Hi,

I'm looking into getting my CELTA in Sao Paulo, Brazil. So far I can only find one organization that offers the course. It is called Up Language Consultants. Here is the website: http://www.uplanguage.com.br/celta/

I am wondering if anyone has information or has heard anything about Up Language Consultants. They offer the CELTA for a pretty good rate but I can't find any reviews on the program or the organization. I want to make sure that they are legitimate before I pack my bags for Brazil.

I am also considering a program in Rio de Janiero through Bridge TEFL.
http://www.bridgetefl.com/bridge-idelt.php
I spoke with them on the phone and they offer a program called the IDELT. In terms of hours of training and amount of hands on teaching, it seems comparable to the CELTA, though not as well known. Does anyone know what kind of recognition this certificate receives in the world of ESL teaching? Is it really comparable to the CELTA? The program is a bit more expensive, but I've heard good things about Bridge TEFL. I just don't want to spend a huge chunk of change on a certificate that is not really recognized.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,
Leah

Hi Leah.

I'm very interested in doing a TEFL course in Brazil- looking at the CELTA through UP consultants in Sao Paulo, the CELTA through Britannia in Rio, and the Bridge TEFL also in Rio. And I'm wondering how your search got on. Did you do a course in Brazil? If so, which one? And are you working in Brazil now? Is the work-visa isue for Brazil a big issue?

I know wrote your post last year, I really hope you can get back to me. The whole TEFL world seems like a minefield, and information about teaching in Brazil seems even more confusing, maybe even shady!

Thanks in advance.

Cheers.

Hi,

Yes, I did go to Brazil and teach there. I ended up taking my CELTA course with UP Languages and they were fantastic. But be forewarned that the intensive course (1 month) is EXTREMELY demanding. I wasn't prepared for that aspect of it and it threw me for a loop. Lots of very hard work! Also you must pay for all your own materials (including printing and copying).

Other than that, it was an amazing course. Totally worth the money. And a lot of times your CELTA teachers can hook you up with jobs in Sao Paulo afterwards. The visa thing is NOT a big issue at all. You can totally get around it.

***More to come.

HI Leah,

Thanks so much for getting back to me. The whole working in Brazil issue (with/without a visa) has been worrying me and you've put my mind at rest.

Because most people have recommended I get a TEFL qualification in the country (city, ideally) that I'd like to work in, and had the visa issue in Brazil been a big problem, I'd be wondering at the wisdom of doing the UP course for non-Brazilians.

Are you now working in another country? Does the UP CELTA has such high standards (and is consequently highly respected) that it could be a stand-alone qualification, a kind of fast-track passport to working anywhere in the world? (Other than Brazil, I'm also very interested in working in China, which I've heard has no work visa issues at all.)

Cheers, Mark

(ps also, I've heard Brazil (Sao Paulo and Rio, at least) is not a cheap county- did you find that your teaching salary covered the cost of living?)