What Qualifications do I Need to Give Portuguese Lessons

What Qualifications do I Need to Give Portuguese Lessons Are Any Qualifications Needed to Give Portuguese Lessons? ChaptersQualifications to Give Portuguese Lessons in Public SchoolsQualifications for Giving Portuguese Lessons at Independent SchoolsQualifications for Teaching Portuguese Pronunciation in a Language SchoolQualifications to Teach Portuguese IndependentlyUnwritten Qualifications that Every Teacher Should PossessLet’s say that you are fluent in European Portuguese (or Brazilian Portuguese).Naturally, you would like to put your language skills to work, not just because they are marketable but because you love that Romance language and wish to do your part in proliferating it.That is highly commendable and urgently needed.The British Council reports that the Portuguese language ranks in the top ten languages necessary for our country’s continued economic growth and standing in the global community.In the same breath, they report on a dire shortage of teachers qualified to deliver foreign language lessons, let alone any teachers who could conduct language instruction in Portuguese †" never mind whether Brazilian or Continental.So, here you are, either a native speaker or bilingual, and you’re looking for students who want (need!) to learn a new language: sounds like a match made in linguistics heaven, doesn’t it?To an extent, it is... with one caveat: are you qualified to teach?That is the meat of the subject your Superprof reports on today.maintained or non-maintained school in the UK.All of this can be a bit overwhelming but there is a light at the end of this tunnel: if you were trained as a teacher in the European Economic Area, you may apply for a QTS without undue hassle.However, a problem might arise when proving you can indeed speak Portuguese.Native speakers of any language don’t generally go around carrying their language credentials in their pockets; in fact, few seek them out.You may be asked for additional proof of your language skills; perhaps by taking an exam online, that will test at least your reading and writing skills.Furthermore, Por tuguese being your mother-tongue, most likely you will be called on to present a TEFL or IELTS result in order to teach in England or Scotland.If you have studied Portuguese as a second language; in fact, if it was your major at university, you are golden: your diploma certifies your language skills.Still, you may consider sitting either the CAPLE or the CELPE-Bras â€" depending on the style of Portuguese you have mastered.Once in possession of your QTS, you may immediately cast about for a classroom to teach in.It is quite unfortunate that most public schools in our country do not offer language courses until secondary school.Nevertheless, the same criteria apply when teaching a language course, whether in middle school or high school: you must have some certification of your Portuguese language ability (or that you speak English if you are a native Portuguese speaker), as well as a valid QTS.It would also help if you’ve had some teaching experience.It sounds like a Catch-22 situ ation: you cannot gain any experience teaching Portuguese without a teaching certificate, but you cannot get a teaching certificate without any experience in front of a classroom.There are several workarounds to this conundrum.1. You taught people to speak Portuguese in your native country â€" maybe tourists or international students learning a foreign language2. You have a proven success rate as a tutor: you may prove your experience through student testimonials.The only key factor here is that your experience must be demonstrable: either through a letter of recommendation (in the first case) or through the aforementioned testimonials.Qualifications for Giving Portuguese Lessons at Independent SchoolsIndependent schools and private schools are sometimes more amenable in hiring passionate teachers and they are not held to the same documentation standards as public schools are.Thus, if Portuguese is your native language, you may approach such schools without necessarily having to wor ry about qualifying your language skills.However, you will still need some sort of demonstrable higher education, if only a Bachelor’s degree in Language Arts or Humanities.The same potential ease of restrictions applies to those English speakers who have dedicated their lives to teaching Portuguese speaking: you may or may not be required to obtain a QTS but you will most likely be held to a high educational standard.There are so many variables to consider when applying at any public school!Fortunately, all of the criteria needed for a successful application can be found in this checklist.Unfortunately, it does not mention language teaching specifically...You may find it easier to qualify to teach at a language school Source: Pixabay Credit: Tumisuhigher education requirement more so than having studied Portuguese as a second language.If Portuguese is not your first language, you may have to prove fluency, either through your university degree or certification from your Portugues e proficiency exam.Also, you may be required to undergo a basic DBS check.In fact, a DBS check is required for any teaching position, anywhere.Qualifications to Teach Portuguese IndependentlyThere is no law stating that you cannot give lessons outside of our country’s educational structure.It might take a little more work but, once you are established, you may find that people enamoured of Brazilian culture or Portuguese culture are beating a path to your door!Be sure to be properly certified before they get there.To give language classes on your own, you should obtain a DBS certificate  (although it is not mandatory, it is a good idea) and also declare your language training operation with HMRC, so that you can meet your tax burden.Other than that, you are ready to go: no other documentation or qualification needed to teach language studies in the UK.The benefit to teaching independent of any established learning centre is that you may set up your curriculum as you see fit. If yo u know how to give Portuguese lessons, you have the freedom to teach, with any specialised focus you’d like:Portuguese conversation â€" maybe to prospective holidaymakersVocabulary: words and phrasesGrammar rulesVerb conjugationYou may even teach linguistic nuance!The one aspect of tutoring in any language - tutoring the German language, Arabic and even Mandarin Chinese: it is the soft skills that will boost your effectiveness as a teacher.Follow these helpful hints for preparing your Portuguese lessons!While not an official teacher qualification, enthusiasm definitely rates! Source: Pixabay Credit: Mohamed HassanUnwritten Qualifications that Every Teacher Should PossessYou won’t find them anywhere on any job application even though the job advert calls for them.They are called interpersonal skills, and every good teacher must have them.PatienceLearning a language is not a casual proposition: the learner must set aside all of the grammar rules s/he internalised from the moment s /he learned how to speak.To learn a language effectively, one must consciously adopt a whole new set of rules for communicating: not just making different sounds, but embracing different rules for word order, pronouns and usage of verbs.Speaking of different sounds...There are sounds in Portuguese that simply do not exist in English and your students may have difficulty saying words that contain the -lh or -em sound â€" to say nothing of the rolled R. EmpathyLearning a new language is difficult, especially one that varies from English to the degree that Portuguese does.Obviously, laughing at your students and/or belittling their difficulties in learning how to pronounce words like comem or massagem (comay and massageay, respectively) would be counterproductive, both to their learning and to your future as a teacher.In all cases, understanding and empathy is key!PedagogyHaving a distinct method of teaching Portuguese is vital, whether it is your native language or your second languag e.There is a difference between a native speaker’s linguistic priorities and those of one who learned the language in school.Native speakers may emphasise tone and stress on vocabulary while scholars would impress that using proper verb tenses is of paramount importance, and thus, drill on that aspect more so than others.Defining your method of teaching before giving your first Portuguese lesson is critical: where will you put your focus most heavily?As you gather up your flashcards and other teaching materials, you may reflect on this information prior to your interview as a teacher of Portuguese in the facility of your choice.Or, if you opt to give private lessons in Portuguese, you may need to set your rates for each hour of learning.Good luck!

Boston University A Student Interview

Boston University A Student Interview Mano earned his bachelors degree in international relations from Boston University. He specializes in French tutoring, SAT tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, he shares his experience at Boston University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Mano: Boston University is a prime example of an urban college campus. On its outskirts, you can find the Charles River, The Red Soxs Fenway Park, Kenmore Square, and Allston. Its a very safe campus with a prime location in an iconic city; the BU Police Department works diligently with the Boston Police to ensure the safety of students, faculty, staff, and everyone on campus. The tramway runs through the middle of Boston University and is easily accessiblethough the schedule varies and slows down in the winter months. I wouldnt say one would need a car in Boston or while attending BU, as public transportation is easily accessible. In addition, BU has its own shuttle that runs through campus from one end to the other, free of charge. Bikes are also very useful for students living off-campus and can easily be parked anywherejust be careful for cars on Commonwealth Avenue. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Mano: As you progress throughyour academic years, classes start to decrease in size and you can easily get to know your professors and teaching assistants. In my experience, BU professors have gone out of their way to set up flexible office hours with their students, even increasing their presence on campus prior to finals weeks. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Mano: Living arrangements are not the best during the first two years of college at BU; though, they do get better when you become a junior and senior. In dormitory-style housing, students have to leave their dorms during the holidays and breaks, which is a hassle for someone living very far away from home. On campus apartment-style options are better than dormitories, but still expensive compared to off-campus housing. Though many might disagree with me, the quality of food at the universitys dining halls was not the best compared to other schools, despite the many options offered to students. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Mano: I studied international relations at Boston University. Its one of the most prominent departments at the university. I was fortunate to study and practice what I was learning in the classroom during a semester internship abroad in Geneva, Switzerland. Other well represented majors and programs include the School of Management, the School of Engineering, economics, and human physiology/pre-med. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Mano: Making friends at BU is very easy. Make sure to meet as many people as possible during the first few weeks of freshman year at orientation, activities, and club meetings. Some might end up being your friends for the entirety of your college life. Another great way to make close friends at the university is to build connections and friendships during your semester abroad, which was my case. Greek life isnt a major facet of student life at BU, but those who choose to join fraternities and sororities end up enjoying their experiences. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Mano: Many companies and alums recruit BU students. The emphasis is mainly on students majoring in business, engineering, and computer science. Liberal arts majors usually have the challenge of finding employment on their own; however, the Career Center provides resources and services to update and tailor resumes and cover letters to help students find internships or entry level jobs. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Mano: The university has a great number of libraries and study lounges spread all around campus. Its main library, Mugar, gets very crowded during midterms and finals season. This is why many go to smaller libraries and lounges in dorms for quiet study rooms. VT: Describe the surrounding town. Mano: Boston University is located in the heart of the city of Boston and just across the river from Cambridge, MA. The city is yours to explore, especially with the availability of the subway, tramway, and buses running around town. Boston is a cultural hub, as it harbors a variety of museums, concert venues, shopping districts, restaurants, and sports venues. The downtown area is 10-20 minutes away from BU, and students usually go out from Thursday to Sunday nights. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Mano: BU has around 16,000 undergraduate students. You are bound to take large classes your first two years, with around 200 students in each. But, as you become an upperclassman, class sizes start to shrink and you get to better know your professors and peersespecially during seminar-style advanced courses. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Mano: My best experience was with professor Abigail Jacobson who was visiting from the MIT history department. Her class on the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict led toan opportunity to assist her in research on her project on the relations between Middle Eastern Jews and Arabs prior to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. I eventually decided to pursue opportunities in foreign policy research in several think tanks as a result. Check out Manos tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.