Hungarian as a Foreign Language programme at the University of Nyíregyháza

The course ”Hungarian Language as a Foreign Language” aims to prepare international students for studying in Hungarian higher education institutions. The teaching material covers all the levels from beginner, A1 up to advanced C1. In the modules, designed in line with CEFR levels, several language competences (listening, reading comprehension, understanding reading, writing, composition of texts, conversation, oral communication) are simultaneously developed. In addition to the acquisition of language skills, needed for everyday life and university courses, knowledge connected to civilisation and culture is included in the course programme as well. 

Teaching Staff

Dr. Kiss Kálmán

I graduated as a Secondary School Teacher of Hungarian and Russian Language and Literature in 1983, subsequently as a Secondary School Teacher of German Language and Literature in 1994 at the Kossuth Lajos University of Arts and Sciences in Debrecen (KLTE). In 1993, in the field of pedagogy, I was conferred the degree of PhD at KLTE. My dissertation deals with the history of teaching the Russian language in Hungary. This is my 36th year as a teacher. I taught in a grammar school for a year and since 1984 I have been teaching foreign languages and related subjects at the University of Nyíregyháza (and its predecessor institutes) without interruption. In my teaching practice, the Hungarian language has always played an important role considering my contrastive approach of language teaching. This is also the foundation of my course entitled ”Basics of Linguistics” offered for students of Ukranian Language and Literature. My research area includes the investigation of the origin of Hungarian geographical names. 

Nagyné dr. Schmelczer Erika 

I graduated as a Secondary School Teacher of Hungarian and French Language and Literature in 1981 at the Kossuth Lajos University of Arts and Sciences in Debrecen (KLTE). In 1996, I graduated as a Teacher of Italian Language at the then Bessenyei György Teacher Training College. Between 1981 and 1990, with short breaks, I taught Hungarian language and literature and the French language in a grammar school. In 2005, in the field of literary studies, I was conferred the degree of PhD at KLTE. For 30 years I have been teaching foreign languages and related subjects at the University of Nyíregyháza (and its predecessor institutes) without interruption. In my teaching practice, the Hungarian language has always played an important role considering the field of translational stylistics as well as my contrastive approach of language teaching. Between 2009 and 2011, as a Hungarian co-author, I compiled an electronic teaching material for a Romanian-speaking target group in the framework of language development project HURO ProLearning. (Hungarian as foreign language A1, A2, B1 and specialist languages). 

Dr. Minya Károly, primary school teacher of  Hungarian−Russian; secondary school teacher of Hungarian language and literature. Head of the Institute of Linguistics - and Literary Studies of the University of  Nyíregyháza. He earned his PhD degree in Hungarian Linguistics in the year 2011.  Habilitated in 2016. He has been lecturing at university for 33 years. His most important subjects taught: Hungarian Applied Linguistics, Spelling, Proper Usage of Hungarian, Rhetoric, Hungarian Descriptive Phonetics and Phonology, Lexicology, Descriptive Grammar, contemporary Hungarian Neologisms. He published in the field of lexicology, use of Hungarian and descriptive grammar.    

Dr. Schéder Veronika, secondary school teacher, of Hungarian Language and Literature; teacher of Hungarian – stenography and typewriting. Associate professor at the Department of  Hungarian Linguistics of the Institute of Linguistics - and Literary Studies of the University of Nyíregyháza. He earned her PhD-degree in Hungarian Linguistics in the field of psycholinguistics. She has 17 years of experience of teaching in higher education. Her most important subjects taught: Studies in the Mother Tongue, Text Production, Reading Comprehension, Applied Linguistics, Phonetics and Phonology, Language and Communication, the Rhetoric of the Classroom Communication, Norm and Communication She published in the field of psycholinguistics.   

Dr. Sebestyén Zsolt, secondary school teacher of Hungarian Language and Literature Associate professor at the Department of  Hungarian Linguistics of the Institute of Linguistics - and Literary Studies of the University of Nyíregyháza. He earned her PhD-degree in Hungarian Linguistics in the field of Hungarian Linguistics in 2006. He has an experience of 15 years of teaching in higher education. His most important subjects taught: Oral and written C6ommunication, The Theory and Practice of Communication, Studies in Text Linguistics, Speech Strategies and Rhetoric, Tasks in Oral and Written  Comprehension. His major publications are in the field of historical place name research.  

Tomori Tímea,  primary school teacher of Hungarian Language and Literature;  BA degree in communication (Journalism and Institutional Communication); teacher of communication; secondary school teacher of Hungarian. Assistant professor at the Department of  Hungarian Linguistics of the Institute of Linguistics - and Literary Studies of the University of Nyíregyháza. She has 5 years of experience as a secondary school teacher, one year in teaching in higher education.  Her major subjects taught: Hungarian as a Foreign Language, Studies in Mother Tongue, Stylistics, Style and Meaning, Methodology. Her major publications are in the field of developing communication competence of future teachers. 

Dr. Ajtay-Horváth Magda, secondary school teacher of Hungarian Language and Literature and English Language and Literature. College professor of the Department of English Language and Culture of the Institute of Linguistics - and Literary Studies of the University of Nyíregyháza. He earned her PhD-degree in Linguistics, in the field of comparative stylistics in 1998. She has an experience of 35 years of teaching, 9 years as a secondary school teacher and 26 years in higher education. She is the academic leader of the English Language and Culture major and of the postgraduate course of Translators and Interpreters specialized in the field of social sciences and economics. She is an adviser in language programs (English and Hungarian as a Foreign Language) in Adult education. Her major subject taught: Pragmatics, Stylistics, Analysis of Literary Texts, History of American Literature, Translation Theory and Practice. She published in the field of comparative stylistics, stylistics of translation and literature.   

Courses

Hungarian as a foreign language 

Beginners can also participate in the course. In addition to the basic writing,  reading, speaking skills, no input requirement is attached to the module A1/1.Except for this unit- in case of joining further units- candidates have to complete a placement test input by the training institute. The trainee can join the course even if he/she certifies his/her language level with an accredited language examination (B1, B2) not older the 12 months or attaching certificated course document from earlier levels based on the same course requirements not older in a year. The institution makes a certified copy of this document. 

Educational package of Hungarian language for international students 

The educational package, designed to last for an entire academic year, comprises the following mandatory, elective and optional panels: 

- 840 hours of mandatory general language lessons 

- 68 hours of elective orientational training 

- 68 hours of optional conversation 

1. Mandatory language training 

The course ”Hungarian Language as a Foreign Language” aims to prepare international students for studying in Hungarian higher education institutions. The teaching material covers all the levels from beginner, A1 up to advanced C1. In the modules, designed in line with CEFR levels, several language competences (listening, reading comprehension, understanding reading, writing, composition of texts, conversation, oral communication) are simultaneously developed. In addition to the acquisition of language skills, needed for everyday life and university courses, knowledge connected to civilisation and culture is included in the course programme as well. 

Structure and scheduling of mandatory language courses: 

The courses comprise 28 interconnected modules, 30 lessons each, from CEFR level A1 up to level C1. After every module, there is a test to be taken and passed. A score of at least 60% is required in order to move up to the next module.

The course is scheduled for 34 weeks. Counting with 25 lessons weekly, every day from Monday to Friday 5 lessons are scheduled. 

2. Orientational training 

Objective: 

International students should familiarize themselves with civic, cultural and civilisational knowledge as well as local customs. 

Major thematic units of semester 1: 

General civic knowledge (in the English language) 

Communication, establishing contacts, office routines on the phone, in person, via email 

Catering and tourism, accommodation, shopping, other services 

Health care 

Travelling, obtaining information 

Course programme for semester 2: 

Specialist language orientational training 

Scheduling: 68 lessons, designed for 34 weeks, 2 lessons per week 

3. Conversation 

designed for 34 weeks, 2 lessons per week (optional) 

Evaluation and grading criteria

For the certification, participants must participate in the course at least 80 per cent. The final exam consists of written and oral parts. The module final exams are required for every participant with the minimum result of 60 per cent (oral and written parts separately). The module final exam qualification exam: pass/ fail.