardin suit there
Also seen some good shoe shops there.
Bul: you got bit feet man. I'm size 8 and have no problem finding shoes. And before anyone says - shoe size is proportional to ........ it's a myth (speaking from experience) |
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K-in-C
Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Heading somewhere
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 2:00 pm Post subject: Rats! What to wear? |
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merrilee...
Koreans claim that they have four seasons, these four seasons being similiar to the seasons in North America. So...as far as shoes go bring the shoes you'd wear at home. I f you hike, bring your boots. If you wear duck/boat shoes to splash around in the rain, bring them. If you wear heels on a night out on the town, bring them.
If you're above a North American size 7 then pack up on clothes. Most schools find dressy casual clothes to be suitable attire. A t-shirt with, "Party till you puke," on it would not be suitable attire in pretty well any school, anywhere. :(
A lot of Korean women really dress up even to go to Starbucks.
This is a great site for tips on life in Korea; however I would suggest that you also lookat some sites that offer articles on Koreans and life in the ROK. Reading the online version of the Korean Herald @www.koreanherald.com and the Korean Times will give you some insight into what is going on in SoKo.
Good luck,
Kate |
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rudyflyer
Joined: 26 Feb 2003 Location: pacing the cage
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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at my univ we have everything I wear golf shirts, dockers and nice tennis shoes (that because every other shoe is either too narrow across the toes giving me ingrown nails or the soles are too hard and I get shin splints), wife doesn't "dress up" but will wear a dress/jacket for example. Now as the weather warms up the other guys are starting to dress like me with a few ties. At the other end we have a female teacher who will wear sweats/jeans/t-shirts and generally look like she just came from the gym.
despite all of these varieties nobody from the admin has said anything to us, though I feel the Korean faculty doesn't seem to respect any of the foreign faculty here. But that may be a totally different issue
bottom line is you really need to check with your boss and go from there |
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desultude
Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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I simply cannot buy clothes here. I am in Taegu, I might have better luck in Seoul. I am a size 12 dress, size 10 shoes (woman's).
After finding myself in Mexico last year without enough shoes, I made sure I brought plenty to Korea. I have not found anything, aside from men's sports shoes, that comes close to fitting me. I am tall and not at all fat, but none of the female clothes fit me. I know that I can have things custom made, but that takes time and can be risky in terms of style and fit. I don't have enough summer clothes with me, but I am vacationing in Australia and will buy some there.
Bring enough clothes and shoes. If you get lucky and find clothes that both fit and that you like, great. A fellow teacher didn't, and she has a miserable time trying to look good. |
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Samsung
Joined: 27 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul, Korea
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Depends where you're working - I have to wear shirt, tie, cufflinks, nice suit, nice shoes etc.
Others get away with looking like tramps (slacks, T shirts, trainers). |
"Depends where you're working" is very apt here - for a University gig then yes, the shirt and tie deal would be more appropriate than a kindergarten/elementary hagwon, don't you think?
I don't remember any teachers back home of elementary age kids turning up to school in suits.
Then again, I resent the implication that if I were to go to hagwon here in slacks and a t-shirt that I would be a "tramp". If my school are happy with it then I don't see how anyone can claim it's wrong. Just because it upsets you doesn't mean it's wrong. |
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kimcheeking Guest
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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I generally wear cotton slacks and a button up shirt, sometimes polo style in summer.
In the adult hogwan I worked at a few teachers were wearing ratty jeans and t-shirts or sweatshirts...I personally was appalled at thier lack of professionalism. Even teaching kids I wouldn't wear jeans with holes or sweat-shirts to class....
semi-professional is best. Wear a tie if you like. I always wear a tie on the first day of class and then periodically. |
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crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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If you teach kindergarten I have some advice.
Don't wear dresses/skirts as they will use them as tents
Also wear stuff that is easy to wash as you will end up looking like, well you spent a few hours with some 4 year olds really.
My school is pretty laid back about what I wear.. I follow my lead from other people in the school.
As for what to bring. I bought 6 pairs of shoes with me to the rock but then again, I'm a US size 10 and I have issues finding decent shoes in new zealand let alone here. It all depends on how big your feet are.
As for clothes, if your built like a ballet dancer you'll be in seventh heaven, if not you will have some problems. But you can get your clothes tailor made here for less than you pick up a similar item off the rack back home.
CLG |
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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 2:38 am Post subject: |
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what ever I want!!
now that sumer is coming, shorts, tshirts..
show my hairy legs and have the kids call me monkey! haaahahhaa
TUL TUL TUL~ |
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whatthefunk
Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Location: Dont have a clue
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 3:13 am Post subject: |
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My first day of work I showed up in a tie. For the next month I wore a nice shirt and pants without a tie. Now I wear a T-shirt and jeans. I imagine that by the time I leave I'll be in shorts and a Hawaii shirt. My hagwon is pretty laid back though. |
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steroidmaximus
Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: GangWon-Do
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 4:41 am Post subject: |
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If I'm having lunch in the cafeteria, or planning a trip to the library, or if it's a 'special' day, I'll wear a suit with tie, or collarless dress shirt with slacks. If I'm going to be hiding in my office and teaching night classes, almost whatever, but usually clothes like dockers and a nice top, but occasionally will slip in a pair of jeans and weekend t-shirt, just to shake things up in class. I've become more conservative (i.e. read nerd-like) in my dress since I got married. |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 5:27 am Post subject: |
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Speedos. |
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Blue Flower
Joined: 23 Feb 2003 Location: The realisation that I only have to endure two more weeks in this filthy, perverted, nasty place!
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 6:19 am Post subject: |
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Depends what look I'm going for. Today i wore white sleeveless top, black skirt with tulle petticoat, and bright pink stockings. Twas completed by my Wilma flintstone necklace, of huge white beads. Other days my trenchcoat, and a sack of lollies does the trick. As long as you dont look like a bum, you should be sweet.
And if you a larger than a toothpick - bring pants, skirts, shorts, etc. Yes you can get them tailor made, but it is easier bringing them with you. As for shoes, if you want to look like the wicked witch of the west, buy them over here, otherwise bring them with you. And if you like jandals, bring some, because they cost 29,000 won, over here, which is absolutely ridiculous.
Also bring bras, if you are an A cup, you will be sweet, otherwise, bring a suitcase full, ditto undies. Socks are cheap, and there are all sorts of kick ass socks, so dont worry bout them. |
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