OPTIMA Annual International Conference
“Language Education and Accelerated Personality Development”
27th June 2026, Sofia, Bulgaria
SECOND CALL
DEAR COLLEAGUES,
The Bulgarian Association for Quality Language Services, The Technical University of Sofia, Lozanov’s Teacher Association (LITTA) and Artis School of Languages and Art are delighted to invite to yet another exciting event to be held in Sofia on 27th of June 2026 (Saturday)
Keep the date in mind in order to be able to see and hear internationally prominent professionals in the field of language teaching and learning who have been invited as keynote speakers and workshop leaders.
The venue’s address is:
SATURDAY 27TH JUNE:
Technical university of Sofia – Studentski Grad area, 8 Kliment Ohridski Blvd. – block 7,
ТУ – София, бл. 10 (ФаГИОПМ) – Google Maps
The conference fee is 20 Euros; Students are eligible to a discounted fee of 10 euros.
PLEASE FIND BELOW THE PROVISIONAL CONFERENCE TIMETABLE:
| 08.30-09.00 | REGISTRATION | |
| 09.00-09.15 | OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE Assoc. Prof. Dr.Vesselin Chantov veselin.chantov@gmail.com Optima Chair | |
| 09.15-09.45 | PLENARY Thom Kiddle, England thom@nile-elt.com Eaquals Chair | Humanising Quality Assurance in Language Education: The Eaquals Ethos |
| 09.50-10.20 | PLENARY Assoc. prof. Dr. Galya Mateva, Bulgaria matevagalya@gmail.com Sofia Technical University Cambridge CELTA& DELTA Certified Founder Chair of Optima | Blazing a Trail into the Future: Lozanov`s Suggestopedia in Bulgaria (as witnessed and experienced) |
| 10.25-10.55 | PLENARY Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Sofronieva Ekaterina.sofronieva@abv.bg Sofia University | The Law of Love and its Transformative Power in Language Education |
| 11.00-11.20 | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivailo Peev I_peev@tu-sofia.bg Sofia Technical University Head of Department of Foreign Languages and Applied Linguistics | Suggestopedia Approaches and Techniques as Part of the New Pedagogy Toolkit |
| 11.20-11.50 | Coffee Break | |
| 11.55-12.15 | Publisher 1 Presentation | |
| 12.20-12.40 | Franz Ludescher, Austria franzludescher@gmx.at University College of Teacher Education Vorarlberg Suggestopedic Teacher and Trainer, LITTA Board Chair | From Suggestopedia to Desuggestopedia and Reservopedia |
| 12.45-13.05 | Christina Johnstone, Sweden christinajohnstone13@gmail.com Suggestopedic Teacher and Trainer, LITTA Board Member | Type One Activations, Scaffolded Elaboration in Suggestopedia |
| 13.10-13.30 | Stavriana Soubassi, Greece ssoubassi@gmail.com Suggestopedic Teacher and Trainer, LITTA Board Member | Suggestopedic Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) |
| 13.30-14.15 | LUNCH BREAK | |
| 14.20-14.40 | Dr. Kaz Hagiwara, Australia k.hagiwara@uq.edu.au Casual Academic and Casual Senior Research Assistant at the University of Queensland; Suggestopedic Teacher and Trainer, LITTA member | What Can a Teacher Do with Semiosis in Suggestopedia Classroom? |
| 14.45-15.05 | Publisher 2 Presentation | |
| 15.10-15.30 | Teodor Vassilev, Bulgaria teodor@gudevica.org Programme Developer Teacher Trainer | Unlocking Full Potential: The Suggestopedic Literacy Programme Revived. Continuation of the UNESCO Recommendations and Research after 47 Years |
| 15.35-15.50 15.50-16.05 | Dr. Malmir Baharah, Turkey malmirbahareh@bogazici.edu.tr English Language instructor Bogazici University Zehra Yasar, Turkey Zehra.yasar@medipol.edu.tr Istanbul Medipol University | Formulaic Language as Accelerated Learning: Bridging Learner Affect and Quality Standards The Impact of AI-generated Feedback on EFL Learners` Cognitive, Behavioural and Affective Engagement |
| 16.10-16.30 | Setsuko Iki, Japan suggestopedialover@gmail.com Suggestopedic Teacher and Trainer, LITTA Founder | Preventive Suggestopedia: the Children’s Method |
| 16.30-16.50 | COFFEE BREAK | |
| 16.50-17.10 | Natalie Krytskaya Kritskaya.natalie@proton.me Freelance Educator with an MSLU Degree CAMBRIDGE CELTA& DELTA certifie | Grammar Lexically: Weaving Chunks and Rules Together |
| 17.15-17.35 | Lonny Gold , Canada Lonnygold13@gmail.com Suggestopedic Teacher Trainer | Fun Activities Specifically Designed for Long-Term Memory Retention |
| 17.40-18.00 | Dr. Libyan Labiosa-Cassone, Leta Panayotova , USA, Bulgaria Thelearningalliance4al.com letapanayotov@gmail.co CEO of International Centre for Accelerative Learning (ICAL) Programme Developer, Master Trainer | A Closer Look: The Art of Accelerative Teaching and Instructional Design |
| 18.05-18.30 | Radostina Mihaleva, Bulgaria radostinam2000@yahoo.com Sofia University Suggestopedic Teacher and Trainer, LITTA Board Vice Chair | From Curious Mind to Scientific Pioneer: The Journey of Dr. Georgi Lozanov |
| 18.30- | COCKTAIL PARTY |
LINK to conference REGISTRATION: https://forms.gle/kjbjGZTfL42oNByE9
SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION: hotel EUROPE
https://www.hotel-europe-bg.com/en
LOCATION: 43N 40’ 35.397″ 23E 21’ 37.757
The event is sponsored by EAQUALS – The World Association for Quality Language Services
We very much look forward to seeing you in Sofia.
Best regards,
The Conference Organizing Team
