Greetings From CitaLinx™ Senior Teaching Advisor
Hello!
I wanted to take a quick moment and introduce myself. I am your Senior Teaching Advisor for the California International Teacher's Association.
My name is Bryan VanderZwaag, but the kids call me Mr. V because I would never torture an innocent child by making them pronounce my name.
I've been teaching for over 30 years. I'm a California native but was married long ago and lived for a few years in Kansas. I taught private school and earned my BSE in English Education at the University of Kansas. Since then, I have worked at many schools in California, private, public, and charter as a classroom English teacher to grades 6-12, a preferred substitute teacher, and a home hospital/in-home tutor/teacher/liaison.
About 5 years ago, I stepped away from the classroom to start a small business in the comic books and collectibles industry. It was fun, but it didn't work, and I was drawn back into education by a family friend who was starting a business teaching students in China online. I've been doing this for three years now and I've worked with several clients. I hope to share my experiences and challenges with you.
You are one of our newest teachers, and I'm excited to work closely with you. At this point, I think I have reviewed at least one of your classes if you have already taught at least one lesson with CITA, and will be contacting you soon if we have not yet met.
If you have not talked to me yet, and we have not met online, please attend our weekly meetup on Wednesday or Saturday at PM Pacific Time. My contact information is below. Feel free to text or.contact me anytime now that you have my address. I'm here to support you and help us all be the best online teachers we can possibly be.
One last note. You will usually hear from me late at night. I've been on China time for 3 years, and I usually don't go to sleep until at least 10 in the morning. If I don't reply, quickly, don't be alarmed. I'm not actually a vampire.
There's an online Meetup at 6 p.m. Pacific Time, every Wednesday and Saturday TONIGHT. You are welcome to join us! Just log into Zoom.us and join meeting number 664-383-081 (password 203960), make sure you contact us and schedule ahead!
Bryan V.
Senior Teaching Advisor
Department of CitaOnline
Understand Relationships
Citalinx & CITA
Citalinx, a division under CITA (California International Teachers Association), facilitates international teaching opportunities for teachers through our B2B platform. Leveraging CITA's expertise in international education, Citalinx connects educators with schools worldwide. We provide comprehensive support, resources, and a strong community to empower teachers in their global teaching endeavors. Join Citalinx and embark on an enriching international teaching journey that opens doors to new cultures, experiences, and professional growth. Together, we can make a lasting impact in the field of education.
Cita & You
We want to ensure that CITA teachers have a clear understanding of their work relationship with Citalinx, as we value their important role in our community. Citalinx is a platform created by CITA members, where teachers can explore work opportunities, collaborate, and access valuable resources. We strive to provide support and solutions, such as payment options, communication tools, and technology support. It's important to note that participating teachers are independent contractors who have the flexibility to choose teaching jobs from Citalinx networks worldwide. While Citalinx offers valuable knowledge and guidance, we want to emphasize that it does not function as an employer. We are here to empower and assist our teachers in their teaching journey.
Citalinx & Schools Worldwide
Citalinx fosters strong relationships with partner schools and educational institutes abroad, forming a collaborative network for international teaching opportunities. We work closely with our partners to understand their unique requirements and connect them with qualified teachers from our pool of talented educators. Through this symbiotic relationship, Citalinx helps partner schools and institutes find the right teaching talent to meet their educational needs, while also providing our teachers with exciting opportunities to teach in diverse international settings. By facilitating these connections, Citalinx contributes to the growth and development of both educators and institutions, fostering a global community of learning and cultural exchange.
The Workflow
Projects Posted
Partner schools post projects: Partner schools submit comprehensive teaching project requirements to Citalinx™, including student grades, class size, subjects, concentration, preferred time slots, and course lengths. These details enable us to match the right teachers with the specific needs of each project, ensuring a tailored and effective educational experience for students.
Projects Received
Citalinx™ reviews and evaluates the project details, ensuring compatibility with our network of experienced teachers. We assess the requirements, location, and timeline to identify suitable matches.Citalinx™ notifies teachers within our network about available projects that align with their expertise and preferences. Teachers have the opportunity to review project details and accept assignments that suit their skills and availability.
Projects Assigned
Once teachers accept projects, Citalinx™ assigns them to the respective partner schools based on their compatibility and the project requirements. We strive to ensure a seamless match between teachers and schools. Teachers deliver the assigned projects, providing quality instruction and meeting the educational objectives outlined by the partner schools. Citalinx™ maintains regular communication with teachers and schools to ensure the successful fulfillment of projects.
Through this streamlined workflow, Citalinx™ enables partner schools to find exceptional teaching talent while empowering teachers to make a positive impact in international educational settings.
Popular Subjects
Correlating To US Common Core State Standards
English Literature
English Phonics, Reading and Writing are of great importance to academic and overall achievement of a child
Science
Stimulate your students’ inquisitiveness and help them articulate the questions they have about the world around them.
Math
Math is more than just about numbers — it is about how our world and surrounding universe works.
STEM/Critical Thinking
STEM and Critical Thinking develops a child’s problem-solving skills with STEM lessons and critical thinking activities.
Social Studies
Encourage your students to explore different cultures and landforms with social studies books
ESL/ELL
For English language learners. Our engaging activity programs and watch the motivation in your students soar.
SAT
The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States and managed by the College Board. There is a increasingly number of students worldwide who are in need of extra help on the test prep.
ACT
The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. It is currently administered by ACT, a nonprofit organization of the same name. Sixty percent—about 2.03 million students—of the 2017 high school graduating class took the ACT, and more internationally.
AP
Advanced Placement is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. More and more students are taking AP exams as a necessary prep for college admissions.
Be Mindful Of Time Zones
Citalinx™ participants need to be mindful of time zones as many international classes occur in different time zones. Teachers should be prepared to accommodate and adapt to the specific time requirements of the classes they undertake. Being aware of time differences allows for effective scheduling and ensures that teachers can provide their services during the designated class times, regardless of the geographical location. Flexibility and time management skills are essential for successful engagement with students across various time zones in the Citalinx program.
Busy international teaching hours:
Monday-Friday 5:00 PM-9:00 PM
Saturday-Sunday 8:00 AM-9:00 PM
(TimeZone: Shanghai)
User-friendly Online Classrooms
ClassIn™ for Live Online Teaching
ClassIn is a strategic online platform developed by Cita, with over 5 years of experience in its application. It stands out as a platform dedicated to delivering high-quality online teaching by offering a wide range of smart tools designed to enhance classroom interaction and student engagement. With its comprehensive features, ClassIn creates a learning environment that surpasses traditional classrooms in terms of convenience, such as presenting supporting materials and fostering student interest. Through the utilization of innovative technology, ClassIn provides educators and students with an effective and efficient online learning experience.
Zoom™ for Education
Modern learning for the modern student, Zoom™ offers secure video communication services that enhance student outcomes in hybrid classrooms, office hours, and administrative meetings. As a backup platform for CitaOnline, Zoom™ is particularly beneficial for classes with a large number of participants. Please note that Zoom™ is a trademark of Zoom Video Communications, Inc. Its reliable and versatile features make it an ideal choice for facilitating effective online teaching and collaboration within the CitaOnline platform.
Basic Qualifications and Requirements
K12 School Teacher
Currently K12 school teachers, or teaching professionals who were teaching at any of the K12 schools in the United States, Canada, U.K., Australia, Newzealand, and other English speaking countries.
Credentialed
In order to be CitaOnline™ Qualified, a teacher will need to be credentialed, which means he or she needs to hold a teacher's license, regardless of its status. Literally, if you are currently holding or used to hold teaching license issued at the state level, you are qualified to join the CitaOnline program.
