GIS Songpa (Seoul)

I’ve gone back and forth about whether to share this, but I cannot in good conscience stay silent knowing another teacher could walk into the same situation unprepared. I worked at GIS Songpa until September 2025, and my time there was defined by constant pressure, shifting expectations, and a growing sense that I was being positioned to fail.

From early on, I was singled out by a manager who had started at the school at the exact same time as me. Despite her also being new, she closely monitored and repeatedly criticized my teaching, requiring me to change my teaching persona in ways that felt unnatural and performative, solely to satisfy parent perception. I complied with everything asked of me. I reshaped my classroom presence, reworked lessons, and invested countless unpaid hours preparing materials at home, believing that my effort and professionalism would be recognized. Instead, it felt like nothing I did was ever enough.

Eventually, I was told directly that my open class would be my “last chance” to prove myself. Those words carried enormous weight. I poured myself into preparing a thoughtful and engaging lesson tailored specifically to my students. But shortly before the open class, my manager abruptly discarded my plan and replaced it entirely with her own version. The lesson no longer reflected my teaching, nor my students’ needs. They were confused, disengaged, and I was left presenting something I did not create and did not believe in. Despite this, I was judged and ultimately terminated based on the outcome of that class.

I was also blamed for students leaving, even though parents had personally expressed to me that the curriculum was simply too difficult for their child’s English level. It became increasingly clear that I was being held accountable for systemic issues beyond my control.

After my termination, I was given only two weeks to secure a new job. Within minutes, I was told I would be interviewing with another school selected by the director, as if decisions about my career were being handled without my agency or input. The experience was deeply dehumanizing and left me feeling less like a professional educator and more like a problem to be transferred elsewhere.

Throughout my time there, I was expected to carry additional responsibilities without meaningful classroom support, while still bearing full blame for any perceived shortcomings. Contract and compensation matters, particularly involving housing and owed pay, were handled in a way that left me feeling powerless and without proper resolution.

I share this not out of bitterness, but out of responsibility. No teacher should enter a workplace where their effort, professionalism, and dedication can be so easily dismissed. Please speak to current and former teachers and research carefully before accepting a position here. My hope is that by sharing this, others can protect themselves and make informed decisions.