TEFL in Portugal - What is life like in the laid-back city of Lisbon?

In Lisbon, it’s “easy to be happy on a daily basis”, possibly due to the fact that the Portuguese “don’t live by extremes”. Quoted by two TEFL teachers - Gayle Harney and Zorana Orlic (from Centro de Linguas) - I interviewed whilst in the capital, I feel that what they say really rings true when trying to describe Lisbon. It seems, if you like seafood, the beach, are sporty, drink wine, don’t wear high heels (Lisbon is made up cobbled streets), like warm weather… Then you should really consider moving to the capital. If you are someone who is “ready to take life as it comes, and enjoy it”, if you love the social, warm aspect of life, and also want to be in amongst it all, but ALSO want the option to live life in a relaxed way at your own pace, you should consider Lisbon. Basically, if you are a human being who enjoys the sunshine, beautiful architecture, a relaxed yet social society, and life, you should consider Lisbon.

I've heard it a couple of times over the course of this trip and it is probably important to mention now in greater detail. It is important that you equip yourself with as much experience as possible before relocating to your new destination. Sometimes it’s not possible to gain years of teaching experience before jumping into the world of TEFL, but I advise, at least, to get a teaching qualification that makes you feel confident in the classroom. In South America and Mexico it seemed that just being a native English speaker could land you a job. In Europe they are looking for specific qualifications, and lots of these schools seem to be requiring more than a weekend TEFL certificate. The CELTA qualification is recognised and accepted everywhere without a doubt. Zorana explained how when arriving from Siberia, despite the fact that she had been studying for 4 or 5 years in university, it was her CELTA qualification that landed her the job (that she still has 15 years later).

When looking for a teaching job in Lisbon there are some things you should consider:

-    Your hours are likely to be sporadic.

Like any country, it isn’t guaranteed you will be offered all of the hours you need in one place. If you need to, you shouldn’t have a problem finding other classes to make up your hours. Just bear in mind, the higher the different number of academies and schools you are working for the more you will have to travel in your working day, which will be time consuming as well as taking a lot out of you in addition to bringing a good energy to your classes. (Something I learnt juggling 3 different schools along with private classes!)

-    Work is easy to find.

There is a big demand for English teachers in Lisbon. So, if you are applying before the busy season (October - June), you shouldn’t have much trouble finding a job. That being said, it’s a good idea to send your CV to a number of different schools before arriving in Lisbon so that you can set yourself up with interviews before arriving. The more time you have to make a decision, the more likely you will choose the school that is right for you - instead of settling for something because of lack of preparation.

-    The summer is quiet.

Everything tends to die down towards the summer months, so if you are planning on keeping your apartment over the summer or wanting to stay in Lisbon, it’s a good idea to get some summer work organised. Perhaps it’s worth looking into summer schools in Lisbon and around Portugal, or you could look into teaching Skype lessons online. Just something to bear in mind!

Zorana said something interesting about Portugal - “It just functions”. Touching on what was mentioned earlier in regards to the Portuguese’s relaxed nature and lack of extremes both in their personalities and their city, perhaps it’s Lisbon’s desire to function happily and beautifully, with open arms for the world, that has equated in its relaxed atmosphere. It’s not trying to impress anyone. So, if you are looking for easy-going people, a great work-life balance, and a very “deal-able” city with the beach, hills, parks, rivers and trams, head to Lisbon. “It’s not one of the most productive cities” but come and you will feel it’s “warm on all levels”.