Travel Companion: Book2 English–Bulgarian Pocket Guide

Everyday Conversations: Book2 English–Bulgarian Practice BookEveryday Conversations: Book2 English–Bulgarian Practice Book is designed for learners who want practical, ready-to-use language skills for daily life. The Book2 series is known for short, focused lessons that pair audio with simple texts and exercises — this practice book adapts that approach specifically to English–Bulgarian learners and centers on spoken interaction, vocabulary you’ll use every day, and cultural notes that make conversations smoother and more natural.

Who this book is for

• Beginners and low-intermediate learners who want to start speaking quickly.
• Travellers planning short stays in Bulgaria.
• Expats and international students needing survival phrases for shopping, banking, and university life.
• Self-learners who prefer bite-sized lessons with lots of repetition.

Structure and approach

The book is organized into themed units that reflect common situations: greetings and introductions, shopping, transportation, ordering food, visiting a doctor, at the bank, phone calls, making plans, small talk, and emergencies. Each unit follows a consistent layout:

1. Dialogue — a short, realistic conversation with parallel English and Bulgarian lines.
2. Vocabulary list — key lexical items from the dialogue with part of speech and short definitions.
3. Pronunciation tips — notes on Bulgarian sounds that typically challenge English speakers (e.g., vowels, consonant clusters, stress).
4. Practice exercises — gap fills, matching, and role-play prompts.
5. Audio scripts and downloadable recordings for listening and shadowing.

Sample unit: At the café

Dialogue (English / Bulgarian)

• “Hi, can I get a small cappuccino, please?” — “Здравейте, мога ли да получа малко капучино, моля?”
• “Would you like anything to eat?” — “Искате ли нещо за ядене?”
• “Just a croissant, thank you.” — “Само един кроасан, благодаря.”
• “That’ll be 4 lev, please.” — “Ще бъдат 4 лева, моля.”
• “Here you go.” — “Ето, моля.”
• “Thank you, have a nice day!” — “Благодаря, хубав ден!”

Key vocabulary

• cappuccino — капучино (n.)
• croissant — кроасан (n.)
• to order — поръчвам (v.)
• receipt — касова бележка (n.)
• to tip — оставям бакшиш (v.)

Pronunciation note

• Bulgarian “ъ” is a mid-central vowel similar to the unstressed schwa in English but pronounced more centrally; practice words like “лева” (leva) and “вървя” (vŭrvya).

Practice activities

• Role-play the dialogue with a partner, swapping customer/server roles.
• Replace items in the dialogue to order different drinks and snacks.
• Listening: answer comprehension questions after hearing the audio twice.

Teaching methods and learning principles

• Spaced repetition: core phrases reappear across units to build automaticity.
• Active production: learners spend most time producing language through role-play and writing short responses.
• Pronunciation-first: early attention to sounds prevents fossilized mistakes.
• Contextual learning: vocabulary is taught in situ, within dialogues and real tasks, not isolated lists.

Cultural tips

• Bulgarians often greet with a handshake in formal contexts; close friends may kiss on the cheek (typically three small kisses in family settings).
• Tipping customs: for cafes and restaurants, leaving around 10% is common but not mandatory; small change is acceptable for quick café purchases.
• Public transport etiquette: give seats to elderly passengers; validate tickets where required.

How to use the book effectively

• Set short daily goals (20–30 minutes) focused on one unit.
• Shadow the audio: listen and repeat immediately to match rhythm and intonation.
• Practice with native speakers or language exchange partners using the role-play prompts.
• Write short daily journals using vocabulary from recent units to reinforce production.

Supplementary materials

• MP3 downloads of all dialogues and exercises for offline practice.
• Printable flashcards with Bulgarian phrases and phonetic hints.
• Mobile-friendly quizzes for quick revision on the go.
• Answer key and transcripts for self-correction.

Progress tracking and outcomes

After completing the book and using the audio materials regularly, learners should be able to:

• Handle basic everyday situations confidently (shopping, ordering, asking for directions).
• Maintain short conversations on familiar topics (family, work, hobbies).
• Recognize and produce high-frequency Bulgarian words and phrases with intelligible pronunciation.
• Navigate common social norms and small cultural adjustments needed while in Bulgaria.

Sample 4‑week study plan

Week 1 — Units: Greetings, Introductions, Numbers, Time. Focus: basic phrases and pronunciation drills.
Week 2 — Units: Shopping, At the café, Transportation. Focus: transactional language and listening practice.
Week 3 — Units: At the doctor, At the bank, Making plans. Focus: expressing needs and problems.
Week 4 — Units: Small talk, Emergencies, Review. Focus: fluency-building through role-plays and mixed practice.

Everyday Conversations: Book2 English–Bulgarian Practice Book prioritizes usable language over abstract grammar, giving learners the tools to communicate with confidence in everyday Bulgarian life.