Two Decades of ‘Bilingual’ Education Two Decades of ‘Bilingual’ Education in Hungaryin Hungary

For the Dedicated Ones For the Dedicated Ones Only!Only!

Mária Szabóné PákozdiMária Szabóné PákozdiVenice, September, 2008Venice, September, 2008

Károli Gáspár University, BudapestKároli Gáspár University, Budapest

TopicsTopics

Culture shock in Hungary and its Culture shock in Hungary and its historical background historical background

Two decades of dual language Two decades of dual language education in HU: Italian CLIL schools education in HU: Italian CLIL schools in HUin HU

The role of Károli UniversityThe role of Károli University Where dedication comes from: Where dedication comes from:

benefits and drawbacks of our benefits and drawbacks of our system in HU system in HU

1. Culture shock in 1. Culture shock in Hungary and its historical Hungary and its historical backgroundbackground

20% of adults knows FL20% of adults knows FL 25% of adolescents know FL25% of adolescents know FL 1,2 FLs are taught in school1,2 FLs are taught in school A unique native languageA unique native language Monolingual population after the Monolingual population after the

warswars Russian hegemonyRussian hegemony

2.Two decades of dual 2.Two decades of dual language educationlanguage education

HU:HU: Dual language education Dual language education

since 1987 (top down)since 1987 (top down) Aim: to develop the Aim: to develop the

language competence of language competence of gifted students in order gifted students in order to pursue studies abroad to pursue studies abroad

High quality, strict High quality, strict regulationregulation

Secondary(15-18) C1 Secondary(15-18) C1 primary(7-14) B1 primary(7-14) B1 kindergarten - teriary?kindergarten - teriary?

Languages: EN, FR,GE, Languages: EN, FR,GE, ES, IT, RU, CH !ES, IT, RU, CH !

European trends:European trends: CLIL since 1996CLIL since 1996 Aim: to develop the Aim: to develop the

language competence language competence of students in of students in mainstream educationmainstream education

Often experimentingOften experimenting

Several levels, several Several levels, several approachesapproaches

Languages: minority Languages: minority languages as welllanguages as well

CLIL in the primaryCLIL in the primary

164 schools,164 schools,Primary: 67, Primary: 67, Secondary: Secondary: 9797Budapest: 56.Budapest: 56.

Grammar schools and Grammar schools and vocational schools vocational schools (14-18y)(14-18y)

Grammar SchoolsGrammar Schools Vocational SchoolsVocational Schools

aimsaims Further studies or Further studies or autonomous learning in autonomous learning in the FLthe FL

Work in the FLWork in the FL

SubjectsSubjects

(+ Target (+ Target Lang.CultuLang.Culture)re)

YILL and year 0YILL and year 0

Theoretic subjectsTheoretic subjectsYILL and year 0YILL and year 0

Subjects of the Subjects of the professionprofession

ResultsResults OutstandingOutstanding

(final exams: 0,48 grade (final exams: 0,48 grade higher than the national higher than the national average) average)

A bit lower than in the A bit lower than in the grammar schoolsgrammar schools

tendenciestendencies 78% satisfied78% satisfied 72% satisfied72% satisfied

teachersteachers Double Majors Double Majors Content teachers having Content teachers having taught or practised their taught or practised their prof. abroadprof. abroad

Teaching Italian in HUTeaching Italian in HU

Possible since 1851Possible since 1851 2nd optional FL beside EN since 19212nd optional FL beside EN since 1921 Again available in schools since 1953Again available in schools since 1953 IT Cultural Institute never ceased to IT Cultural Institute never ceased to

existexist Today 10.000 students study ITToday 10.000 students study IT IT Schools: 20s-30sIT Schools: 20s-30s 19-20th cent: 1000 Italians in HU19-20th cent: 1000 Italians in HU

Italian CLIL schools in Italian CLIL schools in HUHU

19371937

HU CLIL school in MilanHU CLIL school in Milan

1938

3. The role of Károli 3. The role of Károli University (www.kre.hu) University (www.kre.hu)

European projects in EducationEuropean projects in Education Bilingua ProgrammeBilingua Programme(2-year, post-graduate programme for teachers (2-year, post-graduate programme for teachers

of non-language subjects in English)of non-language subjects in English) CLIL Conference for former CLIL Conference for former

Socialist countriesSocialist countries Research Research (involving university students)(involving university students)

Erasmus Intensive Erasmus Intensive Programmes Programmes for teacher traineesfor teacher trainees

4. Where dedication 4. Where dedication comes from: benefits and comes from: benefits and drawbacks of our system drawbacks of our system

1.1. Gifted students, intern. Gifted students, intern. opportunitiesopportunities

2.2. Creative teachersCreative teachers

3.3. Extra per capita support for the Extra per capita support for the school, prestigeschool, prestige

4.4. The local communityThe local community

4.1.Benefits and 4.1.Benefits and drawbacks: the students’ drawbacks: the students’ perspectiveperspective

Practical language knowledgePractical language knowledge ResultsResults International networking(projects, International networking(projects,

student exchange, studies student exchange, studies abroad,cult. events) abroad,cult. events)

Further studies? Change schools?Further studies? Change schools? Mother tongue?Mother tongue?

4.2.Benefits and 4.2.Benefits and drawbacks: the teachers’ drawbacks: the teachers’ perspectiveperspective

Challenges, environment supporting Challenges, environment supporting professional developmentprofessional development

Improvement of their FL competenceImprovement of their FL competence Cooperation on every levelCooperation on every level Teaching materials developmentTeaching materials development Motivated learnersMotivated learners Lack of pre- and in-service training Lack of pre- and in-service training Covering the same curriculumCovering the same curriculum Problems of the common forum on the InternetProblems of the common forum on the Internet Salary/ number of lessonsSalary/ number of lessons Parents’ demandsParents’ demands

4.3.Benefits and 4.3.Benefits and drawbacks: the schools’ drawbacks: the schools’ perspectiveperspective

Larger pool of students/selectionLarger pool of students/selection Bigger support, better conditions, Bigger support, better conditions,

but: lack of textbooksbut: lack of textbooks Availability of well-qualified teachers, Availability of well-qualified teachers,

native treachers’ competenciesnative treachers’ competencies A different final examA different final exam Ill-founded parents’ expectationsIll-founded parents’ expectations Lack of centralised eventsLack of centralised events

4.4.Benefits and 4.4.Benefits and drawbacks: the drawbacks: the perspective of the local perspective of the local community community

„„Best school” impactBest school” impact Selection/segregationSelection/segregation Need for bigger supportNeed for bigger support Enhancing international cooperationEnhancing international cooperation But: no solution for the foreign But: no solution for the foreign

language competence of the publiclanguage competence of the public

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

pakozdimari@yahoo.co.ukpakozdimari@yahoo.co.uk