Korean Job Discussion Forums

Plutocracy · Joined: 01 Feb 2005

I sure this has been addressed before, but I didn't find it in the FAQ. So, once again, what is the conventional attire for an ESL teacher in Korea? For men and women?

Dress clothes or casual wear? Suit + tie?

For women, is it skirt? Can Women wear pants?

Plz indulge a newbie with your reponses.

Thnx.

peppermint · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:15 pm Post subject:

It varies, and some schools have dress codes so best ask. For a kids hagwon- usually casual wear is fine, thought they might not like jeans.

adult hagwon- take your cues from your students, If you're teaching businessmen, dress the part, but you can get away with a little more if it's mostly university kids.

Pants and a dress shirt ( tie maybe) is a good rule of thumb as long as you're not teaching messy kindies for guys.

For women, skirts or pants are fine, but the most important thing is conservative. Skirts much above the knee aren't really good for work, or showing any kind of cleavage.

canuckistan · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:26 am Post subject:

peppermint · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:56 am Post subject:

I just assumed that would be understood as inappropriate for work.

canuckistan · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 5:20 am Post subject:

JacktheCat · Joined: 08 May 2004

All depends on the school.

Strangely enough some hagwons don't like their foreign teachers to dress too professionally.

My last hagwon (hopefully my very last) forbade me from wearing a dress shirt and tie. They tried to make me wear jeans, but I was able to compromise up to slacks and a not too dressy collared shirt.

I like to dress up a bit when I teach, as it helps me get into that teacher mode.

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

Dress codes vary.

Some places allow jeans and t-shirts, some sweat pants, some formal wear. Depends on the school and the level you teach.

Teaching kindergarden certainly would not require the same mode of dress as teaching middle or high school.

Just ask each school, or ask a teacher if u can get an e-mail address.

I have friends who teach in H.S., one must wear a suit and tie and the other can wear jeans. But, even tho he can wear jeans, the korean teachers can't.

All depends.

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

How about a Dracula cape!? Surprised

(fake fangs optional)
That would be pretty impressive, I'll bet! Forget, 'bet' -- I actually know a (foreign) professor at a univerisity here who wears one! He keeps saying, 'No, it's a gendarme's cloak, it's a gendarme's cloak, really it is', and I keep telling him, 'Oh bollocks -- Everyone thinks your a silly ponce in a vampire costume' Rolling Eyes

While you ponder that, enjoy this: http://ikari0310.hp.infoseek.co.jp/flash/maiyahi.html

peppermint · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 6:13 am Post subject:

One of my professors was the President of the Canadian chapter of the Translyvania Society of Dracula. It's more scholarly that it sounds but she was the coolest person to have around at Halloween

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Can't go wrong if you have a button-up shirt with collar and dress pants. Can't go wrong with a tie as well.

Everything else is between the school and yourself.