Step to Bulgaria has the pleasure to introduce Shahram and Shervin. They are from Iran but live mainly in Dubai and occasionally – in Sofia.

They attended a 5-week intensive course with Step to Bulgaria and in the end of it they shared some thoughts about the learning process and about their reasons for studying the Bulgarian language. Also we discussed the interesting fact that there are many words in Bulgarian and Farsi which have similar meaning.

Step to Bulgaria: Здравейте Шер и Ша! Even though you don’t live in Sofia permanently you decided to give your time and efforts for this 50-hour intensive Bulgarian language course? Why?

Shahram: Because it is not easy to live in Bulgaria (even if it is not all the time) only speaking in English. You can manage somehow but it is much better to speak the language of the country you live in. This makes things easier.

Shervin: And it is always good to know another language. It is an advantage.

Step to Bulgaria: But you are travelling all the time …

Shahram: Yes, we do travel a lot and this makes it much more difficult to learn the language but when you find such an opportunity you should take it.

Step to Bulgaria: And how do you feel now after the course?

Shervin: Now I feel much more confident but still the time I need to say something is quite long because often I just can’t recall the word. I try though, I may make many mistakes but I try and that is the difference…

Shahram: Now I understand a lot more than before. When people talk to me I pretty much understand, not everything but I get the point they are trying to make. And this is the big difference for me. Understanding is an essential part of the whole process. Bulgarians often are just like me in English. They understand English but can’t or don’t want to speak. So they speak to me in Bulgarian and I speak in English and we understand each other fine. At this stage this works just fine!

And one more reason to study Bulgarian – it could be our secret language between Shervin, my wife, and me when we come back home.

Shervin: Yes, especially because nobody around us speaks Bulgarian, it could be а real secret language.

Step to Bulgaria: Yes, but at the same time there are so many words which Bulgarian and Farsi languages share, these words sound similar, and mean similar or absolutely the same things. Can you think of such words now?

Shahram: Yes – перде, чорап, чанта (we say чанте), чадър, самовар, кога (we say коджа), везна (we say вазне), маймуна (we say меймун).

Shervin: And some food items – бадем, патладжан, нахут (we say нокход), зехтин (we saу зейтун), also шкембе (but not шкембе чорба).

Shahram: … кутия (we say кути), баджанак, хем (хем…, хем … – when you have to choose between 2 things), kеф (we say кейф), зор (when you put your efforts for something)

Step to Bulgaria: Did you have зор during the course? Do you think the Bulgarian language is a difficult language?

Shahram: Да, it was голям зор! I think it is a difficult language and this is said by one who speaks at least two-three languages. I don’t speak only one language and still I find it difficult…

Shevrin: Yes, I agree, but I think once you catch it, once it starts coming naturally then one starts to enjoy it…

Shahram: Yes but it’s the same with all languages, once you get the flow and get used to the words, things become easier.

Shevrin: Especially when you study Bulgarian in the beginning it’s soo difficult, you often say to yourself: No, I am not going to make it but then when words start coming naturally, speaking might become a real joy. We are not there yet but hopefully will be one day!

Step to Bulgaria: I wish you both soon to get to the point where speaking in Bulgarian (either as a secret language or as a communication tool here in Bulgaria) has become a real joy or as the Bulgarians and the Iranians say – кеф!

Shervin & Shahram: Много благодаря!