With the enormous success of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the pressure is very much on Brazil to deliver something that surpasses London's performance as host, or at the very least, equals it.

The games are being fully embraced by the next host city, not just as a chance to show the world what it's got, but to allow development and improvement throughout the country .

There is a sense of urgency surrounding Brazilians and learning the English language, as the country's English Proficiency Index (EPI) as identified by Education First in 2011, was considered low at 47.27% - only 14 places above the lowest ranked country in that particular index.

The root of the urgency ultimately spans from the pressure and fast approaching frenzy of the 2014 World Cup followed by the 2016 Olympic Games. After winning the bids for both events, the Brazilian government started a program in public schools throughout Rio de Janeiro to teach English to young children. It's not just children who are eager to learn English though, so the emphasis on widening language skills is being equally applied in business and industrial environments, too. Through adapting their language abilities, the Brazilian people can help better adjust to their upcoming place on the world stage.

Here in the UK, we have a commodity greatly sought after all over the world and increasingly in Brazil: English. In becoming a TEFL teacher one could easily be living, travelling and earning in Brazil. This could be done as part of a gap year, summer/winter venture, career break or simply used as a way to fund travel.

With a TEFL course you could be there amidst the build up to 2014 and 2016 or maybe even be around during these events. Regardless of your motive or the amount of time you plan to spend there, English language teachers are in high demand and can really help the people of Brazil - not just through improving language skills and better preparing them for the sporting-mania set to grace them shortly, but also giving them something which can be passed on and aid them far into the future; fuelling the country's development, growth and global presence.

Follow Alana MacPherson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/teflengland