The profile we seek is a qualified, fairly experienced professional English teacher with solid knowledge of good English language grammar and an interesting background. Teachers with other professional experiences in areas such as ecology and wildlife preservation, international financial market analysis, medical sciences, retail and wholesale distribution, systems analysis, accounting, business management, arts, sports, etc will be appreciated. We need teachers with winning, cheerful, flexible personalities. This is Rio de Janeiro, and the smiling, informal, beach-style atmosphere is a constant, even in serious, professional settings. If you feel you can qualify and wish to apply, please feel free to send us your curriculum vitae and a recent photograph of yourself for our evaluation.
Teacher requirements:
- Must be a native speaker of the English language. (and speak Portuguese or Spanish enough to ride a local bus)
- TESL certification.
- Must supply passport, ticket, updated vaccines and visa for Brazil.
- All teachers must submit CV and recent photo previously before consideration for an online interview. We use Googlechat and Skype.
- Excellent reading, writing and speaking skills.
- Professional experience.
- Must be a good team player and independent worker.
- Dynamic, cheerful personality.
- Must work exclusively for Skyline Language Solutions while in Rio de Janeiro.
- Well groomed presentation. Demeanor is fundamental. No ripped or dirty jeans/trashy t-shirt styles. Suit and tie not required. Just look clean, dressed, and tidy. Weekly laundry service is available with our housing setup.
- Must be very responsible with schedules and attitudes.
- Must fit comfortably into a professional, adult, teaching/learning environment.
- Must be able to impose class action and timing, to keep classes focussed. (No rambling conversation classes here, except when the student predefines this as his/her objective with us.)
- Must come to, and leave, Rio de Janeiro on his/her own expense, efforts and coordination.
- Must be able to get around on neighborhood buses alone.
- Must be willing to take on up to 8 hours of class-load per day, and work weekends. (generally lighter class-loads on weekends) In some cases lucky teachers give over 40 hours of class per week.
- Minimum intended stay = 3 months. We prefer teachers who can stay for longer periods.
What we provide:
- We guarantee an initial class-load of 8 hours per week, to be fulfilled within two weeks after arrival. Hostel expenses will only be charged if we provide you with this minimum class-load, so you run no risk of spending more on housing than you earn.
- This class-load will increase quickly as we add new students to your agenda. Be prepared to work all day, all week, all month. We have lots of new students coming in, and seek to fill new teachers´ schedules before taking on more applicants.
- We provide teachers with a pre-paid local celular mobile phone. It´s up to teachers to buy credits when needed. Phone must be returned upon departure.
- Payments are made monthly. We currently pay R$ 20-25 (Brazilian Reals) per hour of class given. This is equivalent to approximately US$ 10-12, depending on the R$xUS$ exchange rate, which fluctuates from time to time.
- We cover all bus fares to and from outside classes. We do not pay travel time to and from outside class locations, but all classes are within 60 minutes of our location, and we make all efforts to ensure outside classes are worth the extra effort. Any outlaying exceptions which come up will be negotiated with teacher when deal is closed. Obviously, outside classes are a cool chance to get around town and see some of the day-by-day reality of life in the nicest area of Rio de Janeiro while being nicely paid and treated. (Our teachers are normally highly considered by students and companies)
- We are happy to write letters of reference to teachers who complete their term of employment with our team in good standing.
- We provide a pleasant, quiet, low-density, hostel-type setup to house teachers at modic costs. Our setup includes a small 24 hour swimming pool, laundry and house-keeping service, and kitchen available for cooking. Please help keep the house quiet and organized. Several grocery stores and supermarkets are located nearby, as well as a 24 hour convenience store.
Our hostel has a free broadband wireless network for use by teachers and students. Many nearby shopping centers, stores and restaurants also offer free open wireless broadband network connections. Bring your notebook and camera if you so wish, but please avoid bringing valuable jewelery and other unnecessary valuables.
- Beds in rooms with 2-3 other teachers are readily available at the above-mentioned cost. Skyline Language Solutions teachers may also choose to stay at Barravento Pousada, also on the island, or other apart-hotels and apartment services in Barra da Tijuca. Prices are considerably higher.
- Teachers do not necessarily have to stay at our setup to work with us, but will find it much more convenient, as well as much cheaper than any other option, unless they have family and/or friends nearby with a place they can stay at.
- There are also dozens of nice little restaurants within walking distance to choose from, as well as delivery service from many of them.
- We give our teachers an initial training course, relative to our methodology, including "sit-in" class observation sessions.
- An opportunity to join our special projects execution team.
- Guidance on how to get around town and where the best shopping and entertainment options are.
What we do not provide:
- Travel expenses and/or coordination to and from our location in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil. All teachers must be able to get around on their own.
- Cash advances. (except for bus fares, which we cover) For cash advances, please contact your bank or credit card company.
- We also do not make airplane reservations or other similar arrangements. There are at least a dozen travel agencies within walking distance.
- We do not coordinate visas. We operate as an informal private tutoring agency and do not sign international contracts nor require or provide documents for getting work visas.
- All telephone calls at teachers´ expenses. We recommend the use of online messengers. (we do provide an excellent free internet wireless broadband connection for use by teachers)
- Guided tours. We may choose to take you around a little if we have time, but no promises.
- Air conditioning. Due to the high cost of electricity, we provide only fans to make it cooler on summer nights. If you absolutely require air-conditioning to sleep or work in a semi-tropical environment, please reserve a separate apartment at a pousada. Warm clothes are recommended for spring, autumn and winter periods. Clothing is fairly cheap here and there are lots of shops and shopping centers nearby.
- Insurance policies. Please deal with your insurance company directly.
- A guarantee that we will continue to work with you or provide you with a place to stay. If you turn out to be irresponsible or otherwise intolerable, we will, unfortunately, be forced to end your term of employment abruptly and request that you withdraw from our premises to ensure that the other teachers can work in peace. Although our lifestyle is very pleasant, and we are very flexible, we are not a vacation resort. This is a chance to live and work with a professional TESL team in a shared-housing setup with other English teachers in a different cultural environment.
