What motivates you to study Bulgarian in the classroom of Step to Bulgaria?

Bernie: I believe it is very important to be able to communicate in the country’s language. I think this is my motivation – to be able to understand what people are trying to tell me and to contribute to the conversation. So even if it is a small phrase or one word that people are going to understand from what I am trying to say, they will value and appreciate one’s efforts in trying to speak the language.

Edgar: I have two reasons. First – in order to help me function in my daily work I have to be able to communicate with children and parents, and in the long term – the more proficient I become in the language the better. And the second reason is that I see learning the language as a form of respect and an honor to the country we are living in. We cannot come here with the attitude that everybody has to accommodate to us in English. This is Bulgaria, we have to respect its culture and part of it is to learn to communicate in the language. That is my motivation.

Bernie’s most favorite word: I learned it before I came in Bulgaria and this is лека нощ because it sounds so cute and beautiful.
Bernie’s most difficult word: I have to read it now, I still can’t remember it and this is краставици.
Edgar’s most favorite word: I love палачинка. It reminds me in Spanish when you tell somebody where they can go, you would say “Go to the палачинка”. I like that.
Edgar’s most difficult word: It is interesting because it is the place that I work at. And this is (I am looking at it right now) училище. I should know it but I am still struggling with it.

And in conclusion …

Bernie and Edgar: We have a great teacher. We have fun, we play while we are learning and this is a really good combination.