EDNO SCHOOL: SPEAK BULGARIAN LIKE A LOCAL

You might be an expat, a manager, or a digital nomad. Whatever the reason that brought you to Bulgaria, you have probably already realised that mastering Bulgarian is key for you to enjoy the country and talk freely with its people as much as possible. "But Bulgarian is hard!", you might say. Yes, the language has a lot of peculiarities. But with the help of Edno School, you will be able to find your way through it. This Bulgarian language and culture school offers a wide variety of courses in Sofia and online, and guides your Bulgarian learning journey with expertise and ease. The founder, Ellie Zareva-Hristova, shares more.

What inspired you to found Edno School?

I fell in love with language teaching as soon as I started teaching English to kids in 2010. Two years later, as an assistant teacher at Sofia's British Council, I was stunned when I learned that a foreign teacher was fluent in Bulgarian. This moment was an eye-opener for me. It inspired me to start teaching Bulgarian to foreigners.

However, back in the days there was lack of quality, modern and effective educational materials, of know-how and experience. The entire industry was in its infancy.

This inspired me to found Edno School – the opportunity to bring life to something meaningful in Bulgaria, which answers real needs and benefits students.

On a more personal level, Edno School is and will always remain my own school – a way for me to grow, develop, and learn more.

Your work is based on Communicative Language Teaching. What are its basic principles?

Communicative Language Teaching aims to develop students' ability to communicate meaningfully and effectively in real-life situations.

Students are at the centre of the process – they actively use the language, while the teacher takes the back seat and facilitates the process. Communication is also key – the focus is on talking freely, not on mastering everything all at once. Cooperation between students is also crucial – they regularly work on tasks together in pairs or small groups. The language is taught in an authentic context – in situations close to real life. The use of practical and immersive activities means regular use of roleplay, discussions, debates, presentations, problem-solving and small projects. Using authentic materials, such as real restaurant menus, videos, podcasts, websites and others, is also important.

Why does this approach work when learning Bulgarian?

This approach puts students and their real needs at the centre of education. Learning a foreign language is a unique, personal experience. Few people learn Bulgarian just for the sake of it – for over 90% of our students it is a tool for communication, integration, belonging, independence and freedom.

At Edno School, we analyse each student's story, motivation and reasons for studying, along with their learning style and preferences (in group or one-on-one, in person or online). From the very beginning, this has allowed us to build our programmes on actual needs. Communicative Language Teaching has given us the flexibility and tools to meet them effectively.

The use of authentic context, topics, and materials keeps the students' interest. When learning grammar is associated with pleasant and useful topics, they are more motivated and learn better.

Our strong focus on talking and real communication allows them to practise important topics in a supportive environment and to become more confident in life outside the classroom.

Work in pairs and small groups builds community and a feeling of belonging – a core value for us and a key need for most students. This safe environment reduces stress and helps with learning a new, difficult language. This is the core of Communicative Language Teaching – learning through real, important, and supportive communication.

What is your students' profile?

It is as diverse as the world! We have had students from over 130 countries, aged between three and 70.

We work with foreign graduates and postgraduates; people building a career in Bulgaria; volunteers; diplomats and their families; Bulgarians born abroad; entire companies that provide language and culture integration for their foreign employees; and spouses and partners of Bulgarian nationals.

All our students share one thing: respect for our language and culture, combined with a striving for integration, better understanding, and belonging.

What is the most difficult thing for a foreigner about the Bulgarian language?

Our students often struggle with Cyrillic, pronouncing words with lots of consonants, the endless rules and exceptions regarding plural forms, the use of the definite article in nouns and adjectives and other peculiarities.

However, each language has its own challenges. The hardest thing for foreigners is to find the best way for them to learn – and to practise by talking, listening, reading, writing and, in the best-case scenario, fully immersing themselves. This requires discipline and readiness to leave their comfort zone.

At Edno School, we create a safe, supportive environment in which learners not only acquire grammar and vocabulary in an easy and enjoyable way, but also feel confident enough to use Bulgarian in real-life situations.

Our students often excitedly share their small "discoveries" about the language. But perhaps the most beautiful moments for them – and for us – are when they manage to understand something or handle a challenging task in Bulgarian on their own. These are moments of pride, confidence and genuine satisfaction – and they give meaning to everything we do.

Sofia, 44 Otets Paisiy St
+359 (0)88 692 1535
info@ednoschool.com
www.ednoschool.com