Let's be honest: not every Bulgarian speaks English which means that if you want to live happily here, you need to learn the language. That is not so bad though! Finally you will add one more language to your list and also it provides a great way to impress the subject of your love interest.
But let’s go ahead and check what else you will gain by learning Bulgarian in Bulgaria:
- You will be able to communicate more of your needs - in pharmacies, hospitals, hotels, by phone or on the street. You won’t be limited to the popular „Една бира, моля!“;
- You will have the chance to learn more about the culture and understand the locals – why do they smile so rarely or they laugh too much, why do they drink rakia or how and where do they chill in the summer;
- You will feel more independent – you won’t have to wait for your partner in order to go to the dentist and you will be able to speak directly to your mother-in-law (not that you are obliged but you surely get more points because of that);
- And finally you will find new friends and people like you – foreigners who are here and want to learn the language. You could share your story and find people that understand you, people who already passed through the same issues or the ones that will need your advice!
Feeling inspired?
Here are some tips on how you can learn this absolutely new language:
1. Be patient: you will learn Bulgarian over time, not overnight.
The beginning is the most difficult part – you will probably start many times and give up even before you learn the alphabet. But believe me – you will start all over till the moment you realize that you already know more than you think! Living in the country where the language you are trying to learn is spoken is a great benefit! You hear it all around you! Even if you don’t want to learn Bulgarian, you are already building your passive knowledge every day and everywhere. Combining this with some form of study will eventually bring you to the point where you are able to communicate. Just relax and give it time! When the right moment comes, go to #2.
2. Find the right teacher or the right book to support you on your Bulgarian-study journey.
The first thing you need to do is to decide if you want to study on your own by using books and websites or you prefer to have a teacher to guide you.
If your choice is books and websites you can find some free resources and some paid ones. Most of the content is translated and/or explained in English. Youtube also offers some channels dedicated to Bulgarian language and culture. The problem with this approach is usually set in lack of self-discipline and understanding of the structure of the language, people who succeed in learning Bulgarian that way, have usually had extensive experience with languages prior to learning this one.
If you prefer to study with a teacher then you need to choose between private lessons or group sessions. My advice is to choose group sessions and courses – first because you have much more time to practice with the others in the group and not only with the teacher, secondly you get to know new people and of course, group lessons are way less expensive than the one to one classes.
Once you decide on your preferences, it could be a good idea to check for advice on good language courses in some foreigner groups on Facebook. It is always good to have a real life reference! Keep in mind that the fact that a person is a native does not mean that they know how to teach their mother tongue.
Some people may have studied languages all their life but there are others who would confess that Bulgarian is their first foreign language. This means that some people may know how to choose the best learning method for them but others may feel confused about this. There are different ways you could check your learner’s preferences:
- You can try different things and see what you like, but it will take some time;
- You can find a test online and trust the results, but sometimes the tests are not trustworthy and you end up trying methods that don’t work for you;
- You can speak with professional and find out what that person thinks. A good conversation with experienced teacher can help you out with many of your doubts about the language. Speaking about your learning experience on the other hand can give you an opportunity to get to know the teacher better and decide whether or not s/he is a good fit for you.
Whatever you decide to do the most important is to feel comfortable with your choice of teacher or book.
3. Be brave enough to try the new things that you learn in your everyday life!
I strongly believe in #3 – the practice is the best tool when you have the chance to live in the country which language you are trying to learn. Once you learn a new word or phrase go out and try it! If you have just learned the name of a fruit – go to the open market and try to order a kilogram of that. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! They help a lot when it comes to fluency!
If you have Bulgarian colleagues, ask them to teach you something. Probably it will be some silly word but still you can learn from the source!
If you go to a bar, try speaking with the bartender in Bulgarian, ask for references or whatever is interesting for you!
If you enjoy writing, try keeping a small diary or making up silly sentences.
If you enjoy reading, read-out-loud, as it turns out research has proven that reading-out-loud helps develop the speaking skills as well as passive understanding and reading skills.
There are many more tips and tricks to learning new things, but the truth lays in motivation and dedication. At the end of the day no matter the method of learning you have chosen, language acquisition is hard work and takes time so it is up to you to decide when, why and how you are going to include this to your schedule.
For more information on different ways of learning, check out our Bulgarian courses page.
If you need professional advice, feel free to contact us through our email.
Thanks for reading and good luck!
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