Reformátusok Lapja, 1972 (72. évfolyam, 1-7. szám)
1972-02-01 / 2. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 3 ENGLISH IN HUNGARY, YESTERDAY & TODAY (Editors Note: The following is a brief résumé of an extensive study prepared in the summer of 1969 especially for the English-Speaking Union, U.S.A. by August J. Molnár, president of the American Hungarian Studies Foundation. The résumé appeared in the November, 1969, issue of English Around the World, a publication of the English- Speaking Union, U.S.A.) Among the foreign languages which have played an important role in the life of Hungary during the last few centuries these should be mentioned: Latin, German, French, and English. Until 1844 in fact, Latin was used on the governmental level both in speech and written communications. Not until that year did the Hungarian language itself become the official tongue of the country, without restrictions imposed by Vienna. From the sixteenth century on, of course, German has been a dominant foreign tongue, inasmuch as the King of Hungary was of the House of Habsburg. As far as English is concerned, the first text in that language appeared in Hungary in 1614, and in 1664 the first English grammar was published. In general it might be said that English influence, and subsequently American influence, has been notable in every phase of Hungarian life ever since the seventeenth century. In 1777 Pest University, known today as Loránd Eötvös University, began teaching English history and in 1806 a course in the English language itself was introduced. A chair in English was created there in 1865. Following World War I an English Department was established at Debrecen University which now bears the name of Lajos Kossuth University. [Debrecen, with approximately 100,000 population, is the chief city of Eastern Hungary and has been regarded as the cultural center of Hungarian Protestantism — Ed.] By the Education Act of 1924 English language and literature were introduced into the curriculum of some thirty gymnasia, especially in the Protestant schools, which made English a required language in the upper grades. The events which followed World War II brought some drastic changes. Russian was now given a paramount position in elementary and secondary schools, while German lost its ranking place among foreign languages taught in Hungary. English continued, however, to be an important elective subject. After October-November 1956, when one of the demands of the Hungarian students was the elimination of compulsory Russian, the situation was again altered somewhat. Russian remained a required foreign language, but now science students were also obliged to elect a second foreign language. In the general schools and in other gymnasia greater opportunities were provided to study Western foreign languages in addition to Russian. At present, Russian is a required foreign language in all general schools, including the special language school, from the fifth grade through the eighth grades. Three hours of Russian are taught a week. Upon completing eight years of general or elementary education at age 14, the student may go on to any type of secondary school: technical, specialized or gymnasium. Up to 1963 two types of gymnasia existed in Hungary, one for the humanities and one for the sciences. Today there is a “unified” gymnasium under a new system introduced in 1963- 64. It remains a four year curriculum with a final examination (matúra). Russian is a required subject for four years, three hours a week, in all secondary schools. In the non-special schools students learn two foreign languages: Russian and another elective language. English is the most popular choice, followed by German, French, Italian and Spanish. Each language is offered for three hours a week during the first two years and for two hours during the last two years of the gymnasium. In the special language gymnasium, in addition to the required Russian classes of three hours a week, the number of hours for English as a second foreign language would be 5.5 hours in the first year, followed by six hours for the next two years, and five hours during the last year, or an annual average of 5.6 hours a week for the gymnasium years covering the 14-18 age range. Two specialized language schools, experimental in nature, provide even more intensive foreign language training for the students. There students at the gymnasium level have 12 hours of English per week as well as English and American literature. Every university in Hungary requires continuous study of two foreign languages during the first two years in professional schools. Russian is required and a second language is elective. English, German and French are chosen most frequently. Language classes meet two hours a week, and students are required to pass an examination in both Russian and the elective foreign language at the end of the second year. This applies not only to the students enrolled in the humanities, but also to those registered at the science, medical and technical universities. Among the foreign languages taught in Hungary, English enjoys first place as the most frequently elected foreign language among students from age 10 through 20. This includes the elementary, gymnasium, university and college levels. Russian, of course, is a required language for all students in this same age range. Three Hungarian universities have English departments or institutes. However, none of the eight faculty members in the departments are native English speakers. English is an acquired tongue for all of them.
