About Teaching English in Portugal
In order to teach English abroad in Portugal, you will need to have a 4-year university degree and an accredited TEFL certification. Classroom experience is also often required: usually a minimum of 100 hours or 1 year of previous teaching experience. Native English language speakers are preferred.
While not as large as Spain, Italy, or Germany, Portugal offers a good job market, particularly for EU citizens.
English teachers in Portugal typically find work towards the beginning of September or October, and then again in January. Most English teaching contracts for teaching English in Portugal end in late June. For those looking to teach through the summer, opportunities at summer English language camps are available throughout Portugal and the whole of Europe. Summer positions typically start in late June and early July.
English teachers will be expected to interview in person once they arrive in Portugal, and they will also be responsible for their airfare, as well as housing. Most teachers share a flat with their coworkers.
 |
 |
Schools are becoming less likely to hire teachers without work papers and are becoming less willing to help obtain them. If a non-EU citizen is able to find an employer who will sponsor them for a work visa, they can apply through the local labor office but expect the process to be quite long. It is also common in Portugal for teachers to be self-employed and work on a freelance basis, which is much less difficult if you are an EU citizen.
Wages are not high but teachers can sustain a comfortable lifestyle and cover their expenses. Many teachers take on private students on the side or teach English online to make extra money. Schools typically offer around 20-25 hours per week of work, leaving you plenty of opportunities to travel and explore.
Major cities for English teaching jobs are Lisbon, Oporto, Coimbra, Braga.
Founded in 2010, International TEFL Academy (ITA) is a world leader in TEFL certification for teaching English abroad and teaching English online. ITA offers accredited TEFL certification classes online and in 20+ locations worldwide and has received multiple awards and widespread recognition as one of the best TEFL schools in the world. ITA provides all students and graduates with lifetime job search guidance and has certified more than 40,000 English teachers. Our graduates are currently teaching in 80 countries worldwide.
