English beginner classes

The best beginner English course depends on how you prefer to learn and how quickly you want to progress. At Berlitz Bulgaria, all beginner programs are designed to help you build your first sentences and start speaking from day one.

• Private classes are ideal if you want personal attention and step-by-step support from your instructor.
• Semi-private lessons let you learn with a partner, making the process interactive and motivating.
• Group lessons help beginners practice natural conversations in a supportive small group.
• Online English classes give you the flexibility to learn from anywhere in Bulgaria while still getting live guidance from native-fluent teachers.
• Berlitz Flex is a good choice if you prefer self-study at your own pace, with live practice sessions to boost your speaking.
• Intensive courses are the fastest way to build confidence, with daily immersion that helps you see quick results.

No matter which option you choose, every Berlitz beginner course focuses on speaking and real-life practice, so you can start using English right away.

At Berlitz Bulgaria, we offer:

• In person language classes for beginners at our Sofia language center, located on Tsar Asen street, where you can learn in a professional and supportive environment.
• Online English lessons led by native-fluent instructors, giving you the flexibility to study from anywhere in Bulgaria.

If you want to learn to speak English, it is important to speak the language actively. Your progress can be supported with a number of learning techniques that help you improve your skills naturally:

• watching TV shows
• listening to music
• reading books in English

You can also enroll for English language learning with Berlitz Bulgaria:

1. Choose whether you want to learn in a group or take a private English language course.
2. Contact us to determine your current language level with a language test. You can also complete our online placement test to get an estimate of your level.
3. Sign up for a course of your preference.
4. Study with a native-fluent instructor and start speaking English from your very first class.
5. Receive feedback and progress reports from your teacher.
6. Reach your language learning goals quickly and effectively.

You can learn English fast by taking an intensive English course with Berlitz. To see results quickly:

1. Join Berlitz's English immersion program.
2. Choose the intensity of your classes and how many hours you want to spend on studying.
3. Focus on actively speaking English with your instructors.
4. Practice English during lunch with your instructor in an informal setting.
5. Have real-life conversations.
6. Personalize your lessons to your needs.
7. Improve your language skills by 1 Berlitz level in a matter of a week.

By the end of our beginner English courses, you will be able to:

• Introduce yourself, meet new people, and share basic personal information
• Order food and drinks, go shopping, and ask about prices
• Ask for and give directions, tell the time, and make appointments
• Talk about your work, hobbies, home, and daily routines
• Describe travel plans, buy tickets, and manage simple holiday situations
• Visit the doctor, describe symptoms, and handle basic emergencies
• Take part in everyday social activities, events, and small talk
• Make plans with friends, ask for help, apologize, and offer favors
• Talk about movies, news, finances, and future plans in simple ways

With these skills, you’ll be ready to hold conversations in real-life situations and feel more comfortable using English in daily life.

English proficiency is commonly described using the CEFR framework (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), which is widely accepted across Europe, including Bulgaria. At Berlitz, we also use our own Berlitz Language Level system (1–10), which aligns closely with CEFR and provides a more detailed breakdown of skills. This makes it simple to track progress and set clear learning goals.

Here’s how the two systems compare, along with the functional abilities at each stage:

Functional Ability

Berlitz Level 1 | CEFR A1

You can introduce yourself and ask simple questions (e.g., where someone lives, how they are, or what they like). You can answer such questions about yourself and take part in very simple conversations, provided the other person speaks slowly and repeats if necessary.

Berlitz Level 2 | CEFR A2.1

You can understand and communicate simple, everyday messages. You manage clear, basic information and short conversations, and describe routine activities at home or work. You can ask about and understand daily needs such as shopping, travel, or booking hotels.

Intermediate Ability

Berlitz Level 3 | CEFR A2.2

You understand the gist of conversations on familiar topics in both social and work contexts. You can initiate, maintain, and end conversations, give basic professional instructions, raise problems and suggest solutions. You can also express agreement, disagreement, or complaints.

Berlitz Level 4 | CEFR A2.3

You can discuss familiar topics in more detail, make professional contacts, offer advice, and give suggestions. You can handle practical tasks like exchanging goods or canceling orders, and you’re able to write notes, short messages, or personal letters.

Upper Intermediate Ability

Berlitz Level 5 | CEFR B1.1

You can comfortably discuss a variety of everyday and workplace topics. You’re able to explain or describe processes, ask and answer work-related questions, and give general instructions. You feel at ease in familiar professional settings, for example discussing the quality of a product or service.

Berlitz Level 6 | CEFR B1.2

You can communicate effectively in most professional and personal contexts, find alternative ways to express yourself, and manage a variety of topics. You can take part in group discussions with native speakers, handle projects, share opinions, and manage longer calls or travel arrangements with ease.

Advanced Ability

Berlitz Level 7 | CEFR B1.3

You can clearly express and defend your views in discussions, understand idiomatic expressions, and manage challenging situations or disagreements. You can give presentations, summarize facts, and use the language accurately in complex work situations.

Berlitz Level 8 | CEFR B2.1

You can participate naturally in demanding conversations, both social and professional. At this level you are able to conduct meetings, give clear presentations, and express nuanced ideas confidently.

Professional Ability

Berlitz Level 9 | CEFR B2.2

You communicate efficiently with varied audiences on both familiar and new topics. You can lead discussions and meetings, defend ideas with detailed arguments, and write professional documents (emails, reports, proposals) with accuracy and clarity.

Berlitz Level 10 | CEFR C1–C2

CEFR C1: You express yourself fluently and spontaneously, handle challenging texts with ease, and use language flexibly in both social and professional contexts. You can produce clear, well-structured communication, even on complex topics.

CEFR C2: Your command of the language is comparable to an educated native speaker. You understand virtually everything you read or hear, and you can produce precise, nuanced communication even in complex or specialized contexts.

This combined system makes it simple to identify your current level, track your progress, and set clear learning goals. In Bulgaria, both CEFR and Berlitz levels are widely recognized and help learners demonstrate their English proficiency to schools, employers, and international institutions.

The time it takes to reach fluency depends on several factors — your starting level, your goals, and the type of course you choose. At Berlitz, progress is measured in Berlitz Levels (1–10), which correspond to international CEFR standards (A1–C2). On average, learners can advance by one Berlitz level in a set number of lessons or weeks, depending on course intensity:

• Intensive English courses – With daily immersion (6–12 lessons per day, 5 days a week), you can advance one Berlitz level in just 1–2 weeks.
• Private courses – With fully personalized lessons tailored to your pace, most learners advance one level after 40 lessons (10–12 weeks).
• Group courses – With 60 hours of guided learning and peer practice, you typically move up one level in 10–20 weeks, depending on course intensity.
• Semi-private courses – Progress speed is similar to private lessons, but also depends on joint scheduling and intensity.
• Berlitz OnDemand / CyberTeachers / Berlitz Flex – These self-study formats let you move at your own pace. Most learners advance one level in 3–6 months, especially when combining with live conversation practice.
• Study abroad programs – With full-day immersion (up to 8 lessons daily), you can achieve one level in as little as a week, while also gaining real-life cultural experience.

Overall, fluency is not achieved overnight — it’s a gradual process of building vocabulary, mastering grammar, and practicing communication. But with the right course intensity, it’s possible to make noticeable progress in weeks rather than years.

For those who travel a lot and are looking for a flexible solution, our online English courses are the perfect choice. You can start learning English from scratch no matter where you are, as long as you have a stable internet connection.