The Debrecen Summer University has come to an end, with the organisers handing out a total of 116 certificates during the month-long course. Half of the participants studied Hungarian for four weeks, while the other half attended for two weeks before being replaced by a new group. Everyone passed the final exam, and the language learners returned home happily on August 15.
This summer, a surprisingly large number of participants studied in higher-level groups. This was particularly encouraging, as it meant that many learners had continued studying Hungarian beyond the beginner level. A relatively large number of participants were also teachers or university lecturers in their home countries, which may explain the strong interest in the programme called Társalgó. Held every Wednesday, it offered participants the opportunity to talk in Hungarian and English with Péter Szaffkó, director of the Summer University, about Hungarian culture, Hungaricums, Hungarian history and famous cities. More advanced speakers also showed greater interest in local attractions: they visited the Magda Szabó Memorial House, while those interested in sports got a taste of everyday life in Debrecen at a Loki football match.
The folklore programme was once again the biggest favourite this summer. Every Monday, participants explored the traditions of different regions of Hungary. The evenings featured regional specialities for dinner, followed by folk songs and dancing. The second Friday evening programme was also a great success: teachers and students alike dressed in colourful beachwear for the “beach party”, where dinner was lángos, a favourite Hungarian beach food. Students also greatly enjoyed the two excursions. At a farm in Sáránd, they made csigatészta (a traditional Hungarian soup pasta), braided sweet bread and got a glimpse into preparations for a traditional wedding. In Nyíregyháza, they learned traditional folk games at the open-air museum and then had the opportunity to make their own ointment in an old-fashioned pharmacy.
Throughout the month, the organisers also held several quizzes and fun competitions. At the “beach party”, participants tested their knowledge of Hungary’s natural waters, while after the closing dinner they competed in quizzes generally focusing on Hungarian culture. The organisers concluded that there is strong demand for these competitions, so they plan to organise even more of them next summer.
(unideb.hu)
