Bulgarian Short Courses Levels

Course description: This course is intended for individuals of Bulgarian heritage who have grown up speaking the language with their family and friends, but have had limited formal education in reading and writing Bulgarian. 

The course consists of three terms, each lasting ten weeks, with two-hour sessions. The main goal is to improve and refine students' skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a focus on literacy and formal language use.

During the course, students will work on the following:

• Expanding Vocabulary - Broadening vocabulary across a range of everyday, cultural, and academic topics.
• Grammar and Sentence Structure - Developing a deeper understanding of Bulgarian grammatical rules and forms.
• Reading Comprehension - Engaging with authentic texts, including Bulgarian literature, non-fiction works, and media articles from Bulgaria and Bulgarian communities abroad.
• Writing Skills - Practising writing through diverse assignments that enhance the ability to compose short texts in both formal and informal contexts.
• Practical Application - Applying language skills in real-world situations, such as participating in conversations, debates, and writing exercises that reflect everyday scenarios and cultural themes. Listening to video and audio materials followed by guided discussions.

In addition to language skills, students will gain insights into:

• Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage
• Contemporary Bulgarian society
• The linguistic landscape of the Bulgarian diaspora

Topics

• Current Affairs (in Bulgaria and the diaspora) - News and current events from Bulgaria and Bulgarian communities worldwide.
• Regions, Cities, and Landmarks of Bulgaria - Geography, cultural sites, regional identities, and traditions.
• Education - The Bulgarian education system, school life, and higher education.
• Economy, Tourism, and Technology - Key economic sectors, tourism trends, and technological development. Vocabulary used in these fields and the influence of international English on modern Bulgarian.
• Housing - Housing and real estate, living conditions, and preferences.
• Employment - Job opportunities, applications, popular professions, employment challenges, and workplace environments.
• Human Transactions - Everyday interactions such as shopping, dining, and using public services.
• Successful Bulgarians - Stories of notable Bulgarians from various fields.
• Cultural References - Historical events, Bulgarian literature, cinema, politics, music, and sports.

Language Functions

• Understanding diverse authentic texts in both standard Bulgarian and dialect-influenced varieties.
• Understanding the use of Bulgarian on social media in Bulgaria and in the diaspora.
• Writing short texts on various topics using appropriate grammatical forms and vocabulary.
• Applying language skills in practical contexts, including conversations, debates, and individual or group presentations.

Grammar and Vocabulary

• Expanding vocabulary with a focus on formal and standard language.
• Understanding differences between regional and diaspora varieties of Bulgarian.
• Strengthening grammar knowledge by reviewing core components and expanding understanding of:

             o verb conjugation and aspect

             o noun and adjective forms

             o prepositions and conjunctions

             o pronouns

             o word formation

             o noun–adjective agreement

Study Materials

• Teacher’s Materials  - Custom worksheets, texts, and audio/video resources.

Suggested Textbooks

• Български език за чужденци (various levels)
• Български език – граматика и упражнения (intermediate/advance levels)
• Additional curated readings from Bulgarian literature and media.

Course description: Level 1 is for complete beginners or those who have had only very little contact with the language. The course runs over three ten-week terms and each session is two hours long. The course includes all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. The aim of the course is to enable students to function in simple everyday situations and get by in Bulgarian. This includes knowledge of basic vocabulary, grammar, morphology, syntax, and phonetics.

Topics: Getting acquainted; in the hotel and home; in the restaurant; telephone conversation; books and newspapers; shopping.

Skills: Understanding of sentences and frequently-used expressions in simple and familiar everyday situations. Communicating in simple routine and familiar situations giving and asking information about: Background, time, directions, costs, phone numbers etc. Expressing likes and dislikes. Keeping up very simple short conversations. Understanding simple public announcements, notices and signs. Understanding simple written messages.

Grammar: Gender , plurals, nouns, adjectives, prepositions and conjunctions, numerals, personal pronouns and possessive pronouns, adverbs, verb conjugations, imperatives, present tense, past tense, future tense, present perfect and past perfect tense, reflexive verbs, verbal aspect.

Study materials: Zdraveite” Bulgarian for Foreigners A1-A2 + a CD (ISBN 9789545357374)

Course description: Lower Intermedaite is for people who have completed Beginners or who have some knowledge of the language acquired through regular visits to the country or through self-study. The course runs over three ten week terms and each session is two hours long. The course includes all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. The course will cover the following:

Topics: Travelling; family; health; going to the cinema; name days; the weather; Bulgarian culture; holidays.

Functions: Talking about travelling and holidays; buying tickets; making travel plans; family relationships; health; parts of the body; discussing going to the cinema; name-days; discussion of the weather; Bulgarian historical landmarks.

Grammar: Use of verbs of movement, use of relative clauses, use of possessive pronouns, modal verbs, personal pronouns, past simple tense. Reflexive pronouns, direct and indirect direct speech, imperfect tense, passive constructions and passive voice.

Study materials: Zdraveite” Bulgarian for Foreigners B1-B2 + a CD (ISBN 9789545359453)

Additional Materials: A Practical Bulgarian Grammar Martin Zagorchev (ISBN 978-954-390-045-9)
Teacher’s own materials.

Course description: Upper Intermediate is for people who have completed Lower Intermediate or who have sound knowledge of the language acquired through extensive visits to the country or through self-study. The course runs over three ten week terms and each session is two hours long. The course includes all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. The course will cover the following:

Topics: Tourist sights; musical festivals; sport events; regional customs; folklore; holidays and festivities; travelling; booking a holiday; renting; climate; health and illnesses; introduction to the society and its challenges. Cultural references: press and TV; films.

Functions: Summarising a text; presenting a short topic; writing letters and emails; expressing agreement and disagreement; apologising.

Grammar: Revision of all cases in the singular and plural form, revision of all tenses, personal, relative and interrogative pronouns, imperative, modal verbs, perfective and imperfective verbs, comparison of adjectives, conditional clauses, 'se' constructions expressing wish and passive meaning, passive voices, renarrative mood.

Study materials: Primary textbook: Bulgarian: Beyond the First Steps Mira Kovatcheva (ISBN 978-954-011-798-0)
Secondary textbook: A Practical Bulgarian Grammar Martin Zagorchev (ISBN 978-954-390-045-9)
Teacher’s own materials.

Course description: Lower Advanced is for people who have completed Upper Intermediate or who have good knowledge of the language acquired through living in the country or speaking Bulgarian regularly. The course runs over three ten week terms and each session is two hours long. The course includes all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. The course will cover the following:

Topics: Newspaper articles on different contemporary topics; important events in Bulgarian history; the political system; the educational system; environmental protection and nature reserves; conflicting views and political conflict, past and present; major writers; artists; sportspeople; historical figures; famous films. Cultural references: regional customs; arts and crafts; films; essential literature texts.

Functions: Skimming and/or translating newspaper articles of interest; talking about the history of the region, general culture and important figures in general terms; understanding and talking about the school system and the political system; familiarising oneself with short and famous literary works; simple analysis of a film orally and in writing.

Grammar: Revision of grammar introduced on previous levels, conditional clauses and passive voice, the past and present adverbial participles, word formation, synonyms and antonyms.

Study materials: Authentic press articles, audio and video clips, teacher’s materials.

Course description: Advanced is for people who have completed the Lower Advanced course or who have very good knowledge of the language acquired through living in the country extensively or through using the language regularly through work or personal relationships. The course runs over three ten week terms and each session is two hours long. The course includes all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. The course will cover the following:

Topics: Specialised topics of interest; old films; colloquial expressions; regional language. Cultural references: historical highlights; politics; music; sport; topics chosen according to students’ specialised interests.

Functions: Understanding colloquial language, understanding basic regional accents and language; expressing preference, supporting an argument, public presentations, expressing gratitude, sympathy, appreciation; expressing regret and indifference; defending and accusing, analysing, and responding to, reviews and criticism, writing reviews and summaries.

Grammar: Revision of grammar introduced on previous levels, colloquial and regional grammatical forms, historical past, synonyms, antonyms.

Study materials: Authentic press articles; audio and video clips; teacher’s materials.