English conversation

If your main goal is to learn English conversation, Berlitz Bulgaria has several options designed to maximize conversation practice.

• Private classes are ideal if you want one-on-one attention and plenty of time to speak directly with your instructor, either online or in person.
• Semi-private lessons let you practice dialogues with a partner, combining personal guidance with interactive exercises.
• Group courses focus on natural conversations with classmates, so you learn by speaking in real situations from day one.

If you prefer studying online, you can join live virtual lessons with native-fluent instructors or choose Berlitz Flex, which combines self-study with live one-on-one practice sessions to sharpen your speaking skills. Our Cyberteachers platform also includes interactive resources and optional conversation groups to boost your fluency.

For faster results, intensive English courses offer daily immersion, giving you hours of speaking practice in just a week or two.

At Berlitz Bulgaria, we offer:

• In person language classes 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.

Before you start learning English with Berlitz Bulgaria, one of our instructors will conduct an oral evaluation with you to ensure we provide you with the most suitable course. You can also take our online placement test to assess your current language level. After completing the oral test, our expert team will recommend a course that is adapted to your level. We offer beginner English courses as well as classes for intermediate and advanced students.

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.

With our English conversation classes, you will:

• Expand your vocabulary and improve pronunciation through active speaking.
• Learn to start, maintain, and conclude conversations on familiar and new topics.
• Gain fluency and ease when interacting with colleagues, friends, or new people.
• Express yourself naturally in everyday situations.

In Bulgaria, the most widely recognized English exams are IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English qualifications (First, Advanced, and Proficiency), and TOEIC. These certificates are accepted by universities, employers, and government institutions around the world as proof of English proficiency. For many Bulgarians who plan to study abroad, IELTS and TOEFL are essential for university admission, while Cambridge English exams are highly valued for both academic and professional purposes. TOEIC, on the other hand, is especially popular in the corporate sector, as it focuses on workplace communication and business English. Holding one of these certificates not only strengthens your CV but also demonstrates that you can use English confidently in academic, professional, and everyday contexts.

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.