In this heartfelt conversation, we meet a student whose connection to Bulgaria grew slowly but persistently — through history, culture, football memories, family ties, and ultimately, a Bulgarian wife and children who proudly speak their mother’s tongue. What began as curiosity became commitment: learning the Cyrillic alphabet, navigating малки букви and главни букви, laughing over mix-ups like мартеница and лютеница, and discovering the quiet pride of holding a real conversation in a small Bulgarian village.
From Instagram reels to one-to-one lessons with his teacher Plamena, his story is one of steady determination — малко по малко. It’s about overcoming moments of doubt, celebrating small victories, translating for friends over rakia in Plovdiv, and embracing beautiful words like спокойно, обичам, and айде.
Above all, it’s a reminder that language learning is never just about grammar or vocabulary. It’s about people. It’s about belonging. And sometimes, it’s about solving a mystery that leads you exactly where you were meant to be.
Meet our greatly appreciated student Lare Akin!
Hello dear Lare! How are you doing today?
I’m well today, thank you for asking!
We are so grateful to have you studying with us – can you tell everyone a little bit about yourself? Where are you from? What is your connection to Bulgarian?
Studying with Kristina Progress has been a real pleasure. I’ve always been curious about languages and cultures, and Bulgarian quietly became one of those languages that captured my attention. One of the reasons goes back to something that happened on 21 June 1994 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas — a little mystery for you to solve 😊. Sixteen years after that day, I married a Bulgarian 💕
My connection to Bulgaria has grown through people, experiences, and the warmth I feel every time I interact with the culture. Bulgaria kept showing up in my life in meaningful ways. Now I have a Bulgarian wife, and our kids absolutely love Bulgaria.
When people ask where I’m from, my answer always goes back to my heritage — and the mystery I mentioned earlier holds the key.
When did you realise, You wanted to learn Bulgarian?
Several things pushed me toward learning Bulgarian, but the biggest one was having a Bulgarian wife. When our kids started attending Bulgarian school and came home chatting away with their mum, I knew it was time for me to learn too.
I’ve always been enthusiastic about history, culture, and Bulgaria’s natural mountainous beauty — all these things keep drawing me back. I also want to be able to have real conversations with locals about the history of this beautiful country.
Why did you choose Kristina Progress?
It’s actually quite an interesting story. Around the time I decided to improve my Bulgarian, I kept seeing Instagram reels from Kristina Progress – Bulgarian for Foreigners. At first, I ignored them because I was exploring other learning options. But one evening, another reel appeared, and I finally clicked.
I found the short Bulgarian lessons on your page genuinely engaging. I started following the school and learning a few words every day. At some point, I thought: If I’m making progress, then this school really lives up to its name — Kristina Progress. I sent an enquiry, received a warm reply, and instantly felt good vibes. I never looked back. And like magic, you matched me with a fantastic teacher — Plamena.
What is your best preferred learning format?
When it comes to learning something new, I do well in one-to-one classes. Hence the reason I chose to take one-to-one lesson. I am a strong believer that learning about people and their culture makes it easier to learn their language. This might not be the case with others if I was in a class group. My teacher will tell how much I always tried to steer lessons towards talking about Bulgarian culture and asking about the meaning of words and expressions 😊
What feels easy vs. challenging?
The easiest part for me was learning the alphabet. Once I mastered it, reading became much easier. My biggest challenge is reading text written in малки букви (lowercase). Reading in главни букви (uppercase) is no problem at all.
My spoken Bulgarian isn’t great yet, but I know I’ll improve with practice.
Малко по малко ще ставам по‑добър! Here is something a bit embarrassing: when counting, I often forget what 9 (девет) is. My kids remind me every time.
What were your moments of doubt?
Of course, there were times when I thought, “Maybe this is too much.” It usually happens when I try to speak and my brain freezes, or when someone talks to me and I cannot make sense of anything.
My teacher taught me a helpful trick: learn and recognise as many words as possible. Now, when I listen or read, I look for familiar words. If I understand even 50% of them, I can usually work out the meaning.
When did you notice real progress?
There’s one moment I’ll never forget. I was staying in a village in Bulgaria, and about five minutes away there was a water fountain. I took my bottle to fill it with fresh cold water. An elderly couple was there too. I said hello, they greeted me back, and suddenly we were having a whole conversation — about how cold and lovely the water was, the hot weather, and the beautiful mountain view.
My Bulgarian wasn’t perfect, but they understood me, and I understood them. I felt genuinely proud. I’m smiling right now just remembering that moment.
How Bulgarian helps you during your stays?
Knowing Bulgarian makes everything easier. I can read road signs, menus, and understand basic conversations. Last year in Plovdiv, I went out with a couple of English friends for some rakia and beer 😉. When it was time to go home, I ended up translating for them and making sure we got a taxi back.
Have you had any funny or awkward moments?
I’ve had plenty of awkward moments with Bulgarian — some too embarrassing to share! But here are a couple of good ones:
- I was told to go buy мартеница, and instead I bought лютеница 🤭.
- Last week, while talking to my father‑in‑law, I said ‘Аз пиша бира’ instead of ‘Аз пия бира’. My wife had to remind me that I drink beer, not write beer 🤣
Please tell us your three favourite Bulgarian words 🙂
Спокойно — It carries a calming energy.
Обичам — When you hear that word, you know something positive is going to follow.
Айде — It’s so expressive! It instantly makes me feel part of the flow of everyday speech.
Have you attended any of our events?
I have never attended any of your school’s organised events! You need to keep posting dates and times of your events – one of these days, I will attend one or more.
Do you have any advice for beginners?
Be patient with yourself. Celebrate the small wins — even learning one or two new words. Don’t be afraid to sound silly; everyone does at first. Stay curious. Bulgarian rewards people who approach it with openness and a sense of play.
And of course, choose Kristina Progress. The word “progress” in the name says it all — you will make progress.
And always remember the wisdom of Bulgarian elders:
Бързай бавно — hurry slowly.