Teaching English in Portugal

Portugal is known for its cliff-top castles and mediaeval cobblestone fishing villages that remind tourists of the country's long history. Visigoths and Romans are a few of them who have left their mark on Portugal’s history. Tomar and Batalha, as well as numerous other World Heritage sites, await the tourist's discovery.

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During their sailing history, the Portuguese also left their mark on other countries. Apart from its historical attractions, the beaches of Lagos and Cascais, as well as the Serra Da Estrela mountain range, are stunningly beautiful.

Lisbon, the capital city, is also a relaxed but interesting place to visit, with black and white cobblestone streets, museums, gothic architecture, bright yellow trams, and cafe-lined streets to kill time. Wandering around in Lisbon's backstreets also allows TEFL teachers who have pursued TESOL certifications to discover hidden gems throughout the city after their teaching shift.

Portugal is home to one of Europe's oldest universities. The University of Coimbra was founded in 1920, making it one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious universities. Over 21,000 students study there, with 10% coming from abroad, earning it the title of the country's most cosmopolitan city. It was the world's only Portuguese-speaking university until the twentieth century.

Portuguese is widely spoken throughout the world. The language is spoken by approximately 240 million people worldwide. This places it as the sixth most spoken language on the planet, and it is the official language of nine countries spread across five continents! Despite its rich history, Portugal is sometimes overlooked as a TEFL destination because of the neighbour country Spain. This makes Portugal one of the underrated hidden destinations for TEFL teachers.

To teach English in Portugal, you must have a university degree with accredited internationally recognized TEFL courses. Classroom experience is frequently required, with a minimum of 100 hours or one year of prior teaching experience. If you are a native English speaker then you will also get more preference as well.

Portugal, while not as large as Spain, Italy, or Germany, has a strong labour market, particularly for EU citizens. TEFL teachers those who have pursued TEFL certificate to teach English in Portugal usually find work in September or October, and then again in January. The majority of TEFL teaching contracts in Portugal expire in late June.  Summer English language camps are available throughout Portugal and Europe for those interested in teaching during the summer. Summer jobs typically begin in late June or early July.

In Portugal, TEFL teachers will be expected to interview in person, and they will be responsible for their own airfare and accommodation. The majority of teachers live in apartments with their co-workers. Major cities for TEFL teachers who have completed ESL teacher training courses in Portugal are Lisbon, Oporto, Coimbra, and Braga. Schools are less likely to hire teachers without work permits and are less willing to assist in obtaining them. If non-EU citizens can find an employer willing to sponsor them for a work visa, they can apply through the local labour office, but the process will be lengthy. It is also common for teachers in Portugal who have pursued online English teacher training courses to be self- employed and work on a freelance basis.

Working wages are not high for TEFL teachers, but you can live comfortably and cover your expenses. To earn extra income, many teachers take on private students or teach English online.  Schools typically offer 20-25 hours of work per week, giving you plenty of time to travel and explore.

So, are you ready to take advantage of teaching English in one of the underrated TEFL destinations which is filled with opportunities? Then start your teaching journey by pursuing affordable online TEFL courses in Portugal today!