Brazil

C ou n try Gu i d e

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Education
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Education Group Inc.
| Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America, bordered by Venezuela,

Guyana and Suriname to the north, Colombia to the northwest, Bolivia
and Peru to the west, Argentina and Paraguay to the southwest and
Uruguay to the south (only Ecuador and Chile do not border Brazil). Brazil
is the only country in Latin America where Portuguese, rather than
Spanish, is spoken.

Culture
Though the country’s capital is actually Brasília, the best-known city in Brazil is, of course, Rio de Janeiro. This cos-
mopolitan, coastal destination is legendary worldwide as much for the beauty of its beaches, as for its fashionably
clad (or barely clad) residents. Drawing thousands to the famously debaucherous post-lent celebration, Carnaval,
Rio is a city that reflects Brazilians’ laid-back yet glamorous style and undeniable zest for life.
Brazil, however, is much more than Rio or Carnaval; it is an enormous country with geographical diversity, rich natu-
ral resources and a strong national identity rooted in post-colonial independence. Portugal’s over three-century rule
of Brazil dominates the culture here and mixes with its indigenous and African history. This unique cultural combi-
nation can be tasted in foods like feijoada stew, heard in the beats of samba and bossa nova, and seen in Brazil’s
colorful colonial architecture.

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Things to Do and See
Those arriving in Brazil’s most famous city, Rio, will be greeted by the outstretched arms of
Christ the Redeemer, a 130-foot, instantly-recognizable art deco statue which hovers over this
coastal metropolis like a proud father. This iconic statue, along with massive Sugarloaf Mountain rising
from the Atlantic, has come to symbolize Brazil. Arrive in February if you want to attend the world’s
largest party, as Brazilians nationwide take to the streets to celebrate their town’s unique version of Carnaval. In
Rio, you and two million friends can follow wildly costumed dancers on outrageous floats as they shut down the
streets and baile samba in this weeklong festival.

Rio’s sparkling beaches also draw visitors from around the world. Check out the beaches of Ipanema in southern
Rio or walk the black and white promenade along Copacabana, and understand why songs are written in their
honor. Beyond Rio, Brazil’s massive coastline means countless more stunning beaches, frequented by Brazilians
and foreigners alike. Along the Costa Verde, between Rio and Sao Paulo, are beaches popular with Europeans.
A trip north will bring you to the Bahia State’s Salvador Beach, the Praia do Forte resort, Ilha de Tinhare, and less
developed, isolated gems such as Jericoacoara.

Away from the coasts, Brazil is home to a wealth of other natural wonders. The massive and mysterious Amazon
Rainforest Basin in the north spans over a billion acres across nine nations. Here, thousands of species of plants
and animals coexist with indigenous people in a tangle of unmatched biodiversity. Rivaling the Amazon is the
Pantanal State in the country’s center, with its unique expanse of flat wetlands. The Pantanal, though not as vast
as the Amazon Basin, supports a more easily visited variety of wildlife and plant species. In the southern part of
Brazil, along the coastal mountains of Paraná, and shared with Argentina, the Iguaçu River is the source of the
over 250 waterfalls that make up breathtaking panorama of Iguaçu Falls.

Currency/Cost of Living
The currency in Brazil is called the Real (BRL). For
the most up-to-the-minute conversion rate to your
country’s currency, click here: currency converter.

Sample Cost Guide, Rio

(in USD)
A small local beer- $2.00
A gallon of milk- $5.00
Lunch at a local restaurant- $8.50
Rent for a one-bedroom apt- $660.00
Public transport (one way fare)- $1.00

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| Teaching in Brazil

Demand for Teachers

The demand for teachers in Brazil is very strong, as the country’s continually strengthening economy requires global
competitiveness in the English-dominated fields of business and finance. Those with a professional background in
business, or specialized training in teaching business English, will fare especially well.

Major TEFL Cities

Rio de Janeiro is the destination chosen by most TEFL teachers. For a less competitive teaching market, however,
cities such as capital Brasília, or São Paulo, Recife and Salvador can be good choices, too.

Typical Students
Many students in Brazilian language institutes are adult professionals in need of English for their job. They may also
be university or high school students who are looking for additional language study or who are prepping for English
proficiency exams.

Typical Salary
A teacher at a language institute in Rio might make the equivalent of around $1,500 USD per month, working 25-30
hours per week. Outside Rio, salaries will be lower, such as around $800 USD, though cost of living is lower as well.
Private tutoring in Rio generally pays well, around $20 USD or more an hour, but the lack of structure can some-
times make it hard to depend on this as a stable income.

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Typical Benefits
Your teaching contract in Brazil will probably not offer housing or other
benefits, but Portuguese lessons may be included.

Teaching Hours
Most language schools cater to working adults so classes are usually
offered at times that accommodate their schedules, such as late after-
noons, evenings, or Saturdays. Alternately, teachers might be con-
tracted out by a language school to travel to various companies and
teach the staff onsite, such as in early morning or afternoon classes.

Contract Length
Employers tend to prefer hiring teachers for at least a five or six-month
contract, which corresponds with the typical length of a teacher’s
tourist visa. One-year contracts are also available.

Peak Hiring Season

The best time to get a job in Brazil is right after Carnaval in February,
when schools have a good sense of how many students they will have
in classes. After February, positions are generally available at language
institutes year round, with schedules becoming leaner after August,
when language schools are winding down their semester in anticipa-
tion of the summer holidays (December and January).

Preferred Hiring
Requirements
Both onsite and online TEFL certificates are accepted in Brazil. A
college degree (in any subject) may also be required by some schools,
but if you do not hold one, don’t worry; you can certainly still find
teaching vacancies, as demand is high for teachers and new language
institutes are continually cropping up.

How to Find Jobs

While you may see some teaching vacancies advertised on TEFL
job boards, the majority of language institutes hire teachers who are

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 already in the country. Therefore, it’s a good idea to contact schools
directly before you go to Brazil, in order to set up interviews for when
you arrive. It’s important to schedule your arrival during peak hiring
months, such as February through August.

Once in Brazil, it’s also a good idea to check out bulletin boards at
local hostels/hotels or bookstores. The English newspaper, The Rio
Times, has a classifieds section with jobs, which is another resource
for your job search. Expect to spend a couple of weeks interviewing
before landing a job. Bring enough money to support yourself un-
til your first payday, which may be at the end of your first month of
teaching.

Interview Tips
Interviews in Brazil may be different than what you expect, in that pro-
spective teachers sometimes participate in group interviews with other
applicants. As part of the interview, teachers (often both Brazilian and
foreign) may be asked to complete an English grammar test, or to
demonstrate a teaching lesson on the spot before being offered a job.
Some knowledge of Portuguese is valued, though not necessary, as is
an outgoing, communicative approach to teaching.

Work Visa Process

Brazilian work visas are virtually impossible to obtain, so many teach-
ers enter Brazil with a tourist visa, which must be arranged in advance
from their home country. The tourist visa is valid for three months,
and can be renewed for three more by exiting the country (across the
Paraguayan border, for example) and then returning, or by paying for
an extension with the Federal Police. Another option is to take Por-
tuguese classes while in Brazil, as the student visa permits a certain
number of hours to be legally worked.

Recommended Courses
Onsite TEFL courses such as the Cambridge CELTA or Bridge IDELT
are preferred by language schools in Brazil, and online TEFL certifi-
cates of at least 100 hours are accepted by most schools as well. If
you decide to get certified online, you might also consider a univer-
sity-level online TEFL course, in order to stand out more in a more
competitive job market such as Rio.

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| Contact Us

If you have additional questions about teaching in Brazil and would like to speak to
an advisor, call 1-800-437-0413. You can also visit our TEFL Resource Page for
other helpful information about teaching abroad or to message an advisor online.

Copyright © 2017 Bridge Education Group, Inc. All rights reserved. The Bridge name and logo are
registered trademarks of Bridge Education Group, Inc. in the United States. All other trademarks
held by their respective owners. This brochure, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced
without the express written permission of Bridge Education Group, Inc.

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