Schools, education, learning foreign languages
Formal education in Hungary is organised on three levels: primary, secondary and higher education. In a traditional
primary or elementary school, the pupils spend 4 junior and also 4 senior years. When they leave primary school, they
need to decide whether they enter a trade school, a secondary technical school or a secondary grammar school. In the
first they will learn a trade, in the second they will take a specialised matura exam with a professional qualification,
while the last will enable them to get admitted to a university. Secondary education takes 4 to 5 years. However, there
are 6 and 8-year grammar schools as well.
A vast majority of schools in Hungary are state-financed and overlooked by a government organisation. In these
schools the curriculum is centralised, students of the same age learn more or less the same subjects and content.
Education is compulsory until the age of 16 and is basically free, except some books and the kids’ personal equipment
for arts, PE and some other things. Besides state schools there are some funded by a church or a foundation, and of
course some private schools where there is a school fee to be paid So-called alternative education includes schools
where teachers are more free to render what and how to teach.
Matura examination is the final exam in grammar schools and allows students to enter higher education. It consists of
4 compulsory subjects – Hungarian, Math, history and foreign language, and a mandatory one. Students are free to
take standard or higher level exams according to their future plans. Universities set a score for students to get admitted
to their major (=fő szak). These scores are calculated on the basis of the matura exam results, language certificates
and other school achievements. They need to get good grades in certain subjects so that they can get a free study
place, while others with less prominent grades will have to pay a fee.
Foreign languages are an integral part of secondary education. Grammar school students have to study 2 languages,
most of them achieve a certain level of proficiency and also take language exams during their studies. Many of them
prepare for their exams outside their schools. The majority take private lessons, some go to language courses, the
most devoted ones also study by themselves using applications or a software. Each of the ways has its benefits, but
also drawbacks. If you can afford a private tutor, it may be an effective way to achieve your goals since you will be the
centre of your teacher’s attention and efforts and get direct feedback on your work. However, private lessons are
likely to cost a fortune and there will be no one of your proficiency level to communicate with. A course might be an
option for those who prefer learning in a group of same language level learners. Courses often have a supporting
atmosphere and offer the students more opportunities to practice communicative skills. Some are also pretty pricy
though, that means that not every student can afford to take one, not to mention the time courses cost. Language
learning applications haven’t been there for long and they might be useful to develop your vocabulary or grammar
skills and perhaps reading and pronunciation also. Nevertheless, most of them fail to offer proper feedback on the
learner’s performance. Perhaps a combination of school learning and one or two of the alternative ways would be the
most effective.