Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Qinella]

Admittedly, this thread isn't very original. I was inspired by the beaver's similar thread. But I have been wondering, how should I dress for school every day when I start teaching? I was thinking dress pants, button-up shirt, and a tie would be fine, but would that be overdoing it? Would a nice collared shirt (aka polo shirt) be acceptable, or too shoddy?

Also, someone told me that in Korea, dress shoes should have laces on them. However, my dress shoes are the kind without laces (like loafers, but without the tassle). Is that considered unprofessional?

(Attached is a photo of the exact shoes)

Thanks for the help.

[peppermint]

dress codes vary from one school to the next. ask your future co workers for specifics, but it sounds like you'll be fine.

[Kenny Kimchee]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Are there other foreign teachers at your school? Just dress better than them. Otherwise trousers and a collared shirt and / or sweater should be fine - no trainers, earrings, or hats, of course. Never let them see tattoos if you have them.

If you are, however, more worried about how you'll be dressing than how you'll be teaching, you might want to re-consider your career path.

[Qinella]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Obviously, I'm not more concerned with my attire than my teaching. I'm not sure why you'd even suggest that.

[kangnamdragon]

For a hagwon, a polo and khakis are fine.

For middle school and above, shirt and tie.

[candide]

Hakwon gig, jeans and a t-shirt is fine.

Anything else (except privates) you'll have to dress up.

[DCJames]

I remember a guy wearing shorts and a t-shirts at my first hogwon. Director didn't say a thing because he was a very popular teacher and had that California blonde hair/blue eyes thing going for him..

[Richard Krainium]

I work at a uni and the unwritten dress code is business casual, sans tie.
We do have one teacher that always wears an earring, a dirty pair of blue jeans and an untucked polo shirt. Needless to say he is wangta and his contract won't be renewed.

But as far as a dress code at any place of business, it's up to you and your co-workers to set a standard. Unless of course there is a written (or unwritten) dress code imposed by the management.

EDIT- Do guys still wear earrings?

[Kimchieluver]

For a public school a shirt and tie is always good. If you wear nice clothes often enough, you can go totally casual (blue jeans, baseball cap.. you name it) when you are not feeling up to par.

[BigBuds]

A Mate of mine, after a big night drinking, showed up to teach in a T-shirt, runners, and his boxing shorts (underwear).

His director never said a thing to him but the kids noticed and kept making fun of him. Not long after, he was made the head teacher.

I guess his boss took a liking to his skinning chicken legs .

[Richard Krainium]

[bosintang]

[Qinella]

[Qinella]