Expert: Sandra - 4/28/2010

Question
Hi Sandra,
My interest is to find a school or organization in Floripa, Curitiba, or P. Alegre where I can get a job teaching English, starting in Oct or Nov 2010.  i would like to know what i need to do in order to qualify for such a job since I have not formally taught English.  My English education started with 1st grade through my MBA from Boston University.   Thx. in advancre

Answer
A inexperienced person wanting to teach ESL should invest in a TEFL course, IMO. Speaking does not mean that you can dissect the languaage to explain it, nor does it give you teaching skills (classroom management, interpersonal skills, efficient tranamission of material, etc) in general. Also, anyone wishing to live in Brazil would do well to have an excellent level of Portuguese to live comfortably.

However, it is illegal to work in Brazil on a tourist visa. A company wishing to hire a non-Brazilian must prove that there are no Brazilians with the training and ability to do the indicated job. Therefore, it is quite difficult to get a work visa, or to interest a company in your skills, given the hordes of well trained and under or un-employed Brazilians available.

Good luck.