Korean Job Discussion Forums

katsu · Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Location: here and there

hi...anyone heard of reading town language school in yeongju? anyone worked there before? what's it like?

thank you

loyfriend · Joined: 03 Aug 2009

My friend worked for the reading town in Gumi. She totally hated it. Every week was a new problem. But as it is a chain school maybe your location is better.

edwardcatflap · Joined: 22 Mar 2009

Is that pronounced like the town in the UK or like what people do with books? Just curious

andrewchon · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:10 pm Post subject:

I interviewed there last week, they could be choosing you over me.
It's ri-ding as in a book not re-ding as in town in Berkshire.
From what I saw:
The owner is committed to education and is not about money.
The teacher in charge of English is an American long-time vet in Korea.
They have successful record of sending students to Foreign-Language High schools.
Hagwon size is about 160. Class size is 12.

It's a kind of place I'd like to be working.
영주 town itself is backwater, grimy, and small.
http://cid-85040f41481ba9e2.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Trip%20Around%20Korea/P2260407.JPG
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http://cid-85040f41481ba9e2.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Trip%20Around%20Korea/P2260410.JPG
http://cid-85040f41481ba9e2.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Trip%20Around%20Korea/P2260411.JPG

katsu · Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Location: here and there

@andrewchon..u seem to know quite a bit about that school, don't ya?
well seems to be a chain, and i don't like chains, so enough has been said...i'm more interested in the town than the school, but it seems that there aren't a lot of reputable hogwons there, so not sure...
thanks for your replies...

i would be interested in speaking to someone who's presently there at the school...so if u r, lemme know

andrewchon · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:28 am Post subject:

I see that the Reading Town, YeungJu is advertising for a teacher, again. I get a vibe that that place is less than what meets the eye.

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

I interviewed there a couple weeks ago. The owner and the American vet (16 years in Korea?) from Georgia seemed very sincere, but the place was physically run down. The small classroom I was shown really needed to have the walls cleaned and repainted - I actually volunteered to do it myself on the weekend if I were hired - and the linoleum was peeling off the floors.

When I asked about the apartment, I got the impression that it might also be run down, but I don't know for sure.

They do seem to care about educating their kids, and I was reimbursed for the the bus and taxi fare.

Capricious1 · Joined: 06 Jul 2010

Yes, they are hiring again. It seems they have had some trouble with teachers. They hired me though so not anymore. The town is much cleaner then the one I am in now! Also they really seem to care about the kids. It is exactly the type of place I want to work (The opposite of my current job) I am excited to start next week! Also my apartment is ACE, it looks very nice and is bigger than the one I have. I hope they like me, I guess they have some bad luck with teachers. I personally and floored, their library is good and they seem to be trying to make the school nicer.

HagwonKanobi77 · Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Location: Gwangju, South Korea

I am currently, prematurely(:c), finishing my time at a RT in another city after only working here for six months. But I like what they do overall and the kids I've worked with have, for the most part, been a joy. You tend to be a robot with their system, but for a newbie like me, that was fine. My director was strict, but he had to be, due to the nature of the competitive business. But it sounds like your director will be cool. So good luck and I wish you well.

Capricious1 · Joined: 06 Jul 2010

It is funny you would word it exactly like that, when that was one of my hugest complaints about my current school, they did not want a teacher they wanted a robot. The Director of my reading town ( I start next week) assured me he feels it is very important I build a relationship with the students, and while I need to keep to the schedule he wants me to keep my own teaching style. He also wants any suggestions to improve, this may have been just talk but that I really feel like he meant it. If anyone is curious how it goes feel free to pm me in the future and any former employees have any insider info thats always useful to! Thanks!

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

Say Hi to Mr. Eom (pronounced as "Um") for me. I have a longstanding relationship with Youngju and actually worked at Reading Town before it became Reading Town and took a turn for the worst. Mr. Eom used to run the most successful hogwan in town; when he ran Kid's English/Sisa Foreign Language School. But then he decided to move to a new building (he ran his old location into the ground as well), and after just a year or two changed everything. I think more better he change not everything all time. If you are working there now, you will get the meaning of that last statement! Enjoy Youngju!

EZE · Joined: 05 May 2012

I worked at a Reading Town in Seoul a few years ago and loved it. The school, the boss, and my supervisor were all exceptionally wonderful. Pay was always on time and they always went above and beyond for their staff. I have nothing but positive things to say about Reading Town.