Teaching English in Sofia, Bulgaria
Report submitted on 24 November, 2014 by Elena.
Teaching English in Sofia, Bulgaria:
How can teachers find teaching jobs in Sofia, Bulgaria?
The best bet is to look up top 4 language schools in Bulgaria:
1. British Council
2. Avo Bell
3. Britanica
4. Intellect
… and contact those schools directly.
The main English teaching jobs available are:
Full time English language school positions, part time English language school positions, teaching at kindergartens / pre-schools, teaching at state schools, teaching at companies, private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.).
What are the minimum teaching requirements?
CELTA is preferred in good schools.
What teaching requirements would you recommend?
CELTA.
What are the levels of payment?
15 – 30 lv per hour (7-15 euros)
How many teaching days a week is normal?
5 days per week.
How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
7-10 hours per week.
What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
In my school (Avo Bell) we have holidays off. In other schools, teachers are still required to come to work even if students are on a break.
What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Sofia, Bulgarian to teach English?
I think Bulgaria/ Sofia is great. It’s a small enough country /city, very friendly to foreigners. Teaching positions are not very well paid…but again, it depends on where you work. Teachers at the International school (Anglo-American, etc) are very well paid.
What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Sofia, Bulgaria?
– English teachers are in great demand
– there are tons of opportunities for leisure activities (hiking, skiing, seaside)
What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Sofia, Bulgaria?
Not well paid.
What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
It really depends on a school. Some schools are very set in their ways and expect you to teach their way…but again, there are tens of language schools in Sofia and, as everywhere, it depends on who your supervisors/ colleagues are and how open-minded you are.
Living in Sofia, Bulgaria:
Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Bulgaria?
If you are an EU-citizen, then no, otherwise, yes.
What is the cost of living like in Sofia, Bulgaria?
To live comfortably, I’d say you need at least 1,000 euros per month.
What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
There are lots of real estate site that offer various accommodation.
Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Sofia, Bulgaria?
Outdoor activities – hiking, skiing, seaside, great night life.
Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Sofia, Bulgaria?
It depends on where you are coming from and what you are used to. If a teacher is coming from a developed Anglo-Saxon country, some aspects like bad roads could be frustrating.
What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Sofia, Bulgaria to live?
Negotiate a higher salary from the beginning.
What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Good service.
What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country (e.g. things that are difficult to get in your location)?
You can get everything here.
What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Sofia, Bulgaria?
Nature, people.
About Me and My Work:
My Name: Elena
Nationality: USA
Students I’ve taught in Bulgaria: Elementary (6-12 years), high school (15-18 years).
Where I teach: Avo Bell language school in Sofia. Working here for 1 year.
How I found my current job: I did CELTA at Avo-Bell.
My school facilities: Good – The building is pretty old. Rooms are small. Not many interactive teaching opportunities (e.g. no technology to use the white board interactively), but otherwise the working process is very well organized (Moodle, etc).
Teacher support at my school: Training / workshops, lesson observations, teacher evaluations.
Do you teach English in Bulgaria?
Tell us about your experiences – click here to submit your report about teaching English in Bulgaria.