Cambridge Day — a leading event for English teachers in Bulgaria — brought together nearly 400 specialists, teachers and educators to discuss the future of language teaching in the country.
Organised by Klett Bulgaria, Cambridge Day took place on Saturday 26 April at Hotel Balkan, Sofia. The focus of the day was on providing innovative resources for teachers’ professional development and improving the overall learning environment.
This year’s event held special significance, marking the 20th anniversary of Klett Bulgaria as an official representative of Cambridge University Press in Bulgaria and recognising its contribution to the advancement of English language education across the country.
Cambridge Day: A packed schedule
The morning began with a greeting to the audience by representatives from ABC Kinder Care Centre. This institution, established in 2008, has grown into a network of international educational kindergartens in Sofia, known for its high academic standards in preschool education for children aged two to six, serving both the international and Bulgarian communities.
Immediately afterwards, Vladimir Kolev, the Managing Director of Klett Bulgaria, officially opened the day’s proceedings.
The first session of the morning featured Matthew Ellman, Professional Learning and Development Manager at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. His presentation, titled “Actions speak louder than words: How to give better feedback,” explored the critical importance of feedback in language learning. Delegates were presented with practical strategies to refine their feedback techniques, using Cambridge’s integrated learning and assessment (ILA) approach.
Advancing English language learning
Later in the morning, the spotlight turned to the Kangaroo Global Linguistics (KGL) Awards Ceremony and the Cambridge Schools Association Creative Works Competition Awards Ceremony.
Organised by the International Testing Authority (ITA) in Bulgaria, students participating in the KLT contest demonstrated impressive practical English language skills across various levels, from Pre-A1 to B2, according to the Cambridge Schools Association.
The winners in each category were announced, and delegates also enjoyed performances by the winners of the art and music competition organised by the Association of Cambridge Schools in Bulgaria.
The afternoon sessions began with Charles Stewart, Professional Learning and Development Specialist at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, leading a session on “Analysing Learner Needs and Allowing this to Inform your Teaching.” His presentation emphasised the importance of considering learners’ needs, preferences, and motivations to create more engaging and effective lessons, offering practical tips with reference to Cambridge coursebooks.
Following this, Matthew Ellman returned to the stage to deliver a session titled “A recipe for teacher learning.” This talk explored the essential elements of impactful teacher development activities, providing insights for teachers to maximise the productivity of their development time and for trainers to ensure their training has a lasting impact in the classroom.
The day concluded in the afternoon with a raffle draw and a farewell to the attendees.
