If you’re living in Sofia or one of the other main towns, you will be able to get by with a minimum of Bulgarian - many people live in Bulgaria for years with only a basic knowledge of Bulgarian - but even then your business and social enjoyment will be directly related to how well you speak the language.
English is spoken in the main tourist areas and many young people speak or are learning English. Russian and German are the more widely spoken second languages. Elsewhere, a knowledge of Bulgarian is essential.
SURVIVAL TIP
Bulgarians shake their head from side to side when they mean ‘yes’ and nod when they mean ‘no’. But sometimes they may do the opposite when they realise you’re a foreigner!
The Bulgarian alphabet is based on the Cyrillic script, which bears no resemblance to the Roman alphabet. It’s wise to carry a small translation guide for the Bulgarian alphabet with you wherever you go to try to get used to the different letters. At a minimum you should try to master a few basic words and phrases, as this will make everyday life easier - and Bulgarian people will appreciate your efforts.
Learning Bulgarian
To learn even basic Bulgarian, you will need a little hard work, perseverance and some help. Don’t expect to learn Bulgarian quickly! If your expectations are unrealistic, you will become frustrated, which can affect your confidence. It takes a long time to reach the level of fluency needed to be able to work in Bulgarian. If you don’t speak Bulgarian fluently, you should begin lessons before your arrival in Bulgaria and continue them once you’re there.
Language Schools & Courses
Most people can teach themselves a great deal through the use of books, tapes, videos and even computer-based courses. But even the best students require some help. Language teaching is starting to pick up in Bulgaria as more foreigners move there permanently or purchase property. As yet, however, there are few language schools teaching Bulgarian to foreigners, as most language schools focus on teaching English to Bulgarians.
Private Lessons
With the growing number of foreigners moving to Bulgaria permanently, many Bulgarians are offering private lessons, either one-on-one or in small groups. Private lessons are an ideal (although relatively expensive) way to learn a language. Private lessons generally cost from €5 to €15 per hour depending on how many lessons you take.
The main advantage of private lessons is that you learn at your own speed and aren’t held back by slow learners or left floundering in the wake of the class genius.
A good listing of Bulgarian language teachers can be found on the Language School Teachers website at www.language-school-teachers.com .
Look for advertisements locally and in the foreign press as well as on expatriate websites. Don’t forget to ask friends, neighbours and colleagues if they can recommend a private teacher.
Self-help
There are several self-study Bulgarian courses available, including those offered by
- Berlitz: www.berlitz.bg
- Eurotalk: www.eurotalk.com
- McGraw Hill: www.teachyourself.co.uk
It’s usually worth purchasing a good English-Bulgarian dictionary, such as those published by Langenscheidt or Hippocrene. In Sofia and in the main tourist towns you should be able to buy phrasebooks and dictionaries from English-language bookshops much more cheaply than in your home country.
There are several other things you can do to speed up your language learning, including:
- watching television regularly (particularly quiz shows, where the words appear on screen as they’re spoken)
- watching DVDs (where you can programme Bulgarian or English subtitles),
- reading (especially children’s books and catalogues, where the words are accompanied by pictures),
- joining a club or association, and (most enjoyable)
- making Bulgarian friends!
This is an extract from Survival Books' Living in Bulgaria.
This article is an extract from Buying a Home in Bulgaria
from Survival Books.