TEFL Hungary

TEFL in Budapest, Hungary

Budapest has to be one of the finest cities in the Central Europe, but maybe not the first place on your list to take a CELTA course. Hungary became a member of the EC in 2004, which has brought it much closer psychologically to the rest of 'Europe'. The accommodation and cost of living are still cheap by western standards, meaning the "package" price might well be similar to a course-only fee in the UK.

Above and beyond any cost considerations, the school, International House Budapest, is highly acclaimed not only nationally, but on the international level too.

We spoke to Steve Oakes, Director of Teacher Training in Budapest.

What attracts trainees to take the Cambridge CELTA course in Budapest?

We actually ask trainees why they chose IH Budapest over other centres, and the answers vary of course. For some Budapest itself is the attraction, the beauty of the city, its location in the heart of Central Europe. We also get a number of course participants who have a Hungarian background or have relatives here-their parents or grandparents left Hungary in the 50s, or earlier after WWII. The most common reason however seems to be a combination of our reputation and the fact that we offer a relatively large number of courses over the year, which gives applicants some choice and flexibility.

What if you don't speak any Hungarian - can you still get by for a month over there?

I've always been amazed by the paradox of how manageable life here is despite the unusual difficulty of the language. Hungarians are accustomed to visitors not speaking their language, and usually flattered by efforts to do so. Many speak English or German, the city is easy to get around, many services (e.g. medical) are available in English, and essentials in supermarkets are as recognisable as anywhere (labelling is often in English as well), so there's little likelihood of that feeling of disorientation one might expect in such a context.

Is a Cambridge CELTA course taken in Hungary viewed as being as serious/prestigious in the worldwide TEFL marketplace as one taken, say, in London?

One of the great strengths of the CELTA is the continuity and consistency of the training regardless of where you do the course. It's true that certain centres have a particularly good reputation, and I think that IH Budapest is among those. So, in a word, yes.

Is the course really that intensive? Will there be any time for sightseeing whilst in Budapest?

The course really is that intensive - it's something we stress in the interview, to ensure that course participants are realistic about what to expect - and many have commented that they were glad we did make a point of it. Still, if one is reasonably organised and disciplined, there is time for sightseeing. I usually suggest that candidates take one day off each weekend and enjoy the city; they need it in order to unplug a bit anyway, and collect their energies.

Is there a competitive atmosphere on the course?

In the sense of getting a good grade, every now and then there is a highly ambitious, competitive type of trainee who makes it clear that they'll be satisfied with nothing less than a B or an A, and the presence of such a candidate on a course can stir up everyone's competitive juices. I've found, however, that an overly grade-conscious attitude can interfere with the training process - ironic as it may sound - and lead a candidate to actually under-perform. Also, I think that the course participants who do the best - who get the most out of the course, and (I would bet) achieve the highest results overall grade-wise as well - are those who pull together as a group, demonstrate some professional maturity, and help each other out, give each other positive energy throughout the process.

What is the typical nationality mix of your trainees?

It varies of course, with one course having mostly Brits, the next mostly Americans, so there's no average typical profile. I suppose it would be fair to say that most of our fulltime courses have mostly native speakers, with a few Hungarians and possibly candidates from one of the neighbouring countries (e.g. Romania or Yugoslavia).

Have you ever had to cancel a CELTA course?

The first time we offered an autumn fulltime course, a few years back, we cancelled due to a lack of sufficient interest. The following year, we didn't offer one, and dozens of people contacted us interested in taking the non-existent course. This past autumn we offered two fulltime courses and filled them up well in advance. Nowadays, we seem to have a steady flow of inquiries and applicants and no problem filling our scheduled courses.

Where is the school in relation to the centre of Budapest?

The school is located at the foot of Rozsadomb ("Rose Hill"), an exclusive neighbourhood on the Buda side of the Danube, just a 5-10 minute walk from Margaret Bridge and Margaret Island, our version of Central Park. It's extremely easy to get here from anywhere in the city, in Buda or Pest, particularly as one of the main tram lines runs on the boulevard just down the street from the school.

How far away is the accommodation, and how easy is it to get round town?

Accommodation is never more than a half-hour away by public transport, and the latter is very easy to use, and a monthly pass is still quite inexpensive (about 12 pounds sterling, 18 US dollars). Buses, trams, and the metro run frequently and cover every corner of the city.

What is the average number of students to be found in practice lessons, and where do they come from?

Our practice lesson students are mostly local residents who can't afford to attend our regular classes, or are supplementing their regular IH lessons with some extra study. The average group has about 10, and attendance is relatively stable - the students enjoy the variety of teachers and the excitement of the situation (in Hungarian we call these groups "Kisérleti"-"Experimental" courses).

What is the accommodation like in Budapest? What do you recommend for CELTA trainees?

We arrange accommodation in self-catering flats that we maintain for CELTA participants, on request. The cost varies depending on whether one wants to live alone, etc., and if one shares it's with someone else on the course in most cases. The cost runs between 160-220 GBP, including all bills except telephone.

Do you provide an airport transfer service?

There is an excellent airport minibus service which we provide full instructions for, to those participants who are arriving by plane. If a candidate is staying in housing that we've arranged, normally our housing co-ordinator will meet the candidate upon arrival at the flat.

Do you need a visa to take the CELTA in Budapest?

That would depend on one's nationality. Currently Brits and Americans can come in on a tourist visa, but other nationalities-Australian, Indian, New Zealand-have to obtain a visa in advance. This can change at any time, so a course participant really needs to contact his/her consulate for advice.

What sort of help do you provide for trainees looking for work? Do you need a work visa to work in Hungary? If so, is this available to all nationalities?

We provide guidance, support, and references to all our trainees in the job hunting process. A work visa is needed in Hungary, most easily obtained for British citizens, and a bit more complicated for Americans and other nationalities. With Hungary joining the EU in May 2004, these regulations are constantly being modified.

Is there a chance of finding work in your school or elsewhere, immediately after the course?

It's not uncommon that we hire our own trainees - we know their teaching and can "grab" the good ones. In terms of finding work elsewhere in Hungary, I've never known a candidate who wanted to stay who was unable to find something - maybe not the job of their dreams right off the course, but something they could use to develop their skills as well as to support themselves.

Is it any easier/any more difficult for Americans to find work in Hungary?

It's not particularly difficult for any native speaker to find work. What's getting tricky is the change in regulations regarding work visas and residency, something that's affecting the EFL job market all over the part of Europe that is headed towards EU membership in 2004. If one can find a fulltime employer who will help in the process of securing the necessary paperwork (we, for example, do so for all our teachers), then the whole thing is relatively easy.