Who is Ray von Schmalz?

A civil engineer with a Master's degree in Civil Engineering, a linguist, an English teacher since 1984 and a researcher into innovative teaching methodologies since 1987, former Canadian resident, registered with the Canadian Council of Civil Engineers, Reinaldo von Schmalz, or Ray von Schmalz, left a prospective career as an engineer in Canada to found the Canadian English Centre and continue developing his English teaching methods in Brazil.

The Canadian English Centre was an old dream of Ray von Schmalz's. Teaching in the major English schools in Curitiba, Brazil, while still a teenager, he could not understand why the teaching methods had to be so inefficient and incomplete. He began writing the first edition of his books in 1987, at the age of 21, while he was a student of civil engineering. To him, linguistics was never an object to be commercially exploited, but was "Labour of Love." It was his favourite hobby, and according to some of his closest friends, almost an "obsession."

An awarded singer and musician, Ray von Schmalz also earned a living with his music, as well as owned a construction company for some years. During all the years of his various life's pursuits, he was also giving English classes and writing his books.

Soon his hobby of English began to overtake his other professional activities and the time came to begin teaching full-time. Pleased with the excellent results they achieved, his students brought in their friends, increasing the enrollment enough to convince Ray von Schmalz that it was time to open his first school.

Shortly after that he received his immigration visa from the Canadian Government - another dream of his that was about to come true. After his almost life-long interaction with Canadians and the Canadian culture and customs, he could now become a Canadian himself.

During his absence, though, many students continued to look for him and express their sorrow for his not being in Brazil any longer. Then, in 1995, Ray von Schmalz decided to return to open the Canadian English Centre, which has not stopped growing ever since.

Ray von Schmalz's work and research into the Canadian culture and values, and the way in which he promotes them has always been so passionate that his Canadian friend Bob Butterfield, with whom he worked on a large project, once wrote in a letter of recommendation: "Ray is more than a Canadian by birth: he is one of our most passionate unofficial ambassadors."

Ray von Schmalz's unique experience educating his two children, Viktor and Christine, using both English and Portuguese as first languages, led him to deeper research into the human mind, which resulted in extraordinary theories about the most natural way to develop language skills based mainly on audio memory. These theories have slowly been translated into the exclusive teaching techniques that can only be experienced at the Canadian English Centre.

Ray von Schmalz has also done countless jobs with Canadian, North-American and international companies and organizations. He also served as a simultaneous translator in important events such as the lectures given by Prof. Ronald Hudson of the University of Texas at the DER-PR [the Paraná State Highway Department]; training courses for engineers at Telepar, given by Securicor Telesciences' Harvey Baskinger from the United States; translating for Detroit Diesel Motors' chairman Mr. Roger Penske, owner of the Penske Racing Team - André Ribeiro's Formula Indy team - in press conferences, live on TV, during two important events attended by the mayor of Curitiba, the governor of Paraná and federal ministers; translating special courses given by Toyota at Tritec Motors; translating for and representing the Canadian group Valiant-Elan on a six-month project where he led a group of twelve technical translators.

Ray von Schmalz has also translated countless books, manuals, scientific articles, brochures, advertisements, Internet homepages, and other documents, many of them published in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

A specialist in English phonetics, Ray von Schmalz wrote a book on English pronunciation techniques for Brazilians.

Ray von Schmalz has recently renewed his Canadian residency status and is currently working on an important experimental language project with a reputable Canadian college.

An expert in Canadian History and Culture, Ray von Schmalz has been invited to give lectures on this subject at many important colleges and universities, being able, however, to accept a small fraction of those invitations due to his tight schedule.

Ray von Schmalz gives free regular lectures at the Canadian English Centre, showing the many aspects of Canada, from history and geography to economy and daily life, highlighting the harsh reality that some immigrants have to face, after being lured by misleading, irresponsible lectures on immigration to Canada, portraying Canada as the new El Dorado, which are becoming very popular in Brazil today.

Click on the image to enlarge.