All of our passionate and dedicated teachers meet the highest international standards with formal qualifications and extensive experience in teaching English to students of all ages. Our minimum requirements for teachers are:

  • education to degree level or equivalent qualification
  • a certificate level qualification in teaching English as a foreign language such as Cambridge University CELTA or Trinity College London CertTESOL
  • at least two years’ teaching experience
  • high proficiency in the use of the English language.

Our teachers have also recently completed training courses to prepare them to teach English online by exploring the tools and teaching skills needed to develop learners’ language skills in both one-to-one and group online lessons.

Meet the teachers

Charlotte Smith

Senior Teacher (Adults)

Charlotte has a BA in English Literature and French and holds the Trinity College London CertTESOL and the Cambridge DELTA teaching qualifications. She taught English in the UK to students from all over the world for several years and was the Director of Studies at a language school before moving to Bulgaria in 2021 to work with the British Council. She loves reading, travelling, meeting new people and adding to her collection of vintage clothing.

Alexander Kirov

Alexander Kirov

Teacher

Alex has a BA in English Philology from Sofia University, the Cambridge CELTA and a specialist qualification in Teaching English in Pre-Primary Education. Since he started working at the British Council, Alex has taught adults and young learner groups of all ages and levels, and he is known and loved by many of our younger students. Alex is extremely passionate about the arts. His voice has been described as 'heavenly' and his friends often find it hard to stop him singing.

Barry-John Daly

Teacher

Born in Ireland, Barry grew up in France and in 2016 adopted Bulgaria as his home away from home. He has an M.A. in Psychology from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland) and worked in marketing for many years before deciding to become a teacher, obtaining his CELTA qualification here in Sofia. He speaks fluent French and Spanish and tries to get by in Bulgarian. In his free time, he loves getting out of the city – to the mountains for all things snow-related or to the sea to catch a wave.

Borislav Vasilev

Teacher

Bobby has a BA in English and American Studies, an MA in Conference Interpreting from Sofia University, the Cambridge CELTA and a specialist qualification in Teaching Young Learners. He worked as a Teaching Assistant at the British Council for several years before becoming a teacher in 2021. Bobby enjoys cinema, even more so when Tom Hardy is involved. He also enjoys listening to music and loves playing the guitar, especially acoustic.

Cathal Leonard

Cathal Leonard

Teacher

Lenny, as friends and students call him, is from County Mayo in Ireland. He has an MA in Political Science from Queens University Belfast and attained his CELTA teaching qualification in Budapest. Lenny has experience in teaching adults and teenagers of various levels. He enjoys playing the guitar, or trying to at least.

Chloe Sims

Chloe is from the East of England. She grew up in the UK and relocated to Bulgaria at the age of twelve. Moving abroad and learning a new language inspired her to become a teacher. For her, the best part of teaching is seeing students gain confidence. She obtained a CELTA qualification back in 2017. She has taught children, teenagers and adults at all levels. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending quality time with her family in the mountains, reading, and listening to music.

David How

David How

Teacher

David is from Guildford in the South East of England. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and CELTA Young Learner teaching qualifications. David has been teaching English since 2003 when he moved to Bulgaria. He has worked for the British Council since 2005. He is married and has a daughter who was born in Sofia in 2006. He loves to spend his free time with his family, enjoys reading and the occasional jog.

Emma Shiekova

Emma Shiekova

Teacher

Born in Middlesbrough, North England, Emma grew up in Bulgaria and the UK. After a degree in Economics and Politics at Manchester University, she started teaching English in a London EFL school and ESOL to immigrants and asylum-seekers. Emma then combined teaching with her love of other cultures, world food and travelling (her plan: to travel to all 196 countries) in Russia, Scotland and South Korea. Emma has a CELTA, CELTA YL and Certificate of Education in ESOL and Further Education Teaching.

Gergana Stoeva

Teacher

Gergana has a BA in British and American studies from Sofia University and is currently doing a Master's degree in Written Translation. She has the Cambridge CELTA, as well as NILE training for teaching Young Learners and is more than happy to be doing her dream job at the British Council. Gerry enjoys teaching students of all ages. She is interested in painting, embroidery and all things crafty.

Hristina Yovcheva

Hristina Yovcheva

Teacher

Hristina has M.Sc. degrees in Tourism and HR Management. She’s a CELTA-certified teacher with an IH Certificate in teaching Business English and a Thomas Int. expert in psychometric analysis. Business and Legal English are her passion, having previously had a 9-year corporate career in aviation. She taught skill-based courses to senior civil servants who represented Bulgaria at the Presidency of the EU Council. She’s an author of “Job Interviews in English”, a book translator and editor.