Portugal is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe with its rich history and culture. Not only is the climate ideal for rest and relaxation, the economy is vibrant enough to be able to sustain one of the highest standards of living levels in the Western World. It is also a country rich in resources, both in its technologically savvy population and the country’s agricultural and industrial sector that drives one of the economies which forms part of the G17 economic bloc in the world.
One of the main stumbling blocks though in Portugal is its very low English-speaking rate compared to other countries in the world. Though it is a sign of cultural independence and pride, the lingua franca of the current borderless world is English. With a population that is 97% non English speaking, this is one of the issues why not much foreign influx has come to Portugal’s shores compared to other European Union countries that include English in their media for instruction. This state though presents a big business opportunity for native English speakers such as you and me, and that is teaching English in Portugal.
Teaching English in Portugal has become one of the most lucrative employment opportunities in the country. The demand has steadily increased in the past few years as more and more Portuguese realize that in order to realize business opportunities that the world offers, English is the language that is best understood. Being a native English speaker though is not a guarantee of getting a job teaching English in the country. The basic requirement to be able to teach English in Portugal is by having a Test of English as First Language (TEFL) certification. An individual would be hard pressed to find work as an English teacher without this kind of specialized certification.
There are a number of institutions though in Portugal that provide the kind of certification needed to be eligible to the many teaching opportunities in the country. The course usually takes from two weeks to a month of teaching sessions and testing activity. At the end of the course, when you complete all your requirements, the school would issue the necessitated certification as your eligibility to teach English in the country. Your value as a teacher increases with the number of qualification and certifications you have regarding the work and as you gain experience, you would have more leverage to demand for higher wages. Thus it is important that you obtain valid certifications and your work experiences are related to the improvement of your craft and skill.
Once you have a TEFL certification, the country of Portugal provides many teaching opportunities for you. The areas of highest demand for English teachers include Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra. Often, the subject requirements for English would be in the categories of General conversational English and Business English. Many companies, such as language schools, provide the biggest opportunities for English teachers but some other companies hire TEFL certified individuals to conduct English training seminars for its employees.
The average salary of an English teacher in Portugal can range from € 600 to € 1,250 a month, which is largely dependent on the individual’s qualifications and training. Bonuses are often given to teachers if they remain with the school for more than twelve months. Contracts for teaching range from nine to twelve months in a year. For European Union citizens, the receipt of an employment offer makes one eligible for a residency permit while for non EU citizens, employment need be secured prior to their arrival in the country. Schools often pay for airfare of the foreign teacher in English and even for accommodations as they complete their contract. The work is anywhere between twenty two to twenty five hours per week, with school’s operating on Saturday mornings.
But it cannot be gainsaid that teaching is first and foremost a vocation and not much of a cash cow. But in Portugal, one can be able to live on the salary of teacher with accommodations and living expenses included. One can also provide private English lessons to those who are willing to pay by the hour to augment the income. This, together with a modest living quarters in one of the most affordable countries in the European Union can be an experience not only for one’s teaching resume, but also for the enrichment of one’s aesthetic and historic realm of experience while staying in Portugal.
There have been many stories that abound as to the experiences teachers of English in Portugal. Many have said that Portugal is one of the most pleasant countries to teach in as it has a great quality of life and really nice and polite students. The work is not overtaxing, as the common workday in Portugal includes a mandated siesta. The horror stories too abound, as the pay may just be enough to pay for one’s accommodations while staying in one of the premiere cities in Portugal. There is also a growing underground demand for private English lessons in Portugal. This is due to the high tax rate imposed on teaching as a profession, about 20% to 25% of the salary is deducted. In order to compensate for this, many qualified teachers provide private English tutorials on their own time to augment their incomes. But the problems arise that since this is a black market operation, many do not pay or if they do, they shortchange on payments. But these horror stories are few and far between as the country is still one of the most reliable countries to live in and the culture of the people is that they honor agreements, even if they are a bit clandestine.
All in all, teaching English in Portugal is still one of the most in demand work opportunities in the country. So long as you have the necessary qualifications and have completed the requirements for your travel to Portugal, your teaching experience would not only be rewarding, but also enriching as you embrace the essence of Portugal as you work and stay in this historic country.