Melitopol University hosts online conference uniting scholars of Bulgarian studies

published on 12/2/24 5:35 PM

The Bogdan Khmelnitsky State Pedagogical University in the Ukrainian city of Melitopol

Photo: mdpu.org.ua

Bulgarian studies are highly valued at the Bogdan Khmelnitsky State Pedagogical University in the Ukrainian city of Melitopol. So it comes as no surprise that the university is hosting the latest edition of the International Bulgarian Studies Readings, 'Youth in Science Without Borders'. As well as promoting the Bulgarian language, the online conference will highlight the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on Friendly Relations and Cooperation between Bulgaria and Ukraine. It also draws attention to one of Bulgarian National Radio's (BNR) programmes dedicated to the Bulgarian language, "About Words" from the Hristo Botev channel, which is celebrating three decades of broadcasting.

Interest in Ukraine is growing in Bulgaria, noted Anna Tertychna, Deputy Ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria, in her address to the participants. Her research on bilateral relations through the lens of cultural diplomacy showed this:

"In the 1990s, the number of Bulgarian studies in Ukraine was dramatically higher than the number of Ukrainian studies in Bulgaria. I am very happy to see that in the last 10 years or so there has been a growing interest in the Ukraine in Bulgaria. A major role in this has been played by the Historical Commission, which works within the framework of cooperation between the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of History of Ukraine. I am glad that your conference will also contribute to rethinking and rediscovering some - partly positive, partly frightening - pages of our common past".

The Ninth International Bulgarian Studies Readings enabled a number of young people with in-depth knowledge in the humanities and social sciences to present papers on interesting developments in these fields.

Among them, the work of Maya Yosifova, a doctoral student of Bulgarian language at St Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia, was particularly impressive, as she presented her web-based dictionary of Bulgarian sign language. It should be recalled that in 2021 sign language was adopted as an official language in Bulgaria, which increased the interest in it and the culture of deaf people.

"The methods of learning sign language are different from those of learning written language. In sign language, it is necessary to make video recordings of representatives of the deaf community. This slows down the learning process. As there are few digital resources related to sign language and they are not centralised, you really have to be very involved in the subject to understand what developments are taking place in it".

The researcher admits that she has studied sign language using paper dictionaries, which still have their place in the classroom but are not useful enough for learners:

"As sign language involves many motor components, all teaching materials need to be in video format to ensure it is learnt more accurately. Our idea for the dictionary is not so much to fill it with content, but to develop a technical concept."

Learning Bulgarian as a foreign language was the subject of another paper presented at the conference - "A model for adapting teaching content to the needs of learners of Bulgarian as a foreign language". In the words of PhD student Mila Milieva, who has been teaching Bulgarian to foreigners for almost seven years, "analysing learners' needs is one of the most important steps in preparing curricula, plans and textbook content".

"Why is it important? On the one hand, it helps teachers to prepare up-to-date and interesting lessons for their students. Such a study would motivate the target group and turn the lesson into something very practical," explains Milieva, adding:

What is important for me in this analysis is the selection of activities and procedures for each lesson. The bigger ambition is to eventually develop a comprehensive algorithm for adapting lessons, so that any teacher, experienced or not, can log on to a website and describe the number of students, their interests and the resources they need. Based on this, the platform will propose a set of lesson plans and a timetable for the class".

"Traditionally, the Bulgarian Studies Readings are meant to discuss the work of Bulgarian language teachers abroad, as well as the work of those who teach outside the classroom - in workshops and academic societies where young people study the humanities in depth - a process that builds on what is taught in the classroom, broadening and deepening it," says linguist Krasimira Koleva of the Shumen University "Bishop Konstantin Preslavski" in an interview with Radio Bulgaria.

The university is one of the organisers of the "Youth in Science Without Borders" conference.