Teach English in Bulgaria

Public schools

Bulgaria has a reputation for academic excellence and innovation, and the importance placed on education is obvious to visitors and residents alike. Public schools are typically well-funded and competitive institutions, where English is taught at a fairly young age.

Individual schools make choices about the languages they teach, but English is widely taught from the third grade (age 7-8) onwards. It is an elective subject later on at high school, but it is a popular choice of foreign language for Bulgarian pupils. So, teaching opportunities begin early and go right through to the late stages of secondary education. Summer schools are also popular, and are commonly run by public schools.

You’re likely to need a degree to work in Bulgaria’s public education system, although a high-quality TEFL certificate and some decent experience might land you a good role.

Language schools

Language schools are a great opportunity for ESL teachers abroad in Bulgaria, and they cater to different kinds of classes, with a range of ages and abilities. The curriculum is structured, and classes are more commonly conducted in the evenings and on weekends, in order to fit around a working day.

Teachers in these kinds of schools typically work 20-30 hours per week, with smaller class sizes, allowing for more individual attention. If you’re looking for language school opportunities, the bigger cities are your best bet.

You'll need to have completed a TEFL course to even be considered. Less experienced teachers and those without degrees may find they have more luck with these institutions than others. Having a qualification in teaching business English would be considered helpful, as most language schools will have adult learners looking to make inroads in their careers. With the English language still considered the lingua franca of business, foreign language schools are a great place to teach business vocabulary.

International Schools

Much like Croatia, the end of communism and repaired relations with the West have seen a huge rise in international schools setting up shop in Bulgaria, and more people teaching English. Many of these schools follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) and have roots in the UK, but there are also schools from across Europe, Asia and North America.

These schools can be harder to get into; you'll need two years of teaching experience, a TEFL certificate, and you’ll almost certainly need a bachelor’s degree, or even a master’s, to be considered. Salaries, in turn, are higher than you might find elsewhere in Bulgaria, with smaller class sizes but great expectations placed on teachers. 

Universities

English teachers are commonly hired in universities when they can bring extra attributes to a teaching role, for example, translation of literature, or designing curricula for native-level English speakers.

To get a high-level English teaching job, you’ll need experience in higher education, a master’s or, in some cases, a PhD in a language-related field to be considered, as well as TEFL certification. Salaries are much higher than language schools or public schools and these jobs come with benefits such as accommodation and airfare. 

Private Tutoring

While private tutoring can be lucrative, it’s not a job that’s suited to those who need a visa to work in Bulgaria. A reference from an employer can make all the difference when applying for a visa. If you’re self-employed, it can be far more difficult. If you’re planning on moving to Bulgaria to work as a teacher, we’d recommend landing a job before heading over. 

Bulgaria does not yet provide a digital nomad visa, unlike some other European nations, so if you work online for an English teaching company and plan to move to Bulgaria, this might be tricky. Having said that, if you’ve lived in Bulgaria and built experience with local schools, you can easily find private tutoring work, especially with adults who are looking to advance their careers.

In short: private tutoring is a good idea if you’ve been based in Bulgaria for a considerable length of time. Otherwise, it’s a risky pursuit for TEFL teachers, especially in terms of getting a work visa. Most teachers will find permanent opportunities to teach English in Bulgaria before considering tutoring.