Teaching English in Brazil is not as lucrative or easy as in many Asian countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. It is possible for English teachers to make a better living than many educated, professional Brazilians. However this generally applies to teachers who have found a way to stay in Brazil permanently. Most ‘6-month’ teachers will find it hard to earn more than they spend during their stay. You won’t be able to travel around South America with the money you earn. Money is not usually why the average short-stay English teacher comes to Brazil. Most come for the experience, the people and the beaches!

The chances of finding a school to sponsor a work visa from abroad are slim and sponsoring flights is almost unheard of. Some schools may help teachers find accommodation, but will most likely not pay for it. Although it is illegal to work on a tourist visa, many teachers do and the chances of getting into trouble for this are low but not impossible.

A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate is not essential for finding work as an English teacher in Brazil. However, if you have never taught before doing a TEFL course will definitely help you overcome the initial stress of learning how to teach. Most schools will provide some form of training regardless of your experience or qualifications.

The best time to look for work as an English teacher in Brazil is from March to November, excluding July which is a school holiday month.

Teaching opportunities exist in language schools where you will teach General English, Business English and exam preparation for the TOEFL. In-company classes for Business English are also available, but far harder to come by. International schools and some local primary and secondary schools may also hire English teachers.

The average English teacher’s salary in a big city like Rio won’t be more than R$1,300 or US$600. This is for 20 to 30 contact hours per week. You will probably only have time for 5 to 6 lessons per day especially if you have to travel. Some teachers do make up to R$2,000 with some private classes thrown in. On an hourly basis schools pay English teachers between R$16 to R$18 per hour. Schools charge students R$40 to R$60 per hour so it is possible to make as much with private lessons.

To find work as a teacher in Brazil, you will have to be here. Schools rarely hire teachers from abroad. However, you may be able to setup some interviews before you leave for Brazil. Check out our job board for advertised positions. Once in Brazil, walk around with some resumes, drop in at some schools and make yourself known. You can also check the O Globo newspaper for advertised positions. They have an online version: O Globo. Type 'English' into the search box and you should find some adverts for teachers.

Remember to bring some semi-casual clothes to wear while teaching. It can get quite hot in Brazil so short-sleeved button-up shirts and summer dresses should be OK.