Lecturers and Experts Discussed the Future of Language Learning with the Help of Artificial Intelligence
07 July 2025
A scientific-methodological seminar dedicated to artificial intelligence and technological horizons in foreign language education was held at Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”. The forum was organized by the Department of Foreign Language Teaching and Postgraduate Qualification, and the topic generated wide interest among the academic community. More than 60 participants took part in the seminar — university lecturers, school and language center teachers, principals, experts from Regional Education Departments, and representatives of cultural institutions.
Foreign language lecturers from eight higher education institutions attended: Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv, Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen, the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, the Technical University of Sofia, Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, the University of Economics – Varna, and the College of Tourism at the University of Economics – Varna. Participants came from various cities, including Varna, Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Ruse, Razgrad, Veliko Tarnovo, Shumen, Lukovit, Novi Iskar, and Dulovo, as well as from smaller settlements such as Smilen, Svetovrachane, and German. One participant even joined online from Sydney, Australia, highlighting the international scope of the event.
The seminar was opened by Dr. Boryana Kostova, Director of the Department, at the university’s academic and sports complex. Participants were welcomed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eleonora Tankova, Vice-Rector for Institutional Cooperation and Development, Prof. Dr. Nadya Cherneva from Plovdiv University, project leader of DUEkoS, and Nevena Tabakova, Deputy Chairperson of the Bulgarian National Network of Russian Language and Culture Teachers. A congratulatory address was also sent by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Veselin Chantov, Chairperson of the Bulgarian Association for Quality Language Services "Optima".
The first day of the forum featured lectures by renowned experts from various fields. Bozhana Mihailova and Boris Mihailov from Plovdiv University emphasized the synergy between philology and prompt engineering. Dr. Alexander Angelov from the Center for Creative Training analyzed the pace of change in education driven by AI. Yanko Bahchevanov and Vyara Changurova from Kontrax JSC presented the topic of Private GPT and its benefits in educational settings. Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Sofronieva and Prof. DSc. Milen Zamfirov from Sofia University highlighted current research related to the use of AI in foreign language education. The lectures sparked lively interest and raised important questions about the balance between technology and the humanities, as well as the need to develop pedagogical skills for the ethical and effective use of AI in education.
The second day was dedicated to a roundtable discussion moderated by Prof. Dr. Nadya Cherneva. Representatives from three universities - Plovdiv, Sofia, and Varna Free University presented their projects implemented in partnership with scientific, educational, and cultural institutions, where AI plays an active role in enhancing the effectiveness of foreign language learning. Good practices were discussed, and professional experiences were shared. Participants sought answers to the question of how teachers and AI can work together without one diminishing the value of the other.
The seminar was described as extremely useful, timely, and inspiring. Participants emphasized the importance of technological innovation for modern language education and the need for ongoing professional development in this area. In conclusion, Dr. Boryana Kostova awarded certificates of participation, and many expressed a desire for future meetings and joint initiatives at Varna Free University.
