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Department of Methodology of
Foreign Language Teaching
Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
For the first time, the course on foreign language teaching methodology was introduced into the curriculum of Sofia University in March 1949 and began to be held in the autumn of the same year. Until then, this discipline was taught within the framework of a separate state institution - an internship institute, where graduates of Sofia University received pedagogical qualifications. This practice of separating university education from pedagogical qualification was introduced at the end of the 19th century in order to enable students who graduated from various European universities to acquire pedagogical training that met our national needs and to receive equal chances when entering a Bulgarian educational institution. The 1949 reform changed this practice by proposing a model of integrated pedagogical training for foreign language teachers. The main arguments in this regard are the closer connection of theory with teaching practice and the possibility of simultaneously obtaining university education and professional qualifications.
Initially, classes were held only on the methodology of English language teaching (Nadezhda Radulova), Latin language teaching (Yordan Bratkov), German language teaching (Ana Ilieva) and French language teaching (Slavcho Dimitrov).
In 1967, the first lecturer in this discipline at Sofia University was habilitated.
In 1969, conditions were created for the establishment of an independent department of methodology of foreign language teaching, which were expressed, on the one hand, in the fact that the methodology of foreign languages had established itself as a theoretical and practical area of study and research activity in the faculty, and on the other hand, the number of students from individual specialties had increased significantly, which required a more flexible system for organizing their pedagogical practice and internship, as well as an increase in the academic staff. That is why in 1969 the first independent department of methodology of foreign language teaching in Bulgaria was established, consisting of 1 associate professor and 3 lecturers. The department was formed on the basis of the principle of self-determination, according to which the unification of specialists is carried out on the basis of the existence of a common object of research, methodology, history. In this feature, the newly established department differs from other organizational units in the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology, including specialists in various disciplines, united by language.
The first head of the department was Ana Ilieva (1969-1978), who was habilitated in 1967 ("On oral speech in foreign language teaching") and was elected professor in 1974 ("On reading in foreign language teaching: imitation and consciousness"). She was elected vice dean and dean of the faculty.
Pavel Patev was the second head of the department (1978-1991). Under his direction, its staff expanded, its authority strengthened and it developed as a national center for foreign language teaching methodology. Pavel Patev received his habilitation in 1975 ("Problems of interference in the study of French by Bulgarians"). He was elected professor in 1984 ("Intensive study of French. Theory and practice"). He was vice dean of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology and vice rector of the Institute for Foreign Students.
From 1991-1996, the department was under the direction of Maria Petrova, elected associate professor in 1986 ("The literary and scientific text in the teaching of French in higher education"). She was vice dean of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology.
In 1996, head of the department was Todor Shopov, who successfully continued the tradition of his predecessors and managed to expand the contacts of the department nationally and internationally, making it part of the development of various national and European projects - Entry-Exit Level (Ministry of Education and Science), DIALANG (European Commission), Tempus, Socrates, VIFAX, etc. Todor Shopov was elected associate professor in 1997 ("Aspects of the theory and practice of English language teaching"). In 1999, he was re-elected for a second term as head of the department and for a second term as vice dean of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology. Since 2000, he has been head of the university Council for European educational and scientific programs. In 2015, Todor Shopov became a professor, doctor of pedagogical sciences.
From 2004 to 2011, head of the department was Prof. Daniela Stoycheva, PhD.
From 2011 to 2019, head of the department was Prof. Dimitar Vesselinov, DSc. In 2015, he became Doctor of Philological Sciences.
From 2019 to 2025, head of the department was Prof. Milena Yordanova, PhD.
The current head of the department is Prof. Magdalena Kostova-Panayotova, DSc.
Since the introduction of the university course on methodology of foreign language teaching in 1949 to this day, the number of former and current lecturers who have been part of the academic staff of the department has exceeded 20. If, at the beginning, lecturers were appointed only in methodology of English, Latin, German and French language teaching, now the department covers the methodologies of 9 languages (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Latin, Ancient Greek and Modern Greek), new courses are being added frequently. Since 2000, the department has introduced a system of optional seminars reflecting individual aspects in the development of foreign language teaching.
The academic staff organizes and covers the pedagogical training of all first and second major students in the relevant philology major. Every year, the department attracts about 30 part-time teachers, who participate in the pedagogical internship (observation) and the state pedagogical internship. For this purpose, the department signs contracts on behalf of the university with schools established in the field of foreign language teaching, where it sends its interns.
Note: The text on the history of the department is based on materials from the following literary sources :
Vesselinov, D. (2008). Chronicle of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology 1988-1965. Sofia, St. Kliment Ohridski University Press. ISBN: 978-954-07-2734-9.
Vesselinov, D. (2011). Chronicle of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology 1965-1988. Sofia, St. Kliment Ohridski University Press. ISBN: 978-954-07-3249-7.
Vesselinov, D. (2020). The Methodology of Foreign Language Teaching at Sofia University. Linguodidactic Perspectives. Sofia, St. Kliment Ohridski University Press. pp. 9-47. ISBN: 9782-954-07-4982-2.