Instructor(s):
Short Description of the Course:
In the Hungarian Language and Culture course the students acquire a basic knowledge of the language and develop skills which enable them to communicate in everyday routine situations. The teaching material covers the basic elements of Hungarian grammar, mainly the elementary rules of constructing sentences. The course material covers a basic vocabulary and a number of idiomatic phrases of colloquial Hungarian. For students who join the course at a higher level there is an opportunity to extend their knowledge.
Culture is an organically integrated part of the course. Cultural references keep coming up in paralel with the different topics covered by the language material. Several opportunities are taken throughout the semester to introduce the culture of the country to the students in a more personal way.
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A field trip in a big supermarket
This trip is closely connected to Unit 3 in the course book, which teaches food and shopping vocabulary and grammar. At the same time it gives an opportunity to discuss Hungarian people’s shopping and eating habits.
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A trip organized to a currently available location to show the cultural side of Budapest/Hungary
Apart from the above mentioned we always celebrate the holidays: Easter in the spring semester and Santa Claus and Christmas in the fall. In this way the students can have some insight into how Hungarians celebrate these international or typically Hungarian holidays. We learn songs and the vocabulary of the holidays.
The topic list of the course book covers the following:
- Greetings, introducing yourself
- Place of living (country, city, home)
- At the doctor’s
- Shopping for food
- Shopping for clothes
- Seasons and activities
- Free time
- Getting around town
- Sightseeing
These topics inevitably present the opportunity to discuss different aspects of Hungarian culture. Among other things we try to bring the topics close to our students by putting special emphasis on aspects that might be really interesting for young people. For example in connection with free time activities we include music and food festivals and so called ’ruin pubs’, which are very popular with young Hungarians.
Aim of the course:
The course is designed to make the students acquainted with the elements of Hungarian grammar and vocabulary, and also to make it possible for them to feel more comfortable in their comings and goings during their stay in Budapest.
Prerequisites: –
Method of instruction:
Means and ways of communicative language teaching
Coursebook:
Erdős József – Prileszky Csilla: Halló, itt Magyarország! I. Budapest, Akadémiai Kiadó 2000.
Supplementary material: A collection of reading texts and exercises spacially tailored for the needs of AIT students
Kaleidovox. Computer-aided exercises by Erdős József
Grading:
Grading is based on student performance in three areas: a) homework done regularly; b) active participation and performance at the classes; c) written tests in the middle and at the end of the course
Instructors' bio:
Katalin Bakonyi Berényi is a Hungarian and English language teacher with a background of teaching a wide variety of subjects (including Hungarian as a foreign language, ESP, Erasmus/Study Abroad exchange programs) at the Technical University of Budapest (BME). She has also done literature and film courses for Erasmus/Study Abroad students. She is the author/co-author of publications on teaching Hungarian as a foreign language, the methodology of teaching languages and cultural topics and a coursebook for advanced learners of Hungarian. At AIT, together with her colleague she has developed language teaching material specially tailored for the needs of students of AIT.
Márta Magasi is a Hungarian and English language teacher relying on experience gained at BME in the Centre of Modern Languages teaching Hungarian and English to foreign and Hungarian students studying engineering. She is the author/co-author of different publications (e.g. Readings in Technical English; Language Tests for Foreign Students, etc.). One of her priorities is linguistics related to teaching Hungarian as a foreign language. She also has experience in working as a teacher and coordinator of language trainings for leading multinational companies. At AIT, in cooperation with her colleague she has developed language teaching material specially tailored for the needs of students of AIT.









