COUNTRY GUIDES: BRAZIL

The country that brought the world samba, bikinis and Carnival is an inherently fun place to be. It’s a land of startling contrasts: while the moneyed live it up on the beaches in Rio, the poor struggle to carve out a life in the favelas (shantytowns); similarly the south has blonde-haired Brazilians of German descent, while Sao Paulo is enriched by Italian, Arab and Japanese influences.

These differences merge to create the rich fabric of life that makes Brazil such a seductive place. Add this to the dense jungles, remote islands and diverse wildlife and you’ll understand why this country continually attracts visitors from across the globe.

Why choose Brazil?

TEFL in Brazil (Contracts, Salary, Work)

Demand for teachers

High

However, with so many Brazilians able to teach English, competition is tough and it can be difficult to get a work visa.

Main TEFL regions

Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Florianopolis, Recife, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Salvador de Baia, Belo Horizonte

Busiest TEFL periods

March-early December

Between mid-December and February, Christmas and Carnival take priority for Brazilians.

Contract lengths

From as little as a few weeks, up to a year or more.

Types of teaching

• Private language schools: General English, Business English, TOEFL

• In-company: General English, One-to-one & Group Business English

• Primary & secondary bi-lingual schools: General English, English for Young Learners

• Private tuition: General English, English for Specific Purposes

Accommodation

Employers give little support in this area, so you’ll usually have to organize your own apartment. Expect to pay at least €214 for a basic, unfurnished apartment without air conditioning. This includes the notorious “condominium charge” which covers maintenance of communal areas and often security guards.

Flight reimbursement

Not common

Currency

Brazilian Real (BRL)

Symbol: R$

Salary

€570 - €1071 per month.

Pay is commensurate with a teacher's experience

Taxes

At the lower end of the scale, expect to pay less than 2% of your salary as tax; in the higher wage bracket, it’ll be about 7%.

Cost of living

Most of your salary will go on living expenses, especially when you first arrive and have to furnish your apartment.

Potential to save money

Realistically, there’s little chance to save money when teaching English here. But that’s not why you come to Brazil - this country is more about exciting, visceral experiences than money in the bank!

How much TEFL training is recommended?

You can get by without any training at all, but a good TEFL qualification - such as those offered by us - will make you more employable and more confident when you face the class.

Common teaching conditions

If you manage to get enough work from your employer, expect to teach for around 25-30 hours per week. Ideally, building up a portfolio of private clients will really boost your income.

The students themselves are usually good fun and appreciate an energetic classroom.

How do I find work?

Google is your friend when it comes to finding a job from home, but with so many Brazilian English teachers, there aren’t many schools that will commit to giving you work.

Can I find work while in-country?

This is the best way to get a teaching job - there are numerous schools in places like Sao Paulo and Rio that will take you on. Just ask around at your hostel.

What is the usual hiring process?

It’s best to go to the schools themselves and see what’s available. It’s not unheard of to get a few trial classes after only a five minute interview.

Is a work visa required to find paid work in Brazil?

Officially, your work permit is arranged by your employer. In practice, hardly any teachers do this and most work on a tourist visa - the cost and red tape involved in arranging a work visa is too prohibitive for most schools. In fact, as tourists can only stay in the country for 6 months out of each year, many teachers have expired visas.

Work Visa requirements:

• Sponsorship from an employer

• Lots of experience teaching in a specialized area

• A relaxed attitude to red tape.

• A lot of time and money!

Why Choose Brazil?

• Huge country with plenty to see

• Exuberant people

• Lots of teaching opportunities once you arrive

Be Aware…

If a school agrees to arrange a work visa for you before you arrive, take the offer with a pinch of salt!

With so many teachers around, it can be difficult to get enough classroom hours.

Before you go

Read this…

The Saddest Pleasure: a Journey on Two Rivers by Moritz Thomsen – excellent travel book about an expat American’s travels through South America.

Watch this…

Central Station – brilliant road movie about an orphaned boy who hooks up with a craggy old woman

A Few Fun Facts

• Brazil is a religious country and has almost three times as many Catholics as Italy!

• Sao Paulo is the world’s third most populous city, with a whopping 16 million inhabitants

• Given their love of The Beautiful Game, it’s not surprising that The Estádio do Maracanã in Rio is the world’s biggest soccer stadium, holding 200,000 people!

• The Brazilian Rainforest covers 3.4 million km2 – an area the size of India – but 700,000km2 has been lost to deforestation since 1970.