TEFL Course in Bulgaria

Are English teachers in demand in Bulgaria?

The demand for certified English teachers in Bulgaria has been on the increase since the country joined the European Union in 2007.

In addition to the country’s entry into the EU, Bulgaria has become one of the fastest growing market places for ESL teachers due to its the high standard of education and the increasing number of Bulgarians engaged in international trade.

The demand for ESL teachers with a TEFL certificate is usually accompanied by offers of high paying salaries and benefits such as furnished accommodation, airfare and health insurance.

Most of the best paying ESL jobs in Bulgaria are located in cities like Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv and teachers need to work only 20 to 25 hours a week leaving them with enough free time to relax and enjoy the beautiful blend of cultures in the community.

What are the requirements to teach English in Bulgaria?

A TEFL certificate is the most important requirement for English teachers to get ESL jobs in Bulgaria because most schools give preference to a TEFL certificate over other qualifications or even experience.

Most Bulgarian schools will not require you to be a native speaker or hold a degree to be able to get a job, although having a degree is encouraged and may increase your chances of getting an offer.

With a TEFL certificate and a degree, you can get a teaching offer in any part of the country without any prior experience or a teaching license from your country.

For more support on the teaching requirements and hiring process for specific schools in Bulgaria, you can join the online community page for English teachers in Bulgaria on Facebook.

What type of jobs are available for English teachers in Bulgaria?

A larger share of English language teaching opportunities in Bulgaria are found in international institutes, foreign language schools, summer camps and private tutoring. Usually, most teaching opportunities especially in the international schools are located in Bulgarian cities than in the rural areas.

Furthermore, the average contract length for most institutions in Bulgaria is about 12 months while the summer camps provide opportunity for short term work and in between contracts. Private tutoring opportunities on the other hand, provides enough flexibility and a chance to earn additional income to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle in Bulgaria.

ESL students in Bulgaria range from young children like school students to adult learners such as the business professionals. Usually, for most some of the private language schools, ESL teachers have to teach the young students after school while the adult classes are taken at night or during the weekends.

What is the salary for English teachers in Bulgaria?

The average salary for ESL teachers in Bulgaria is between US$600 to US$1,500 and this varies based on the type of school and city of employment. Private teachers can earn between US$10 to US$25 per hour.

The salary rate is higher in cities like Sofia and Plovdiv and lower in the rural areas while ESL teachers in language schools or international institutes also tend to earn higher than other schools.

Just as the salary varies, benefits for ESL teachers in Bulgaria also vary based on school as some schools will offer furnished accommodation, health insurance as well as airfare.

Can you save money while teaching English in Bulgaria?

The cost of living for ESL teachers in Bulgaria is relatively low. Rent is cheap and the grocery market is friendly too, even eating out a couple of times in modest restaurants would not necessarily cause a significant increase in your monthly cost of living.

Like in many other countries, the cost of living in Bulgaria reduces as you move away from the city center. The most expensive cities to live in include Sofia, Vratsa and Varna while cities like Burgas and Plovdiv are less expensive.

Average cost of living in Bulgaria is between US$500 to US$1,000 and compared to the salary, there is a potential to break even and save a little over the year as an ESL teacher in the country.

Accommodation Options: A number of schools in Bulgaria provide fairly furnished accommodation for ESL teachers with TEFL certificate thereby eliminating the issue of rent. 

However, if you would rather rent a place of your own, you will find that accommodation costs are cheap in Bulgaria. A decent single bedroom apartment will cost about US$ 300 in the cities and about US$ 200 in rural areas.

What type of visa do you need to teach English in Bulgaria?

The work permit requirement in Bulgaria is not binding on ESL teachers that are EU nationals although for non EU citizens, it is a compulsory requirement to teach English legally in Bulgaria.

The work permit is issued by the National Employment Agency and requires several documents some of which will be provided by your employer. While most schools will help ESL teachers with documentation for a work visa, only a few will take on the financial responsibility.

Some ESL teachers also prefer to work on a student visa while they study in Bulgaria as it is easier to get a student visa than a work visa. Foreigners who already have a permanent resident permit in Bulgaria do not require a work permit to be able to teach English in the country.

Hiring season and process for English teachers in Bulgaria

You can begin your ESL job search online and this can be done all year round. However, the peak hiring period for TEFL teachers in Bulgaria is between September and January.

Private teaching opportunities are also available all year round although you must build networks through word of mouth by speaking to people and advertising your services.

Just as you can apply for teaching jobs online in Bulgaria, you can also get interviewed over the internet or via a telephone call.

Most schools in Bulgaria will interview ESL teachers in person and you should ensure you have secured the interview appointment before arriving into the country.

Fun and travel activities while teaching in Bulgaria

The black sea tops the list as one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Bulgaria. For ESL teachers, this is a favorite spot to relax and enjoy your summer holiday.

During the winter, sports lovers will find amazing opportunities as Bulgaria is one of the best places to enjoy skiing and snowboarding in winter. The country has a few of the best ski deals in all of Europe across beautiful mountain trails at very low prices.

Another spectacular feature you shouldn’t miss in Bulgaria is the variety of mouth-watering cuisines. No doubt, food is very cheap in Bulgaria and eating out a lot of times will hardly cause a dent in your salary as an ESL teacher.

There is no better opportunity to delight your palate with delicious Bulgarian delicacies than frequent eat outs at different restaurants as you build your ESL career and explore the country.

Lovers of history and culture will also find a lot of activities to engage in and places to explore. Bulgaria has legendary cities that are replete with ancient ruins and tales of the country’s history.

Varna and the Veliko Tarnovo are some of the cities where ESL teachers can learn a lot about the history of Bulgaria and while enjoying the natural landscape that borders the cities.

Important cities in Bulgaria

Sofia, Burgas, Plovdiv and Varna are the most important cities to look for English teaching jobs in Bulgaria.