Teaching English in Brazil with Projects Abroad

  Brazil

• Rio de Janeiro: 
Rio de Janeiro

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: year-round

Description: Brazil's economy is currently experiencing something of an economic boom, but the financial prosperity is failing to filter down through society, with an estimated 55 million Brazilians still living under the poverty line. Exploitation of these classes is rife and there have even been accusations of slave labour still existing in some parts of the country. With poor public services and an unreliable social security system, Brazil looks set to remain very much a third world country for the foreseeable future.

For Brazil's children, one possibility for a better future lies in the learning of the English language, which can allow them access to so many areas of future employment. In a Portuguese speaking country, on a Spanish speaking continent, there has never in the past been a great deal of importance placed on learning English, but more recently this has changed, as globalisation has taken effect. Unfortunately, the better English tuition tends to come at a price, which has restricted it to the middle classes. As a Projects Abroad volunteer you can help to address this imbalance.

As an international volunteer, English teaching in Brazil will give you an amazing new perspective on this incredible country. You can gain invaluable work experience abroad without any previous qualifications, and you are not required to have undergone TEFL training. Whether you are coming to volunteer abroad during your gap year, career break or an extended vacation, you will have a role to play in one of the schools that we work with, and you will be able to make a real difference.

Volunteer Opportunities Teaching English in Schools with Projects Abroad

Projects Abroad Brazil is based in metropolitan Rio de Janeiro. Here we work in schools, with children who have varying levels of English. They will all have had some English language teaching in the past, but often it will have been with teachers who did not have particularly good standards of English themselves. Consequently they may have a very good grasp of the grammar and structure, but lack the confidence to actually speak the language. This is where our volunteers come in. By running lessons in English and making them fun and inclusive you can really help to develop the pupils' confidence. They are sure to be interested in you and American life, and you can take advantage of this to get them talking to yourself and each other.

In most schools you will begin as a classroom assistant, supporting the teacher in lessons. However, as you get to know the children better and start to grow in confidence you will want to take on more responsibility. If you have any other interests such as art, music, drama or sport there will be opportunities to incorporate this into your classes too.

Volunteering on a Teaching Project in Brazil

Whatever your skills, as a volunteer in Brazil you will make an important contribution by improving students' spoken English and giving them the confidence that comes from being able to communicate with a native speaker.
The impact you have on the lives of your students will be obvious and long lasting, but you will also be part of a much larger international volunteer network, which is making a really positive contribution to the wider community. It will be an overseas experience you never forget!

Highlights: Brazil has so many great attractions that it is difficult to know where to start. In the city of Rio de Janeiro alone there are a thousand different ways to entertain yourself and you will probably choose to spend your weekends here. In addition to the sights mentioned above, Rio is also home to one of the largest sports stadiums in the world, the Maracana. Whether you are a soccer fan or not, catching the atmosphere at a live game will be an unforgettable experience! The city also contains the world's largest urban forest; at 32 square kilometers the Tijuca Forest is a designated National Park, containing all manner of rare species.

Further away you can experience the beautiful beaches of Fernando de Noronha, the lively atmosphere of Salvadore and the raw power of the Iguazu Falls. No trip to Brazil would be complete without a trip to the Amazon, and you can use Brazil as a gateway to just about every other South American country.

All accommodation is organized, paid for and monitored by Projects Abroad. All project placements are regularly visited and checked. We require high standards of supervision and accommodation, which are verified before you arrive in Brazil.

This project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications: none

Cost in US$: From US$2,895 Up

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Open-minded with a passion for helping others.

Age Range: 16-80

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Brazil Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups of 2-5

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement: As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded: 1992