Job Discussion Forums

[brewsterbudgen]

I'm doing the CELTA at ECC in Bangkok in October. I've got a couple of meetings (interviews?) arranged with schools in Bangkok prior to starting the course and I've just found out that I'll need to be "properly attired" for teaching on the CELTA course.

My question is should I wait until I get to Bangkok before buying a cool linen suit? Marks & Spencers here in London do a good range of linen and linen-mix suits for �115. Is it much cheaper to buy suits in Bangkok, either specially made or off the shelf (is there a M&S in Bangkok?) or is it less hassle to get one from somewhere tried and tested at home?

Thanks

[massivegeoff]

you won't need to buy a suit. general teaching attire in thailand is a proper shirt and tie (short sleeve is ok, but long sleeve rolled up is considered messy by thais apparently), decent trousers (chinos are ok, as long as they are ironed) and a pair of polished shoes.

some places ask you to bring a suit for specail ceremonies etc, but as you suspect, unless you already have one to bring, they are generally cheaper here in thailand. the ones they had in marks last time i was there did look really spiffy, but i got a linen suit tailored in pattaya for 4500 baht which is somewhat less than 115 quid.

as i said, though, chances are you will not need a suit at all while here.

(there is a funny article about teachers' attire on ajarn.com...have a look at that site for specific info about teaching in thailand.)

i hear, btw, that the CELTA that ecc does is really top notch, but that even the tutors at ecc STRONGLY recomend you do NOT get a job at ecc. again, have a look on ajarn.com for jobs info for thailand. also look at stickman's website for info on individual employers (he grades them from "sweatshop" up!).

if you like teaching kids then have a look at bell language. they're a good firm.

good luck

[laura1d]

Hi there,

Also bear in mind that linen creases REALLY easily - and looks terrible when it does. The Thais are usually impeccably dressed so looking creased would not be so cool!

Think cotton - in this climate it is definately the way ahead!

Laura

[massivegeoff]

oh yeah, don't bother buying loads of work type clothes before getting out here as they tend to be cheaper in local stores.

i remember that last year my mum insisted on buying me three pairs of really nice trousers for me from land's end in the uk. i was going home anyway, so collected tehm inthe uk. i tried them on at my mum's house and noticed they all sported the proud label "MADE IN THAILAND"!! at 40 quid a pop, that's 3000 baht for trousers i could find for about 7 or 800 baht!

[taz]

i dont know that i would term the ecc celta top notch. half the class i was in (12 of 24) organized a revolt over the behavior of the instructors. at a BC workshop last year a school director was talking to one of my celta alumni mates and as i walked up he asked me what is with the treatment at ecc. i assumed my ecc mate had just explained the unhappiness during our class but the director noted that past ecc celta students have been complaining about the treatment there for years.

clothes - should be neat but dont have to go overboard. for sure buy the clothes in bkk. they are lighter in weight and cooler and cheaper. all the dept stores have sales and very decent shirts can be had regularly for 400-600b or less. also, the ink from the markes and white boards will get on your hands and then clothes and it doesnt come out easily. there are some teachers that look like they just rolled out of bed and this is something a thai, even living out in the sticks, notices very quickly.

people talk about the sales at tokyu at MBk but my experience is that the quality of clothes in these sales is terrible and i no longer buy from there.
i probably get most of my clothes at central or robinsons and feel i dont pay much.

[Boy Wonder]

Try the Chinatown street stalls on sunday..picked up a couple of good quality 100% cotton white shirts there for 100 bt a pop.
Also the lunchtime market outside the BTS station at Surasak where even higher quality shirts go for 200 bt ...better quality than the ones i bought from Robinsons by far!!
Failing those two options theres always Pratunam market at Chit Lom...!!

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ Wow.

I thought 199 Baht for a shirt was cheap.

100 Baht in Chinatown, eh?

Speaking of being cheap he said with a devilish grin;

I was so happy yesterday at the little bargain I found.

men's silk neckties 'out on the street' near Sala Daeng BTS

for only 20 Baht each. (that's 50 cents)

Thing is, they're actually decent!

With your Chinatown shirt and my Sala Daeng tie,

we spent exactly $2.91 at today's exchange rate.

And that means more $$$ for Chang.

1 USD = 41.2104 THB http://www.xe.com/ucc/full.shtml

[brewsterbudgen]

Thanks for all the advice. Am I right in thinking that it's not necessary to wear a jacket? I guess sweaty armpits may be a problem!

[Boy Wonder]

Hey Kent...I've bought a few 20 bt 'Sala Daeng specials' too!

Outside the world trade center is a stall selling brighter designs for the same price too..it's near the sticker stall on the way to the canal bridge!

But for sheer modernistic picasso type designs there is a guy on the footbridge over the junction of Sathorn Rd Rama III rd just after Chong Nonsi BTS who sells them on weekday evenings for 29 bt a throw !!

My quest for cheap charlie clothing in this city of extreme shopping experiences continues!!