Language as a Bridge: The Bulgarian Language at the University of Illinois
In a university lecture hall two hours south of Chicago, students from different countries, different religions, and different family histories are learning a language that most Americans have never heard of. Bulgarian.
For some, it is the language of their parents and grandparents. For others, it is a completely unknown world. But everyone is here for one reason – because they want to understand the people around them better.
This is not just a foreign language course. It is a place where intercultural dialogue begins with an alphabet.
After more than 30 years of a break
The history of the Bulgarian language at the University of Illinois dates back to 1911, when the first Bulgarian students arrived at the university. Thousands more followed, many of whom were children of Bulgarian immigrants who grew up in the Chicago area.
Despite this long history, for over three decades Bulgarian was not taught academically at the university. Today, it is once again part of the curriculum of the Department of Slavic Languages and Cultures.
In October 2025, lecturer Dr. Iliyana Dimitrova joined the University. „The Bulgarian language is part of the world's cultural heritage. Its presence at an academic level in a university is the natural order of things,“ she says.
According to her, the presence of Bulgarian alongside other Slavic languages is a recognition not only of the language but also of Bulgarian culture.
„We can boast of great success – the Bulgarian language being present on equal footing with the other Slavic languages. This is the way – to open ourselves to the world,“ adds Dr. Dimitrova.
Everyone comes with a different story
There isn't a typical student in the audience. Some were born in Bulgaria. Others grew up in the United States. There are children from mixed families, Americans studying Slavic languages, as well as people who simply love discovering new cultures.
Lia Tondeva was born in Burgas, but today she studies at the University of Illinois. „Bulgarian has always been a part of me. We speak Bulgarian at home, and we go back to Bulgaria every summer. When I saw the opportunity to study Bulgarian language and culture here, I felt that it was a door opening that I couldn't miss,“ she says.
For her, the course is a way to maintain a connection with her roots.
Next to her in the lecture hall sits a student who isn't of Bulgarian origin – her friend Ryan. He's taking the course because the person he loves is Bulgarian. This way, the language gradually becomes the common language of a family.
A fellow student, Glen Lane-Worthy, had already studied Russian but decided to challenge himself with Bulgarian. „I studied Spanish and it was easy for me. I decided to study something more difficult. Every language has its own challenges. To speak well, you need to practice constantly,“ he says.
More than grammar
According to the instructors, the true value of the course lies not only in acquiring new vocabulary or grammar. Every conversation in the classroom provides an opportunity for students to learn more about the culture, history, and way of thinking of others.
„A love for the Bulgarian language unites them,“ says Dr. Iliyana Dimitrova. „For students of Bulgarian origin, it's a chance to study the language at an academic level. For Americans, it's an opportunity to learn more about Bulgaria. Bulgarian is one of the less commonly taught languages, and that's precisely what makes it so interesting to them.“
According to her, every student leaves the course with more than just language knowledge – with a better understanding of Bulgaria and the people who come from there.
Belonging to two cultures
For young people with Bulgarian roots, this course has another meaning. It allows them not to choose between their identities.
Dimitar Kraymer was born in Chicago to a mixed family. „We don't live in a closed-off world. Teaching Bulgarian in an American university means showing Americans what Bulgaria is and who Bulgarians are,“ he says.
Michael Stoyanov has a similar feeling as he practices the language at home with his grandparents. „Many people, when I meet them, can't find Bulgaria on a map and have never heard of it. But through us, they learn what Bulgaria is, what our culture is like, and discover how many things we have in common,“ he shares.
Language as a Bridge
In a world where societies increasingly seem divided, the university lecture hall is becoming a space for cultural dialogue.
Here, conversation begins with a new word, continues with curiosity, and often ends with friendship.
„Great linguists say – if you want to understand how a nation thinks, learn its language. Through language is the way to culturally come closer,“ says Dr. Iliyana Dimitrova.
In just one academic year, interest in the course has exceeded expectations. Bulgarian is now the third most studied Slavic language at the University of Illinois, after Russian and Polish. But true success is not measured by the number of enrolled students.
It is measured by new friendships, by young Americans who now know where Bulgaria is, and by the children of Bulgarian immigrants who are no longer shy about speaking the language of their parents.
The history of this university course shows that sometimes the strongest bridge between people is not built of concrete or steel. But of words. Because every newly learned language is an invitation to see the world through the eyes of another. And that's how a true sense of belonging begins.
