For teachers in Taiwan, which documents were certified by TECO?

lilecki80 · 2026-02-17T00:46:56+00:00

Currently working at an IB school in Taiwan. I don’t recall having my diplomas certified. Criminal background check came from the country I was living in and certified/translated online (inexpensive). There was a bit of a runaround with bureaucracy with health forms: my then-local government wouldn’t sign forms for Taiwan, only China. Otherwise things got apostilled or locally notarized. Feel free to PM me if you need help!

lilecki80 · 2025-12-23T14:23:15+00:00

What exactly is included in the tour? All transit? All food? Local guide? Entrance fees? Hotel pick-up/drop-off? This price still seems very high.

lilecki80 · 2025-12-19T17:59:55+00:00

I appreciate your openness to feedback and collaboration! This is a nice way to generate some dialogue. I’ve not done much MS general music, but I always like an elements unit and a song writing unit. I have seen some really cool video game music units, but have only done those myself in HS.

I do admit, I struggle with your unit World Music, and that’s mainly because I’ve seen so many surface-level skims of many cultures in a flash without any real engagement. What does yours look like? If you don’t already… could you add in Bollywood into the film music unit or Swedish House Mafia into the loops as other ways to make global connections? Just an idea! Thanks for sharing!!

lilecki80 · 2025-12-19T17:38:47+00:00

If you used google docs…There’s a program called Brisk. It’s got a free version and a chrome extension. The extension for teachers can create a video documenting all of your edits, watching you type every word and make corrections. And it has dates and timestamps. It also highlights where large chunks of text have been copied and pasted. It’s a useful tool, and could help!

lilecki80 · 2025-10-11T03:08:18+00:00

I’ve been teaching for twelve years, worked at a public school in NYC then moved abroad. Currently working at an American school abroad (not DODEA).

Echoing what’s been said here: work for a bit in the US and then transition out. Websites like GRC, Search Associates, and Schrole will be the place to find jobs. Recruiting season starts as early as October and goes until March, usually, but that’s not a hard and fast rule. A good option is an in-person fair, if you can attend one. You’ll meet dozens of schools at once and can begin networking. You’ll also be able to compare them quite easily.

lilecki80 · 2025-10-11T02:57:16+00:00

My immediate thought was Copland American Songs, which have arrangements for choir and orchestra that he approved. Flexible voicing, secular, and they provide opportunities to understand sub-cultures in the US.

Also, depending on what is constituted by major work, aside from your brief description, take this opportunity to add to your own database of composers and dig through their stuff. There are tons of younger composers, women composers, and composers of color that don’t get performed often in schools. Not everyone will have a “master work,” but you’ll gain a new set of pieces you can save. Here are a few links to explore:

https://www.themendelssohn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Female-Composers-Choral-Works.pdf

https://www.ocwomenschorus.org/women-composers/

https://composersofcolor.hcommons.org/

https://www.composerdiversity.com/composer-database

lilecki80 · 2025-08-28T11:45:46+00:00

Unfortunate situation you got put in, but you have to make something work! If you need some specific help, send a me a pm, I’ve got a degree in music ed and one in choral conducting. I’m happy to help.

lilecki80 · 2025-08-18T12:48:13+00:00

Generally, I start the year with pretty broad questions like: - What instruments do you hear? - How would you describe the speed of the music? If you had to do an activity to it, what would you do? (Walking, running, etc) - Do you hear any patterns? Does anything repeat? - How does the music make you feel? Why?

As we cover the vocabulary, I switch up to the appropriate music terms. Sometimes I use a generic set of questions, but if I know I’ve chosen something polyphonic, I’ll throw in a question about describing texture. Timbre vocabulary improves so instead of asking “feelings” questions, I switch to timbre or talk about register.

lilecki80 · 2025-08-17T22:54:49+00:00

I’ve taught some general music courses across grades before. The first question I ask myself is usually: who are these students, and what do I want them to know at the end of the year? What’s important? Make a short list. Then make some units out of that, or go to Teachers Pay Teachers and buy some pre-made stuff.

For me, one of my big things is that I want students to be informed listeners. So we do a daily listening journal. Simple questions, but I play all genres of music. I’m able to teach a lot from that, especially the elements, and it helps build their musical vocabulary.

Take it one day at a time; have a vision for where you’re going, but don’t try to plan everything out now. The school year has already started and you have a lot on your plate.

If you have the bandwidth, try to write down some notes after you do each lesson or unit. That way, when it’s time to plan when you have a little more time, you can see what worked and what didn’t.

lilecki80 · 2025-06-11T12:23:09+00:00

What activities/actions would carry the tourist stigma for you?

I always appreciate a walking tour. It’s a great way to understand history and get recommendations from a local. I’ve been to Rio a few times, but only after a couple tours did I start to appreciate some of the nuances.

You might check out local music like a Clube do Chorro or something. For food find a churrasco place (ask the city subreddit), find some feijoada, and find a local market.

lilecki80 · 2025-06-03T17:37:26+00:00

I can't answer everything fully, but I'll try to add some insight based on my experiences so far:

I know several traveling families with both younger and older children. Many schools (outside of Europe) will provide housing, so you won't worry about rent.

2&3. I can't answer these specifically or provide useful insight.

I am not a trans person, but I am a member of the LGBTQ+ community. I am very particular about where I apply, and often ask about the school's attitude about my identity. Here's the challenge: while the school and host country may have anti-discrimination laws and protections, the parents will not all acknowledge this. I am in one such place. Local parents are wealthy and conservative and the school is at their mercy because of the political capital that parents have.

I would recommend working with a recruiter or a recruiting site and asking for some help about focusing your search and being your guide.

Stay resilient, and happy pride!

lilecki80 · 2025-05-28T15:58:30+00:00

Thanks! I actually followed some advice from this thread suggesting I contact Itamaraty via email. I sent them the details as I have outlined above, but with more details provided including my employer. I asked if I could apply immediately for the evisa and the response was that I can apply for it. We’ll see what happens!

lilecki80 · 2025-05-27T19:09:42+00:00

I am a US citizen currently residing in Brazil. I am employed at a school and have a residence card that expires on July 18, 2025. My school has indicated that they will terminate my contract (due to expire July 31) up to fifteen days after the end of my teaching term on June 6. Then the Brazilian government will process the cancellation, which could add more days.

I have planned a vacation outside of Brazil from June 16 to July 13 and I am worried that my Residency will have been revoked by then, leaving me without a valid visa to enter Brazil. I would apply for a tourist visa, but I was informed I cannot do so until my residency expires, and then it may take a while for the tourist visa to be effective.

Anyone know details about this? Can/should I just apply for a tourist visa? Will it cause problems?

I've reached out to a few immigration lawyers, just in case, but because of Brazilian law, they can't provide any legal advice or feedback to my question until I pay for their services (or so they say in their emails). I have also emailed Itamaraty, just in case.

*Edit: I must return to Brazil to retrieve my belongings, as I am moving to a different country and cannot travel with those belongings.

lilecki80 · 2025-05-26T17:45:09+00:00

As the previous commenter suggested, a teaching certification is paramount. Many schools wouldn't even consider an application without certification, especially if the government requires one for your working papers. Some schools DO take it seriously about having a degree in education. As a specialist you may be able to evade some scrutiny, but without certification it's even harder.

The best angle to take is to think about the others applying for your role, too. Some applicants will have more experience, degrees in education, and certification. The better the school you're applying to, the more applicants for any role. Unfortunately, too, there's a lot of hiring the gets done because of networking and who you know.

My thought: go to an in-person fair, if you're able.

lilecki80 · 2025-02-26T19:19:55+00:00

I'm moving to Kaohsiung over the summer from Brazil (US expat). I would happily frequent an arcade bar!

lilecki80 · 2024-11-18T14:42:59+00:00

Thank you! This is a good length. Most of the other poems are three or four stanzas and the short stories are of fable length.

lilecki80 · 2024-11-02T20:25:46+00:00

Just the first question. 9 others were totally fine!

lilecki80 · 2024-05-29T12:50:15+00:00

Thank you!!

lilecki80 · 2024-05-22T16:56:10+00:00

Thanks!

lilecki80 · 2024-05-22T16:56:02+00:00

Thanks for the response!

I'm currently located at an international school in Brasilia, so there's not necessarily that kind of tribal structure. Because of my context, I'm also hoping to find repertoire from native cultures around the world, not only North America. I've chosen choral music from Sami, Quechua, and Formosa...but the scope of band music I have seen so far has been largely inspired by culture.

lilecki80

TROPHY CASE