Job Discussion Forums

OzBurn · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 199

I would like to hear from anyone who knows whether it's relatively easy or at least possible to work in Portugal if you are not an EU passport-holder. Apparently this is the case in Spain, so I'm wondering if its Iberian neighbor has a similarly loose set-up. I read somewhere that Portugal used to issue work permits to Americans, but that Brussels had insisted that they stop.

queenkp · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 18

Hi,
I am an American and spent two years in Lisbon working for a now-defunct school. When I arrived in autumn 2002, there was still a grey area - since Americans weren't theoretically taking jobs from Portuguese the government didn't care. They gave us tax ID numbers but no work permits, but they turned their heads. I left in July of this year and apparantly the government is indeed beginning to crack down, especially with Barroso in a high position within the EU - the government is going to get tighter and tighter. I have friends who are already potentially in trouble. That said, you can make a living with private classes, especially with a TOEFL or GMAT focus. Learn these tests well and you will make upwards of 40 - 60 euros an hour; that said, you have to know what you're doing and therefore get referrals. Lisbon especially is a relatively cheap place to live, so you can get by on 900 euros a month.

OzBurn · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 199

Man, those are good rates anywhere! I think I could do those just fine, as I just got an 800 on the GRE (verbal).

Thanks.

rogan · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 416 Location: at home, in France

queenkp - maybe you should revise those figures back to a realistic level.

40 - 60 Euros an hour in 4 or 5 times the standard rate

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

queenkp · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 18

Rogan darling, it's amazing what people will pay when they are desperate. I had numerous students who were scheduled to take the GMAT or TOEFL two weeks from when we got together; for a book, a grammar review, and ten hours of one-to-one classes I charged 600 euros - this also included reviewing four essays on my time, which usually took an hour or two. This is less than the schools in Lisbon charge for the same course. I didn't think I could get away with it myself until this student referred me to another, then another, then another. That said, I also have taught GMAT and TOEFL-specific grammar for nearly five years and my students have received anywhere between 580 and 720. (The 720 is now at Wharton and I am so proud of him!)

OzBurn, if you indeed got an 800 on your GRE Verbal, hats off and that is impressive. 800s are rare for anyone; ETS hates to give them out, so obviously you beat the test and left laughing. Well done.

Anyone considering this, give the students a prospectus, get your money up front, let them know they will have to work and you can't take the test for them, and give them a detailed review of each day at the end of the course. This makes them happy and shows them their progress. And be honest with them - if they don't have the time to focus on it, they will not do as well as they want to do. A lot of ESL students go into these exams thinking they will be easy. This is a big shock when they get 550s...that's when they come calling for help.