While we are preparing for publication all the testimonials, please take a look at these unanticipated comments - by the European Commission (Education and Culture Department), Oxford University Language Centre, Nadia Damon (Vagabond magazine), Dr. Anya Lewin (Lecturer in Fine Art at the University of Plymouth), Bulgarian Embassy in London, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Charles Copeland (translator at the European Commission), Amanda Lees, Bobby O`Driscoll, Catherine Newman, Anna Bakowska, Katie and Daniel Patterson, Martin de Schrijver, Susan Jensen, Ian Vizer, Brenda and Dave, L. Fibonacci, Natasha, Andie Musson, Paul Beckett, Dieter, Нар, Nar, Wengo team, Helena, Lorraine Naughton, Arbat, Lavaia, Alex, Keegan and an English language teacher from York, UK.
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"Last year (2010) I spent three weeks learning Bulgarian with Erna, after having passed 8 levels of Bulgarian here in Luxembourg. My passive knowledge was not so bad thanks to the fact that I am a Slav (Czech) and I also understand other Slavonic languages. But my spoken Bulgarian was quite bad and it was very embarrassing for me to use it. After the course with Erna I became much more confident, my active vocabulary expanded significantly. Erna is a very patient and dedicated teacher and adapted the course to my needs. I spent a very nice time with her and it was really fun for me “to go to school“, although the course was very intensive (5 hours a day) and especially at the beginning quite tiring. I would love to come back to Plovdiv some time - either as a student or as a tourist."
Miroslava Sevcikova, translator at the European Parliament
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| Charles Copeland, translator at the EC |
“I spent two very full and enjoyable weeks at Mastylo in September 2009, filling in the gaps accumulated in my Bulgarian language skills. Erna proved to be an excellent and very patient teacher, targeting the weakest points in my knowledge and resolving them. I felt that I made significant progress during the course and plan to return to Plovdiv for more of the same - preferably once again during the Bulgarian Theatre Festival, which provided a wonderful backdrop to learning the language. Despite the extensive ground covered during the course, the overall atmosphere was calm and relaxed, thanks to the careful organisation and attention provided by the school.”
William Stock, translator at the European Parliament
* * *
"My partner and I spent six months learning Bulgarian with Boris and Erna, and I can honestly say that it was some of the best language tuition we have ever had – and as language students, we have spent an awful lot of time in classes!! What’s more, it was great fun. I am usually quite suspicious about anything advertised online, but after contacting Boris, I felt totally at ease with the idea of travelling to Plovdiv – initially our plan was to remain in Sofia. I am SO happy we made the move! Boris and Erna are excellent teachers, with the patience of saints (a must when you’re trawling through the finer points of Bulgarian grammar!). We came to Bulgaria to learn Bulgarian from scratch, having a background in Russian. Despite their superb command of English and Russian, Boris and Erna never allowed us to get lazy – after the initial lessons, EVERYTHING was explained through Bulgarian, which for us was the best way to learn the language- total immersion! As we progressed, our classes focused more on conversation and debate, which personally I have always found the most difficult aspect of language learning – due to my fear of sounding like an idiot I suppose! I needn’t have worried – we always had so much fun during class! Grammar exercises aside, going to class was like meeting a friend for a good auld chat. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed or learned so much in class. If you want to learn Bulgarian, there is no question: Mastylo is your best bet."
Hilary Byrne & William Brennan, students at the Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
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“First of all, I'd like to greet all those who have decided to embark on the exciting activity to learn Bulgarian! Congratulations on your courage and enthusiasm! Bulgarian is my mother tongue and I have never stopped using it actively even though I have been living outside of the country for more than 15 years and notwithstanding the fact I use and speak fluently other 4 languages. Moreover, I have always spoken to my children in Bulgarian. Both of them are bilingual (Italian is the language of their father) and besides they study at an English School. My older son, who is 8, expressed a clear desire to learn how to read and write in the Cyrillic alphabet. So the summer of 2010 I went back to my native Plovdiv and I contacted Mastylo School, about whom I had found excellent reviews on the Internet. In the beginning I was quite skeptical, since the boy had just learned how to read and write in both Italian and English. I was reluctant to expose him to another "spelling test stress" during the summer holidays so I asked only for an one-hour weekly lesson. A very charming lady happened to be my son's teacher - Erna Angelova. With a soothing voice she reassured me that everything would be just fine and my son would have read quite soon. To my dismay, only a couple of weeks later, I caught my son writing in cursive characters (believe me, the Bulgarian ones are just a pain...). A month later my son was reading in Bulgarian in a good speed. These days, he sends regularly letters by snail mail to his Bulgarian friends and of course, he can't wait to see his Bulgarian teacher again! I strongly recommend Mastylo school if you really want to learn Bulgarian in a fast and pleasant way!"
Maya Dimova, Milan, Italy
* * *
"Having studied with Boris for a mere matter of weeks, I already feel that I have made enormous progress. Although we conduct our lessons via Skype, Boris’s enthusiasm and encouragement are all too clearly transmitted and form an invaluable part of the experience. Erudite, witty and entertaining (in spite of the apparently abysmal quality of the average Bulgarian joke), Boris peppers his teaching with cultural references and provides a fascinating insight into the Balkan mentality. Best of all, he makes me laugh! Plus he is giving up smoking – quite a feat in a country where a cigarette permanently clamped to a lip is practically a fashion accessory. What can I say – Борис rocks!"
Amanda Lees, London, England.
* * *
"My wife Wendy & I bought a holiday home in Bulgaria in 2005 and quickly realised that although it was close to a ski resort (with English spoken widely), the local village folk spoke none whatsoever! I was therefore faced with a choice: continue POINTING & SHOUTING (in English, of course) in the time honoured Western/British/ foreigner abroad tradition - or try the lingo!!! I proceeded to buy the usual book from Amazon which helped me to begin the challenge of a foreign language - and an alien alphabet. Needless to say, like thousands before me I got totally bored and virtually gave up. Then I discovered Mastylo School on a quiet day at work. That was about 3 months ago and already I'm beginning to feel like a scholar after about 15 lessons only!! My tutor Boris, is very keen to ensure that not only do I develop a sound knowledge of the basics and grammatical structure of the language, but he makes it fun as well. Boris has a kindly and patient manner with a great sense of homour which makes learning very easy and enjoyable. I'm very confident of being fully conversational after 12 months. I think that the whole concept of learning a foreign language on-line is utterly brilliant and Mastylo School seem to have exploited it with aplomb. My experience has been so good so far that I can't imagine ever getting bored or giving up, as it could in no way be described as a chore. You arrange your sessions whenever suits - in my case Boris has been totally flexible, which fits in with my unpredictable working regime very well indeed."
Raph Clerkin - Ellesmere Port, England.
* * *
“I come from a language background. I'm American and work as an Akademischer Rat (like an assistant professor) at a German University in the field of computational linguistics. It happens that in our department we have a lot of Bulgarian students. And it also happens, by some twist of fate, that I have a Bulgarian girl friend. So, I've interest in learning Bulgarian for a number of years. In the summer of 2008, I had a free couple of weeks, with my kids and girl friend all being otherwise occupied. So I searched the Internet for language schools in Bulgaria, and landed on the Mastylo school in Plovdiv. I wrote to Boris, and he wrote back quite enthusiastically that the school could provide me with lessons and even find me a very economical and friendly place to stay. But the best part was that Boris offered me a teacher, Ivanka Petrova, who was a PhD candidate in computational linguistics at the University of Plovdiv. Ivanka turned out to be a real language expert, with a great ability to inspire. So after my trial lesson, I knew I would like it and I signed up for the package of 50 lessons. I worked hard during these lessons, and learned a lot thanks to Ivanka. Just because I come from a language background doesn't mean that I have a magic ability to learn languages. I certainly got befuddled as anyone else would. But Ivanka helped me through, and made the lessons fun with her creative teaching. I know a lot of people take lessons with Mastylo over Skype, and I may try this someday myself. But there is something to be said for going there in person, meeting people and trying to speak Bulgarian on a day-to-day basis. Plovdiv, as any guidebook will tell you, is a very interesting place to visit. But what I really enjoyed was visiting the Rhodope mountains to the South. There are beautiful unspoiled natural areas such as the caves at Trigrad and Yagodina and the wonderful bridges (Chudnite mostove). It's a challenge to get around these areas, but the people are extremely friendly, especially if you can speak a some Bulgarian. I had the most fun at a restaurant in Shiroka Laka, where I was invited to a table with a couple of families with grandparents and grandkids. My Bulgarian got a real workout that day, and I got another workout when I got back to my lessons, as Ivanka made me tell all about my experiences in Bulgarian. So, I can highly recommend language lessons at Mastylo, and I hope I will make it back there myself someday.”
Dale Gerdemann, University of Tübingen, Germany
* * *
"I've been studying Bulgarian with Erna for more than a year, and can definitely recommend her as an excellent teacher to anybody who wants to learn this language. Both Erna and Boris are true professionals who love their job and do it with great passion. Besides that, they are very flexible, open, and easy going people which is very important for teachers. A good teacher is your friend who can inspire, support, and make you want to learn more. Erna is one of such people. I'm happy that I met her and hope that she enjoys teaching me, too :-)
P.S. Learning Bulgarian by Skype is a great idea as it allows me to study with the native Bulgarian teacher right from my home and feel such as I am somewhere in Plovdiv :-)."
Ina Chitenco, Mewmarket, Canada.
* * *
"My sister and I live in Bristol, England, and have been enjoying Bulgarian lessons with Boris for the last couple of years. Our mother is from Bulgaria, but we grew up without learning her native language (many regrets here!). We've visited Bulgaria regularly all our lives and dipped in and out of teach-yourself courses and phrase books, as well as trying to learn from our family, but we've never managed to retain much and have always worried about being able to engage in everyday conversations. So we eventually decided that we needed a teacher to give us some structured help and some homework! We found Mastylo School online and received a friendly and flexible email from Boris. After having a taster lesson over Skype using samples of the course book, my sister and I decided to buy a block of ten lessons and have carried on, once a week, since then. Boris is a great teacher, very knowledgeable and with a sense of humour too. He makes every lesson interesting and fun, structuring them whilst also letting us set our own overall pace. His explanations of Bulgarian grammar, pronunciation and culture have been very valuable and his encouragement continues to build up our confidence to use the Bulgarian that we have learnt. We would highly recommend Mastylo School and Boris to anyone wanting to learn Bulgarian."
Becky & Kathie Davis, Bristol, United Kingdom
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"Bulgaria, for me, was a land of the unknown. I was intrigued by the place, and I intended to conduct an anthropological study on Bulgarian Roma. When I found and contacted the Mastylo school, Boris's responses were amazingly prompt and friendly. Boris is an incredibly engaging, supporting and hilarious teacher! The lessons are so much fun; if all French teachers at secondary schools taught like him, everyone in England would be fluent in French! As well as teaching me Bulgarian, he helped me find accommodation and helped me find academic contacts and research localities. Without Boris and the Mastylo school, I would have been utterly lost. Thank you!"
Sara Alam, anthropologist, London, UK.
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"I've tried to learn Bulgarian through "How to" books and by listening to recordings. This is not how to learn a foreign language, let alone a complex language like Bulgarian. I enrolled in Mastylo and Boris became my teacher. I learned more in 2 lessons than I did from hours of reading my old books. Furthermore, I couldn't have asked for a better teacher. Boris is knowledgeable, kind, patient, flexible, and most importantly, he makes learning fun. Много е як!"
Kevin Johnson, Hampton Bays, New York
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“I began language courses in Sofia in August of last year. After I left Bulgaria to return home I was determined to pursue the language further. I investigated some local options but found them either too expensive, too basic or without the necessary flexibility that I required due to my work. Luckily I discovered your school's website. I was delighted to find that you offered tailored courses that suited my level, my schedule and my pocket. I managed to incorporate intensive courses into an already hectic daily routine and what's more I enjoyed every single minute of it! Throughout my courses I was most ably instructed by Vanya in both the language and culture of your country. She deserves the very highest of praise and I have every intention of resuming classes with her. Your service is top class and one that I would wholeheartedly recommend. Keep up the good work!”
Stephen Moran
Lawyer, Dublin & London
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"I have been studying Bulgarian with Boris for approximately 18 months now. My husband and I bought a house in a small village in Bulgaria. I wanted to learn the language to be able to communicate with the neighbours in the village as they are mostly elderly people who do not speak any English at all. I tried learning with phrase books which are o.k. but I still wasn't able to understand what people were saying to me. Then I found Mastylo School on the internet and decided to give it a try. It just works so well, I can sit down at a time that suits me in the comfort of my own home. I can have as many or as few lessons as I want. Boris is an excellent teacher. Not only does he teach the language but he also teaches the Bulgarian traditions which are very helpful to know (so I don't give anyone 12 red roses!!!). Bulgarian is a difficult language to learn but Boris explains everything so well I really feel that I'm learning so much. I can have a conversation with my elderly neighbour in Bulgaria now and thank her for all the lovely fruit and vegetables she keeps giving to me and my family. She is so generous and I feel it is polite for me to be able to thank her in her own language and make an effort to have a conversation with her. I don't think I could possibly have learned as much without a personal tutor and the course that I am learning is covering every aspect of the language."
Lorraine Naughton, Killorglin, Ireland.
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"I strongly recommend Mastylo Language School for all who want to learn Bulgarian. After a six week intensive programme in winter 2010, I have improved my command of the Bulgarian language significantly. My progression in Bulgarian was much better at Mastylo than at a summer school in Veliko Turnovo. The private lessons enabled the teacher to adjust the training to my level. The highly professional teachers Boris and Erna are friendly and helpful. They will assist in finding good and inexpensive accommodation if you choose to stay in Plovdiv, the most beautiful and historically most interesting region in Bulgaria. In addition to the language training at Mastylo, I learned a lot about Bulgarian history, culture and literature. I had a wonderful time during my language programme in Plovdiv!"
Carl Henrik Gilbu Rekdal,
Student in Slavonic languages,
Oslo University, Norway
* * *
“Two years ago I decided that I wanted to go to Bulgaria and study the Bulgarian language and culture yet I had absolutely no idea where to start my search and as always the case in today's modern times the internet is usually the best place to start. I typed “intensive Bulgarian language courses in Bulgaria” using the Yahoo search engine and among some of the results that I received was the Mastylo School. I viewed the institute's web site and must say that I was quite impressed and I of course wanted to know more so I decided to write an e-mail to the school. Promptly within a short period of time the director of Mastylo Boris Angelov answered my e-mail and I must say that I was quite impressed with a quick response. Boris came to meet me at the airport in Sofia and took me to Plovdiv, he also helped me find accommodation in Plovdiv as well, in other words there wasn`t anything that I could have not asked Boris in helping me to get to know Plovdiv better and for that reason alone made me come back to study for a second time at the Mastylo School. I must also say something about my teacher Vanya Petrova. She was wonderful! I learned so much from her it was amazing and I would highly recommend her to anyone because she has an incredible dynamic fun method of teaching the Bulgarian language and she will always be one of my favorite teachers simply due to the fact that during both my two visits to the institute in a period of one year (each period lasting three months) I was so impressed with her teaching style as well as how Boris helped me with any dilemma/problem I had while I was in Bulgaria. Now a final note to all who are interested in coming to Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and spending some time at the institute. Bulgaria is truly one beautiful, lovely country. I've been twice and I want to back again and again! It's rich with traditions, history, monasteries, mountains, Black sea and Plovdiv is without a doubt the most interesting city in Bulgaria due to it's ancientness (after all it's the oldest city in Europe!) and the lovely hills that surround the city. Plovdiv is a must see for anyone who is visiting Bulgaria for the first time. To put everything briefly into one short and simple message - if you want to study the Bulgarian language in Bulgaria then by all means chose Mastylo and I guarantee you will not be disappointed at all!”
Kenneth Kuehnle, USA
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"Finding quality Bulgarian instruction overseas is always a challenge, but trying to fit evening or weekend language classes into an already packed schedule can be an even bigger one! That’s why I was really pleased to discover Mastylo. Not only do I have a highly qualified teacher suitable for my advanced level, but the convenience factor is hard to beat: with the time difference, I can do my lessons at home in the morning before heading off to work. The Skype method is great. The sound quality is crystal clear and the chat feature allows the instructor to type words or explanations directly to your screen. My friendly teacher Erna speaks very clearly, has a great sense of humour, and takes a real immersion approach, avoiding the use of English translations and forcing me to deduce the meaning of Bulgarian words. Highly recommended!"
Jonathan Kotcheff, Montreal, Canada
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"I began studying the Bulgarian language with Boris Angelov soon after arriving in Plovdiv. I am extremely pleased with him and the other instructors at Mastylo. Although we are working through a curriculum, instruction has been individualized to meet my specific needs. After sixteen months, I can carry on long conversations. With preparation and notes, I am now able to teach Bible study lessons without a translator. Bulgarian friends and perfect strangers often comment about how well I can speak Bulgarian after such a short time. I highly recommend Boris and Mastylo. He is both professional and personable. As a social worker, I have especially appreciated his willingness to speak about the culture, as well as the language. He has been an invaluable resource as I try to understand the societal norms and learn to live here. And last, but not least, he’s just plain fun. We have lots of laughter along with the hard work!"
Kathy Rankin Simpson, USA
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"My wife and I have studied at Mastylo with Boris Angelov for 18 months. When we arrived in Bulgaria we only were able to pronounce the Cyrillic alphabet and say a few words. Boris has been a great professor. We are now able to carry on meaningful conversations for several hours in Bulgarian. We also read and write with both the upper case and the lower case letters. Our continuing lessons help us increase our vocabulary and improve our grammar. Boris has a wonderful understanding of English and American culture. This makes it possible for him to help us understand the nuances of Bulgarian that are not strictly literal. The texts and resources he uses have been appropriate to our needs and level of language development. He is also kind, patient and a wonderful person. I feel blessed to be able to study with Boris at Mastylo. I highly recommend Mastylo to anyone who desires to learn Bulgarian with a personalized approach."
David Simpson, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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"I have been a student of Mastylo School in Plovdiv for 3 months and I am very happy with my progress in learning Bulgarian. I live in the UK, so I have my lessons via the internet and this works very well for me. The lessons are always interesting and the tutor is very patient. I feel like I am in safe hands. I will definitely continue with my Bulgarian lessons, and I hope to attend the Mastylo School next summer for an immersion course to further improve my Bulgarian."
Ann Morrison, Password Language Studio
* * *
"I studied with Vanya for 5 weeks last Summer and enjoyed every moment! Not only were the lessons fun, they were extremely well-focussed and Vanya was always flexible. I had learnt a little Bulgarian before, but Vanya quickly cemented my basic grammar and without going too fast, we got through all of the elements of Bulgarian grammar, as well as looking at literature in the original language, linguistic texts and older forms of the language. Vanya is an excellent teacher both for advanced students and for beginners – she is friendly and extremely well-qualified. I can honestly say, in 4 years of language tuition at Oxford University, that I have never had a better language teacher."
Peter Blackstock, (Student of German and Russian at Oxford University)
* * *
"I would recommend Boris to anyone considering learning the Bulgarian language. He is patient, speaks excellent English and knows how to put his lessons across in an informative and interesting way. He also has a good sense of humour and is very approachable; not only that but his fees are very reasonably priced too. If you embark on a course of study with Boris you will also have the added benefit of gaining an insight in to Bulgarian culture. He is also a Liverpool supporter - well nobody is perfect!"
John Lindley, http://www.hiday.net - all about Bulgaria
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| Holiday courses in Bulgaria |
"I have been studying Bulgarian at Mastylo school for several months. Truly the language is difficult for me, but I am learning and improving my Bulgarian language skills as I work with Boris. Boris is a good instructor for me. Although he makes me work very hard, he encourages me and spurs me on. I really do enjoy my language lessons!"
Cecily Willard, Kazanluk, Bulgaria
* * *
"Since we started a year ago, we have not only learned Bulgarian, we have also made some really good friends.
Boris and Erna are very good and professional teachers, and they really understand how to motivate their students, and they teach with humor so that the more complicated Bulgarian grammar becomes a piece of cake! We highly recommend the Mastylo language school!"
Susan Jensen and Carsten Bjerre, Myzto Ltd.
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| Bulgare pour les étrangers |
"I lived about four months in Bulgaria and the lessons in Mastylo school are one of my best recollection... In Mastylo, you can learn both Bulgarian language and Bulgarian culture and Petya always has the answers to your questions... The lessons are never stressful and you learn a lot so that's a real pleasure!"
Simon Bajart, French student
"J'ai vécu environ quatre mois en Bulgarie et les cours à l'école Mastylo font partie de mes meilleurs souvenirs... A Mastylo, vous apprenez à la fois la langue et la culture bulgare et Petya a toujours les réponses à vos questions... Les cours ne sont jamais stressants et vous apprenez beaucoup: c'est donc un vrai plaisir!"
Simon Bajart, étudiant français
* * *
"I am a Swiss guy from Geneva, my native language is French and I am currently living in Bulgaria. I want to learn Bulgarian language in order to be able to communicate with the people here. First I was a bit pessimistic about online lessons, because I have never tried such a method of learning. I decided to give it try, I live 10 minutes away from Mastylo School so it was up to me to decide if I will go to the classroom or stay at home. I found that the lessons online are the better option. There is really no difference from normal lessons, I even find it more comfortable for me because it saves me some time to prepare myself and go to the school even if its not so far away. My teacher Boris is a very positive person which helps me a lot in this hard task. He is very experienced in teaching Bulgarian, has a lot of patience and humor and each lesson is a pleasure for me."
Marc Geinoz, webdesigner
* * *
"I highly recommend the Mastylo School and Professor Boris Angelov for those seeking to learn the Bulgarian language. The teaching methods and Boris's teaching style, supportive and friendly manner make learning Bulgarian fun and accessible. The in person instruction in Plovdiv is excellent. But for those learners outside of Plovdiv, outside Bulgaria, face to face language instruction via Yahoo Messenger. The fees are reasonable for the high quality of instruction. In two months I have made great progress in learning Bulgarian."
Steven Brown
Orange County, California
* * *
"I have searched some places on internet and in my hometown in Holland and this is the perfect solution for me. The flexibility is very high so you can schedule the times with Boris when you want your lessons. The book used by Boris is by far the best one I know (and I have seen some). And, also very important, Boris is a very pleasant person to work with. His open mind and his feeling for humour makes it a pleasure to work with him. And, the level of the lessons are very good. Don’t think its only making jokes with Boris. He knows to give you homework very well. He keeps you busy in this way. So, all together a school I can recommend to everybody who wants to learn Bulgarian in a professional and personal environment."
Martin de Schrijver, The Netherlands
* * *
"Tutoring through Mastylo School has been so easy! I had trouble finding a tutor in the US for Bulgarian. Thankfully Boris was quick to respond to my initial email. His flexibility allows me to fit tutoring into my busy schedule. We have had productive lessons over the Internet, and usually too much fun:) I am glad that I found Mastylo School and would recommend this tutoring service to anyone who wants to learn Bulgarian."
Allison Jahn, Wisconsin USA
* * *
"I am studying Ethnology in Bulgaria for 10 months, and so I am learning Bulgarian. Classes with Boris are very nice because it's more than learning one language, it is also understanding Bulgarian people, understanding history of Bulgaria, expressions etc. Inside language, we can understand people. Before living here, I didn't know Bulgarian, only some words. I progress with my courses, with my Bulgarian meetings. I don't speak very well Bulgarian but I am living here without problem for the daily. Going to these courses is always a pleasure for me: working in the good atmosphere. In the beginning, I thought that it will be difficult to learn Bulgarian via English (I am French and my English isn't so good), but Boris finds always solution for that I understand."
Aglae Simoes, French student
* * *
"I decided to learn Bulgarian last January. I bought a very good study book and proceeded to teach myself each night. Into chapter two, and I was finding it very difficult, as I had many questions and no one to answer them. Then, while surfing the net and on a site called My Bulgaria I came across a reference to Mastylo School to learn Bulgarian "one to one". I contacted Boris and my lessons began via Skype. I have to say that I have learned so much in the last two months with Boris that I am even starting to feel confident. Now to make it even better, I have just returned from a holiday in Sunny Beach Bulgaria and I have been told (by a Bulgarian) that my pronounciations are very accurate, which I credit to Boris and his attention to detail. His lessons are very thorough but are carried out in a relaxed and humourous way. The lessons are very flexible and Boris will do his best to fit the lessons around your schedule. If you take up lessons with Mastylo School, not alone will you not regret it, but you will enjoy it, and you can rejoice in the fact that you are learning from a native Bulgarian, and a gentleman. Who could ask for more. Борис, благодаря."
Bobby O'Driscoll. Limerick, Ireland.
* * *
"Six months ago after spending 3 holidays in Bulgaria and finding myself fascinated with the country, I decided I would like to learn the language. I found the Mastylo School through Google search and was impressed by the testimonials on their website. The process of enrolling for lessons was extremely simple and within a short time I was meeting up with Boris for early morning coffee on a weekly basis (via Google Talk.) The language was somewhat daunting at first but Boris with his friendly yet professional manner has succeeded in making the lessons fun and they are definitely never boring. His command of the English language both spoken and grammatical is excellent. I have to add that Boris possesses a virtue so seldom found in men - unlimited patience! I am happy to recommend Boris and the Mastylo School to anyone interested in learning Bulgarian."
Margaret Murray-Tait, N. Ireland
* * *
"While we bought a house in Bulgaria and discovered that in most cases people could not understand any language but Bulgarian, I started to learn the Bulgarian language. First I began with books like ”Bulgarian for foreigners” and the necessary CD’s for pronunciation, but soon this was not enough. I needed somebody to communicate with and to explain the grammatical part, while this is hard to learn only with a book. While I was surfing on the internet I found the Mastylo School in Plovdiv. Immediately I made an appointment for a trial lesson. It was fun and soon I became a regular student of Boris. Every Friday we’ve met on Skype and talked about all kind of things and also about the difference between Belgium and Bulgaria. Boris can bring his lessons with a lot of humour and I always enjoyed it a lot. Because I only had time for 1 lesson a week, he asked me to prepare a conversation for the next week (even it was a short one) which was also very instructive. He also gave me a lot of homework to practise the grammar. Now I’m working in Bulgaria and my colleagues told me that I speak Bulgarian pretty well. Anyway I miss my lessons with Boris and as soon as I’ve a little more time, I will restart to complete the Bulgarian language."
Linda Taelemans, Belgium
* * *
“There was a time when you learnt a language from your parents, from books, tapes or a local teacher. These days you can learn from a local in the country of the language you wish to learn. From my home, twice a week I log onto Skype for Boris to teach me Bulgarian from Plovdiv in Bulgaria. How good is that? Apart from learning the grammar, verbs and vocabulary the sessions exercise my brain. The exercise works like physical exercise, other parts of my life and thinking are improved. As I struggle with these unfamiliar things Boris patiently applies various respectful approaches until I get it, which I must admit would be a test for any teacher. The sessions are enjoyable with all the information supplied by the school.“
Peter Hansen, Melbourne, Australia.
* * *
"We found out about Mastylo on the internet while we were still in Australia, and started lessons soon after arriving in Plovdiv. As we were complete beginners, it was helpful for us to have a teacher who used English as a base, and then gradually increased the amount of Bulgarian in the lessons as we improved. We found it useful to have a textbook to work through and the topics were very relevant. Boris always added helpful and interesting cultural tips to the lessons and the lessons were always relaxed and friendly. Bulgarian is a difficult language to learn, and it would be confusing to learn without the aid of a good teacher and a structured program."
Daniel and Katie Patterson, Perth, Australia
* * *
"Boris is a very crazy person. But the more you know him, the more you will like him. I was a crazy Bulgarian fan, I still am. So everything that involves into Bulgaria attracts me a lot. That is also the reason why I learn Bulgarian. There're many Bulgarian learning sites. No doubt everyone cares about the fees. I visited some of them, but Boris was the only one I wrote to. No doubt, what I concerned the first was the affordable fees. The first free demo class with Boris, I knew he is a reliable person then we started our lessons. During class, I can say Boris is a very patient one and his English ability and abundant knowledge help me not just learn the Bulgarian but also understand more about the culture too. I have to say I really love to have class with him, even he always push me to translate from Bulgarian to English. Right now, Boris is trying to quit smoking. So I will watch you!!"
Huang Pei Fang, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
* * *
“We have been learning Bulgarian for almost a year now and we couldn't have asked for a better teacher than Boris. We look forward to our weekly lessons with him because he makes them fun and interesting and is extremely patient with us when we can't remember what we learnt the previous week. He also has a wicked sense of humour. Boris rocks!!”
Cheryl and Karl Bartlett, Manchester, England.
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"After studying Bulgarian language with cd's, books etc., for 3 years I felt I had reached as far as I could on my own. I enrolled with the Mastylo School for 10 lessons to see if this was a way forward. My teacher is Ivanka, I find her extremely helpful, encouraging and her techniques for explaining the grammer to get it into the old grey matter is great (it actually works). My lessons are through Skype which I was apprehensive about at first, but Ivanka soon made me feel comfortable. I soon realised that you cannot learn a language from books etc alone. Ivanka has explained grammer terms in ways that books cannot. I have had 20 lessons to date and will be booking more as soon as I can arrange them. I am missing our lessons which are fun, especially when my spoken Bulgarian word is foreign to Ivanka. Also the homework, I cannot get enough of this. I not only have a tutor but gained a friend also. I can highly recommend the Mastylo School with distant learning through Skype. I have progressed so much that I impress Bulgarian friends when I visit Bulgaria with my knowledge. Even sending emails in Bulgarian, some of which were word perfect. I have Ivanka to thank for giving me this confidence. Thank you Ivanka very much. Also thank you Boris for the Mastylo School. Keep up the good work!"
Susan Wilkins. Norfolk, England.
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"Erna is an excellent teacher, very knowledgeable about Bulgarian language, culture and history. She is patient and relaxed, a pleasure to study with."
Irina Meidman, senior solicitor at WorleyParsons, London, UK.
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A very short personal introduction (name, gender, age, location, citizenship...).
My name is Carol Haigh and I am 62 years old living in England.
Do you have a previous linguistic background/experience (including learning another foreign language)? What?
In the past I have taken short courses in French and Spanish before going on holiday to these countries. Before going to Greece for the first time I learned the alphabet and a few phrases regarding food and drink.
Why did you want to learn Bulgarian? What was/is your motivation?
My husband and I have bought a house in the Rhodope mountains and visit 5 or 6 times each year. Although we have Bulgarian friends who speak English it would be nice to be able to speak to them in their native tongue without having to play a game of charades. Also none of the people in the village speak English and it would be good to be able to communicate with them. One day soon we are hoping to retire to Bulgaria and it will be essential that we can at least understand the basics of the language.
Did you have a previous experience about learning Bulgarian? Please describe (teacher, books, web sites, other materials).
I tried to learn from textbooks, I have about 4 different ones but couldn’t get myself motivated to sit down and learn regularly. I also tried interactive CD’s but I only learned words and no grammar.
How did you find about this course?
I looked on the internet for Bulgarian courses in the Smolyan region and when I found Mastylo School it sounded very professional so I decided to give it a go.
What were your first impressions?
I was surprised that learning via Skype worked so well and it’s so convenient because the times are flexible.
Has the course been of a satisfactory quality so far?
Yes
Has the offered textbook been of a satisfactory quality?
Yes, although I think it might have been easier for me if there were more English explanations in it but I do realize that it has been written for all foreigners not just English.
Has the course been clear? Logically structured?
I think the course is good because it leads you through the grammar and gender and gradually builds up, giving practice on previous sections to reinforce the learning.
Is a scientific (structured) approach more efficient in learning/teaching a language? Would this method be the right one, as opposed to other "modern" "fast-food" methods?
This approach is better for me because I like rules to work to and refer back to. My memory isn’t what it used to be so a “fast-food” method would not suit me.
Is an online course working?
It works for me because I don’t have to go out on a cold dark night yet I can have regular lessons and I know that if I have a problem when doing homework or just trying to study on my own, Boris is only an e-mail away, and only too happy to help.
Must the teacher have superior organizing and technical abilities?
As I’m learning from a book I think the teacher is there mainly as a guide and to keep the motivation going but he does need to be able to track the learning and know exactly at what stage everyone is at so does need to be well organized.
Is the audio contact satisfactory?
Yes, we have good audio contact.
How would you compare this course with your possible previous experiences? (mainly if you tried to study Bulgarian before)
It’s much better than trying to learn on your own with a book as I soon became bored with that and there’s no one to ask if you don’t understand a particular part. Also with a book, even if you have an audio CD with it, you can’t be sure you understand where the stress should be on the words. Learning online is enjoyable because you have someone to interact with and it’s better than being in a class because you’re getting individual attention.
How complex do you perceive the Bulgarian language is?
I don’t think it’s any more complex than any other foreign language once you learn the different alphabet, it’s the gender that I find most difficult as we don’t have this in the English language.
Is this course guiding you satisfactorily through the Bulgarian linguistic jungle?
Yes, I think it’s a well structured course.
Could it be learned "without a (competent) teacher"? Or without good-quality materials? (aiming for the medium level)
I couldn’t learn it without a teacher or good quality materials.
Is grammar necessary to learn? Is it too much? Too little?
I think grammar is important, especially if you want to communicate clearly with Bulgarian speakers. My ambition is not to speak “pigeon Bulgarian”, but this might be just a dream.
What aspects of the Bulgarian language, as studied so far, have you found to be the most difficult/tricky/unusual/weird?
The gender is the most difficult for me as it’s not just the subject that has a gender but almost everything that describes it as well.
Other personal comments/thoughts/considerations.
When I first contacted Mastylo School to arrange Bulgarian lessons I prayed that I would have a woman teacher as I find some male teachers pompous and intimidating. Imagine my dismay when I received an e-mail telling me my tutor was called Boris! Well, I needn’t have worried, Boris is so down to earth and funny, it’s a pleasure being taught by him. He never makes you feel stupid however many questions you ask, even if you ask the same questions over and over, he has the patience of a saint. Occasionally, when I have found the homework difficult, I dread the lesson because I’m sure I’ve done it all wrong but within a couple of minutes of the lesson starting Boris has me feeling much better and I finish the lesson feeling much more confident. Thank you Boris.
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A very short personal introduction (name, gender, age, location, citizenship...).
Struan Mackenzie, male, 32 years, born in Edinburgh, living in London.
Do you have a previous linguistic background/experience?
Very basic French from high school.
Why did you want to learn Bulgarian? What was/is your motivation?
My wife Joanna is Bulgarian (though has lived in Britain for almost 20 years) and though she speaks almost exclusively English I wanted to be able to speak to her family when visiting Bulgaria.
Did you have a previous experience about learning Bulgarian? Please describe (teacher, books, web sites, other materials).
None other than Joanna teaching me occasional words.
How did you find about this course?
Online Google search.
What were your first impressions?
Felt odd having one-on-one lesson via Skype at first but Boris soon put me at ease and once the books arrived it has been plain sailing ever since.
Has the course been of a satisfactory quality so far?
More than satisfactory, has been fantastic.
Has the offered textbook been of a satisfactory quality?
Other than the odd confusing typo, the textbook has been great.
Has the course been clear? Logically structured?
Absolutely.
Is a scientific (structured) approach more efficient in learning/teaching a language? Would this method be the right one, as opposed to other "modern" "fast-food" methods?
Nothing to compare the method against, I’m afraid. I still don’t feel confident in conversation but with only 1 hour a week of lessons, that will come, I’m sure.
Is an online course working?
Yes, absolutely.
Must the teacher have superior organizing and technical abilities?
Don’t really understand the question! Better than the teacher having inferior organizing and technical abilities, I guess!
Is the audio contact satisfactory?
Yes, fine.
How would you compare this course with your possible previous experiences? (mainly if you tried to study Bulgarian before)
Again, nothing to compare with, sorry.
How complex do you perceive the Bulgarian language is?
Very complex. Not having a linguistic background, I have struggled with the complexities of the grammar.
Is this course guiding you satisfactorily through the Bulgarian linguistic jungle?
We’re getting there!
Could it be learned "without a (competent) teacher"? Or without good-quality materials?
I sincerely doubt it!
Is grammar necessary to learn? Is it too much? Too little?
It is necessary in the long term and I am enjoying it now, although the course did seem a little too rigid and structured in the early stages, which I found frustrating because I wanted to learn basic Bulgarian conversation ahead of my wedding and only had a few months in which to learn. We focussed a lot on grammar rather than conversation in those early stages and I did not have the conversational skills I was hoping for in time for the wedding. Now I have decided to keep up with the lessons after the wedding I am glad we did do the grammar and it is absolutely necessary for a proper grasp of the language, no matter how much I might hate it!
What aspects of the Bulgarian language, as studied so far, have you found to be the most difficult/tricky/unusual/weird?
Imperatives, the apparently random nature of some conjugations, past and future tense, most grammar really.
Other personal comments/thoughts/considerations.
Boris is a fantastic teacher and brings humour and patience to the one-on-one lessons. If we are getting bogged down in grammar he will skip ahead to a more enjoyable section and come back to catch up on the grammar later. More listening exercises might be useful to get used to hearing spoken Bulgarian. I would unhesitatingly recommend Mastylo School to anyone outside of Bulgaria wishing to learn the language via Skype. The one-on-one lessons are focussed and fun and Boris is a patient teacher with a great sense of humour. Textbooks and audio CDs were sent to me soon after starting the lessons and it has been easy to keep up and ask about any uncertainties via Skype during my weekly lessons. I started the lessons before getting married to be able to speak to my wife's Bulgarian family and have kept the lessons up since then because learning a second language has been so rewarding and enjoyable.
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A very short personal introduction (name, gender, age, location, citizenship...).
Stephen Shetler, male, 40, American from Washington, DC
Do you have a previous linguistic background/experience (including learning another foreign language)? What?
I have studied Spanish and French in traditional classroom settings. I can read both, but speak neither.
Why did you want to learn Bulgarian? What was/is your motivation?
I am studying Bulgarian because I am married to a Bulgarian and will soon move to Bulgaria, eventually to become a citizen.
Did you have a previous experience about learning Bulgarian? Please describe (teacher, books, web sites, other materials).
I have studied Bulgarian using CDROM software and Teach Yourself books.
How did you find about this course?
Website
Has the course been of a satisfactory quality so far?
Certainly
Has the offered textbook been of a satisfactory quality?
I am a poor judge of relative quality as this is only the 2nd Bulgarian textbook I have experienced, but it seems fine.
Has the course been clear? Logically structured?
Yes, each lesson builds on the previous.
Is a scientific (structured) approach more efficient in learning/teaching a language? Would this method be the right one, as opposed to other "modern" "fast-food" methods?
(Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone, Unforgettablelanguages, Languagesecrets, language exchange, "survival", conversation guide-book approach).
I know of someone who was able to learn Bulgarian through a self-teaching method, but for a non-linguist like me a knowledgeable instructor is essential. As a lazy student, I also require deadlines and homework due dates to motivate me.
Is an online course working?
Yes. Since it is impossible for me to attend traditional classes in Bulgarian and I cannot afford the personal lessons offered by in-person schools, this is a very effective method that allows me to fit the lessons into my time.
Must the teacher have superior organizing and technical abilities?
Of course.
Is the audio contact satisfactory?
Fine.
How would you compare this course with your possible previous experiences? (mainly if you tried to study Bulgarian before)
I learned very little beyond some basic vocabulary from the CDROM and the self-teaching book. The book course may have been fine, but the self-teaching method is not effective for me, personally.
How complex do you perceive the Bulgarian language is?
I found Spanish to be a fairly straightforward language and French not terribly difficult at a basic level. Bulgarian is a logically structured language, but its significant differences from English make the process of learning grammatical details a little more difficult than learning the Romance languages.
Is this course guiding you satisfactorily through the Bulgarian linguistic jungle?
Yes.
Could it be learned "without a (competent) teacher"? Or without good-quality materials? (aiming for the medium level)
As I wrote in the answers to previous questions, I think it is possible for some people to learn without a teacher, but I cannot. Additionally, self-taught students are unable to ask questions when a lesson is unclear.
Is grammar necessary to learn? Is it too much? Too little?
I understand Bulgarian grammar better than my native wife, but use it less accurately than my 3 year old daughter. Is grammar necessary? No, neither my wife nor my daughter needed to learn grammar to use it properly, but for a student learning Bulgarian as a 2nd language I cannot imagine how the lessons could be structured without it. Personally, I must understand why a thing is if I hope to remember it, as I am unable to learn “by rote.”
Is this intensive course too fast?
Since it is a private lesson, the speed of progress is set by me.
What aspects of the Bulgarian language, as studied so far, have you found to be the most difficult/tricky/unusual/weird?
Verb conjugations and pronouns.
Other personal comments/thoughts/considerations.
Boris is both knowledgeable and personable, making lesson time enjoyable rather than dull. That said, to combat my deficiency in motivation it may be better if he were more strict about homework assignments. Also, I understand that testing is not really necessary in a personal-enrichment class, but I feel that tests give me goals to attain and evidence of progress.
***
A very short personal introduction (name, gender, age, location, citizenship...).
My name is Garth Greenwell, I'm 32 years old and teach at the American College of Sofia. I'm from the United States.
Do you have a previous linguistic background/experience (including learning another foreign language)? What?
I've studied lots of languages, including French, Latin, Italian, German, and Spanish. Bulgarian is the first Slavic language I've tried to learn.
Why did you want to learn Bulgarian? What was/is your motivation?
I began learning Bulgarian when I accepted a job at the American College. I study literature and want to read Bulgarian fluently.
Did you have a previous experience about learning Bulgarian? Please describe (teacher, books, web sites, other materials).
I began trying to learn with the Teach Yourself Bulgarian text.
How did you find about this course?
I had come across the Mastylo website online, and then Boris was recommended by a colleague at the College.
What were your first impressions?
I was immediately taken by Boris's friendliness and enthusiasm. He made the lessons both useful and fun.
Has the course been of a satisfactory quality so far?
I was extremely satisfied with the quality of the lessons I had with both Boris and Erna. They are the best teachers of Bulgarian I've found.
Has the offered textbook been of a satisfactory quality?
The textbook used by Mastylo is the best I've found, but unfortunately I simply don't think there is a good textbook available for learning Bulgarian. Certainly when compared to materials available to English-language learners of French, Spanish, German, etc., the Bulgarian materials are very poor. This is why Boris and Erna are so necessary for supplementing the available textbooks--and why they should write a textbook of their own!
Has the course been clear? Logically structured?
Yes!
Is a scientific (structured) approach more efficient in learning/teaching a language? Would this method be the right one, as opposed to other "modern" "fast-food" methods? (Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone, Unforgettablelanguages, Languagesecrets, language exchange, "survival", conversation guide-book approach).
I don't understand how one can hope to learn a language without a clear, structured approach that combines grammar with communication. None of the other approaches has ever worked for me.
Is an online course working?
Yes. I've been amazed with how closely the experience of online lessons mimics that of face-to-face, in person lessons.
Must the teacher have superior organizing and technical abilities?
Yes, of course!
Is the audio contact satisfactory?
For the most part, yes, though my own internet connection in Sofia has been unfortunately rather poor.
How would you compare this course with your possible previous experiences? (mainly if you tried to study Bulgarian before)
Far superior to any of the learn on your own options.
How complex do you perceive the Bulgarian language is?
Bulgarian is by far the hardest language I've tried to learn. I would say it is very complex.
Is this course guiding you satisfactorily through the Bulgarian linguistic jungle?
Yes.
Could it be learned "without a (competent) teacher"? Or without good-quality materials?
No, I don't think so.
Is grammar necessary to learn? Is it too much? Too little?
Yes. I would prefer even more grammar drills, though I know I'm in the minority. I find that it takes a great deal of mechanical practice for grammatical structures to become intuitive for me.
Is this intensive course too fast?
It requires a real commitment from the student, but given such commitment, no, I don't think it's too fast.
What aspects of the Bulgarian language, as studied so far, have you found to be the most difficult/tricky/unusual/weird?
Oh, there are so many! But for an English language speaker, I would say verb aspect and the use of the definite article, which is quite different in English.
Other personal comments/thoughts/considerations.
I love working with Mastylo, and I'm sorry that my schedule has made me have to suspend my lessons for the time being. I'm looking forward to working with you again!
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A very short personal introduction (name, gender, age, location, citizenship)
Julian Tirsu, Male, 26, United States, Romania & United States
Do you have a previous linguistic background/experience (including learning another foreign language)? What?
I am Romanian and I can fluently read, write, and speak in Romanian and English. I also know conversational Spanish and can understand Italian.
Why did you want to learn Bulgarian? What was/is your motivation?
My girlfriend is Bulgarian and I want to move to Bulgaria in the future and do business.
Did you have a previous experience about learning Bulgarian? Please describe (teacher, books, web sites, other materials).
Yes, with books, websites, and audio CDs.
What were your first impressions?
I thought my instructor, Boris, was very enthusiastic and very informative.
Has the course been of a satisfactory quality so far?
Yes, I took the course for one month to strengthen my grammar and vocabulary skills.
Has the offered textbook been of a satisfactory quality?
Yes, I have used it as a reference material many times.
Has the course been clear? Logically structured?
Yes, the course followed a clear layout as per the assigned book.
Is a scientific (structured) approach more efficient in learning/teaching a language? Would this method be the right one, as opposed to other "modern" "fast-food" methods?
I liked the structured and conversational approach to learning the Bulgarian language.
How would you compare this course with your possible previous experiences? (mainly if you tried to study Bulgarian before)
Highly recommended over books or audio CDs.
How complex do you perceive the Bulgarian language is?
It is definitely more complex than Latin-based languages since you must learn the Cyrillic alphabet.
Is this course guiding you satisfactorily through the Bulgarian linguistic jungle?
Yes.
Could it be learned "without a (competent) teacher"? Or without good-quality materials?
A teacher or with native Bulgarian speakers are usually the best ways to learn.
Is grammar necessary to learn? Is it too much? Too little?
Yes it is extremely necessary.
Is this intensive course too fast?
For me, it was not.
What aspects of the Bulgarian language, as studied so far, have you found to be the most difficult/tricky/unusual/weird?
The grammar and the tenses.
Other personal comments/thoughts/considerations.
Boris is a great teacher! You will not be disappointed!
How to Enroll in a Course for Bulgarian as a Foreign Language
If you wish to sign up for an online course, please contact us on Skype 
or send an e-mail containing your name, level and the best time for the free online Bulgarian lesson. Please feel free to choose one of our tutors for the trial class. If you prefer traditional tuition in a classroom, give us a call to arrange an appointment in our office.
