The 23rd of January marked the closing party of the nine-month-long English for Journalists program, a collaboration between the English Language Institute (ELI) and the Center for Information, Democracy, and Citizenship (CIDC) at AUBG. It is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria Public Diplomacy Small grants program.
To honor the occasion, Michael Kleiman, Senior Strategic Communications Advisor to Bulgaria, delivered an empowering speech to the journalists:
“Now, with course completion, the journalists, you, expand your world, and while ultimately doing so, you’re shaping its future. This achievement occurs because of your dedication, diligence, and determination. But it was also truly a team effort that got you across the finish line.”
Certificates were awarded to commemorate the event and to recognize the efforts of the fifth cohort of 14 local journalists who dedicated their time to expanding their English language skills, a crucial asset for their profession, and for strengthening the impact of local journalism.
“Local media is the first line of defence for democracy. Local journalists tell the stories of what matters to people at the community level, so it’s crucial for them to be properly trained for the assignment,” said Dr. Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob, Executive Director of CIDC at AUBG.
An exchange of skills and knowledge
This is the fifth cohort of journalists to complete the program, underscoring its success in achieving its mission.
“It has been a truly rewarding experience to work with this group of journalists, who showed such enthusiasm not only for honing their English skills but also for acquiring new knowledge in their field of journalism,” said Nikolina Radeva, Director of ELI.
One of the instructors, Ms. Rumyana Popova, PhD, echoed this sentiment: “This has been a two-way process: the journalists expanded their English skills and also taught us many things from their rich professional experience. It’s been a great exchange.”
Nikolina Radeva added, “The fact that they were able to network with other great journalists in Bulgaria has also been impactful. One of the biggest rewards is seeing the smiles on their faces at the end of this program.”
Alongside the regular Tuesday and Thursday classes, the program included a number of workshops with industry professionals on topics such as artificial intelligence and journalism, geopolitics and media freedom, and marketing for journalists.
“The workshops truly enriched us, and also helped us create very friendly relationships, which is wonderful. I think this stays forever. This is probably one of the best things to come out of the English course,” said Desislava Malinova.
A team effort
The journalists expressed a collective sense of satisfaction and gratitude for the program.
“This is undoubtedly an excellent initiative by the American University in Bulgaria and the U.S. Embassy, recognizing the importance of journalists having access to information in another language and the ability to communicate effectively,” said Rosinka Prodanova.
Mariya Blagoeva also emphasized the program’s impact: “I’ve been working as a journalist for over 17 years, and AUBG is the first to create a program specifically for local journalists. I am immensely grateful. Your support boosts our self-confidence and fosters a strong sense of community among us,” she said.
Language opens new doors, especially in journalism. As Ms. Yana Manova, PhD noted, “We just opened the window to the English language. I believe the journalists will open the door themselves.”
The participants praised Nikolina Radeva for fostering a welcoming and productive environment.
“Nikolina is the driving force behind the project. Without her, we wouldn’t have managed. She motivated us not to give up, encouraged us to keep trying, and always sought our input on workshop topics that would be most beneficial for us,” said Mariya Blagoeva, a presenter at Radio Blagoevgrad.
The experience of teaching adults
The innovative teaching methods of Ms. Yana Manova, PhD and Ms. Rumyana Popova, PhD also played a key role in the program’s success.
“The instructors were exceptional. Both Ms. Rumyana Popova, PhD and Ms. Yana Manova, PhD helped us feel relaxed and develop our language skills with ease,” said Gergana Ivanova Trencheva.
Reflecting on her teaching methods, Ms. Rumyana Popova, PhD commented: “Seeing how quickly they were progressing and how their interest grew over time motivated me to come up with new and exciting ways to present the material.”
Both instructors congratulated the journalists for their dedication. “It didn’t matter how tired they were from their busy schedules; they all gave their soul to the course. Nobody ever said, ‘I can’t do it.’ When you work with such diligent, initiative-driven people, your job is a pleasure,” shared Ms. Rumyana Popova, PhD.
When asked if they plan to continue advancing their English language skills, all of the journalists gave a unanimous answer:
“Right now, we’ve reached the pre-intermediate level. I plan to continue with the intermediate level and then progress to higher levels. I feel the need to do this for myself, both personally and professionally,” said Antonia Sukalinska.
