Programs | Bulgarian Center of New England

Bulgarian Classes for Busy Adults 2023-2024

BCNE is pleased to offer Bulgarian classes for adults again this fall, starting in October 9-15, 2023 and running through the beginning of May, 2024. This year we will hold our classes online again. Classes are conducted over Zoom and the link to the first class will be emailed to all interested. Class links, notes, and homework assignments are managed through Canvas. Classes are held once per week, with the exception of most holiday weekends. The first class for Group 2 and Group 3 will be on Oct 14, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Minimum enrollment for all classes is four students. All students interested in taking our intermediate/advanced class need to contact the instructor. All registered students are eligible to drop in on all of our other classes we offer during that school year.

Please register here by October 9, 2023: Registration Form

Beginner Bulgarian for Busy Adults A1 (Group 1)

Sundays, 11:00 – 12:30 p.m.

An introductory practice course in Bulgarian as a foreign language. We understand that as busy adults, our students’ time for homework and practice outside of class is limited. In this 80-minute course we will start with a detailed introduction to the Cyrillic alphabet and very basic vocabulary. We will practice together as we strengthen students’ knowledge of the alphabet and get comfortable with using every-day phrases. Our hope is that at the end of the semester students will be able to use the Cyrillic alphabet with ease, to understand basic everyday conversations, to introduce themselves and other people; to speak and write about themselves and their environment in basic terms. Suggested practice at home: between 2 and 6 hours weekly.

Beginner Bulgarian for Busy Adults A2 (Group 2)

Saturdays, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

With Group 2 this year we will focus on advancing students’ vocabulary and speaking in the past tense!!! This practice course in Bulgarian as a foreign language is for those who are familiar with the alphabet, can use basic vocabulary, and are comfortable using Bulgarian in present tense. We understand that as busy adults, our students’ time for homework and practice outside of class is limited. In this 80-minute course we will dive right into more substantial material and learning past tense. Our hope is that at the end of the semester students will be able to understand in more detail everyday conversations, speak about themselves, their families and their interests in the past, present and future. Suggested practice at home: between 2 and 6 hours weekly.

Textbook for Group 1 and Group 2:

Primary textbook for both Group 1 and 2 this year is “Здравейте! Учебник по български език за чужденци А1 – А2 + CD” by New Bulgarian University. With Group 2 we will work on the second part of the book with the goal to cover all of the material and advance students’ vocabulary. Please order the textbook at your earliest convenience. We will not need it for the first class but I hope you have them in front of you for the second class. The textbooks were preordered by the instructor and are available for purchase from her for $35 (cash or check). Please add $10 for shipping and handling, or in-person pick-up can be arranged.) Alternatively, you can order them online here:

Textbook: “Здравейте! Учебник по български език за чужденци А1 – А2 + CD”:

Good to have: Grammar Matters: Bulgarian Grammar in Charts – this is a guide with great explanations of grammatical rules in English (available on Amazon). All other materials will be provided by the instructor.

Grammar Matters: Bulgarian Grammar in Charts

Grammar Matters: Bulgarian Grammar in Charts

Intermediate/Advanced Bulgarian for Busy Adults B2-C1 (Group 3)

Saturdays, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

An intermediate/advanced practice course in Bulgarian as a foreign language. Prerequisite: at least three Bulgarian classes or equivalent knowledge: fluency in reading and writing in the Cyrillic alphabet, greetings and introductions, good command of present, past, and future tense verbs and their conjugations, as well as familiarity with the perfective and imperfective aspect of the Bulgarian verbs. At the end of the semester, students will be comfortable speaking in Bulgarian in the present, past, and future tenses on a variety of topics. We suggest between 2 and 6 hours of practice weekly. All interested prospective students should contact the instructor at their earliest convenience at nadia@bulgariancenter.org.

Textbook for this class:

“Bulgarian Beyond the First Steps” by Mira Kovatcheva will be the primary textbook for this class. A digital copy will be provided to you at no additional cost with the author’s permission (we recommend you print it and have it in front of you to facilitate interaction in class.) Textbook will be emailed upon registration and payment for the class.

We may add the textbook “Здравейте С1-С1+” by New Bulgarian University later on in the year.

About the instructor

Nadia Ullman is mom to two children at the Bulgarian School and looks forward to teaching another year of Bulgarian to the grownups. Nadia is a BCNE Board member and an advocate for foreign-language immersion in the public schools. Nadia’s professional background is in municipal government: she was elected to Framingham’s Town Meeting where she served two terms; and further served as a Senior Policy Advisor to Framingham’s first Mayor. She holds a master’s degree from Harvard University’s Extension School with a concentration in government and a bachelor’s in applied linguistics from South-West University of Bulgaria. Nadia is passionate about creating a larger community of Bulgarian language learners and savors teaching her native language in her free time.

Tuition and other important information:

You can pay for the class online with your credit card (to pay by check to BCNE, please contact the instructor.) BCNE members receive a $50 membership discount. Individual annual membership is $50; Family annual membership $75. All contributions from the class and membership fee go towards refinishing and maintaining our new community home in Billerica. Thank you!

Tuition for the 2023-2024 courses is $475*.

Please choose an option and click “Add to cart” below

*Non-member $475.00 USD

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Members $425.00 USD

Membership $50.00 or $75.00 US

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Individuals experiencing financial hardship might be eligible for a modest additional discount on a case-by-case basis. Please keep in mind that this class is provided as a fundraising initiative and contributions are donated towards the BCNE capital campaign.

Please register here: Registration Form

ABOUT BCNE

The Bulgarian Center of New England (BCNE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, whose mission is to serve as a focal point of the Bulgarian community in New England and attract people from different backgrounds who have interest in the Bulgarian culture, art, history, and traditions. The Center is located in the Greater Boston Area and will host the Bulgarian Church “St. Petka,” the Bulgarian School “Sv. sv. Kiril and Methodii,” events organized by the Bulgarian-American Cultural Center “Madara”, and initiatives sponsored by other groups and organizations.

We are raising funds for renovating the new building for the community. Please join our efforts. If you would like to donate, click on the button below:

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