Teaching English in Portugal

Portugal is often overlooked as a TEFL destination due to the draw of its neighbour Spain. This does not mean that it does not have attractions to offer. In fact, Portuguese culture is quite distinct from other countries in the region.

Cliff-top castles and medieval cobblestone fishing villages remind the visitor of the long history of this country. Visigoths and Romans are just a few who have left their mark on its history. World Heritage sites Tomar and Batalha, along with numerous others, all wait for the visitor to discover them.

The Portuguese also left their influence on other countries during their illustrious sailing past. Apart from its historical attractions, the beaches of Lagos and Cascais, and the Serra Da Estrela mountain range, stand out for their stunning beauty. Lisbon,the capital city, is also a laid back but interesting place, with black and white cobblestones, museums, gothic architecture, bright yellow trams and cafe-lined streets in which you can while away your time. Getting lost in Lisbon’s backstreets also allows the visitor to discover secret delights hidden in the city.

The haunting musical tradition of Fado, in its raw evocative lyrics, reminds you that this is a country that is close to its roots and feels life with passion. The Portuguese enjoy relaxing with each other over their unique cuisine. There are many culinary delights to explore. Plates of grilled fish, excellent wine, bread, olives, cheese and pasteis de nata (custard tart) with a bica (espresso) all help you to adapt to the Portuguese way of life.

The Portuguese are proud of their country and heritage. Anyone who embraces this culture and makes an effort to learn the Portuguese language will endear themselves to the locals.

With its location on mainland Europe, the most westerly point of the country is Cabo da Roca, a cape in the town of Sintra. Portugal is the most westerly country in Europe but it is technically not the most westerly part of the European Union – this is an overseas territory of France to be found in the Caribbean.

One of the oldest universities in Europe can be found in Portugal. The University of Coimbra was founded in 1920, making it one of the oldest and most highly regarded universities in Europe. Over 21,000 students study there and of this figure 10% are from overseas and give it its mantle of the country’s most cosmopolitan cities. Up until the 20th century, it was the only Portuguese-speaking university in the world.

Portuguese is spoken all around the world. Around 240 million people around the world are native speakers of the language. This makes it the 6th most spoken language on earth and it is the official language of 9 countries, spoken around 5 continents!