TEFL jobs in Brazil

TEFL jobs in Brazil: FAQs

• Q: Why get a TEFL job in Brazil?

  The students in Brazil tend to be enthusiastic and keen to practise their English-speaking skills. Unlike some places in the world, you won’t find getting your students to speak English is like pulling teeth!

  The locals are also incredible friendly and talkative. So, you shouldn’t find it too difficult to make friends, especially if you’re willing to have a go at adventurous activities or sports.

  On top of that, Brazil itself has plenty of stunning natural beauty to explore as well as lots of adventurous activities to try.

• Q: Where to look for a TEFL job in Brazil?

  The most popular places to teach English in Brazil are Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo. These are all major cities with plenty of students and English language centres.

  Rio de Janeiro boasts some of the country’s most famous landmarks, including Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach. The city is one of the most exciting and active in the country with plenty of activities for both outdoor lovers and socialites, such as hiking Corcovado Mountain and exploring the bohemian neighbourhood of Lapa.

  Salvador has a growing need for English teachers and is extremely popular with English teachers. The city is perhaps more famous for its cheerful atmosphere and welcoming locals than any particular sights. Though, it is becoming more known for the huge Salvador Carnaval, a week-long festival that fills mile after mile of streets.

  Sao Paulo is the largest city in South America and has plenty of schools, universities and language centres – as well as lots of positions for English teachers. It is more modern than other Brazilian cities, boasting giant skyscrapers and impressive cultural centres along with small, hidden restaurants and an underground bar scene.

• Q: Salary for TEFL jobs in Brazil

  TEFL teachers in Brazil are usually paid 20-40 BRL / £4-8.50 / $5-11 per hour at most language centres and 40-60 BRL / £8.50-13 / $11-16 for private tutoring.

  The monthly salary for an English teacher in Brazil is similar to the cost of living at roughly 3,000-4,850 BRL / £650-1,000 / $800-1,300. To earn this amount, you’ll usually need to work 20-25 hours per week. And you can expect to earn a salary towards the top end of the scale if you work at a private international school.

• Q: Cost of living in Brazil

  The cost of living in Brazil is about 3,000-4,850 BRL / £650-1,000 / $800-1,300 per month. As this is the same as the salary bracket for English teachers in Brazil, you might be able to come away with some savings if you spend carefully, but you’re much more likely to break even.

  In Sao Paulo, a one-bedroom apartment outside of the city centre costs $250-450 per month and an apartment in the centre costs $350-550 per month. A meal at a casual restaurant costs about $7 per person, a coffee costs about $2 and a beer is around $2. A one-way ticket on the subway costs about $1, a cinema ticket is around $10, and a monthly gym membership is about $30. The cost to live in Rio de Janeiro is slightly cheaper than Sao Paulo, and living in Salvador is even cheaper.

• Q: Benefits to getting a TEFL job in Brazil

  • Great for TEFL teachers who prefer working with adults rather than children as most classes are teaching business professionals or adults looking to improve their English.
  • Lots of free time to explore the country or take up a hobby as most English teaching jobs are with students before/after work or on their lunch breaks. This should leave you with both free time in the morning and afternoon.
  • The opportunity to pick your own hours. If you work for a private language centre (as most TEFL teachers in Brazil start out doing) you can often state your availability and avoid hours that don’t work for you. And if you end up teaching private clients, again, you can arrange lesson times that work for you.
  • The chance to learn Portuguese, indulge at rodizio (all-you-can-eat) restaurants, and try adventurous activities like hang gliding!

• Q: Top tips when job hunting in Brazil

  • Look for work at private language centres rather than at public schools – it’s incredibly difficult to find English teaching work in public schools.
  • If you have a teaching degree, try looking for work at private international schools. This can be challenging and competitive but offers benefits and stability if you are successful.
  • Bear in mind, the most popular times for private students to learn English (especially adult learners) may be before or after work and at lunchtime. This may mean that you have lots of time free to enjoy your day, but if you don’t plan carefully, it could also mean you spend much of your day travelling back and forth from jobs.
  • Prepare for much less work during the summer holidays, which are from December to February in Brazil. Either save up enough money to carry you through the holidays or ask your employer about teaching opportunities over summer in advance.

• Q: Types of jobs in Brazil

  The most common type of teaching work in Brazil is working at a private language centre. There are some jobs teaching children, but most jobs are teaching adults before/after work and during lunch breaks. Lots of TEFL teachers start out working for a company that arranges for you to teach various clients and different locations and eventually shift to teaching their own clients privately.

  All jobs require candidates to have native-level English, and most jobs require you to have a TEFL certificate, though some may only ask for previous teaching experience.

  To work at a private language centre, you’ll usually need a teaching degree and a teaching license. It’s very competitive and there aren’t many job opportunities, but it may be worth the hard work if you are keen to stay in Brazil for a while as these jobs often have lots of benefits.

  Most jobs start in February and run until June with a break in August.

• Q: What visa do I need for a TEFL job in Brazil?

  To teach legally in Brazil, you’ll need a work visa sponsored by your employer. This can be a long, bureaucratic procedure that lots of schools are reluctant to go through. Your best bet is to find work at a private international school and sign up for a long-term contract.

  With it being tricky to find an employer who will sponsor a work visa, lots of TEFL teachers choose to teach illegally on a tourist visa or a student visa. Although this is commonplace, doing so is not a good idea and is at your own risk.