TEFL Jobs in Brazil

Opportunity to find work in Brazil is almost as big as the country itself. From highly populated cities to smaller towns, an ITTT certified teacher should be able to find work relatively easily.

Working in a rural area offers some distinct advantages over working in a megalopolis like Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro for instance. The larger cities are truly enormous and travel time to lessons can be considerable. In addition, if you choose a cosmopolitan experience over a rural one, the locals will respect your decision, admiring your choice to immerse yourself in the experience of traditional Brazilian culture.

How to Find TEFL Jobs in Brazil

Many schools in Brazil advertise positions for TEFL jobs on the internet on various TEFL-related websites and it’s best to search for schools in the cities in which you would like to teach.

As with any country, it’s easier to land a job in Brazil if you’re already in the country and showing up for interviews in person. Very few employers will hire you while you’re abroad. The average TEFL salary isn’t great by some standards but it will afford you a comfortable lifestyle. Expect to live well locally but not to save much money on top of that—you’ll be too busy spending money on great travel and cultural opportunities.

Pay for English Teachers in Brazil

As mentioned above, pay is not great relative to other Latin American and certainly Asian countries. That being said, private students are easy to find and this will sometimes double your income. The longer you stay in one community, the easier it will be to teach English on a private basis. As you get some students, impress them with your teaching skills so that they tell their friends, family and co-workers about the great teacher in town.

While considering a job offer, be sure to have answers to all questions regarding rates of pay, salary and other benefits. Find out if you’ll have to travel to your lessons and if you get compensated and/or reimbursed for this time and expense. Ask about what kind of resources the school has for planning lessons and teaching materials, as well as what kind of administrative and collegial support you will have. This will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises after agreeing to take the position. Also, be sure to get all details confirming benefits written in your contract.

•  Job For TEFL Qualified Teacher in Brazil

  Expand

  Date posted:2012-01-16 | Writer: Friends Language Center | Email: friendslanguagecenter@gmail.com

  We are looking for experienced language teachers of English to hold a position in a countryside town in Brazil. The position is available for native and non-native teachers with previous experience or certification to teach children, teenagers and/or adults.
  
  We provide training and a course in Brazilian Portuguese.
  
  The position is available for teachers already in Brazil or teachers who can afford to come here by themselves. To apply, contact us at the e-mail address given on the job heading.
  
      Friends Language Center
      Avenida Tocantins, 187
      Centro
      Uruacu/GO
      76400000
      Brazil

•  TEFL Positions in Piedade, Sao Paulo, Brazil

  Expand

  Date posted:2011-10-11 | Writer: Easy Way | Email: easywayteachers@hotmail.com

  Easy Way is a private language school that features ESL classes for all levels. We are looking for enthusiastic and qualified EFL teachers to start in January 2012. You'll have the opportunity to live with a Brazilian family and learn Portuguese. If this position appeals to you, feel free to contact us at the email address given on the job heading for more information. Please also send your resume and a recent photo.

•  TEFL Job in Sao Paulo, Brazil

  Expand

  Date posted:2011-07-18 | Writer: Metodocallan | Email: info@metodocallan.com

  We are currently looking for highly motivated candidates for EFL teaching positions in Sao Paulo, Brazil. You must be a positive, vibrant and dynamic fluent English speaker. Benefits package includes R$ 1200,00 paid monthly and subsidized, decent private accommodation inside the school (safe and respectable neighborhood). The rooms are en-suite and furnished with a bed, writing desk, cable T.V and Wi Fi internet. Electricity, cable T.V and internet bills are paid by teachers. Rooms are private but teachers share a kitchen. Pictures will be provided during the online interview. Contact us at the e-mail address given on the job heading for more information.
  
  Contact Address * Rua Joaquim Guarani, 381 S�o Paulo - SP CEP 04707-061
  

•  Job For EFL Teacher in Porto Alegre, Brazil

  Expand

  Date posted:2011-05-08 | Writer: Instituto de Linguas | Email: veronica_ccb@yahoo.com.br

  Thank you for your inquiry and for your interest in my school. This program was developed by ASBI, a cultural exchange organization in the south of Brazil. It has been designed for native speakers of English who want to exchange ESL teaching for the opportunity to live in Brazil and become acquainted with its language and culture. This is the second time that my school is going to take part in it. TEFL qualifications are preferred but not required. Some form of ESL teaching experience is also advantageous.
  
  School semesters in Brazil last approximately from March 1st until July 20th and from August 1st to December 20th. Besides the regular semesters, I also run intensive programs in July, January & February. Teachers can come for one or two semesters, but I will really appreciate having a guest teacher who is able to commit to staying for two semesters.
   
  Here is a full description of my teaching exchange program:
  
  LANGUAGE & CULTURE AT VB IN BRAZIL
  INTRODUCTION
  
  My name is Verônica Baumhardt, and I´m 63 years old. I have three children: Victor Frederico (29) (who lives and works in Bahia), Virginia (28) and Vinicius (26). We live in Porto Alegre. The school is also located in Porto Alegre, in a famous area called Bom Fim, a very interesting neighborhood traditionally inhabited by intellectuals and students. The main campus of our federal university (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul) is also located here.
  
  We are all native speakers of Portuguese. In 2005 completed a Master´s Degree Program in ESL teaching at Marshall University WV, USA. During my time at Marshall I also taught Portuguese and Spanish. My children have also had experience living and studying English abroad – Vinícius (in the USA & Ireland) and Virgínia (in the UK).
  
  
  THE SCHOOL
  
  After living in Santa Cruz do Sul (where I taught Portuguese as a second language for S&K www.sk.com.br from 1998 until 2003) I spent two years living in the USA (2004 – 2005). Back in Porto Alegre, in 2006, I started the school, and since then I have worked as a private tutor and instructor for various companies in Porto Alegre. Currently I have 30 students, most of whom take private classes.
  
  Now that the number of students has increased, I have been able to begin bringing native teachers to work with me. The students still study in small groups (2 to 4 people), because there is not currently space for more at the school. I believe that the presence of a native speaker can be a very enriching experience for both instructor and students. I also have a long experience teaching Portuguese as a Second Language, and presently I have students from the USA, India, and China. I am also retired from a Brazilian federal bank.
  
  THE SETTING
  
  Porto Alegre is the eleventh most populous municipality in Brazil and the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of all Brazilian states. Porto Alegre is one of the most important cultural, political and economic centers of Brazil. Two Mercosul countries, Argentina and Uruguay, border Rio Grande do Sul.
  
  
  TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
  
  My teaching philosophy is based on the ideas of Paulo Freire, a renowned Brazilian educator, considered one of the most important education theorists of the twentieth century. In his book Pedagogia da Autonomia, he states that “the point of teaching is not just to transfer knowledge, but to create possibilities for the production or construction of knowledge”. His idea that the teacher must be a “facilitator” in the classroom is deeply related to modern concepts in second-language acquisition, where students also have to be responsible for their own progress, being an active participant in the classroom, and expressing themselves in the language they are studying from the outset.
  
  So, following his ideas, when I prepare classes I take into consideration the student’s interests, life experiences, personality and age, in order to present new information which is meaningful for him or her. Oral communication is always emphasized, but writing, reading and listening are also stressed intensively.
  
  
  ACCOMMODATION
  
  The school maintains a fully furnished one-bedroom apartment near the school to accommodate the guest teacher. We make an effort to provide comfortable accommodation but also expect our guests to be careful with the furniture and conscientious about saving energy, not forgetting to turn off lights or electric heaters when not in use.
  
  
  CONDITIONS
  
  Strong economic measures to contain inflation in the 90s made the cost of living in Brazil, which had always been low, comparable to the cost of living in the U.S. for a few years. From 1999 to 2003, there was a devaluation of the Brazilian real and the cost of living once more fell dramatically. Since the Brazilian currency went up against the dollar in 2006 and 2007, the cost of living is once again closer to that of the U.S., though still cheaper, and much cheaper
  than in Europe.
  
  On the other hand, wages in general are low when converted to foreign currencies. For this reason, the program should not be regarded as a money-making opportunity, but rather as a unique cultural learning experience.
  
  I commit myself to offering the guest teacher an opportunity to learn the Brazilian language and culture in the atmosphere of a major city. I guarantee to provide the minimal amount of work necessary for your full maintenance plus a reasonable income, depending on your working schedule and lifestyle. Even in the event that sufficient work is not available, the guest teacher will still have all necessary expenses taken care of.
  
  One hour a day of teaching (R$20, Monday through Friday only) pays for the whole week's accommodations, including utilities. There is no deduction from Saturday hours. Payments are biweekly and all income is 100% tax-free. As of the fourth week after the beginning of each semester (April 1st for the first semester and September 1st for the second), I guarantee a minimum of 20 hours over a 2-week period. This means that if the school is not able to provide 20 hours of work in a period of two weeks, the teacher will still be paid the equivalent to 20 hours.
  
  Bonus: In addition, the school will pay an end-of-program bonus of US$400 for teachers staying one complete semester and US$800 for those staying two semesters. The US$800 bonus is paid only in full, at the end of the second semester. Teachers coming with a trainee visa, under the commitment of staying 2 semesters but for any reason staying only one, will have US$200 deducted from the US$400 bonus, to cover part of the visa fee paid by the school and expenses arising from recruitment. (See visa instructions below.)
  
  Additional obligations of the school are:
  1. To meet the participant at the airport and provide transportation to his/her accommodation.
  2. To provide telephone access and make available to the participant computers with internet access.
  3. To provide two Portuguese group lessons or one private lesson per week for free.
  4. To provide orientation and support while the participant acts as language instructor, always respecting his or her individual style.
  
  The participant's obligations are:
  1. To be available Monday through Saturday for teaching up to 22 hours per week if necessary. The teacher's free time must be available for teaching new groups or private lessons according to the school's needs. The normal time for classes ranges from 8 AM to 9 PM, although they can occasionally start as early as 7:30 AM or finish as late as 10 PM. The majority of classes take place between 6 and 9 PM. Saturday hours are only in the morning, between 8 and 12 (a group lesson on Saturday is 2 hours long). As a teacher, the participant's most important credential is to be communicative, considerate and interested in making friends.
  2. To spend the necessary time preparing classes, to cooperate in the general running of the school (filling out evaluation forms for each student at the end of each semester, interviewing a new student or answering the phone when around, for example) and especially in maintaining student enthusiasm. With beginner classes we also expect the teacher to cover a basic syllabus (which the school provides), although he/she is free to choose the activities.
  3. Although medical services are much more affordable than in the U.S., and for most occurrences free public health care can be used, if you are the kind of person who likes to be on the safe side, we suggest you arrange private medical insurance for the duration of your stay.
  Summer and winter breaks:
  Teachers coming for 2 semesters may have a break between semesters of 2 or 3 weeks in July (winter) and 2 months from Christmas to the end of February (summer). However, this is only a possibility, which needs to be negotiated with me because the school may need to cover ongoing private classes during summer and winter.
  
  PORTUGUESE LEARNING
  
  The school will provide one Portuguese private lesson a week, for free. Teachers seriously interested in improving their Portguese can make friends among their students and people in the neighborhood to acquire culture as well as language. Samba and capoeira lessons are also available in the city.
  
  THE VISA
  
  Work visas are very difficult and expensive to get, requiring the services of a lawyer and large amounts of paperwork. For this reason we sponsor study-training visas, which are cheaper and easier to get. Eligibility for the study-training visa depends on the candidate being able to prove that he or she is a student in their home country or has just finished his or her studies. There is always a possibility to apply for a work visa after a successful and rewarding experience for both parties.
  
  If you are accepted to our program, you will receive the documents for the visa including a letter of recommendation from ASBI, an exchange organization. Such a letter adds credibility and minimizes the chances of the visa being denied. We will cover the both the fee charged by ASBI your registration on a college course to comply with the visa requirements. The study-training visa is valid for up to one year, extendable for another one-year period, and must be applied for in your home country. We prefer guest teachers who intend to stay for at least two semesters.
  
  If you are not in your home country, the only possibility is to apply for a tourist visa. A tourist visa however is valid for only 6 months and the holder is not entitled to work. It would be of use only for studying Portuguese.
  
  The Brazilian Consulate will charge a fee for the study-training visa that is a little more expensive than the fee for a tourist visa. Different nationals will be charged different fees, which are equivalent to the ones charged from Brazilians by their countries' consulates in Brazil for similar visas. In addition, there will be a registration fee to be paid to the immigration in Brazil of approximately US$110. We expect the trainee to pay for the consular fees in his country and 50% of the immigration fee in Brazil, while I will pay the other 50% in addition to the ASBI and college registration fees.
  
   
  APPLICATION
  
  If you are interested in this program, please let me know. The application process is quite simple. You send me a resume and a photo as an e-mail attachment and decide whether you prefer to come for one semester or as a trainee for two semesters. I will then refer you to Linda Rayner (former ESL coordinator at S&K) to answer any questions you may have and to set up a phone interview.
  
  ARRIVAL
  
  If the guest teacher arrives by air, I will provide airport pickup from the local commercial airport (Porto Alegre). If the teacher travels by bus, he or she is expected to arrive at the bus terminal of Porto Alegre. There are daily buses from São Paulo to Porto Alegre (a 17-hour journey!) and from Buenos Aires to Porto Alegre (a 20-hour journey).
  
  I like to stay at home at weekends. My hobbies are cooking, reading, watching movies and going for a walk (there are many beautiful parks in Porto Alegre). We don't smoke so I would appreciate having a guest teacher who doesn’t smoke either.
  
  This will be my first experience as a hostess for a foreign instructor. But I have already taught for S&K for several years (before going to the USA, in 2004). I have many former students from the USA, Canada and the UK who can provide references about me.
  
  I am looking forward to answering all your questions. Thank you very much for your interest in my school, and keep in touch. The best way to contact me is by e-mail at the address given on the job heading.
  Yours sincerely,
  
  Verônica de Castro Caetano Baumhardt – Coordinator
  V. Baumhardt – Instituto de Línguas Ltda.
  Rua General João Telles, 542 / Sala 905
  90035 – 120 Porto Alegre/RS
  Brazil
  Phone: 55 (51) 3029.3400
   
  
  

•  Teach EFL in Brazil

  Expand

  Date posted:2011-02-27 | Writer: English Oasis | Email: oasis@email.com

  We’re looking for TEFL qualified ESL instructors to teach adults in Manaus, capital of Amazonas state in Brazil. Our school specializes in teaching English language to adults. Most of our classes are one on one at the school or on the premises of multinational companies, with a few classes of between 3 and 5 students. These companies are located in different parts of the city and teachers commute by public transport to different parts of the city every day for classes. Cost of transportation is paid by the school. 
  

  Teachers usually have about 4 hours of classes spread throughout the day. There is no fixed daily schedule. Teachers should be comfortable with students at all levels, ages and sexes.

  Our hourly wage is 20 Brazilian Reals(about 12.00 US Dollars). We pay biweekly. We guarantee minimum 20 hours per week (about 1,000 USD / month).

  Accommodation:
  We offer subsidized, decent private air-conditioned accommodation in a safe and respectable neighborhood.
  The rooms are furnished with a bed, writing desk, cable T.V and internet. Teachers pay 200 Reals (about 120 USD) monthly as rent (the school in effect pays 50% of the rent). Electricity, cable T.V and internet bills are paid by teachers.
  Rooms are private but teachers share kitchen, toilets and bathrooms with colleagues from other English speaking countries.

  Contact us at the email address given on the job heading for more details and to apply.

•  Opportunities For TEFL Teachers in Brazil

  Expand

  Date posted:2010-12-07 | Writer: British and American Language School | Email: britishrj@globo.com

  The British and American language school has regular opportunities for TEFL qualified English teachers in Rio de Janeiro. You should be capable of teaching a variety of ages and levels. We have a solid reputation built up over the past 14 years and offer a salary dependant on qualifications and experience.
  
   If you are interested please send us your resume at the e-mail address given on the job heading, or contact us at Rua Sao Clemente, 241. Botafogo. Tel: (21) 2536-4246

•  TEFL Job in Brazil

  Expand

  Date posted:2010-09-23 | Writer: The English House | Email: dir@englishhouse.com.br

  The English House language school in Teresopolis is looking for a TEFL qualified teacher who is able to teach English to beginners, intermediate and advanced students. Students' ages vary from adolescent to adults. Accommodation and transport to and from work is included in the benefits package. Teresopolis is a small town in the mountain, one hour out of Rio de Janeiro. For more information, contact us by e-mail at the address given on the job heading or call Nelson Pessanha on: (55) 21 2742 7643

•  Teach English in Brazil

  Expand

  Date posted:2010-07-29 | Writer: iSpeak Language Academy | Email: admin@tefllocations.com

   iSpeak Language Academy has three new branches in the towns of Iuna, Aimores and Mutum. We are looking for three TEFL qualified English Teachers for teaching positions in these quiet places. Teachers will be expected to work for 30 hours a week or a little bit more including Saturdays. We have 3 urgent positions available immediately. The ideal candidate will have had some experience, be creative, dynamic and really willing to work.

  Job Details: Institution Type: Language-School Grade Level: All levels Teaching Per Week: 35 hours Monthly Salary: 7 Reais per hour

  For more information, contact Jander Soares via e-mail at the address given on the job heading.

  Contact Phone: 55 33 91164350

•  English Teacher Needed in Brazil

  Expand

  Date posted:2010-05-03 | Writer: Headway English Course | Email: fernanda_nicola@hotmail.com

  TEFL qualified English teacher wanted for General English, FCE (First certificate in English), and CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) classes at a small, friendly school in southern Brazil. The opening is available now and you should be able to start in May. We offer a salary of 3000 reais monthly. Please send your CV, a recent photo and referees to the e-mail address given on the job heading.

  Headway English Course
  Maravilha, Santa Catarina
  Brazil

•  Teach EFL in Northern Brazil

  Expand

  Date posted:2010-02-23 | Writer: Oasis Cursos Ltda | Email: oasis@email.com

  We are seeking TEFL qualified Native ESL teachers for adults in Northern Brazil. Ideal candidates should be able to teach Basic to Advance levels. Experience the beauty of nature in the Amazon while teaching one of the friendliest people on our planet. Benefits include: Free descent air-conditioned accommodation, reasonable wages, relatively low cost of living, maximum 6 students per class,etc.
  For details contact Charles at the e-mail address given on the job heading.