Teaching English in Brazil – Pinheiral

Published: 12 September, 2016  |  Last updated: 03 November, 2016

Teaching English in Pinheiral, Brazil

pinheiral_brasil

Report submitted on 14 Feb, 2016 by Estelle

Teaching English in Pinheiral, Brazil:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Pinheiral, Brazil?
There are jobs, but salary is not so good.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Full time English language school positions, part time English language school positions, private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.)

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
At private English schools, most of the time, be fluent is the biggest requirement.
At Regular school you need have a college degree in Languages.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
Have a Proficiency Certificate, have lived at an English speaking country will help a lot to get a job, but to have a better salary you need a college degree.

What are the levels of payment?
In general is per hour of class.

How many teaching days a week is normal?
6 days per week.

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
40 hours per week.

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
No work at holidays.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Pinheiral, Brazil to teach English?
Teach at big cities are better than at small ones.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Pinheiral, Brazil?
For me it is to be teaching at my home country.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Pinheiral, Brazil?
Here teachers of any kind are not very well appreciated, mainly at the remuneration.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
People to see how important is to learn English.

 

Living in Pinheiral, Brazil:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Brazil?
Visa.

What is the cost of living like in Brazil?
Accommodation.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Pinheiral, Brazil?
The weather, the friendly people.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Pinheiral, Brazil?
The country is now, going through a economical and political crises. Jobs are difficult and people are very unhappy with the country.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Pinheiral, Brazil?
The country is beautiful, full with good things. Come first for a experience period before moving in, so you can see if it is really what you want.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
This is my home country.

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Brazil?
The great weather.

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Newmara Mester

Nationality: Brazilian

Students I’ve taught in Brasil: Elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years), adults.

Where I teachInterpersonal TS, Pinheiral. Working here for 5 years.  I also teach private lessons and volunteer with tourism board to edit publications

NewEnglish, Pinheiral, RJ. Working for 2 years.

How I found my current jobs: Online.  This is my own business.

My school facilitiesAdequate. Limited textbook resources; no library; limited games resources.

Teacher support at my schoolNone
 
Links: newEnglish
 

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Teaching English in Brazil – Rio de Janeiro

Published: 16 November, 2015  |  Last updated: 03 November, 2016

Teaching English in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Report submitted on 22 October, 2015 by Kirsty Baird.

Teaching English in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?
Native ESL teachers for all levels and ages are highly sought after here in Rio. Word of mouth and recommendations are the best way to get your name out there and private one on one classes are the most demanded. Another method is through language consulting companies that hire native teachers and set up classes for them inside multi national companies. Native ESL teachers can also simply walk into any of the multitude of English courses and apply for jobs that way. The pay through courses and consulting companies is not good, so most natives work privately.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Full time English language school positions, part time English language school positions, agencies (send teachers to different locations), teaching at kindergartens / pre-schools, teaching at private international schools, teaching at companies, teaching at community centers, etc., private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.).

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
The demand here is so high that the minimum requirement is speaking native English. Obviously, experience and even a teaching degree count especially when the student is at a more advanced level.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
I would recommend that you have some kind of previous teaching experience. Knowing how to evaluate the needs of each student and prepare an organized curriculum that will effectively help the student achieve their goals, is very important for your success as a teacher. That doesn’t necessarily come naturally to some native speakers, but could be taught through online courses or teacher preparatory courses.

What are the levels of payment?
I currently charge R$70,00 per hour (US$24 per hour) as a private teacher which is the average rate for a native teacher. If I worked in a course, I would probably earn about half of that.

How many teaching days a week is normal?
5 days per week

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
20 hours per week

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
Holiday arrangements are made on a case by case basis depending on the availability of the teacher and/or student.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to teach English?
Rio has a very high cost of living right now and even a private teacher’s salary is not cutting it (I speak from personal experience). If I were coming to Rio right now to teach, I wouldn’t!! I love this city and this country and its people and I have been here for many years, but living here has become very difficult in recent years. Fortunately, my husband has a relatively good income so it bolsters our budget when things aren’t great economically. I have known many young teachers that have come from the States and have to return within the first few months because of the cost of living.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?
One of the most positive things is that I feel very appreciated by my students. They are very receptive and value their class time.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?
Sporadic work hours and heavy traffic contribute to most of my headaches when it comes to teaching. As a private teacher, setting a fixed schedule is almost impossible as most of my classes are done in companies with very busy people who have unpredictable work hours. I teach as early as 7:30 in the morning and as late as 8pm to cater to my student’s busy schedules. I also have to be very flexible here due to transportation issues (students are often late to class because of traffic).

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
My biggest difficulty is with breaking the bad English habits that my students have acquired before I even get to them. Brazilians are highly exposed to the English language through television, movies, and music which in some ways is an advantage, but in other ways can be detrimental. Most of my students have great vocabulary, but have difficulty forming correct structures. This is also due in part to the low level of English teaching in schools and courses.

 

Living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Brazil?
Brazil is very bureaucratic when it comes to work visa requirements and for that reason most native teachers are either here on tourist visas and working illegally (under the table) or are the wives or husbands of workers already here on work visas.

What is the cost of living like in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?
The cost of living is relatively high at the moment compared to the average salary due to recession and inflation. Housing, food, cars, clothing, eating out, etc., are all things that have raised dramatically in price over the last few years. Most Brazilians and anyone else living here at the moment are only spending on the bare necessities.

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Most people live in high rise apartments. Due to space issues within the large cities, houses are expensive and located in the more rural areas. The best way to find accommodation is to contact a realtor in the neighborhood or area one is considering living.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?
Rio is a vibrant, friendly, and laid back city. The climate is pleasant most of the year. It is naturally beautiful city with lots of outdoor activities and fun things to do.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?
Summers can be unbearably hot. Public systems here are pretty organized and corruption is at an all time high at all levels of government. Crime is also a factor in some areas and traffic is an ongoing problem.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?
If you come to Rio, come with a financially healthy bank account, a financial back up plan, or with a mindset of living rustically.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Mexican restaurants, although my husband and I probably make the best Mexican food in Rio in our home! Affordable cars, good quality clothing, and access to certain toiletry items are also high on my list.

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Brazil?
The laid back way of life.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
Barring food items such as maple syrup and seasonings, I would say money! If you have money in Brazil, you can have a comfortable life and can gain access to most of what you need.

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Kirsty Baird

Nationality: Dual British/American

Students I’ve taught in Brazil: Pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years), university, adults, business

Where I teach: I teach one on one classes from my home (to neighborhood children), at a British pharmaceutical company (about 10 hours per week), and in student’s homes. Teaching for 15 years.

How I found my current jobs:Word of mouth.

My school facilities: Good – I get most of my material from textbooks or online sources. The sites I give class in are modern facilities with meeting rooms and appropriate technology available.

Teacher support is available at my school: none.

 

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Teaching English in Brazil – Contagem

Published: 15 March, 2015  |  Last updated: 03 November, 2016

Teaching English in Contagem, Brazil

Contagem, Brazil 

Report submitted on 27 February, 2015 by Karen.

Teaching English in Contagem, Brazil:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Contagem, Brazil?
Most private schools require you to take the Cambridge test. But if you are going to teach English at the public schools you must have a bachelor´s in English.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Part time English language school positions.

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
I’m not sure. I do know my nephew passed Cambridge´s FCE and was given a part time job, but when they needed to lay off some teachers he was one of the first to go.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
I would think that a certificate in Advanced English would be sufficient.

What are the levels of payment?
Private conversation classes US$30-US$75 an hour. I don’t know what other pay is because I am my own boss (I charge about US$15).  I charge less than half the most expensive schools charge and a little lower than say Kumon.

How many teaching days a week is normal?
Two days per week.

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
Two hours per week.

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
Brazil loves holidays and no one expects to have to work much less study. Exception: Kumon that is Japanese.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Contagem, Brazil to teach English?
Seek out Businesses. They pay well and have accommodation for you to teach at. They are always searching for qualified teachers.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Contagem, Brazil?
Pretty much everyone loves English. They know the songs and watch American movies. For this reason there are many things to discuss that they may have not understood and want to understand.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Contagem, Brazil?
Can’t think of any.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
Controversial issues like American military and use of guns. Also the down talk of local politicians. Although I can agree that there is a lot of corruption, I don´t think foreigners should point fingers. It is tricky territory.

 

Living in Contagem, Brazil:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Brazil?
Yes. Equivalent of American Green card.

What is the cost of living like in Brazil?
Our family of 5 has been living on less than US$1,000 a month. I do not recommend it. I would say that at least US$2,000 would be sufficient. But that is me. Depends on what you consider necessities. We don’t go out much at all. Our splurging evolves buying extras for pizza night or buying a roasted chicken for Sunday dinner.

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Apartments are common in the cities. We own our home but many people rent either house or apartment. A reasonable apartment runs about US$500 a month in my neighbourhood but it can be as much as US$1000 in better neighbourhoods.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Contagem, Brazil?
I love how social people are here. They are friendly and talkative.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Contagem, Brazil?
Crime rate, low funds for education and health. Corruption at all levels.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Contagem, Brazil?
Learn to appreciate the differences as just that: being different. Don’t think of things as necessarily right or wrong but try to adapt to the culture. I am not speaking of moral issues but of things like people showing up without calling just to chat or having to have rice and beans for lunch or they just didn’t eat and so on.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Order in traffic, schools, shopping malls, just in about everything.

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Contagem, Brazil?
Friendship and variety in fruits and vegetables at low cost (as compared to U.S.)

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
I’ve lived here so long that there is little I miss. I do have my family bring canned cherries because I love to make cheese cake and my kids love syrup so I ask for maple flavoring. Sometimes I ask for peanut butter too. I can’t think of anything other than food, but I have adapted well and we can get just about anything online.

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Karen

Nationality: American/Brazilian (double nationality)

Students I’ve taught in Brazil: Pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), university.

In the past I have taught mostly adults and privately but this year I opened Hands On English at the request of neighbors. My slogan is “English at the Right Age” because teaching English to kids you get to help them develop an ear for the language. Also teaching kids is my passion. I have taught preschool in the U.S. and at Bible School so since my neighbors were wanting English for their kids it was only natural for me to choose this age group. I love the ESL lesson plans at ESL KidStuff (www.eslkidstuff.com/esl-kids-lesson-plans.html). They are a guide and easy to adapt to each class situation.

Where I teach: Hands On English in Contagem. Working here for 3 years.

How I found my current jobs: Off and on through the years people who know I am American come knocking and request my services. I have been mostly engaged in raising my own children but we have been so tight for money that I decided to give it a try. I remodelled the offices we have downstairs and set up a classroom facility with drinking fountain and bathroom. It is really nice. I have started with just twelve students but I would like to have as many as twenty.

My school facilities: Good – I don’t have chairs that are appropriate for my preschoolers. I ran out of funds. But their table is good and they enjoy class. We have cushions and a rug where we spend over half our time. Compared to public schools I would give my school an excellent. Unfortunately the schools around me lack resourced.  But I just opened just two days ago.  I have been remodeling and buying things since December. I will continue to work until I get to very good!  By my standards…

Teacher support at my school: None.

 

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