Teach English in Bulgaria – The Ultimate Guide

The last few decades have seen Bulgaria go from Communist state to fully paid-up member of the European Union. That’s brought economic good times with it, along with oodles of multinational companies and trading links with big regional economies like Germany and France. However, the boom of Bulgaria has been tempered by declining birth rates and something of a mass migration, as younger folk headed west in search of better-paid employment in cities like London, Paris, and Rome.

Still, the situation today is that English teaching is in higher demand than it ever has been in this corner of the Balkans. There are loads of jobs in private schools, mainly because English skills are now up there with the most sought-after for Bulgarian companies. On top of that, Bulgaria is a very desirable holiday destination, boasting shimmering Black Sea beaches and enthralling cultural sites in Sofia, all of which bolster demand for English speakers in the tourism sector.

Overall, TEFL graduates – especially those with a degree and previous teaching experience – shouldn’t find it too hard to get a job in these parts. A whopping 25% of Bulgarians are said to speak English to some degree. It’s a glaring stat, but mainly because it means that three quarters of the country have yet to learn!

Those who teach English in Bulgaria usually fit into one of the following types of jobs:

• Private language schools – Lots of Bulgarians supplement their state school language learning with a course at a private language institution. They tend to offer more direct English tuition, often with native speakers. Classes typically run twice per week for each group and can be anything from total beginner to advanced. These are the main sort of employer in the country.
• Summer language camps – The Bulgarian school term finishes in late May or in June. That’s when the summer language camps come into play. These offer short-term employment for TEFL teachers who are usually on contract work throughout the main semester. They last anything from a week to six weeks and mostly include accommodation and food. It’s pretty intense work because you’ll be tasked with looking after kids as well as teaching them English. The best part? Lots of Bulgarian summer camps take place on the Black Sea coast.
• Tutoring – Private tutoring is one of the most popular side earners for those who teach English in Bulgaria. Expect higher demand in major cities like Plovdiv and Sofia.
• Business English – Lots of multinational companies engage in-house English teachers to help improve the language skills of their employees. You’ll be teaching a specific demographic in a specific area of English, so past experience can really help here. Wages are good but work is largely limited to major cities.
• Online English teaching – Thanks to a low cost of living, Bulgaria has risen to become something of a hub for European digital nomads. Check out places like the ski resort of Bansko for some of the most active remote-work communities around.

Bulgarian schools are usually in full swing by the middle of September, but the exact date for the beginning of term can vary from year to year. The same goes for the last day of school, but it’s typically towards the end of May or in early June. That’s the point at which Bulgarian language camps take over the English tuition, as courses in many of the private language schools will also go on a hiatus until the fall.

Working hours usually add up to between 20-30 per week on normal contracts with a private language school in Bulgaria. Lots of teachers supplement that with a handful of extra hours doing one-on-one tutoring.