Everything You Need To Know About Teaching English In Brazil

You can pick up private English students in Brazil fairly easily, particularly if you’re already teaching English and have starting to build up contacts. Most of your students will be adults looking to extend their skills but you may find some children who want to have extra English lessons too.

Private tuition tends to pay better than language centres, with fees of up to double the wage you could earn in a language centre. As a result, many TEFL teachers take on a few private students initially to top up their wages and then move over to this full-time, if they continue to teach English in Brazil for a longer period.

To teach in Brazil, you just need a fluent level of English and a TEFL certificate. A Bachelor’s degree is not an official requirement, though some employers may ask for candidates with this qualification. There are also much fewer restrictions on what passport you need for a working visa in Brazil and employers are willing to hire many different passport holders.

You can enter Brazil and look for work on a tourist visa. Once you’re offered a teaching position, you need to apply for a work visa. This can be an extremely lengthy and frustrating process but it is essential if you want to teach English legally in Brazil.

Don’t be surprised if your new employer is reluctant to go through the work visa application process, particularly for shorter term contracts. Brazilians aren’t hot on admin at the best of times – and the application process is both expensive and long. You may well need to pay the costs yourself in order to persuade your employer that it’s worth the effort.

Given the hassle of getting a work visa, many TEFL teachers in Brazil work on a tourist visa. Although this is commonplace, we don’t recommend it. You will be working illegally and there may be consequences (including deportation) if you are caught.

The cost of living in Brazil is relatively high compared to other South American countries, with Rio the most expensive location, followed by San Paulo and then Salvador. However, you should still be able to afford a reasonable standard of living on your English teacher’s wages. Just don’t expect to get rich from teaching English in Brazil!

Housing is rarely included in your wage package, so accommodation is likely to be your biggest monthly outgoing. A city centre apartment in San Paulo costs around $350 to $550 per month, with prices slightly higher in Rio and lower in Salvador. You can reduce this by around a third by looking for housing out of the centre and/or sharing.

You can eat out relatively cheaply in Brazil. A simple meal at a mid-range restaurant will cost around $7 to $15 and a local beer will set you back around $2. However, it’s generally cheaper to shop locally and cook for yourself.

From the Beautiful Game to throbbing music-filled cities, via idyllic white-sandy beaches, dense jungle and spectacular waterfalls, Brazil is stunning. And if that’s not enough, it’s also home to the greatest biodiversity on the planet, with numerous iconic creatures including howler monkeys, pink dolphins and toucans.

Under the surface, you’ll find a brilliant melting pot of nationalities. Although Brazilian culture has been hugely shaped by the Portuguese, there’s also the indigenous population and a strong African influence as well as a more recent wave of western Europeans and Asians to add to the mix.

As the largest country in South America by some way, the biggest question is where to start. Luckily, most towns and cities have fairly well-developed transport networks, making travel in and around the country relatively straightforward. However, Brazil is a country to savour. Make the most of your time teaching English here – and let yourself be swept along with all that this amazing country has to offer.

Brazilians have a huge thirst for living life to the full, with the country’s famous Carnaval epitomising the carefree, dazzling exuberance of this nation. This is a country that definitely comes down on the life side of work-life balance, with festivals galore celebrated throughout the calendar.

This energy often spills over into the classroom, with high spirits the norm. You definitely won’t struggle to get your students to speak – although keeping them in their seats could be a tougher challenge! Have a clear lesson plan, embrace their enthusiasm and channel all that energy into hugely interactive, positive English classes.

Although it’s not essential to speak Portuguese, you’ll find Brazil far more welcoming (and get a lot more out of the experience) if you at least make an effort with the basics.

Brazilian meals have a strong focus on rice, beans and either meat or fish plus tons of flavour, with the popular feijoada (stew with black beans, meat and spices) a great example. If you’re a fan of barbequed meat you’re in luck. You’ll find churrascarias (basically barbeque restaurants) throughout Brazil, with skewers upon skewers of meat ready for you to eat.

If you’re more of a sweet lover, try out brigadeiro – a gooey chocolate truffle, topped off with some chocolate sprinkles, to make sure you’ve got enough! Alternatively, sample the scrumptious acai – a gorgeous blend of berries that usually comes with honey, granola, banana and guarana syrup. It almost as good for you as it’s tasty!

You’ll need a drink to wash all the food down – and where better to start than with a caipirinha. This rather too tasty cocktail is made up of cachaca (white rum), sugar and lime. A great non-alcoholic option is agua de coco (coconut water) – particularly if you drink it straight from the coconut or one of the mind-blowing variety of Brazilian fruits that you can drink freshly squeezed by the juice bars that pop up in every town

One word of warning, Brazilian restaurants serve huge portions. This is perfect if you’re planning to share but less good if you’re stretching your budget to an occasional meal out. It’s also worth checking your bill before you leave, as overcharging is common.

Brazil has a good standard of living, with modern apartments in all the main cities. You’re unlikely to be able to afford your own apartment in a popular location on a teaching salary. However, most TEFL teachers find decent accommodation by living outside of the city centre and sharing with other expats – which can also be a great way to find a ready-made social circle.

Brazil has a tropical climate, with the dry season running from August to January and the wet season between February and July. Much of the country remains hot all year round, with Rio de Janeiro reaching sizzling temperatures of around 30 degrees in summer and rarely dipping below the low 20s in the winter months. However, the southern and coastal areas can get cooler between April to October.

Please note: The information in this guide is accurate as of the time of writing. However, the laws and requirements to teach abroad can often change. Make sure to check the latest advice from the local authority of the country you plan to work in.