The main focus of this paper is the teaching conditions in large classes today. Initially the text sheds light on aspects brought up in the international and Brazilian literature that reveal the challenges of teaching profession, such as the increased working hours and complexity of profession, diversification of tasks in association with social transformations, and the crucial role of teacher's education and training for achieving teaching effectiveness. In view of the magnitude of such issues, it was also taken into account studies done by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and by European Community, because of the increased attention given to public policies for teaching and learning conditions. The final part of this study analyzes the main problems of teaching in Brazil approached in the reviewed literature, such as the work overload, the so-called burn-out effect that affects an increasing number of teachers and the difficulties of continuing education.
Teaching large classes; Teaching work; Teacher training; Teaching in Brazil