Bulgaria is very poor and teachers earn a very low wage even by Bulgarian standards. Teaching English is not a well-paid job or looked upon as a job that should be well-paid. There are wild dogs and cats in many cities and towns and there are also many old ugly concrete buildings from the soviet era. The transportation network is poor and it is dangerous to drive – be careful when crossing the road. The people however are friendly and warm.
Sarah 24 Jun 2008
I think there are some downsides to every country where expats live but Bulgaria has a huge amount of pluses too. The history and the culture have made it worth while, and the people taking classes are eager to learn and are great students.
>Dennis Gannon, 9 Apr 2009
I do not agree with the comments above. Bulgaria is pacing forward and is quite a nice country to live in. There is a lot to see and learn there! The cost of living is low as well as the wages, but one can teach private lessons and earn some extra money. The Bulgarians are friendly, warm, hospitable people. Students who attend private schools are eager to learn, nice and quite smart!
Bobby, 14 Feb 2012
I know these posts are from a few years ago, but the way some people describe Bulgaria is appauling, yes there are roaming dogs and cats and some unsightly buildings but to anyone who has visited places such as Leeds and London, will know that these too have very bad sky scraping concrete eyesores. Open your eyes and don’t be so judgemental.
Charlotte, 26 Mar 2012
Bulgaria is a very nice country. I served there as a Peace Corps Volunteer and I loved the place. The people are extremely hospitable. Some neighborhoods in the cities may be old but there are very well maintained buildings and historic sites (many dating back to Roman times) throughout the country. And I find the cities very well planned: Unlike in the US, people do not need to drive a car to take care of their chores. For example, you don’t have to take the car out, drive 15-30 minutes to pick up groceries. You can walk to one of many mini grocery shops around your neighborhood. And children walk to schools as well. I am looking to go back to teach English in Bulgaria and improve my Bulgarian :)
reva12, 17 Jul 2012
Take no notice of comments about ugly buildings etc… yes, Bulgaria is different but it’s an interesting place. It’s cheap to live there and very safe compared with most countries.
Colin, 18 Aug 2014
Teaching English… depends… in private language schools the students study hard and are responsive. Pay is good (for EFL) but only in Sofia, in other cities it is very low indeed. In state schools the classes are very big and students extremely de-motivated – it really is very hard work. You can get private students but very few will pay a reasonable rate.
You need to be independent and self-sufficient because your Bulgarian colleagues will shy away from social interaction in/out of work.
Anonymous, 18 Aug 2014
I see the last post is rather old now. There are cats and dogs here but not exactly wild, more sleepy than anything so please don’t be afraid. I would say start off with a larger city and then as you acclimatise think about exploring some of the smaller towns. Keep an open mind and learn some Bulgarian. Bulgaria was not part of the Soviet empire so it is unlikely that you will see Soviet buildings, this is a country that was influenced by the Soviet times. However, it has deeper layers of history and culture than that.
Anonymous, 20 Aug 2014
Related
Teacher training courses in Bulgaria
Teaching jobs in Bulgaria
English language schools in Bulgaria
Comments
I love Bulgaria and what it has to offer in terms of culture and the scope to have beach and skiing trips, In sofia public transport is very well connected there is no need for a car. The private students are very keen to learn and as a native teacher the pay is reasonable. The comment about being independent I find very true regarding social interaction with you colleagues in/out of work.
Hi. I’m doing a tefl course and part of my exam is to study the key aspects of the culture of the country especially the beliefs and attitudes related to education. I’m aware of yes/no differences etc. I found the Bulgarians friendly and very helpful. Could anyone tell me how the schools are. Are children quiet/noisy. All want to talk at ones or calm slow to answet. That type of information will be most appreciated. Thank you.
Hello,
I am currently a student at International TEFL Academy trying to complete my TEFL certificate. My goal is to try to find a job teaching in Sofia Bulgaria. I would love to start working over the summer and then continue for a longer contract. I was wondering if anyone could give me some insight on potential employment opportunities or any personal job search guidance you may have experienced. After I have spoken to Student Affairs of my school I was told it might be more difficult compared to other countries to find employment which left me feeling a little discouraged. I’d appreciate any advice.
Thank you
Hi Olivia, my name is Phill, and I am currently doing the same course as you, and very much interested in English Teaching in Sofia. I am not sure when you posted your comment, so you might already have been teaching there. If so, any advice from you would also be much appreciated. I am currently living in Australia.
I am a senior journalist and advertising copywriter in Bangladesh. I grew a kind of fascination with Bulgaria by watching Bulgarian movies and documentaries. Can anyone kindly suggest to me whether I would fit in Bulgaria in terms of easier migration, job availability, etc? I am 63 having pretty long experience but no formal degree to mention.