Bulgarian

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Important Information: Bulgaricum

The Bulgaricum is a year-long course consisting of several individual sessions. Therefore, you will not see separate course offerings in the regular course programme. You are welcome to contact the Bulgaricum at any time for information about the current course schedule.

With Bulgaria’s entry into the European Union, Cyrillic is being used in the Union for the first time. Are you ready to discover an interesting culture that is still unknown to many? (www.europa.eu)

The Bulgarian courses at the university provide a contrastive presentation of the language levels, which is an efficient method for both permanent mastery of the relevant categories and structures and for consciously overcoming first language interference. The acquired language knowledge and skills—including reading and listening comprehension, writing, and speaking—are aligned with the level requirements of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the European Language Portfolio (ELP).

The Bulgaricum is a study program alongside your main area of studies offered by Saarland University in cooperation with Sofia University. It is also aimed at working professionals and interested participants from other German states. The program is unique in Germany. Parts of the program are recognized as professional development in Saarland.

Over the course of one year, students gain extensive knowledge of the Bulgarian language as well as specific aspects of Bulgarian society, culture, history, geography, economy, and politics. The program also includes two intensive language courses during the lecture-free periods and a summer language course in Sofia. All instruction follows a specially designed program developed specifically for this year-long course.

About the language

The Bulgarian language belongs to the South Slavic language group and is spoken by around 9 million people. It has a rich history and a unique alphabet. Here are some interesting facts about Bulgarian:

  • Cyrillic Alphabet: Bulgarian was one of the first Slavic languages to use the Cyrillic alphabet, which was developed in the 9th century by the brothers Cyril and Methodius.
  • Aorist Tense: The language has a special past tense called the aorist, which no longer exists in many other Slavic languages.
  • Gestures: In Bulgaria, nodding means “no” and shaking the head means “yes,” the opposite of many other cultures.
  • No Cases: Bulgarian does not have grammatical cases for nouns, which sets it apart from other Slavic languages.
Course structure

At Saarland University, there are two ways to acquire Bulgarian language skills.

  1.  Regular semester courses: Please note that currently no language courses are offered at the Language Centre.

    During the semester, 2-hour Bulgarian courses at different levels are offered. Entry for beginners without prior knowledge is generally only possible in the summer semester. Detailed information is available through the Language Centre’s course information system.

  2. Bulgaricum

    The  Bulgaricum is a unique programme in Germany, offered by Saarland University in cooperation with Sofia University. It is aimed at students, working professionals, and other interested participants. Over the course of one year, students acquire extensive knowledge of the Bulgarian language as well as specific aspects of Bulgarian society, economy, politics, law, history, and geography.

    The programme includes two intensive language courses during the lecture-free periods and a summer language course in Sofia. All instruction follows a specially designed programme developed for the year-long course.

    From 2021 onward, the Bulgaricum programme begins in September. Please check the Bulgaricum website for information on dates, course duration, and fees.

Course Structure (former course names)

  • Bulgarian Elementary Course 1+2
    • Contact hours per week: 4
    • Total teaching hours: 60
    • CEFR level: A1
  • Bulgarian Intermediate Course 1+2
    • Contact hours per week: 4
    • Total teaching hours: 60
    • CEFR level: A2
  • Bulgarian Advanced Course 1+2
    • Contact hours per week: 4
    • Total teaching hours: 60
    • CEFR level: B1
  • Bulgarian Upper-Level Course 1+2
    • Contact hours per week: 4
    • Total teaching hours: 60
    • CEFR level: B2
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