CEEPUS teaching mobility exchange “Structure and Style: Syntax in Academic Writing”

CEEPUS teaching mobility was the opportunity to deliver the lecture series “Structure and Style – Syntax in Academic Writing” at South West University “Neofit Rilski” in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, from 13 to 17 October 2025. What made this experience exceptional was not only the enthusiastic response of the students and faculty, but also the dynamic and intellectually engaging atmosphere that naturally developed throughout the sessions. The undergraduate students of English philology and applied linguistics, demonstrated an impressive level of academic curiosity and critical awareness. Their willingness to openly discuss challenges they face in academic writing, particularly when transitioning from descriptive to argument - based structures, allowed for interactive sessions where theory and practice were seamlessly intertwined. Instead of remaining passive listeners, the students actively contributed examples from their own essays, questioned stylistic conventions across languages, and even challenged certain prescriptive grammar norms. This transformed what could have been a traditional lecture format into a collaborative analytical workshop environment.