Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jar]

Is it okay to wear sneakers (eg.converse) when you're teaching in Korea?
I remember when I was in Japan nearly all of my co-teachers would be really smartly dressed and then have a pair of nikeys on. It looked a bit odd, but it made sense.
When teaching at a public school do you change out of your 'everyday' shoes into your 'school' shoes at the front door like you do in Japan?

[crazylemongirl]

[Rock]

Yep, IT'S KOREAN PROTOCAL TO SLIP ON THEM SLIPPERS. NO SHOES ALLOWED! Your question is not on how to dress, but on how to follow their rules. Shoes in school don't matter. But dress smart, for the most part.

Even in public schools, they have some slippers at the front entrance. Wearing Nikes in Korea would be foolish. They usually wear shoes without laces, for just this reason. Everywhere you go you have to take off your shoes.

Why? It's a matter of hygiene. Koreans have some of the cleanest floors in the world. Plus, they sit on the floor, although not in the schools. It's just a cultural norm here not to wear shoes indoors.

[schwa]

Nah. I've got one same pair of shoes I use for streetwear, hiking, & teaching. Leather, but sturdy soled & comfortable. The kids have to switch to slippers at the door, but teachers generally dont. Go for comfort. No one will notice as long as they arent too garish.

[Rock]

[Hanson]

In 5 years, this is the first I hear of a rule for removing shoes by teachers (other than kindergarten) in class.

[schwa]

[crazylemongirl]

my students tell me off if they see me wearing outside shoes inside!

[d503]

I love not having to wear my outside shoes inside.
It means that i can wear crazy shoes to work, and then just slip into a nice comfy pair of slippers.

[rapier]

Unfortunately i have to wear slippers for kindergarten. Those little terrors are forever stubbing my toes and sliding their chairs onto my feet.

Slippers should be banned.

[kangnamdragon]

Okay according to whom? In my opinion, a gentleman does not wear sneakers to work.

Koreans don't wear sneakers to work. High school and middle schoolers wear them with their uniforms outside, but I have never seen them worn in the classroom.

In schools, it depends on the school whether you wear slippers. Most school I have seen were middle and high schools outside of Seoul. They never wore their shoes inside.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Ekuboko]

In comparison to my schools in Japan, my two schools (so far) here in Korea are much less anal about indoor footwear.

In Japan, you were under no circumstances allowed to step beyond the school entrance in outdoor shoes (even if you wanted to just dash in and out again), and there was always a rack of slippers for those with none of their own. The teachers and students had a special pair of sneakers they had only for indoors.
(OK it does look stupid but at least everyone looks stupid together)

Here, I've found teachers and students alike wander around inside and outside the school in their indoor 'flip-flops', which contunues to perplex me... some teachers I know wear their 'indoor' shoes from their apartment and right into school without changing, whereas the students lug theirs to school every day and change at the entrance....

Actually I would prefer to wear sneakers or some kind of lace- or buckle-up shoe inside, because I find the slip-ons are not good for my feet...

[tommynomad]

While interviewing for jobs here, I told one uni that I couldn't wear shoes while teaching.

They were pretty set on hiring me: 4 phone calls & 4 emails in two days, ramping up the offer, etc. By then I'd received another offer, and didn't want their job. Then the interview came. I was curious how ridiculous my demands would have to get for them to reject me.

"I think, based on my qualifications, a higher salary is in order."
"We'll consider it and get back to you."
"Is there a dress code?"
"We expect our professors to dress neatly and professionally."
"I won't wear a tie."
"No problem."
"I want some upper-level courses."
"Well, ok."
"I can't wear shoes while teaching."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I can't wear shoes. Slippers are ok if I absolutely must wear something, but no shoes."
"May I ask 'why?'"
"Sure. Shoes separate us from the earth. They interfere with the flow of creative energy--I think we both agree teaching is a creative vocation--from the earth to us. Much in the same way wearing a necktie creates a block between the body and the mind."
"I see."

Two perfunctory questions later, the interview was over. (I didn't even get to talk about my hats. ) The next day, I got a polite rejection email suggesting that "perhaps a more progresssive" environment would be more suited to my style.

Interestingly, I made the same necktie-as-creative-energy block to my current employer, and they thought it sounded perfectly reasonable. Guess they're "more progressive."

[Koreabound2004]