Lisbon: Living and Earning in the City

While Spain tends to get most of the Iberian Peninsula's attention, you should certainly visit its next-door-neighbor, Portugal. And if you visit Portugal, make sure to visit the city of Lisbon. Lisbon is both the capital and biggest city in Portugal, and is located on the Tagus River estuary. Lisbon functioned as an ancient Iberian settlement. Throughout its history, it has been under the rule of the Portuguese, Phoenicians and Carthaginians, Romans, and Moors. The city flourished during the 1500s, as Portugal expanded its territories into India and Africa. Today, the population of Lisbon is roughly 565,000.

When visiting Lisbon, there are several quality tourist spots that you should visit. That includes Belem Tower, Museum of Ancient Art, Old Quarter, Erninda de Sao Jeronimo, and Convento da Madre de Deus.  

Besides visiting such tourist destinations, you might also decide that you want to live and work in Lisbon. If you're a citizen of a EU country, then you can work in Portugal without securing a work permit. This will give you a clear advantage over those applicants who have to go through the rigmarole of securing a work permit. 

If you're an expat who's just starting out his or her life in Portugal, then a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) position can be one of the best ways to get your foot in the door. Obviously, you'll need to be a native English speaker. Several language schools in Lisbon and other Portuguese cities are constantly in need of English instructors. Some of the best options are teaching in kindergarden and primary schools, whose school years start during late August or September. Another option is to teach Business English to those Portuguese who want to learn it. These latter positions are generally available throughout the year.  

How can you find such TEFL jobs? One way is to secure the job at the school itself. This is the fastest and most direct method. However, you can also find various publications that list TEFL job openings. Sometimes these listings are included weekly in the periodicals. You can also find various ESL websites that list such job opportunities.  

Sometimes it's best to start out with various part time positions, which will provide you weekly with about 20 hours of work. Typically you'll have the afternoons off, and work in the morning and evening. After getting enough experience, you'll be prepared to apply for a full-time TEFL position.

What are the requirements for TEFL positions? Usually you'll be required to have a degree, and sometimes a TEFL certificate is also required. Make sure to include any teaching experience on your resume.  

Before arriving in Lisbon, be sure to book your holiday apartment online. This will provide you with lodging once you arrive in Lisbon.

We hope that our article about jobs in Lisbon is useful for you.

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