iGarten (Seocho Banpo)

Consider this a word of caution for any aspiring teachers: heed my warning, because I've been there.

From the moment I signed with this school, warning signs were glaringly evident, but I was optimistic and brushed them off. However, in hindsight, those warning signals were clear indicators of what was to come.

Short Version

1. Poor housing conditions

2. Lack of leadership

3. Lack of Communication breakdowns

4. Incoherent curriculum

5. Low wages (a part-timer was earning more than me, a full-timer)

6. Xxxxxxxx severance pay

7. Dishonesty and manipulation *******

Long Version

1. Housing

First and foremost, the housing situation at iGarten was far from ideal. I was provided housing with less than 24 hours' notice before having to vacate my previous accommodation, resulting in not one, but two moves on short notice, and the additional burden of double moving costs. Moreover, during the interview process, there was no mention of having to cover realtor fees, which amounted to nearly 800,000 won, including the moving fees. Despite these challenges being beyond my control, there was no offer of reimbursement for the second move.

The daily commute to work was equally challenging, consuming a total of 90 minutes each day on unsafe subway routes. It's disheartening that basic arrangements for housing were not adequately addressed for foreign teachers. Despite numerous emails exchanged regarding finding housing within a reasonable distance from the school, ideally with a 20-30 minute commute each way, a satisfactory solution was not achieved.

2. Lack of Leadership

The absence of effective leadership is glaring at iGarten. The school seems to run itself, with those in charge either physically absent or lacking the awareness needed to foster accountability, communication, and organization. This lack of oversight undermines the overall functioning of the school.

The 6th floor, housing all the 5-year-olds and new 6-year-olds, lacks proper supervision. This often leads to native teachers shouldering the majority of the workload instead of fostering an equal partnership with Korean teachers. Many times, Korean teachers are found either sitting in a corner of the room on their phones, taking selfies, or shopping, or they're outside the classroom engaging in gossip with the front desk or lunch staff. As a result, native teachers are left to manage 12 kids all on their own, without adequate support.

3. Lack of communication

The communication breakdown at this school is astonishingly pervasive. Here are 3 instances that exemplify the lack of communication and organization:

I. School Events:

Many school events end up being organized by the native teachers themselves. Simple things like scheduling a meeting or notifying teachers about upcoming events seem to be foreign concepts to the management. Instead, information trickles down [redacted], leaving newcomers in the dark. Even when management does inform us of an event, it's usually with minimal notice, often just a week or two in advance, and downplayed as not being a significant affair. This lack of transparency and foresight puts unnecessary stress on the teachers.

II. Science Fair:

The handling of the Science Fair is a prime example of this chaotic communication system. Despite being aware of the event as early as August, no concrete plans or meetings were held until December, just before winter vacation, only because parents demanded to attend. This procrastination left teachers scrambling to prepare. It's frustrating that management only takes action when faced with the threat of embarrassment, leaving teachers to pick up the slack with little support or guidance.

III. Report Card Comments:

The lack of communication extends to the crucial task of writing end-of-year report card comments. Shockingly, this important information was only relayed in the last week of school, not by management, but [redacted]. This last-minute notification left teachers with minimal time to prepare thoughtful and personalized comments for each student. It's disheartening that such a critical aspect of our role as educators was treated with such disregard and lack of foresight by the management.

4. Curriculum

The lack of coherence in the curriculum is a significant issue at this school. It often fails to align with the students' proficiency levels, leaving teachers to navigate classes without adequate resources or materials. Many classes lack essential textbooks or supplementary resources, necessitating extensive time spent on creating a curriculum from scratch. This inefficiency adds significant strain and time consumption to the teaching workload.

5. Pay

The compensation at this school does not reflect the workload and stress endured by the teachers. A monthly wage below 2.7 million won, along with inadequate housing provisions, is simply not commensurate with the demands of the job. There are better opportunities available elsewhere, offering higher salaries, shorter working hours, and lighter administrative duties. It's essential for teachers to prioritize fair compensation when considering employment options. Moreover, the revelation that a part-time teacher was earning more than me as a full-time employee adds another layer of frustration to the already low pay.

6. Severance Pay

The school's handling of severance pay is both frustrating and [redacted]. Instead of adhering to the standard practice of paying severance on the last day of work or the last payday, the school delays payments by two weeks. This delay can pose significant challenges, especially for teachers planning to leave the country. Furthermore, there have been instances of overcharging for housing bills, with deductions taken directly from severance pay. The process of obtaining pay stubs and bill copies is unnecessarily arduous, leading to ongoing disputes even after leaving the school.

7. Lies and Manipulations

The culture of deceit and manipulation perpetuated *************. Attempts to prevent foreign teachers from communicating with each other and discouraging lunchtime interactions are tactics *********************************************** undermines trust and creates a toxic work environment for both Korean and native teachers alike.

In conclusion, my experience at iGarten Seocho Banpo Branch serves as a cautionary tale for prospective employees. From inadequate housing to ineffective leadership, communication failures, and a disorganized curriculum, the challenges faced by teachers are numerous and significant. Coupled with low pay, ******, and a culture of ******, it's evident that this institution falls short of providing a supportive and fair working environment. As such, I urge others to carefully consider their options before committing to employment at this school.