Hello there!

I am going to move to Lisbon in September and I was wondering if anyone knows how to job hunt. I know there are some agencies but can anyone recommend specific ones - especially ones that can be used to match my english-speaking skills rather than agencies used by Portuguese. I do not know Portuguese but I am willing to make a great effort to learn. Unfortunately, I will need to have an income. I have heard that many people who move to Portugal without knowing the language tend to teach English. What do I have to do in order to become an English teacher? This is not my degree; I have an Undergraduate and Masters in Management.

What does everyone propose? I am extremely knew at this and therefore any help would be great!

Have a great day! Thank you in advance

Hello Joana.

To teach English in Portugal you'll probably need to have a degree in English... =/ I guess you could try teaching English support classes or conversation classes by your own. Actually that's a good way to earn some pocket money.

I don't know if this will help, but St. Dominic’s International School is looking for an elementary school teacher. See web site for more information. Just google st. dominc's international school portugal. Then see the emplyment section.

They only demand, so to speak, that the applicant is motivated and enthusiastic. While IB PYP curriculum experience is desirable, candidates who can demonstrate those qualities will be considered.

Saddly I don't know any agencies...

Since you have an Undergraduate and Masters in Managment why don't you try sending your cv to the Boston Consulting Group? They have an office in Portugal.

Hope this helps

p.s - i'll get back to you about the agencies

Most Schools expect a TEFL certificate as a minimum. See http://www.britishcouncil.org/teache...ifications.htm

Thank you both for your responses! I was starting to lose hope!
Dharmabum: I will look into the criteria for the position in the international school. And thank you for the Boston consulting group! I hadn't heard of them prior to your message.
Brodev: You are completely right - but even if I were to do the course I don't have working experience.
I have been doing extensive research and I feel like I am reaching dead-ends. My undergraduate degree is in International Hospitality and Tourism Management and my masters in (part of the English Department) Intercultural Communication with International Business - essentially Linguistics and Business. I would be great to try and find a job with my qualifications because applying for a teaching degree would be too costly (TEFL is almost 2000 euros!). I have been trying to find Multinational Co-operations and English-speaking companies but it seems like Portuguese is a pre-requisite.
And thank you for all your help - So many of you were able to move to Portugal with similar difficulties - I am sure with your support I can make it as well!

PS: With so many English-speaking expats in Portugal - is there a job directory, or a sort of Yellow Pages for English speakers?

And, just in case it matters, I am an EU/US citizen, and I know Greek as well.

There is a good likelihood that you will not be able to get a job. Unemployment in Portugal is high. If you search this forum you will see how many people have struggled to find employment when they don't have the language. Perhaps this is the reason you don't have many responses to your request as many people do not like to be negative. I would strongly suggest that you research your employment prospects before coming to Portugal. I have seen on these forums suggestions to come with at least 12 months living expenses as it can take that long to find work. I wish you good fortune in your venture but I feel better for pointing out the possible problems

Therein lies the problem. Average salary is a lot lower than the UK. If you were asked what level of job one could get in the UK without being able to speak English what would be your reply ?

I think its just your Donald Duck if you get a job or not... would help if you knew people in Lisbon?! When I moved here(at 30 years old) I spoke no Portuguese and had no trade or degree... it was looking grim & after a couple of months I got a job in an aquatic park even though I swim like a brick! That gave me confidence & I soon started picking up Portuguese(forced into it)
I now run a business!

Many will fail but many make it work too! I am sure you are under no illusions, there will be tough times ahead & you may have to head back to the UK, but it should not be thought of as failure... if you don't try you'll never know and always wonder "what if" I guess it all depends on what you are giving up in the UK?!

A guy I know at 60 took some course on teaching English in the UK(6 weeks I think... I think the social even paid for it) now he teaches in a langauge school(7 euros an hour) it won't make him rich but it lets him continue living here.

I'll stress again... it won't be a bed of rosies & you could be heading home sooner than you hoped

Just because you used the expression "bed of roses" it confirms that you speak portuguese... right? ...."mar de rosas" is a commonly used pt expression
and you just translated it, I think.

lol I do speak Portuguese but "bed of roses" is also a common expression in English too, some may even use "sea of roses"

Quite often though I get caught out by trying to translate expressions from the English langauge to Portuguese... and it just does not work!

Hi! I have just been wondering what the 'BE' stands for.. . And if it isn't a secret, what business do you run. I am planning to move to Portugal soon. Currently finishing my BSc Degree. I never needed a degree all the while I was in IT - but needs must..

I can verify this Here is a sample of 27 results returned from the British National Corpus. Seems like Troia had his claws out..

Your query was

bed of roses

Only 27 solutions found for this query

AL6 589 Without bitterness, but with five years' experience, Lord Wilson said yesterday: ‘No Governor should expect this job to be a bed of roses or to get plaudits or easy popularity.

ASC 813 John later wrote, ‘I gather from your letters that army life is not a bed of roses?

B78 2160 Clearly, travelling to and from the Garden of England would henceforth be no bed of roses, to mix a metaphor or two.

CA3 478 She wondered whether Philippa had really outgrown her passion for partially disabled men but she seemed oblivious of all this and sat like a springtime sprig in a bed of roses, contemplating her coincidental twin.

CAE 2162 Drummer Barrett Martin lays down a dauntingly hard-but-fair rhythm manifesto, while Gary Lee Conner is the band's only obvious showman, a tangle of sweat, hair and punkoid Townshend windmill routines who, even when horizontal, somehow managed to keep his act on the rails for such intricate anthemic lullabies as ‘Bed Of Roses’ or ‘Shadows’, the opening nugget from the new ST album.

CBN 1269 ‘I am not living in a bed of roses but in reality.’

CGC 1281 Farika's perspective on contraception: ‘It's never been a bed of roses.’

CH1 7963 It's no bed of roses teaching in a secondary school.

Beardie

dharmabum, I'd appreciate it if you could send me this list as well.
Thanks!
Beardie

Hello Joanna, I think that a choice of living near Lisbon is a good one. It is a wonderful area of the world. We have a holiday home just to the North and would be living there now but for looking after elderly parents. I would suggest that you start to learn the languageand get some work experience before you go.However don't leave it too long or it may get too late. Carol