Visas & Accommodation
Accommodation
As part of the special package deal, we can provide accommodation for the duration of the course, on the basis of two or three trainees sharing a self-catering apartment (See dates & fees section). For those who would prefer a self-catering studio for themselves, the cost is 500 EUR for the duration of the course. The accomodation is provided one day before the course and the trainee should leave one day after it ends. If possible accomodation for extra nights could be arranged at the price of 10 EUR per night.
Visas
Citizens of all European Union countries could have visa-free visits in Bulgaria for a total of 90 days within the period of 6 months. Non- European citizens usually should obtain short-term visa from Bulgarian embassies or consulates. (check here) You should allow at least one week for the visa application to be processed.
Bulgaria
The country
Situated in the south-east of Europe, Bulgaria has borders with Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Yugoslavia, and Romania, as well as a coastline on the Black Sea.
Bulgaria has a long and fascinating history, dating back to the first permanent settlements in 6000 BC. It is home to the world's oldest gold treasure, the birthplaces of Spartacus and Orpheus, Thracian tombs and monuments, Roman amphitheatres, Byzantine fortresses, and Ottoman architecture. The First Bulgarian Empire began in 681 AD, after the Bulgars settled in the region, having migrated from Central Asia.
Since 1st of January 2007 Bulgaria is a member of the European Union.
The city
Sofia, with a population of 1.2 million, is both exciting and lively, and yet small enough to be welcoming and easy to find your way around in. The local people are friendly and hospitable, and will do their part in making your stay enjoyable and memorable.
Things to do
Nearby Vitosha mountain offers activities all year-round: in the winter good and remarkably cheap skiing, and trekking and hiking in the summer. In the surrounding area lie lakes, monasteries (Rila monastery is Bulgaria 's largest and most famous), waterfalls, and traditional villages.
Sofia has many beautiful churches, statues, parks and monuments that are well worth visiting, as well as all the things that you would want from a capital city: museums, cinemas, art galleries, clubs, discos, and bars. Sitting at an outdoor cafe in summer watching the world go by is one of life's minor but unmissable pleasures.
The food & drink
Bulgarian food is an interesting mixture of Turkish, Mediterranean, and European cuisine. Local specialities include kebapche (grilled spicy meat), meat and vegetables cooked in earthenware pots, cheese and yoghurt made from sheep's and goat's milk, stuffed vine leaves, and lots of salads. In Sofia there is a variety of international restaurants– Italian, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and Maroccan. Bulgarians are rightly proud of their wine, the production of which dates back to the 6th century BC. Now the fifth largest wine exporter in the world, Bulgaria produces many excellent red and white wines at very reasonable prices. The local beer is also cheap and very drinkable.
The cost of living
One of the benefits of taking the CELTA course in Sofia is the cost of living. Here is a sample list of approximate prices: 1lv = GB 0.45 approx /0.51 EURO approx/USD 0.65 approx
- Public transport ticket: 1 lv.
Eating out:
- Canteen meal: 4.00 – 7.00 lv.
- Traditional Bulgarian dish: 6.00 – 10.00 lv
- Pizza: 06.00 – 12.00lv
- Hotdog from street vendor: 1.5 lv
- Pint of draught beer in a bar: 2.50 lv
- Loaf of bread: 0.90 lv
- 1 kg of cheese: 8.00 lv
- 1kg of potatoes: 0.80 lv
The climate
Bulgaria has a temperate climate with snowy winters and hot summers. Sofia's generally favourable climate is one of its main attractions with average temperatures of 28°C in July and August and 3°C from December to February.
The language
Bulgarian is a South Slavonic language closely related to Macedonian. Like Russia, Macedonia, Ukraine, Mongolia, Belarus and Serbia, Bulgaria uses the Cyrillic alphabet, developed in 863 AD by brothers Cyril and Metodius, and widely spread thanks to the support of the Bulgarian king Boris I.
Getting around in Sofia, however, is not a problem as many locals speak some English and menus in bars and restaurants are often in both languages.
Useful links:
The school
Founded in 1990, AVO-Bell aims to provide the highest standard of English language teaching to all sectors of the community. It has three branches in central Sofia, and about 60 teachers.
The school is accredited by EAQUALS - The European Association of Quality Language Services, and is a Bell International affiliated school. AVO-Bell is at the forefront of quality EFL teaching in Bulgaria.
The teachers are highly skilled and qualified. AVO-Bell provides a framework for its teachers to continue to develop professionally through workshops, observations, and encouragement and support to gain further training.
Courses offered include General English, kids and Business classes, and preparation for the IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge exams (FCE, CAE, CPE). In addition, AVO-Bell provides teacher training with the CELTA and DELTA.
Our CELTA/DELTA Tutors
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Galya Mateva – main tutor and CELTA and DELTA course director. Lecturer in English in Sofia Technical University; experienced in teaching EGP, ESP.
Tutors:
Kenward Hill, Svetla Tashevska, Tim Ward, Albena Vitanova, Zina Bowey, Mila Angelova