{"id":24299,"date":"2023-04-10T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-10T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/?p=24299"},"modified":"2026-02-06T19:36:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T02:36:27","slug":"matheus-from-brazil-online-english-teacher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/matheus-from-brazil-online-english-teacher\/","title":{"rendered":"Matheus, From Brazil, Online English Teacher"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

While it\u2019s no secret that preparing students for English proficiency tests is not an easy feat, this was a challenge that Bridge grad Matheus Naz\u00e1rio, from Brazil, gladly accepted \u2013 and a niche he thrived in. Teaching for two online ESL companies, he\u2019s also made use of social media to connect with more learners. If you\u2019re looking to succeed as a virtual English teacher and specialize in English proficiency exam prep, read on to find out about Matheus\u2019 experience as well as his tips for helping students ace the IELTS exam<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hi, Matheus! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m Matheus Naz\u00e1rio, and I live in a countryside city called Vit\u00f3ria de Santo Ant\u00e3o, which is located in the northeast part of Brazil. I\u2019m 24 years old and I\u2019m passionate about books \u2013 you can say I\u2019m a bookworm and also a movie buff!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What inspired you to become an English teacher?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When I was a teenager, I had the opportunity of studying English for free in the school where I used to study, and when I reached the upper-intermediate level, I would spend my free time helping the new students and assisting my former teacher. After some time, this made me realize I wanted to become an English teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interested in a career in TEFL? Learn what it takes to Teach English as a Foreign Language.<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where have you taught English?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Throughout my career, I\u2019ve already taught English in an array of environments, including teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) by preparing Brazilian students to take a test to become sergeants in the army. I\u2019m proud to say that over 20 students from my hometown passed this particular test. Also, I\u2019ve worked with the CLIL methodology<\/a> in a bilingual school. Additionally, I\u2019ve taught English as a Foreign Language and as a Second Language<\/a>, both in mainstream schools and language schools in Brazil and overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve already worked for big companies in Brazil and abroad, one of them being International House, which is a ubiquitous company in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Matheus shares English tips on his Instagram page. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You have your own Instagram<\/a> page where you post English tips. How has this been helpful to your career?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Posting English tips on my Instagram is somehow a hobby that has grown into a way for me to support those learners who do not have enough money to afford an English course or are just curious about the language. It\u2019s something that shows future employers the kind of teacher I am, and it has already helped me get some job offers. In addition, it has helped me to connect with other English teachers, and we share some techniques in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn about ways you can use social media to get more online English students.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did you land your current online English teaching jobs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Well, I finished my CELTA course last year and it helped me to widen my horizons regarding teaching English online and how to value myself as a professional. After finishing the course, I got two jobs teaching online<\/a>, both of which are based in Europe, and they\u2019ve been helping me a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for a job teaching English? Visit the Bridge Job Board<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you tell us more about your job?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I mainly work with exam preparation. I\u2019ve been helping learners to take the IELTS exam<\/a> for the past year, and all of them passed with flying colors, which is something that I\u2019m really proud to say. Moreover, I teach general English lessons. I\u2019ve been focusing more on higher levels, from B2 to C2, and I became a reference in the companies where I work when it comes to exam preparation; so, now and then, they are offering me new exam prep groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My audience is varied. I currently have students in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Russia, Italy, and Georgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interested in teaching online to students all around the world? Learn how to get started freelance English teaching online.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Matheus
Matheus (top left) with his online English students<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How did you start teaching IELTS exam preparation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When I joined one of the jobs aforementioned, my senior teacher asked me if I\u2019d like to get ready to prepare students for the IELTS, and I thought, \u201cWhy not?\u201d So, the company provided me with in-company training and the rest is history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are some of the reasons why your students want to take the IELTS test?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

They mainly take it for immigration and study matters. I\u2019ve already had a student from Moscow who decided to take it in order to pursue a master’s degree. Meanwhile, many students from other countries would like to have the opportunity to immigrate to their dream country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for a way to stand out as an English teacher? Learn how you can start teaching IELTS exam prep.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kinds of materials and activities do you like to use to help IELTS prep students ace the test?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I always try to personalize my lessons<\/a> as much as I can. So, if I\u2019m working on a particular topic, I always think about how it could appear in the IELTS exam. I have already adapted many sources or even speeches as articles and made them similar to how they might appear on the IELTS so that my learners see how those particular topics could be found in the exam. Furthermore, I establish not only lesson objectives<\/a> for the language but also for the exam itself. This way, when my learners take the exam, they know what they\u2019re expected to do in each part of the exam and which strategy suits that particular section better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Matheus
Matheus sometimes uses music for his warm-up activities in class<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What do you do in your free time when you’re not teaching English proficiency test prep?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When I\u2019m not teaching, I\u2019m spending some time with my beloved wife or studying trends in teaching. I need to confess that I\u2019m a workaholic. However, I love spending time wandering with my wife and visiting my younger brother who has Down syndrome. He is like a son to me, so I visit him every time I can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You took the Micro-credential course in Teaching IELTS Exam Prep<\/a>. Why did you decide to take this course before teaching English proficiency test prep?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Had it not been for my experience preparing students for the IELTS and my strong will, I would not have taken the course. As a teacher, I do believe that we must never cease to learn, so it is paramount that we, as teachers, always put ourselves in our students’ positions. Investing in our continuing professional development<\/a> is akin to exercise. The more we do it, the more we grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did this course help you professionally?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I love that I had the opportunity to take this course for many reasons. <\/p>\n\n\n