I've seen Brazilian ballet classes in Brazil before and observed a Russian ballet class in UK and IMO the English approach is too soft, but perhaps is because of the system we have in Uk.
I agree with Anjuli-Bai comments about corrections and this is certainly part of all lessons I've seen at Brazilian and Russian schools. One must be able to have hands on when teaching ballet.
My DD goes to a school and she complaints that teacher never holds anyone's leg, foot, etc in the position it should be. Occasionally an arm is corrected with the help of the teacher, but that's it.
A very interesting topic.
Jete