Social dilemmas

Understanding Social Dilemmas in Bulgarian – B2 Level

This lesson focuses on the theme of social dilemmas, exploring vocabulary, expressions, and ideas commonly discussed in Bulgarian when talking about societal conflicts, ethical decisions, and communal responsibilities. At the B2 level, you will learn to express complex opinions and arguments clearly and understand nuanced discussions on social topics.

Key Vocabulary and Expressions

Here are some important Bulgarian words and phrases related to social dilemmas, which will help you to discuss issues like cooperation, conflict, and collective decision-making:

• социална дилема (social dilemma)
• обществен интерес (public interest)
• лична отговорност (personal responsibility)
• конфликт на интереси (conflict of interests)
• "Как да балансираме личните желания с нуждите на обществото?" ("How do we balance personal desires with societal needs?")

Lesson Content Overview

In this lesson, you will:

• Explore Bulgarian phrases used to describe social conflicts and ethical challenges.
• Practice forming opinions and debating social dilemmas using appropriate connectors and modal verbs.
• Learn structure and vocabulary to explain causes and consequences of social issues.
• Understand the cultural context behind certain social dilemmas unique or specific to Bulgarian society.

Language Highlights and Differences

Bulgarian phrasing often relies on rich verb aspects and modal particles to express subtlety in opinions and attitudes. Unlike English, Bulgarian uses postfixed definite articles, which change the word endings and can affect the tone of statements. For instance, "конфликт" means "conflict," while "конфликтът" translates as "the conflict."

Useful expression example:

• Какво ще стане, ако всички поставят личния интерес пред обществения интерес?
  Translation: "What will happen if everyone puts personal interest before public interest?"

Modal verbs in Bulgarian like трябва (must/should) and може (can/may) are key for expressing advice and possibility when debating social dilemmas.