Messages by Ross

Why teach English in China?

Working here has more to offer than an understanding of China itself. It's a huge and incredibly varied country, and I'm willing to wager that none of it will be what you expected. You'll live a life you never dreamed of, and see up-close a truly different way of life - a different culture.

It also offers the opportunity to learn a great deal, not just about the country and it's culture, but also about yourself. All you need is the right attitude.

Tip of the month:

Recognize your role as an outsider.

How can you prepare materials when you don't know what you'll teach?
Take a lot of good material. If you have a favorite set of materials or lesson plans prepare, take or send them with enough copies for a class. Take a large variety of material. Students in most countries want to see Canada/American videos, Some schools have their own curriculum and and will inform you to use them.
Teach diligently and explain methodology. A great deal of teaching overseas is teacher-centered, and teachers are expected to plan each part of the lesson thoroughly. Students and overseas teachers responded negatively to what are perceived as unplanned classes.

Teachers before you go.

Learn non-American varieties of English, especially Canadian. Students in other countries are confronted with many forms of English. Canadian/American English has usually been preferred.

Students now are exposed to teachers and materials from at least North America, Britain, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and even philippines and they are frustrated by instructors who correct what they have learned from another native English speaker.

Teachers should be able to help students master the speaking, writting, reading and listening forms of either major variety and should be familiar with the forms found in other countries, as well.

Tip of the week:

Every school should have an overseas teacher.
Every teacher should have an overseas teaching experience.

Ray
Your very welcome anytime just that it will help you is good to know Thanks Ross

Ray you will find some info on my form that might help you. Teachers who are seeking jobs. i have some info there on brasil

Can I work with a tourist visa? No, not legally. Will anyone ever give you a problem if you do work while on a tourist visa? No, I doubt it.
Can I change from a tourist visa to a work visa? I believe you can. You will need to have a sponsor first, of course.
Work Visa
It is very expensive and complicated for a company in Brazil to sponsor a foreigner. I do not know of any way for a person wishing to teach English in Brazil to be sponsored while they are in a different country.
If you are a professional in another area such as information technology, engineering, etc. you may have a chance of finding a company to sponsor you but then you would not be teaching English.

Should you wish to stay in Brazil for an extended period of time you might find an English school or course which would be willing to sponsor you if you pay for the entire process. This is a possibility and one that you will have to discuss with someone you trust once you have been in Brazil for a while.

If you overstay your visa you will really only have a problem when you leave the country. You may be banned from re-entering the country. I honestly don`t know the penalty. If you decide to live here on an over stayed tourist visa.

Tourist Visa
It is fairly simple for most Westerners to get a tourist visa to visit Brazil. You will need to contact your local Brazilian Consulate and apply through them. I don`t know specifics but I do know that a valid passport and a round-trip airline ticket are required as well as a fee payable at the consulate. A tourist visa is valid for three months and is renewable for three more months at any Federal Police office in Brazil. A foreigner may visit Brazil for the maximum of six (6) months out of every calender year. That means that, even if you come and go between Argentina or any other neighboring country, you still cannot legally stay in Brazil for more than six (6) months out of every year.