Research at Sofia University >

Since 1963, the DEO, a legitimate successor to the Institute of Foreign Students, and affiliate to the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, has specialized in teaching of Bulgarian language and Science subjects to foreign students at Bulgarian universities, according to a curriculum approved by the Ministry of Education. Nowadays we also continue teaching Bulgarian to foreigners residing in the country or applying for Bulgarian citizenship in specialized courses and at the International School of Bulgarian language and culture, as well as within various workshops. Foreign citizens can be issued a Translator's Certificate upon a successfully completed specialized course and passed exam. Nowadays English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, as well as Greek, Turkish, and Russian are taught to over 6,000 Bulgarian citizens a year.

The Department is a licensed examination centre within Bulgaria in the following languages:

• English: ECCE, ECPE of the Michigan University, ALCE of the Greek-American University
• French: TCF, CENTRE INTERNATIONAL D'ETUDES PEDAGOGIQUIES at the French Ministry of Education
• Greek: CENTRE FOR THE GREEK LANGUAGE (KEГ) at the Greek Ministry of Education
• Russian: State Testing Centre for Foreigners at the Russian Ministry of Education

We offer preparatory courses for the above-mentioned exams we are licensed to administer, as well as TOEFL, SAT, FCE, CAE, CPE, D.E.L.E. INTERMEDIO, DaF, CELI preparatory courses. Department considers a top priority is the promotion of the study of Bulgarian language and Culture, which will facilitate the more successful integration of our country, through its EU membership, into the multi-cultural European context.

As a result, the DEO is the only Bulgarian institution which is a member of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE). The Department has also undertaken to align the certificates to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, so it actively participates in the translation of the CEFR into Bulgarian.

The DEO offers three types of tests in Bulgarian:

• Threshold tests of Bulgarian for foreign students
• Standard Test of Bulgarian as a Foreign Language
• Test of Business Bulgarian

The administration office at the DEO sets and organizes the test and issues Certificates of Bulgarian as a Foreign Language. Applicants can take the examinations at the Department or at the Institute for Balkan Studies (IMXA) in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Sub-communities within this community

• Diagnostics of teaching / Control and assessment

• Methodology of teaching

• Research in linguistics

• Research in natural sciences